Review: Angry Birds / Transformers: Age of Eggstinction by John Barber

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

When the Transformers lose their powerful Allspark, it ends up on Piggie Island — and the world of Angry Birds turns robotic! Prepare to meet… the AUTOBIRDS and DECEPTIHOGS!

MY TAKE:
I thought the idea of an Angry Birds and Transformers crossover was cool, so I just had to read this one.

In Angry Birds / Transformers: Age of Eggstinction, the Allspark ends up on Piggy Island, transforming the pigs into Deceptihogs and the birds into Autobirds. At first, the birds and pigs are still fighting over the eggs. Before long, however, they realize that the Allspark is doing something strange to Piggy Island and the eggs. Now they must work together to put a stop to all this and save Piggy Island.

As I expected, there were some very funny lines here. The birds and pigs got themselves into odd situations, so it was really ripe for comedy.

I thought the plot was pretty interesting, and the idea of making the birds and pigs to be bird- and pig-versions of the Transformer characters instead of becoming new versions of Decepticons and Autobots was a good call. However, there were times wherein I would get confused as to who a particular pig was when he wasn't a Deceptihog, and what his name was as a Deceptihog. The birds were easier to identify, although in my head, I referred to most of them by what they were called as regular angry birds. It really helps to be familiar with the names and looks of the Autobots and Decepticons, because with everything going on, things can get confusing.

I liked how the panels and dialogue were laid out, as they seemed to make things even more action-packed and dynamic. The colors, though, for some reason, seemed a little less bright than what I'm used to seeing from Angry Birds comic books.

Thanks to NetGalley and IDW Publishing for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It's an Angry Birds and Transformers crossover.
2. There are some truly funny lines.
3. The plot is clever. 

THE BAD:

1. It can be confusing to try and remember which bird and pig represented which Autobot and Decepticon. 

READ IT IF:

1. If you're a fan of Transformers.
2. If you like Angry Birds.
3. You like crossover books and shows.

RATING:


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Review: The Proof and the Pudding: What Mathematicians, Cooks, and You Have in Common by Jim Henle

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Tie on your apron and step into Jim Henle’s kitchen as he demonstrates how two equally savory pursuits—cooking and mathematics—have more in common than you realize. A tasty dish for gourmets of popular math, The Proof and the Pudding offers a witty and flavorful blend of mathematical treats and gastronomic delights that reveal how life in the mathematical world is tantalizingly similar to life in the kitchen.
Take a tricky Sudoku puzzle and a cake that fell. Henle shows you that the best way to deal with cooking disasters is also the best way to solve math problems. Or take an L-shaped billiard table and a sudden desire for Italian potstickers. He explains how preferring geometry over algebra (or algebra over geometry) is just like preferring a California roll to chicken tikka masala. Do you want to know why playfulness is rampant in math and cooking? Or how to turn stinky cheese into an awesome ice cream treat? It’s all here: original math and original recipes plus the mathematical equivalents of vegetarianism, Asian fusion, and celebrity chefs.
Pleasurable and lighthearted, The Proof and the Pudding is a feast for the intellect as well as the palate.
Jim Henle is the Myra M. Sampson Professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Smith College. His books include Sweet Reason: A Field Guide to Modern Logic and Calculus: The Language of Change. He lives in Northampton, Massachusetts.

MY TAKE:
Although I like math, I tend to shy away from math books like these since they tend to be boring.

In The Proof and the Pudding: What Mathematicians, Cooks, and You Have in Common, the author shows readers the parallelisms of math and cooking. The book includes math puzzles and games, as well as recipes created by the author which readers can try at home.

The book was certainly successful in making me see the similarities between math and cooking. The one that stuck to me, especially, was how attitude and confidence was the most important thing when tackling math problems and cooking. That's certainly a helpful lesson for people, particularly those who aren't all that confident about mathematics.

The whole tone of the book was more inspirational than reference-like. The writing was funny, sometimes sarcastic, and was a little bit like Leonard-meets-Sheldon (from Big Bang Theory). This, plus the addition of recipes, kept the book from being boring.

The book will appeal mostly to math enthusiasts and cooking enthusiasts, obviously. Additional examples of puzzles and such can be found in a special website for the book. The recipes, on the other hand, look delicious and worth trying if you have the inclination to cook.

It wasn't an exact fit for me, so I wasn't fully into it. However, I do appreciate and like how I was able to feel the author's passion for mathematics practically pour out from the page. That kind of enthusiasm helps make the subject more fun and interesting, and helps make me feel more excited about the subjects discussed as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and Princeton University Press for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The author's passion is contagious.
2. The recipes look doable and like they'll produce delicious food.
3. It makes math look fun.

THE BAD:

1. If math isn't your strong point, you may find your attention wandering a few times. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like mathematics.
2. You like cooking.
3. You like books that make boring subjects more fun. 

RATING:


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Teaser Tuesday

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

“Isn't Bunson's training evil geniuses?"
"Yes, mostly."
"Well, is that wise? Having a mess of seedling evil geniuses falling in love with you willy-nilly? What if they feel spurned?"
"Ah, but in the interim, think of the lovely gifts they can make you. Monique bragged that one of her boys made her silver and wood hair sticks as anti-supernatural weapons. With amethyst inlay. And another made her an exploding wicker chicken."
"Goodness, what's that for?"
Dimity pursed her lips. "Who doesn't want an exploding wicker chicken?”   

Review: Glance Backward HC by Tony Sandoval

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Sean Wu had no idea of the secrets kept by his estranged father — until his death kicked open the gates to a mysterious world of international tomb robbers and ageless myths! Now the sole heir to this critical legacy, he must survive the darkest terrors haunting the most sought after treasures buried within a globe-spanning labyrinth of ancient catacombs in order to solve his father’s murder and perhaps even save the world… Based on the best-selling Chinese novel series Daomu Journal, written by Xu “Kennedy” Lei, this original graphic novel collects the sold-out series created by the celebrated art directors at Concept Art House, with over 20 million fans declaring Xu ‘China’s Stephen King’.
This 244-page hardcover features a soft-touch textured cover with embossed elements, highlighting the strikingly rendered painted artwork on both front and back cover. The epic storyline is supplemented by concept artwork and additional design material further exploring the world of Daomu.

MY TAKE:
I was quite excited to read this graphic novel after reading the summary.

In Glance Backward, a young boy enters a strange world where nothing is as it seems. He would love nothing more than to get back home but it's not that easy, especially since he is also being hunted by a beast.

Because I don't reread the summary before reading e-ARCs I've already downloaded, I was confused at first by the copy I received. I was sure that I was excited about this one, but until I reread the summary that I realized that the book was 244 pages long and the copy I received was only 90 pages. There wasn't anything on the NetGalley page to indicate that this was only a preview or sample either. That aside, I thought that this was an interesting book.

From what I saw of the book, it was very surreal. It was like being in a dream, and not the fun kind either. It's the kind of book that Tim Burton could easily turn into a film.

I don't think I can truly comment on the plot accurately since I only saw less than half of the book. However, from what I saw, it's dark, avant garde, and a tad morbid. It's absolutely perfect for any horror fan. The thing is, though, I am hesitant to recommend it to the younger horror fans. There's a sort of graphic scene here that I found a bit disturbing, which was thankfully tempered by the use of dark colors.

Overall, the book does look promising, but the style may not appeal to more mainstream fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and Magnetic Press for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The style is perfect for the story.
2. Horror fans will love this.
3. It's something new.

THE BAD:

1. It can get morbid and graphic sometimes. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like horror.
2. You like odd adventure tales.
3. You are looking for a thriller. 

RATING:


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In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

FROM NETGALLEY:

Pro Wrestling FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the World's Most Entertaining Spectacle by Brian Solomon
Undertow by Michael Buckley

Review: Material Girls by Elaine Dimopoulos

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Project Runway meets Divergent in this insightful young adult novel that looks at fashion and consumerism in a world where children are the gatekeepers of culture and staying young and trendy are the keys to success.

MY TAKE:
The Project Runway-meets-Divergent comparison had me intrigued so I couldn't pass this book up.

In Material Girls, Marla is a hotshot judge who is part of a group that approves clothes and trends for one of the Big Five fashion houses. Ivy is a superstar, wild-child singer who isn't happy with the image she is being forced to maintain. Their worlds meet soon enough and things look up for both of them. However, the powers-that-be have other things in mind.

To be honest, the first third or so of the book, I wasn't really feeling the story. There was plenty of fashion, which was cool, but their world and society felt so shallow that I was worried about the logic behind their society's rules and what kind of resolution it would have.

The explanations for the slang, the society's structure, etc. came slowly but once I understood what the point of the society was, I was actually quite impressed.

Trends are not only a fashion thing. For example, for awhile, there was a vampire-books trend, and currently, there's a dystopian YA book trend. While it's these trends and how silly they tend to be are the focus points of the story, this book also talks about more important things. Like sustainable clothing, like how wasteful fashion and following trends can be, and also, surprisingly, unions.

The interesting thing about this book is that the society's creepy, controlling aspects actually exist in our world today, although they're probably just a little bit exaggerated here. I found this to be a very good thing because the book does make you care about the issues like unfair treatment of laborers. The younger generations, or really anyone who has lived a fairly sheltered life, can learn a lot here and hopefully, they'll learn to care and ask questions and learn more about the world around them.

While I liked the book overall, I think my teenage and pre-teen self would have liked this even more. I had a Captain Planet phase for awhile back then, plus Ivy and Marla most definitely think like teenagers. I found that while I remembered feeling the way they did, it didn't really strike a chord in me anymore. I was cheering them on, though. As for their love interest, I was actually kind of meh about him. I didn't dislike him or anything, but I felt like Ivy and Marla's personalities were too big for him, and to me he just kind of faded into the background most times.

Thanks to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It actually has something to say, and not just some abstract concept that's been rehashed before.
2. There's plenty of fashion.
3. Young girls can learn a lot from this book. 

THE BAD:

1. The alternating use of first-person voice and third-person voice can be confusing and odd to some.

READ IT IF:

1. You like fashion.
2. You like books that raise awareness of something that people need to know and care about.
3. You like reality television. 

RATING:


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Review: Gabby Duran and the Unsittables by Elise Allen, Daryle Connors

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Ages 8-12
Case File: The First Unsittable
Summary: The Association Linking Intergalatics and Earthlings (hereby known as A.L.I.E.N.) has a new member. After months of investigation, Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, has proven herself to be a babysitter extraordinaire. Her celebrity clients fly her around the country to care for their rambunctious little humans. Our spy, Associate 4118-23432B, otherwise known as Edwina, believes Gabby can be trusted with the truth: aliens are living among humans on Earth. And here at A.L.I.E.N we believe that even extraterrestrials need a babysitter now and then. No one was up to the task until now.
After accepting the top-secret position, Edwina has paired our new associate up with her first charge, a little girl from the planet Flarknartia. The timing for associate 4118-25125A is less than ideal. It's a school day on Planet Earth, Gabby's audition for the solo part in the band is tonight, and this tiny alien is a bit more than meets the eye.
Can Gabby Duran, Associate 4118-25125A, First Sitter to the Unsittables, keep her otherworldly charge safe in the unpredictable halls of middle-school and keep A.L.I.E.N hidden?

MY TAKE:
I don't usually read featuring aliens, but I'm glad I gave this one a try.

In Gabby Duran and the Unsittables, Gabby is a babysitter who is well-known for being able to take care of kids who some may consider unsittable. Her reputation attracts the attention of A.L.I.E.N. and they enlist her services to babysit alien children. Gabby is confident she can do the job, but the alien children are the least of her worries. A shadowy organization is bent on getting rid of aliens, and if they knew of Gabby's connection to A.L.I.E.N., things could get dicey for her and her charges.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit like Men in Black meets Babysitters Club. I'm not a fan of scary aliens, and I prefer my aliens cute and funny. The aliens in this book certainly are that. Wutt is such a cutie pie! I also thought her shape-shifting ability was fitting and made the story more interesting.

The whole idea of an organization that protects aliens and a group that does the opposite isn't exactly new. However, it doesn't matter in this instance. Everything works together perfectly such that even concepts that have been done before feel perfect for the story and its feel and pacing.

Aside from the aliens' varying talents and abilities, the biggest draw and asset of this book is Gabby. She is a sweet, charming little girl who has a good heart, but has desires and faults just like any other girl. I'm sure there are plenty of little girls out there who will be able to relate to her.

I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The aliens are mostly charming and sweet.
2. The pacing was perfect.
3. Gabby is likable. 

THE BAD:

1. The next book won't come out for a while. 

READ IT IF:

1. You or your child likes aliens that are mostly on the nice side.
2. Your child wants to babysit someday.
3. Your kid likes adventure novels. 

RATING:


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