The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown

 

I did it! I finished the series before we go see the movie (later today... probably just in time to catch it in the theaters honestly. I'm a little late to the party with the books and the movie)!

In book one, Roz builds a life on the island as a wild robot, communicating and befriending animals. In book two, she's taken from that life and sent to work on a farm among humans. I felt like that covered two possible worlds really well, and was unsure what book three would be about.

In this book, Roz wants to protect her island from the poison tide before realizing it impacts all ocean wildlife and much of the rest of the natural world as well. I thought that was a really good premise, and important considering everything changing in our natural world and all the impact those somewhat gradual changes are happening.

The Wild Robot Escapes by Peter Brown

Well, it took me several tries over several years to read the first book, but I finished the second in about two days!

I think part of it was already knowing the characters... and maybe having the ticking clock of seeing the movie in theaters over my head. I've found different things online - it's just the first book, the ending is the same as book two, it covers all three, etc. I didn't know what to believe but also just got incredibly invested in the book and wanted to finish it!

Seeing Roz interact with humans was really interesting, especially as she grew closer to the children. And I liked seeing her in charge of other robots. I always love how she wins over the animals, too, so I felt like there was more action in this book, and more at stake.

I liked it more than the first, but it didn't really end on a cliffhanger like the first one did, so I'm really curious to read the third. Think I can finish it before Friday?

The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

I first tried to read The Wild Robot years ago, not long after it came out, because I was working in the public library with children and teens and wanted to stay current.

But I couldn't get into it.

I was sure it was interesting and I loved Peter Brown's picture books, but I didn't know why this wasn't hitting right for me. However, I strongly believe in the right book at the right time, so I figured it just wasn't time for me and I could come back to it later.

I tried another time, maybe four years ago, and it still wasn't drawing me in.

My son read it over the summer and loved it. Then he read the other two books in preparation for seeing the movie (books before movies - teach 'em young!). I was going to do the same, thinking that my love for comparing and contrasting books with their movies would inspire me.

Nope. I started the book in September, read a few chapters (so short! so easy to finish!) and put it down. I read dozens of books before coming back to it, no kidding.

But when I was finally determined to finish it so we could see the movie, I was completely invested! And it wasn't just because I needed to get it done to see the movie. I got into the story and fell in love with Roz and her family and friends.

There's something just so sweet and hopeful about it, everyone coming together... such a stark contrast from our current world, I suppose. And even when bad things happened, Roz was positive and either tried to change things or accepted them. Certainly a timely message, and one I needed to read.

Now I have books two and three waiting for me, and I can't wait to dive in!

Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers edited by Judy Blume

Places I Never Meant to Be: Original Stories by Censored Writers edited by Judy Blume

After reading Rachel Vail for the first time since middle school, I wanted to see what else the library had of hers, and this anthology came up. I've read books from many of these authors and, as a short story lover, was excited to see what they did with the form.

Each writer also included a brief essay about censorship. A quote from Rachel Vail stood out to me: "But I had made a vow to myself when I was a teenager that I would never forget, and never disrespect, the intensity of the adolescent experience, the power and terror of being a person actively creating herself."

I love that idea, and think it goes well beyond adolescence. Aren't we always actively creating ourselves? If not, I think that quote is certainly inspiration to do so.

But overall, I’m sad this book is still relevant. Let people read what they want to read. Don't parent other people's kids. Don't ban books. Let people make their own choices. Etc etc etc. I could turn this into a full-blown rant, but I won't. That said, I liked reading a bunch of different YA stories in one collection, and the essays authors shared about censorship and why they write were powerful.

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

How to Survive Your Murder by Danielle Valentine

Alice Lawrence’s life is a wreck—her family’s fallen apart, she’s living in a sad little apartment that smells like bologna, and, worst of all, she’s the only witness in her sister’s murder case. Claire, her sister, was everything Alice wasn’t: popular, gorgeous, and the star of the theater, while Alice was the quiet, horror-movie-loving science nerd. But they were inseparable—until Claire was killed.

Now, as Alice heads to court to testify against the man she’s sure killed her sister, something unbelievable happens. She’s attacked in the courthouse bathroom, and when she wakes up... it’s a year earlier, on Halloween night, the night Claire was murdered. Alice has until midnight to change the course of history and stop her sister’s killer.

This title absolutely grabbed me (and then the R.L. Stine quote made me feel strangely squeamish... just me?). I'm not big into horror movies or final girl concepts but the way it was written definitely seemed like something I could see on the screen. However... the ending?

Wait, before I go there, can I share something petty? I kept forgetting this book was basically set over a few hours (that infamous midnight deadline) because so much was happening. And I understand a lot can happen in a few hours, like in some of the horror movies mentioned in the book, but it just dragged out a lot for me. I kept wondering why, and then I realized it was the weather.

I know weather can change quickly, especially in fall and in Nebraska, but it went from being a perfect day with "all that glorious October sun" to, at the climax, "Snowflakes have begun to fall, the mushy, wet kind that are almost rain and melt the second they hit the ground."

Okay, I buy that it could start to snow on Halloween. Yet in the next paragraph, "The snow has almost covered the yard..." But didn't it melt the second it hit the ground? Because that was just said in the previous paragraph... 

I know it's petty in the scheme of things and not my biggest issue with the book, but it pulled me out of the climax to the point where I was flipping back to the front. I realize weather can change on a dime and it can go from sunny to snow in Nebraska, but explain the melting yet covering the yard.

NOW, to the juicy part. The ending. Spoilers ahead!

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado

No Filter and Other Lies by Crystal Maldonado

As a fan of the MTV show Catfish, this young adult novel of catfishing caught my attention based on the title alone. My Instagram is (thankfully) all books and writing, so I don't have to worry about filtering myself to draw in an audience. I do understand the desire to get attention for your work and talent, though, so Kat's story of being a photographer drew me in. I was a photographer long before Instagram existed so I didn't have to worry about getting likes, but that didn't make Kat's story any less relatable.

One of my favorite things about this book was how normalized everything was and how realistic that made it feel. Kat is plus-sized and so is her female love interest. Despite being unsure if she's bi early in the book, her sexuality is normalized and no one freaks out about it. I also love that her closest friends were guys and they were portrayed as humans, skipping out on stereotypes. Her trendy blond friend that she uses as her profile photo also isn't a stereotype. The unique family situation was also refreshing to read; I haven't seen one like this in a book before.

My total favorite thing about this book was that there were so many ways the story could have unraveled, and the way it happened was one I hadn't thought of! I won't share spoilers, but think about how using an anti-social media coworker's photos as your fake profile could blow up in your face! I kept thinking X would happen, or maybe Y, or Z? And then it was 3! Okay, that's just random and silly, but you get the idea.

I think the build-up to the catfishing (which her friends eventually call Katfishing) was a bit slow, though I understand the need to set the scene and make it feel imperative and natural that Kat chose to do this to her friend and coworker. But there were several places where the book lagged a bit and I wish those were cut out to keep the anxiety pumping as the reader worried about Kat's future.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen

On the surface, the Barclays appear to be a picture-perfect family, but underneath, they’ve spun a tangled web of lies.

When their young nanny falls to her death—was it an accident or something darker?—things spiral out of control. Nine-year-old Rose, who witnessed the fall during her parents’ bitter divorce, has gone silent and developed a chilling habit of collecting sharp objects. Enter Stella Hudson, a lawyer tasked with uncovering who’s a victim and who’s a potential murderer. But good luck finding the truth when everyone’s hiding something.

Stella usually avoids clients under thirteen because of her own troubled past, but her mentor, a respected judge, insists she’s the only one who can handle this case.

The moment she steps through the ornate iron gate of the Barclays' lavish DC mansion, Stella realizes things are more twisted than she imagined. The house feels eerily plastic, devoid of glass.

As she digs deeper into the secrets the Barclays are desperate to keep hidden, Stella finds herself in a dangerous game where her past collides with the present. Everyone’s a suspect in the nanny’s death: the mom, the dad, the grandmother, the nanny’s boyfriend, and even little Rose. Can Stella protect the girl who might just be the one she needs to watch out for?

I love books that make you suspect everyone, and this certainly did the trick. Not only does Pekkanen make you distrust the entire Barclay family, you also start to distrust the people she’s working with in a professional capacity. 

I had no clue who did what and who was going to betray Stella until the end of this book, which is always a good sign, in my opinion. I hate figuring out the mystery too early, as satisfying as it may be to get it right. I think the ending here was really touching and hopeful, too.

I'm Just No Good at Rhyming by Chris Harris

I'm Just No Good at Rhyming by Chris Harris is such a fun read! The poems are super silly and made me laugh out loud. Harris has a great way with words, and the illustrations by Lane Smith are hilarious and fit perfectly with the poems.

What I love is that it’s not just for kids—adults will get a kick out of it too! So many poems kicked off my imagination or made me want to send a snapshot of the page to friends. One of my favorites was "What Happened to Us Monsters? (The Mummy's Lament)" that follows Dracula, Wolf Man, Cyclops, the Blob, etc, as they age.

Speaking of age, this is one that I feel like will resonate with adults just as much as kids:

The Remarkable Age

Ah, what a remarkable age that you're in:

Right now you're the oldest that you've ever been—

And yet, you will never be this young again.

So dance, and be happy! Greet life with a grin!

You've the best of both worlds, youth and wisdom, within. 

This book is perfect for a quick, light-hearted read, whether you're reading to kids or just want something fun for yourself. If you're in the mood for some good laughs, definitely check it out! I read it in one sitting to wind down at the end of the day.

PS: This interview with the author is a good read, if you've read the book, want to read the book, or just like How I Met Your Mother.