Flashback: Mean Girls Club: Pink Dawn by Ryan Heshka

THIS COVER!!!!!

This book is not for the faint of heart.  If swearing, drinking, violence and badass women are not your thing-don't pick up this book. 

It's my thing and I absolutely loved it!  I found this book after my boss circled it in one of our independent publishing catalogs we get at the Library.  She knows me well.  

From the back cover-because it's the best:  "The lascivious ladies of the Mean Girls Club have been raising a riot around town, and the cops are onto them.  Prepare for a mad-dash of boozing, skull-busting, and general mid-century mayhem as they deliver a swift stiletto-stab to the crotch of the patriarchy."

 These ladies are done with being used and hurt by others.  When their latest raid on the town gets too close to the Mayor and his pocketbook, the mayor blackmails his mechanic, the beautiful and vulnerable Roxy, to infiltrate the club and help take them down.  All Roxy wants is the vital and expensive medicine that her Grandpa needs to survive.  Left with little choice, Roxy approaches the clubhouse and is met with all the ladies and their guns.  But luckily for Roxy, the club's car Black Betsy was damaged during their last firefight with the police.  After repairing the car and then showing off her fighting skills when she's attacked by Wanda, Roxy spends the rest of the night in a drug and booze filled initiation where she learns all the backstories on the ladies and what fuels their obsession with taking down the patriarchy. 

Meanwhile, we learn that the disgusting Mayo Schlomo is in league with two cult leaders who are brainwashing the town's young girls into being subservient slaves.  When the cult leaders and the mayor set up a decency league called Reclaim Our Town, or R.O.T., the Mean Girls know they have to step in and do something.  Unfortunately, it's a trap and Roxy helped set it.  The Girls aren't led away quietly, in fact, Wanda's lines on page 58 are pretty amazing.  

The Mean Girls are now lined up in the execution chamber on display for the town to see.  At the same time, sick over her actions against the Club, Roxy finds herself at the clubhouse drinking away her grief.  When she stumbles upon the journal that tells of the club's beginnings, Roxy knows she has to do something to save the women. 

This book is so intense!  These women are not holding back anything.  The art and the writing are amazing and it's very tempting to buy another copy so I can cut some pages out and frame them.  

It's so good!

You can help support the site, and get your copy here: 

Sunday Library Love

Like many people this time of year, it’s been a crazy couple of weeks around here. On the heels of a chaotic Halloween week we attended the first of several winter holiday parties and need to plan future ones that we’re hosting. Meetings, school events, and just everyday housework always seem to be more work when it’s cold outside. The dining room construction is at the true messy stage and it’s starting to impact my last minute jelly making for Christmas gifts.

But it’s not all work. We had business to attend to in the same town as our favorite comic book store so of course a visit was in order. We finally got to meet the Bear at A Boy and His Tiger in Macomb. It’s an overall great shop-great service, great selection, and a great doggo. The Kid picked out a few new books and comics and I managed to keep myself to only one new book.

All of the home construction, holiday cooking, and constant clean up has had one amazing perk-I’ve listened to 3 audiobooks just this last week. All have been Library loans and paired with our overwhelming DVD selection-ALL my holds came in at once- from the Library, it’s been a Library Love type of week. That’s right-we rarely purchase or rent movies, we borrow nearly everything from the Library. Thanks to our wonderful interlibrary loan network, we have access to nearly every title and usually have a very short wait.

Listened to:

Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue

This was great on audio-the narrator was really good and there is no way I would have pronounced the main character’s names correctly. From the Publisher: Jende Jonga, a Cameroonian immigrant living in Harlem, has come to the United States to provide a better life for himself; his wife, Neni; and their six-year-old son. In the fall of 2007, Jende can hardly believe his luck when he lands a job as a chauffeur for Clark Edwards, a senior executive at Lehman Brothers. Clark demands punctuality, discretion, and loyalty - and Jende is eager to please. Clark's wife, Cindy, even offers Neni temporary work at the Edwardses' summer home in the Hamptons. With these opportunities, Jende and Neni can at last gain a foothold in America and imagine a brighter future.

However, the world of great power and privilege conceals troubling secrets, and soon Jende and Neni notice cracks in their employers' façades. When the financial world is rocked by the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Jongas are desperate to keep Jende's job - even as their marriage threatens to fall apart. As all four lives are dramatically upended, Jende and Neni are forced to make an impossible choice.

Who Thought This was a Good Idea?  By Alyssa Mastromonaco

Read by the author, this was another great listen that I’ve been wanting to read for a long time.  Funny, honest, and not at all gossipy, this book takes us behind the scenes of political campaigns, the inner workings of the White House, and how incredibly stressful it is to work in Washington.  Mastromonaco gives advice throughout the book on how to prepare for job interviews, the do’s and don’ts of negotiations, and how to not be your own worst enemy. It’s a lot like listening to a really great friend over a glass of wine.  A definite listen for those who would like to reminisce about the time we had intelligent, capable, and caring people in the White House.

Some Enchanted Eclair by Bailey Cates

If you want mouthwatering descriptions of food, some light witchcraft, a murder mystery, and southern accents-this is your series. From the Publisher: When Hollywood invades Savannah's historic district to film a Revolutionary War movie, magical baker Katie Lightfoot and her witches' coven, the Spellbook Club, take a break from casting spells for casting calls. One of the witches snags a part as an extra, while Katie's firefighter boyfriend, Declan, acts as on-set security. Katie and her Aunt Lucy decide to stay out of the action, but after the movie's "fixer" fires the caterer, the Honeybee Bakery comes to the rescue, working their magic to keep the hungry crew happy. But when someone fixes the fixer - permanently - and a spooky psychic predicts Katie will find the killer, the charming baker and her fellow conjurers step in to sift through the suspects - before someone else winds up on the cutting room floor.

Watched:

Paddington 2

Super cute and funny.

Father Figures-The Boys picked this one.

Yeah, The Boys picked this one too.

Read:

Charlie Hernández & The League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo

This was a really great middle great adventure filled with Latino and Hispanic mythology.  I purchased it for the Library and snuck it out before the kids saw it.

Estranged by Ethan M. Aldridge

Library copy hanging out on my new library stools! 

What would it be like to know you don't belong?  I mean, truly don't belong.  To know that you are a human amongst fay, or fay amongst humans?  To know that your family is not the one decided by birth, but rather by the whims of others?

Edmund knows that he doesn't belong with his parents and sister Alexis.  It's more than preteen angst-he isn't human.  He's able to start fires with his mind and change his appearance to look human.  But Edmund can't return home, a changeling is in his place.  The "Human Childe" is living with the royalty at Court to be shown off like a prized pet instead of a son.  

During a royal gathering, the King's sister Hawthorne returns to seek vengeance on her brother and his wife.  After watching his fay parents get turned into rats, he escapes with his page Wick, a golem, from the World Below to find the one person who can save them all-his changeling brother.  

The brothers set off to the World Below-a place that can be found below the subway tunnels. Once below, the boys realize that there is one more person who can help.  Edmund's sister Alexis followed the boys and won't let hem continue without her help.  Through a series of adventures, some which find them allies while others enemies, the boys work together to save the kingdom.  

The artwork is incredible-the World Below is very atmospheric and dark.  It took an embarrassingly long time to realize that the pages where outlined in white when the story was taking place up above and outlined in black when they were in the fay kingdom down below.  I know, I know.  The fay characters had a really unusual look to them.  The royalty were all long fingers, tall bodies, and sharp looking spiny growths on their arms and faces. There was a variety of other characters too-different animal inspired creatures with odd horns and floppy ears.  

Alexis was a really great character.  She was always understanding and supportive of both boys-she really did see both of them as being her brother.  I think that unwavering support will resonate with a lot of the kids that read this.  The human parents seemed completely oblivious.  They didn't catch on that a different kid was living with them.  There's a quick scene where a dragon-like creature is chasing the kids through a subway tunnel and little girl sees them but not her mother-she's too busy on her phone.  Parents are always oblivious.  

There's a ton of adventure going on in this book.  Hiding from scary guards, looking for secret maps, and trying to outrun dragons.  Between the magic, fighting, and dragons the story never slows down.  My son absolutely loved it and he's very picky about his books.  

Highly recommend this one-it was a really fun ride.  

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here: 

Sheets by Brenna Thummler

Marjorie Glatt has a lot on her plate.  School, taking care of her brother, running the family laundry business, sleazy businessmen, and ghosts.  She definitely doesn’t have time for ghosts.

After the death of her mother, Marjorie’s father shut down and began drinking away his grief.  This leaves Marjorie to deal with everything on her own. She’s left to care for her little brother, the housework, and the stress of high school.  

If the family is to stay afloat, Marjorie has to become the sole employee of the family laundry.  Hurrying home from school, Marjorie has to deal with impatient customers who have no sympathy for a high schooler trying to run a business and go to school.  Not only does Marjorie have to work long in to the night to get all the orders completed, she has to deal with the most disgusting and juvenile of sleazy businessmen.  Mr. Saubertuck has dreams of turning the Glatt’s Laundry in to a spa resort. True to his gross form, he doesn’t want to provide an actual business offer, instead he tries to sabotage the business by spreading rumors and tainting the laundry detergent with dye.  Unfortunately for Marjorie, his attempts at sabotage are beginning to work.

With her business constantly threatened by a shady businessman, Marjorie is at the breaking point and the last thing she needs is a ghost named Wendell. Wendell died when he was only 11 and is very lonely living in the land of ghosts.  When he discovers that Saubertuck is trying to ruin Marjorie’s business, he tries to help her out. But his attempts at helping don’t go as planned. When the other ghosts learn that he has made contact with a living person, he is faced with devastating consequences.  

Full disclosure:  I received a free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Mae Vol. 1 by Gene Ha

Loved this!

Mae's big sister Abbie disappeared nine years ago without a trace. Now in the present day, Mae is trying to live her life and take care of her sick father when a phone call from the police changes everything. Abbie is back without any warning and in jail for beating up some of the local boys at a bar. In what Mae believes is a drunken rambling story, Abbie tells her about being made Queen and overthrowing tyrants and that she carries axes to defend against monsters.  What really sounds crazy?  That she's been somewhere without a McDonald's.  Yep.  But Mae doesn't believe her sister found a new world through a mysterious portal-just found a new favorite drink at the bar. When Mae and Abbie's father goes missing, all clues point to the House of Zemetrasi from the other side of the portal. With no other options left, Mae and Abbie set out for the portal to find their missing father. Mae enters a world far different than her own where her sister is a famed warrior and chocolate is worth it's weight in silver. This is an action packed ride full of humor and heart. Amazing artwork and a compelling story that draws you in until the last page.

Mae Vol. 1 is available July 3rd from Lion Forge.

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Thank you to Netgalley and Lion Forge for the opportunity to read and review this book! 

Dark Ark Vol. 1 by Cullen Bunn and Juan Doe

I never realized how rough I was on books until I had to show them to other people...

Oh, Dark Ark, you beautifully drawn tale of how the world's worst creatures were saved alongside Noah during the Great Flood.  Picture this:  a massive ark containing vampires, werewolves, minotaurs, and blood thirsty demons.  And unicorns.  Unicorns!

Shrae and his family are on the Ark trying to survive the Great Flood.  Unfortunately for them, they are not on Noah's Ark, they are on the Dark Ark which contains every evil creature alive.  Shrae is doing his best to keep the tenuous peace, but there is no way for that last.  Allegiances between the creatures are tested when a murder occurs and everyone is a suspect.  When justice is dealt out, it becomes even more unclear as to who or what Shrae is, and why is he protecting these creatures?

The art is amazing and this story is so well told.  There are twists and turns alongside really dark humor.  I really enjoyed this one and I can't wait to see what volume two holds.  

You can get your copy, and help support the site, here:

Dark Ark

By Cullen Bunn

Buy on Amazon

Pashmina by Nidhi Chanani

This book looks even better on the shelf at the Library!

This an absolutely beautiful graphic novel! 

Priyanka Das lives with her mother in the United States.  I don't think it's ever explicitly stated where-but she flies into LAX and there are palm trees so I think California is a safe bet.  Priyanka, or Pri as she prefers, is dealing with all the usual teenage stuff-school, friends, driving lessons, and family changes. Growing up the only child and with her single mother, Pri found a surrogate father in her Uncle Jatin.  When his wife becomes pregnant for the first time, Pri finds herself spending less time with her uncle and more time questioning her mother about her previous life in India.  When her mother only offers vague answers, if she answers at all, Pri becomes hurt and frustrated.  

One night, Pri offers a selfish prayer to the goddess Shakti.  When her Uncle's baby ends up in the hospital, Pri feels responsible and cuts herself off from the family.  Opening a suitcase found in her closest, Pri comes across items from her mother's previous life in India.  When she tries on a beautiful silk shawl she is magically transported to India.  With two guides, an elephant and a bird, they travel the country taking in all the beautiful sights.  

Seeing the shawl and her new prize money from a comic book contest as a sign, Pri asks her mother to travel to India with her to see the country for real. When her mother refuses, explaining the country isn't safe and beautiful the way Pri believes, Pri feels even more isolated.  After an impulsive call to her sister, a sister she hasn't spoken to in fifteen years, Pri's mother makes arrangements for Pri to visit her Aunt and Uncle in India.  

But real-life India isn't what Pri hoped it would be.  Traffic, poverty, and a stern Uncle make her time in India tense.  Seeking to escape to her magical India, Pri tries on the shawl only to find that it doesn't work now that she is really there.   Distraught, she shows her Aunt the shawl only to have it transport her Aunt instead.  The two women go on to find the mysterious maker of the shawl and learn of it's origins.  Along the way, Pri learns about her birth father and why her mother refuses to speak of him, and how the shawl impacted her life long before she ever laid eyes on it.  

This book is beautifully written and drawn.  I really enjoyed how the art is kept black and white until the shawl transports the character, then the illustrations turn vivid and bold.  The relationship between Pri and her mother and how they both keep secrets to protect each other is very interesting.  

I really loved this book and I can't wait to get in to the hands of all the kids that come in to the Library!

You can get a copy, and help support the site, here:

Pashmina

By Nidhi Chanani

Buy on Amazon

Mean Girls Club: Pink Dawn by Ryan Heshka

THIS COVER!!!!!

This book is not for the faint of heart.  If swearing, drinking, violence and badass women are not your thing-don't pick up this book. 

It's my thing and I absolutely loved it!  I found this book after my boss circled it in one of our independent publishing catalogs we get at the Library.  She knows me well.  

From the back cover-because it's the best:  "The lascivious ladies of the Mean Girls Club have been raising a riot around town, and the cops are onto them.  Prepare for a mad-dash of boozing, skull-busting, and general mid-century mayhem as they deliver a swift stiletto-stab to the crotch of the patriarchy."

 These ladies are done with being used and hurt by others.  When their latest raid on the town gets too close to the Mayor and his pocketbook, the mayor blackmails his mechanic, the beautiful and vulnerable Roxy, to infiltrate the club and help take them down.  All Roxy wants is the vital and expensive medicine that her Grandpa needs to survive.  Left with little choice, Roxy approaches the clubhouse and is met with all the ladies and their guns.  But luckily for Roxy, the club's car Black Betsy was damaged during their last firefight with the police.  After repairing the car and then showing off her fighting skills when she's attacked by Wanda, Roxy spends the rest of the night in a drug and booze filled initiation where she learns all the backstories on the ladies and what fuels their obsession with taking down the patriarchy. 

Meanwhile, we learn that the disgusting Mayo Schlomo is in league with two cult leaders who are brainwashing the town's young girls into being subservient slaves.  When the cult leaders and the mayor set up a decency league called Reclaim Our Town, or R.O.T., the Mean Girls know they have to step in and do something.  Unfortunately, it's a trap and Roxy helped set it.  The Girls aren't led away quietly, in fact, Wanda's lines on page 58 are pretty amazing.  

The Mean Girls are now lined up in the execution chamber on display for the town to see.  At the same time, sick over her actions against the Club, Roxy finds herself at the clubhouse drinking away her grief.  When she stumbles upon the journal that tells of the club's beginnings, Roxy knows she has to do something to save the women. 

This book is so intense!  These women are not holding back anything.  The art and the writing are amazing and it's very tempting to buy another copy so I can cut some pages out and frame them.  

It's so good!

You can help support the site, and get your copy here: 

Mean Girls Club: Pink Dawn [Graphic Novel]

By Ryan Heshka

Buy on Amazon

The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

I love putting great books on the shelf!

Poor Prince Sebastian, his parents want him married and he is far from interested.  

Frances only wants to become the hottest dress designer but her designs are too daring for the public to handle.  After creating a party-stopping dress for a client, her job is threatened.  But there is one person who loved her design and comes to Frances with an offer that it is too good to be true.  And it turns out, it is too good to be true.  Her new client is Prince Sebastian!

Sebastian just wants to wear dresses and take Paris by storm as his alter ego Lady Crystallia.  With Frances as his new dressmaker, the two of them go to lavish parties where Lady Crystallia is the center of attention.  But Sebastian is still a Prince and his parents don't know about his secret night life.  Also, Frances can't tell anyone that she is the one designing all these amazing dresses because she has to safeguard Sebastian's secret.  

When the stress of society's expectations become too much for everyone, the friendship between Frances and Sebastian is put to the test. 

This story is beautifully told and is so engaging!  Since The Kid is only reading graphic novels these days, we have read a really wide variety and this one had him talking him the most.  Frances and Sebastian have such a supportive and accepting friendship.  It's one of those relationships that we need more of.  The art is beautiful and the colors are amazing and I can't wait to see more from Jen Wang.

You can get your copy here:

The Prince and the Dressmaker

By Jen Wang

Buy on Amazon

Nimona by Noelle Stevenson

Library copy of Nimona

Finding well written, Kid appropriate graphic novels can be tough.  I typically borrow 5-6 from the library's loan system, read them first, then pass them along to the Kid.  I read them for two reasons.  One, to make sure I don't do a repeat of the Deadpool incident. Two, I'm in charge of ordering books for the Youth Department at my Library.  It's research.  

This book was pulled from my bag and read before I even noticed it was missing.  The Kid was giggling the whole time he declared it awesome, medieval/futuristic, cool, and hilarious. 

The Kid was right.  This book is amazing.

We follow Nimona, a young woman who is on a mission to become the sidekick to Ballister Blackheart, a scientist/knight guy.  The world is never really explained in the book.  In fact, it felt like the world just kept changing so that the story could move forward.  Not complaining-it was very fun to follow.  Everyone wears medieval clothing and armor but there are super computers and 24 hour news channels.  In fact, at one point they discuss magic on the news.  And they question Lionheart's codpiece.  Yep. 

Anyways, Blackheart is trying to defeat his nemesis Goldenloin.  Yep, Goldenloin.  Who has long, golden hair.  They had a training session go wrong when they were younger and now Ballister has a mechanical arm.  Goldenloin works for The Institute set on world domination-or something like that.  It's called The Institute-they're bad.

While trying to prove how important to the missions she is, Ballister and Goldenloin discover that Nimona is far more blood-thirsty and dangerous than they could have imagined.  She can shape-shift in to dragons, foxes, and sleepy little cats.  When asked about her origins, Nimona tells a story fit for a book on fairy tales.  Is it true?  Who knows.  

This book was full of action, complex characters, hilarious one-liners, and really fun world building.  I mean, the lines about game night with the henchmen were perfect!  The Kid loved it, I loved it, and someone else needs to read it because I want to talk.    

Nimona

By Noelle Stevenson

Buy on Amazon