tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7246117033379507342024-02-18T18:18:18.007-08:00Leo LibrisReviews of books ranging from board books to middle grades to adult from an academic Librarian and mom of two.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-24230413607888436052018-06-20T08:39:00.003-07:002018-06-20T08:45:32.485-07:00Just Wondering: 40 Poems for Smart Kids (You) by Suzanne Werkema<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This adorable book of poetry was a quick read that I and my 4-year-old both enjoyed. Most of the poems are short and rhythmic, with a well-done rhyming scheme. They are all easily relatable to children and stir up memories of my own childhood. Some of the rhymes don't roll off the tongue as easily and feel awkward or forced, and some of the poems themselves are a little lackluster. Tina Modugno's illustrations are colorful and vivid, yet simple and boring. The vocabulary used is wonderful though, and includes pronunciation of a few words as well. <i>Laryingitis, My Mess, </i>and <i>Hangers </i>are a few favorites, and <i>Things That Never Happened </i>is reminiscent of Michelle Nelson-Schmidt's book <i>Jonathan James and the Whatif Monster </i>and the illustration looks like a blend of the same <i>Whatif Monster </i>and Emma Yarlett's <i>Nibbles. </i>The final poem, <i>A Poem is a Horrid Thing </i>was wisely chosen as the closer:<br />
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"A poem is a horrid thing,<br />
all fancy, frilly, fluttering.<br />
[...]<br />
I like to hear this kind of stuff,<br />
but poems just aren't fun enough.<br />
So till the moon outshines the sun,<br />
I'll never read a single one."<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-17991143505241873772018-05-09T07:33:00.002-07:002018-05-09T07:45:48.105-07:00The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The beginning of this unique story left me slightly confused, thinking I had missed something or that maybe it was a sequel, but it quickly took off and kept me fully enthralled. </div>
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A mysterious Library full of strange librarians, each responsible for their own subject or catalogue, are looking for Father who has suddenly gone missing. Nothing is as it seems, and nothing in this book is like anything else I have ever read. It defies genre but is perfect for fans of Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, and J.K. Rowling alike. It contains conspiracies, fantasy, mythology, science fiction, mystery, murder, magic, and of course, books in an incredible library. </div>
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This book was completely engrossing and is nearly impossible to describe, but lingers in your mind. The audio book narrator portrayed the myriad of characters stunningly, differentiating them all so the listener is not once confused as to who is speaking. </div>
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Highly recommended for ALL adult readers. </div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-227491202921348002018-05-09T07:33:00.000-07:002018-05-09T07:45:48.146-07:00The Other Typist by Suzanne Rindell <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Though it has been years now since I read this book, it still lingers in my mind and though I can never name ONE favorite book, it is easily near the top of the list. </div>
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<i>The Other Typist</i> is set in the 1920s and tells the story of Rose, a typist who takes the confessions of criminals for the police and who lives a lonely life until another typist joins the ranks. This other typist is captivating, coquettish, and stylish, and pulls Rose under her spell and lures her into another world full of speakeasies, jazz, and liquor. </div>
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This book is not what it seems and contains mysteries and obsessions and leaves you wondering at the end, reminiscent of <i>Fight Club. </i></div>
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Slated to become a film produced by and starring Kiera Knightley, this genre-bending book is an incredible debut novel perfect for fans of <i>Gone Girl, </i>historical fiction, mysteries, and psychological thrillers. <br />Highly recommended. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-43653518088182407982018-05-09T07:06:00.001-07:002018-05-09T07:33:52.442-07:00The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This absolutely <i>lovely </i>book is a wonder to read. Although written as a Middle Grades book, it is suitable and enjoyable for all ages. </div>
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A dreary town shrouded in sorrow leaves a baby in the woods every year to appease a witch that will otherwise destroy them all, only... Xan the witch does not know why these babies keep being left alone in the woods. So, she rescues them and finds them new homes in other towns, until one baby, Luna, is accidentally fed moonlight by mistake and Xan raises her as her own, along with her friend the swamp monster and a tiny dragon with an adorable delusion that he is "simply enormous."</div>
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A boy in the town is determined to kill the witch, there is a crazy woman in a tower, a corrupt government, and a ravenous tiger on the prowl. </div>
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Highly highly recommended for all readers - this book was impossible to put down. The audio book version is simply delightful and the narrator does a marvelous job. </div>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-65301872708131555672016-04-10T12:03:00.000-07:002016-04-10T12:07:15.107-07:00The Nameless City by Faith Erin Hicks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The first part of this new graphic novel fantasy series is a fun, quick read. The art is colorful and full of movement; combined with the story it is wholly engrossing. Kaidu is a 13-year-old boy who meets a girl named Rat, who must be around the same age as him, in a city he calls Dandao but that Rat and the other natives know as The Nameless City. There are a lot of lessons and messages to be gleaned from this story; Kaidu's people, the Dao, look down on the natives of the city and believe them to not even be "real people" like themselves, and the indigenous people hate them for it. Yet Kaidu is different, and is interested in the people of the city. In spite of the odds, Rat and Kaidu manage to form a friendship, and it's a good thing, too, for they are going to need to work together to save the city from danger. The characters are all diverse, and one of the early scenes is slightly reminiscent of Mulan and "I'll make a man out of you." This author can hardly wait for the second installment, due to be released in April 2017.<br />
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<b>Kirkus★ 02/02/2016</b>
Eisner winner Hicks (<i>The Adventures of Superhero Girl</i>, 2013) launches a new graphic fantasy series about two friends from opposite sides of a generations-long conflict.
Over the years, many nations have invaded the City in order to control the only passage through the mountains to the ocean. Conquerors always give the City a new name, but like their victories, those names never last. Thirteen-year-old Kaidu is a son of the City’s current rulers, the Dao, and has just arrived in the City to begin his military training. However, Kaidu doesn’t get along with his Dao peers, perhaps because he’s more interested in books than fighting, and he instead befriends a girl named Rat, who is an orphan and city native. Their strong characterization and the vibrant Asian-influenced setting make this a satisfying series opener. Kaidu’s curiosity and Rat’s street-wise sass are immediately appealing, and the titular city is almost a protagonist in its own right, especially when Rat and Kaidu are freerunning across its rooftops. The warm palette, courtesy of colorist Bellaire, complements Hicks’ illustrations and highlights the diversity of the cast. Offer this winning graphic novel to fans of Fullmetal Alchemist and <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>, who will appreciate its mix of fun and adventure and its exploration of questions of identity, belonging, and history.
A superb beginning.<i>(Graphic fantasy. 12&up)</i>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-6451453162864829362016-02-04T17:02:00.002-08:002016-02-04T17:02:55.904-08:00Gossie by Olivier DunreaMy other blog focuses on parenting, pregnancy, and all things infants and kids, and I have reviewed a couple of books there as well, though they are more casual in style.<br />
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<i><u>Gossie</u> is about a little gosling named Gossie. The version I
have is a little board book, but I believe it also comes in hardback (at
least, Amazon says it does).</i><br />
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<i>Gossie is "a small yellow
gosling who likes to wear bright red boots every day." The book
chronicles her little adventures - where she likes to wear her red boots
- when suddenly, she loses them! Spoiler alert! She finds them in the
end. :)</i><br />
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<i>The artwork is adorable - also by Dunrea. I
would love to just have blow-ups of the pages to hang on my wall! It's
not too busy but makes use of bright colors and high contrast which is
great for little eyes. </i><br />
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Read the rest of my review and more about Olivier Dunrea at <a href="http://pregotolegos.blogspot.com/2014/06/gossie-by-olivier-dunrea-childrens-book.html">Prego to Legos</a>. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-74629969189496561232016-02-03T09:00:00.000-08:002016-02-03T09:00:13.654-08:00What Does it Mean to Be an Entrepreneur? by Rana DiOrio & Emma D. Dryden<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Welcome to my first blog tour! Well, not mine, I am merely participating in it; it is hosted by <a href="http://www.sagesblogtours.com/">Sage's Blog Tours</a>.<br />
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This adorable book by the authorial team of Rana DiOrio and Emma D. Dryden is a beautiful read. It was great to see the main character, in addition to being a minority, also be given the attributes most commonly associated with "boy" characters (intelligent, loves science, an engineer and an entrepreneurial spirit that goes leaps and bounds beyond opening a lemonade stand).<br />
The art is lovely, rich with detail yet not overwhelmingly busy. The illustrator, Ken Min, employs great use of color and negative space and leaving background areas in muted shades of a single color to keep the focus on the myriad of details - many of which you may miss the first read-through but that are a delight to find on the sure-to-occur second and third readings.<br />
The text has a great flow but still includes some wonderful vocabulary words. A favorite response to the titular question: "What does it mean to be an entrepreneur?".... "Does it mean speaking French? No!" (Although "Non!" would have been amusing too).<br />
I do not want to spoil any of the details, but the first spread humorously features a Rich Uncle Moneybags look-alike and other clever illustrations abound throughout the book.<br />
The robots unfortunately look a little menacing in some of the scenes, with a Terminator/I Robot like quality, but otherwise it is a great addition to any shelf.<br />
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You can purchase this book at <a href="http://www.littlepicklepress.com/product/what-does-it-mean-to-be-an-entrepreneur/">Little Pickle Press</a> or <a href="http://www.indiebound.org/book/9781939775122">Indie Bound</a>.<br />
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Book description from the publisher:<br />
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When Rae witnesses an ice cream-and-doggie mishap, she’s inspired to create a big-scale solution to help get dogs clean. Rae draws on her determination, resilience, and courage until she—and everyone else in her community—learns just what it means to be an entrepreneur. Book six in the award-winning <i>What Does It Mean To Be …?</i> series, <i>What Does It Mean To Be An Entrepreneur?</i> will be available in January 2016.<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-82031070710197347212016-01-04T12:38:00.002-08:002016-04-10T11:46:07.614-07:00The House by Christina Lauren<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This creepy and chilling tale features Delilah who falls for the strange outsider, Gavin, who lives in the "patchwork" house that raised him. The House has its own personality, seemingly warm and loving at the start but begins to turn more and more sinister as Delilah and Gavin grow closer. When Delilah asks him where he will go to college, the room gets colder; House clearly doesn't like Delilah. As they realize the reach and control that House has over their world, the teens begin to realize how dangerous the situation is and secretly begin planning to escape. <br />
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Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings join together to create a gripping page-turner that is sure to please both avid horror fans and reluctant readers alike. <br />
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<b>VOYA, December 2015 (Vol. 38, No. 5) - Liz Sundermann</b></div>
Delilah Blue returned from boarding school and immediately fell into an intense romance with the mysterious Gavin Timothy. The only problem is that Gavin’s house disapproves. Gavin’s house is alive. In fact, Gavin does not have many memories of any family but House. House raised him: age-appropriate toys appeared on the landing; Piano taught him how to play music; now money appears as needed; and Kitchen continues to cook his meals. He has never wanted for anything. But House is jealous of Delilah’s affection and slowly reveals that it will stop at nothing to keep them apart. The House has enough horror and romance to interest genre readers. The well-paced chapters alternate between Delilah’s and Gavin’s points of view seamlessly. The premise is unique, and the descriptions of House’s actions let the reader know, with increasing alarm, that it is up to no good. Unfortunately, the story just is not believable. A possessed house with a personality and the ability to move its own furniture around is one thing. A possessed house that can create and destroy matter is another. House knows everything that Gavin is thinking, except when it strangely does not. It is self-aware and knows everything that goes on within its walls, except when it strangely does not. There are too many gaps, and the readers must suspend disbelief for too long in order to buy into this story. <span style="background-color: #7f6000;">The ending is abrupt, dissatisfying, and more unbelievable than the rest</span>. Teens interested in romance and horror would likely check this out, but they might be disappointed. Reviewer: Liz Sundermann; Ages 12 to 18.<br />
<b>School Library Journal 10/01/2015</b><br />
Gr 9 Up—Delilah Blue would do anything for her crush, Gavin. She is sent to boarding school after beating up bullies who attacked him. Seven years later, she is back in Kansas and her obsession with Gavin hasn't changed. The two become inseparable. But a dark force threatens their relationship—the house that Gavin lives in. It provides everything that Gavin could possibly want and need in life. But the house doesn't want Delilah to be part of his life. When it gets mad, it becomes possessed and terrible things happen to the two teens. Gavin soon realizes how abnormal this is and begins to wonder about what happened to his mother, of whom he has only vague memories. What will happen when he graduates and leaves for college? Will the house let him go? This eerie work by the author team of Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings is told in chapters that alternate between Delilah's and Gavin's accounts. With a swiftly moving plot and eerie elements that<span style="background-color: #7f6000;"> will surely raise goose bumps</span>, this novel can be enjoyed by voracious horror fans and reluctant readers alike. VERDICT Give to teens who enjoy spine-tingling haunted house and ghost stories like The Old Willis Place by Mary Downing Hahn (Clarion, 2004) and The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong (HarperCollins, 2008).—Shannon Seglin, San Antonio Public Library
<b>Kirkus Reviews★ 2015-07-15</b><br />
A rebellious girl falls for a strange boy who lives in an even stranger house. This <span style="background-color: #7f6000;">superior and unusual</span> horror story opens with Delilah, who feels neglected by her unfeeling parents. She's attracted to Gavin, who has lived quite differently: he was raised by the house he dwells in, a living being that loves him and cares for him. He communicates with House and its various parts, such as Fireplace, which tends its own fire, Bed, which stretches at his request, and Piano, which taught him how to play music. He has no idea what happened to his mother, only that House has always cared for him, serving him abundant food and giving him toys. When he brings Delilah home, and she asks where he wants to go to college, the room becomes colder. House clearly doesn't like Delilah, but leaving it isn't going to be so easy. With great secrecy, they begin to plan their escape. Things will, of course, go horribly wrong. Lauren (a joint pen name for Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings) taps into classic haunted-house memes, drawing those ideas to the max as they imbue House with a distinct, sinister personality. Intrigue builds, and suspense slowly creeps in as readers begin to realize the extent to which House can control events, and the real danger in which the teens find themselves constantly ratchets up. Don't read it at night. (Horror. 12-18)
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10438831359903152164noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-724611703337950734.post-22965809177631271432015-12-27T12:51:00.003-08:002016-01-04T13:01:31.396-08:00No True Echo by Gareth P. Jones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A gripping time-travel novel guaranteed to make you think yourself in circles.<br />
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Eddie lives with his grandmother, who is keeping secrets about Eddie's mother, and has a ho-hum life in dull Wellcome Valley until Scarlett White boards his school bus one day. After she comes along, Eddie witnesses a horrific murder and then finds himself returned to the first day he met her, and realizes he is the only one with any memory of her.<br />
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Although the ending is a little unsatisfying, overall this is one book that you can't bear to put down. This time-travel thriller, faintly reminiscent of the film <i>Groundhog Day</i> is sure to be a hit with both time-travel fans and reluctant readers and would spark great discussions about time travel, causal loops, and ethics in any book club.<br />
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<b>Publishers Weekly 07/20/2015</b>Eddie Dane’s life in the British town of Wellcome Valley is as predictable as it is dull: ride the bus with his friend Angus, take care of his depressed grandmother after school, feel slightly sorry for himself for having grown up without a mother, and repeat. When a redheaded girl named Scarlett shows up in town, strange things start happening, and suddenly Eddie is pulled into a repetitive loop of an entirely different kind: he starts “echo jumping” back to the same Thursday when Scarlett first arrived. In some of the altered time lines that follow, Eddie’s mother is alive; in others, Eddie is murdered. Skipping between Eddie’s story and a future in which so-called echo technology has reshaped life, Jones (Constable & Toop) offers a roller-coaster of a story that drives forward one moment, then yanks itself backward again. This playful time-bending saga twists in, out, and around so often that <span style="background-color: #7f6000;">readers are forced to stay on their toes</span>, but the effort is well worth it as Jones introduces heady ideas about memory, reality, and existence. Ages 12–up. (Oct.)<br />
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<b>VOYA, August 2015 (Vol. 38, No. 3) - Laura Woodruff </b></div>
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Fifteen-year-old Eddie Dane is convinced that his hometown of Wellcome Valley is the most boring place on earth—that is, until the morning Scarlett White boards his school bus and sits near him. At first speechless, Eddie finally manages to hold conversations with the beautiful newcomer who is strangely interested in the death of Melody Dane, Eddie’s mother. Eddie knows nothing except what his grandmother Ruby has told him: Melody died in a tragic car crash off Death Drop Point when Eddie was an infant. Things become more complicated when Eddie follows a spying Scarlett to the home of English teacher Mr. Cornish. Impossible events begin, and Scarlett refuses to explain them because she must observe “protocol.” Eddie is overwhelmed when he follows Scarlett to a house occupied by mad scientist David Maguire, whose body lies on the floor, and finds her wounded by shotgun-toting Cornish. Held together by police officer Liphook, who investigates the Maguire murder, the novel is written in flashback form. Only near the end does the reader understand what echo technology is and why Eddie suffers so many catastrophic experiences. <span style="background-color: #7f6000;">Funny and endearing</span>, Eddie and his best friend, Angus, anchor readers in a complex plot involving repeating time loops and scientific overreach. Award-winning British author Gareth has a gem in No True Echo. Reviewer: Laura Woodruff; Ages 11 to 18.<br />
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<b>School Library Journal 09/01/2015</b>Gr 7 Up—Eddie Dane and his best friend, Angus, are convinced Wellcome Valley is the world's most boring town, but things perk up when Scarlett White boards their bus one morning. Eddie feels drawn toward Scarlett, and isn't even annoyed when she starts asking questions about his mother's death or his relationship with his bipolar grandmother; in fact, he's intrigued enough to accompany her on an unexplained trip to a remote farmhouse. There, he witnesses a murder, and when the gun is turned on him, he suddenly finds himself back on the school bus the same day he met Scarlett. Stuck in a repeating time loop and unsure of whom to trust, Eddie pieces together the puzzle of the world as he knows it and the world as he doesn't. This work is high on suspense, sucking readers in from the first page. Alternating perspectives give glimpses into the future, hinting at events that may or may not take place, though never revealing enough to give away any secrets. Characters, even those with demons, are likable and authentic, realistically portraying the challenges of loving one's family through difficult times. While <span style="background-color: #7f6000;">the ending feels a bit rushed and unsatisfying, overall it's an interesting look at time travel and fate that never strays into didacticism</span>. VERDICT A mind-bending time-travel novel good for general purchase.—Kelsey Johnson-Kaiser, La Crosse Public Library, WI<br />
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<b>Kirkus Reviews 2015-07-15</b>Life in scenic but soggy Wellcome Valley is so dull that figuring out what to do during midterm break poses a major challenge until Scarlett White climbs on Eddie's school bus and starts to unravel his world. An infant when his scientist single mother died in a car crash, Eddie lives with his artist grandmother, loving but unstable, and hangs out with his best friend, Angus. Like the valley, home and school are predictably boring. Mr. Cornish, their passionately opinionated English teacher, livens things up when he assigns Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein, making it an object lesson on hubris and abuses of power. As their friendship grows, Scarlett asks Eddie probing questions about his mother's death yet is stubbornly secretive about herself. Smitten and intrigued, Eddie contrives to run into her outside school and discovers her spying on Mr. Cornish. Following her, Eddie witnesses a horrific murder that may be tied to his own parentage, then abruptly finds himself back on the school bus with Angus the day they met Scarlett—except this time she doesn't get on the school bus, and only Eddie remembers she existed. Eddie's voice is likable, smart without being snarky or florid. At once a classic time-travel narrative and resonant fable about the price to be paid when we alter our world simply because we can, <span style="background-color: #7f6000;">this smart, satisfying eco-techno-thriller with heart transcends genre</span>. (Science fiction. 12-18)</div>
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