4 Stars. The framework for this graphic novel seems a bit odd at first. An artificial intelligence guides the girls through important times and places, beginning with Sumer in 3000 BCE. That framework does serve to tie everything together though. The "story" basically consists of brief biographical sketches of women from all over [...]
3 Stars. I expected something like The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, which sets the bar awfully high. There's a superficial similarity in the plot summary but that's as far as any resemblance goes. There's plenty of action to kick off this trilogy but it's action that doesn't seem to be relevant to the main story. I didn't know [...]
3 Stars. I really liked the first half of the book. Charlotte is feisty, if a bit too practical, and she's creative in addressing the mill's myriad problems. I wondered how the author was going to weave Rumpelstiltskin into the tale but she did it beautifully. The village of Shearing, like any self-respecting small town, is full [...]
3.5 Stars. I really enjoyed this concept and these characters, but I wish the storyline had been tightened up a bit. Alice's whole first mission (Or maybe two? I've waited a bit too long on my review) ultimately felt like filler. There's some setup for the main conflict and the worldbuilding element but that part really could [...]
4.5 Stars. Shirin is so relatable, despite our obvious differences. Who wouldn’t be angry and withdrawn after all she’s experienced, especially when she was born in the US and speaks better English and gets better grades than most of the people who give her a hard time? "I’m tired as hell, Mr. Jordan. I’ve been trying to educate [...]
4 Stars. It's no secret that I'm a big fan of The Lunar Chronicles (especially on audio), so when I stumbled on these books at the library, I had to bring them home. Iko has always been sort of the comic relief of the series for me. Even if she isn't truly being funny, she still generally provides lighter moments when the story [...]
4 Stars. I love this series so much! Goldie can be annoyingly cocky sometimes but her friends keep her grounded. The mysteries are fun and somehow remind me of cartoons I would watch as kid. The diverse cast of characters is a delight. There were some new illustrators added into the mix in these two volumes. There are some [...]
4 Stars. Volume Two was still a strong entry in this series but it didn't charm me quite as completely as the first collection did. I enjoyed reading a bit more about Goldie's mom but Goldie herself came across as a bit of an attention-seeker and a brat this time around. It wasn't enough to completely turn me off but it was a [...
5 Stars. Oh my goodness! This is so stinking cute and smart! I was never a big mystery reader as a kid. I could never guess "whodunnit" and that irritated me. Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys were practically nonstarters for me. I wish Goldie Vance had been around back in the day because she would have turned me into a mystery reader for sure! [...]
4 Stars. I grabbed this on a whim as I was prowling through my library's shelves last week. Who can resist a bright and cheerful cover that also portrays monsters? Not me. This was really cute and contained important messages about friendship; overcoming self-doubt; and living for your own ideals of happiness, not those dictated [...]