francescadefreitas's reviews from LibraryThing

Sisters red by Jackson Pearce

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:33:07 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "A version of Little Red Riding Hood in a modernish setting. Scarlett is horribly scarred defending her little sister from a werewolf attack, and dedicates her life to wiping out the wolves that prey on girls. Rosie joins her on her hunting expeditions, but is stifled by her sister's obsession. A boy from their childhood shows up, Rosie falls in love, and the sisters start to have separate lives. The setting is modern day, but the girls are so isolated from other human beings that the modern world doesn't seem to really exist. And there are undercurrents of modern girls, with their perfume, make up, and giggles, asking for the wolves to kills them. The romance was standard scripty, and the mystery was easily predictable. Scarlett is potentially an interesting character, and I would have liked to see her develop more, instead of being a collection of scars."
New York : Little, Brown, 2010.

The trolls by Polly Horvath

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:16:41 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "When weird Aunt Sally comes to babysit, Melissa, Amanda and PeeWee become accustomed to the unexpected, including very desirable green beans building schemes, and mysterious stories of their father's childhood on Vancouver Island. Entirely amusing and a titch creepy, this is a lovely family story."
[New York] : Listening Library, 2009.

The true meaning of Smekday by Adam Rex

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:17:05 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "Tip is driving across the US in the aftermath of an alien invasion. Her only companion - one aliens, on the run from his own kind. of the Plenty of humor and character development mix together is this road trip, girl/alien bromance, and post-invasion survival story. Very, very funny."
New York : Listening Library, 2010.

The wake of the Lorelei Lee being an account of the adventures of Jacky Faber on her way to Botany Bay by L. A. Meyer

Sun, 04 Dec 2011 17:17:31 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "Jacky and Jaime are split up again, sentenced for treason, and sent on different prison ships bound for Botany Bay. Hilarity and disaster ensue, include a false marriage, Chinese pirate queens, and last minute rescues. Wonderfully read audiobook, as usual."
Roseland : Listen & Live Audio, Inc., 2010.

Outside in by Maria V. Snyder

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:07:51 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: " This was a very credible continuation of the first book, Trella's reaction to society-building after her rebellion, and the difficulty integrating the two groups of insiders rang true. I had a little bit of difficulty tracking the alliances of some new characters, but on the whole it made sense. Two things bugged me. I was frustrated by Trella's reaction to the possibility that the doctor was her mother, I would have been much more explodey and wanting to know details, and I would have read the file from the first book. Second, we never find out why the Outsiders were sent away. Their origin story was left unresolved."
Don Mills, Ont. : Harlequin Teen, c2011.

Inside out by Maria V. Snyder

Wed, 14 Dec 2011 17:07:32 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "I enjoyed this. I was prepared to be blase, as I feel I have read quite deeply in the society trapped in a confined space genre, but I didn't find it cliched, and I cared about Trella. As for the reality of outside, silly me, I didn't see it coming at all!"
Don Mills, Ont. : Harlequin Teen, c2010.

Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:55:09 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "Caitlin and her father struggle to deal with the death of Caitlin's older brother and main protector in a school shooting. I didn't find Caitlin's and her Asperger's syndrome as engaging as I have found other characters with Asperger's. I was disappointed."
New York : Philomel Books, 2010.

Princess Academy by Shannon Hale

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:54:28 -0500

francescadefreitas's review: "Tradition gone wrong indicates that a prince must marry a girl from a poor mining village, and village girls are rounded up and taken to a remote manor to learn how to be princesses. But education provides more than smooth dance steps and elegant curtsies, the girls learn information that they might be able to stop the exploitation of their village."
London : Bloomsbury Children's, 2009.

Departure Time by Truus Matti

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:34:24 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "A girl is devastated by the death of her father, a girl who has lost her name arrives at a hotel in a desert, there is music, a rat, and a fox. This story dips in and out of time and in and out of imagination, weaving together a beautiful whole. Magical realism is the closest genre I can find for it - it also reminded me of the film The Fall. I liked the subtle European setting, the deft translation, and the all of the main characters. I'd give this to middle school readers who enjoy mysterious twists and a touch of magic."
namelos (2010), Paperback, 216 pages

The earth, my butt, and other big, round things by Carolyn Mackler

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:59:48 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "I enjoyed this book, and it is the first I've read that touches on how date rape might affect the family of the rapist as well as the victim. But overall, the story wasn't terribly memorable."
Cambridge, MA : Candlewick Press, 2003.

Boy toy by Barry Lyga

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:58:00 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "There is nothing comfortable about this book. I was completely pulled into Josh's world - both young Josh, believing he is seducing his teacher, and teen Josh, just barely surviving in a world where his most private affairs are a matter of public record. The horror of Josh's months of abuse is almost overshadowed by the resulting years of emotional exclusion by his parents, teachers and peers. Even reading with an adult's eye, I felt my opinions also change as Josh reevaluated his views on love, family, and friendship. I'd give this to older teens interested in realistic fiction."
Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 2007.

Hereville : how Mirka got her sword by Barry Deutsch

Thu, 28 Jul 2011 15:55:35 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "I loved the art and I loved the story. Mirka battles a troll in a most unexpected way to earn her sword."
New York, NY : Amulet Books, 2010.

Dark emperor & other poems of the night by Joyce Sidman

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:01:00 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "I enjoyed these poems more than my toddler, but he really enjoyed the illustrations of forest creatures preparing for the night's activities. This was a nice mix of poetry, wildlife information, and art."
Boston [Mass.] : Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2010.

Mind in the making : the seven essential life skills every child needs by Ellen Galinsky

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:35 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "I found this unsatisfying - I had read more in depth books on many of the topics. But I might recommend it to someone sticking their toe in the water of the child development ocean."
New York : HarperStudio, 2010.

Please, baby, please / by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee ; illustrated by Kadir Nelson by Spike Lee

Mon, 02 May 2011 13:22:14 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "I love, love, love this! As the hours of the day pass, Baby's mother begs her to behave. Kadir Nelson's illustrations perfectly capture the independence of this little girl, as she follows her own path through the day, not going to sleep, eating her peas, or sitting still in the bath."
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c2002.

Chiggers by Hope Larson

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 17:24:37 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "A simple summer camp story, with all the camp trappings, friendship, growing up, popularity and the lack of it. Abby's relationships have the intensity that only the compressed time of summer camp can give. I'd give this to middle school girls who are looking for a realistic story - and I wonder if the graphic novel format might help hook in reluctant readers."
New York [N.Y.] : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c2008.

Dogs by Emily Gravett

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:05:44 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "'I love dogs...' and a detailed and splendidly illustrated list of dogs followed, contrasted by appearance or personality - stripy dogs and spotty dogs, stroppy dogs and soppy dogs. Liam especially loves the endpapers with its labelled dog breeds. He's surprised more than one owner at the dog park by shouting out 'Chinese crested' and 'Dachshund' at appropriate times."
London : Macmillan Children's, 2009.

How do dinosaurs say goodnight? by Jane Yolen

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:05:56 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "Hilarious! A set of examples of very bold dinosaurs refusing to go to bed - followed by the reality of dinosaurs giving nice kisses, tucking in their tails and going to sleep. The art in this is amazing, the frazzled parents, and the dinosaurs with pitch perfect toddler body language under their scales."
New York : Blue Sky Press, 2000.

I love my daddy by Sebastien Braun

Mon, 23 May 2011 00:06:11 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: "This book is adorable. Simple text and pictures show a Daddy bear and all the things he does for his baby - waking him, feeding him, washing him, playing with him. It ends with Daddy bear sleeping with a smiling baby in his arms saying "i love my Daddy'. The pictures are gorgeous with just enough detail to be interesting for multiple re-readings."
New York : HarperCollins, 2004.

Enchanted glass by Diana Wynne Jones

Wed, 25 May 2011 14:49:00 -0400

francescadefreitas's review: " I am so sorry to finish one of my last new Diana Wynne Jones stories. A great deal of my love of literature has roots in early reading of her books. And this book was in flying form - a quiet story with hazy memory and hazy vision, where kind people softly battle monsters, and domestic rituals have unsuspected power. I enjoyed every moment in this village, while Andrew and Aiden come to terms with their inheritances."
London : HarperCollins Children's, 2010.