Mary Ann Fraser

With a main character, who does the make-up for the dead, this is a tale which dances in the shadows with grace and mysterious allure.

Lily's family owns a small, local morgue, and while she's still a high school student, she's also responsible for preparing the deceased for viewing. She takes her job to heart and gives her all, but then, she always has felt more comfortable being around the dead than the living...something which she's been bullied for all of her life. Her father wants her to show more continue the business, although it's going under, but she's not sure she wants to, anyway. When an estate several blocks away literally explodes, she saves a boy, whose memory is half missing. He seems to be her long-lost childhood friend, who strangely disappeared years before.

The beginning of this book is so grabbing. Lily is a teen but works every free moment at her family's morgue and prepares bodies for the viewings. It's a strange job, but Lily is talented, has a heart of gold, and pays the dead a respect that can only be admired. Her insecurities and awkwardness in the real-life social arena make her easy to identify with and a true heroine to root for. She has everything a good character needs to be likable until the end. Add the exploding house and mystery around a strange boy she rescues, and it starts out with a bang.

This is a woven tale, which allows the characters to gain depth, personality and face their own problems, while focusing on Lily as she learns to accept herself and find her own voice in the world. As this more personal, character development unfolds, the author brews a mystery in the background, which wraps in a bit of intrigue along with it. This makes the book feel as if it has two plots. The first half of the book gets the tale going on Lily's personal side, but then falls into the more tense mystery and intrigue toward the second half.

There's a lot happening in this read with Lily's inner development, her family, relations with her friends, and Adam's mystery. And I think this is what also caused a slight lull about one-third of the way through. The author spends quite a bit of time building the relationship between Lily and Adam, and allowing Lilly to gain quite a bit of depth, before diving into the action, kidnappings, dark SUVs, and danger. The ending wrapped everything up a little quickly and did skip over a bit of logic, but I still enjoyed it quite a bit and appreciate the originality of it all.

In other words, this is a read, which includes both something for character depth fans as well as acting and intrigue lovers. It's bitter sweet, dark, has teen-angst, a touching romance, and dives deep into the problem of learning to be true to yourself. And all of that with a flair of its own.
I received an ARC and enjoyed the read quite a bit. show less

Brother and sister Sam and Daphne head to the Heebie-Jeebie Jamboree one Halloween night in this entertaining holiday picture book from author/illustrator Mary Ann Fraser. Held in the local graveyard, this spooky spectacle was put on by the local monsters, and included fun rides—a merry-go-round with skeleton horses!—a circus with gross treats like eyes cream, a witches' brew-off, and a fun crypt. Also on offer were a goblin pie contest, a haunted house, and a spectral rock-and-rock show more concert. As the night drew to a close, and everything faded away, the children headed home, tired but happy...

Heebie-Jeebie Jamboree is the first book I have read from Fraser, whose work was unknown to me when I picked it up from my library's Halloween display a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it quite a bit, appreciating the author's inventive Halloween take on classic fun fair activities. The accompanying artwork, done in acrylics, was colorful and fun, with a speckled quality that at times made me think of the pointillist technique. In any case, while this isn't destined to become one of my own holiday favorites, it does offer solid Halloween fun, and is one I recommend to picture book audiences with a taste for tastes that are a little but spooky and a lot bit fun. show less

From cave man designs to modern day street art, readers learn about the every-changing world of wall murals.

Already on the opening page of contents, the wide range of wall art explored in this book is revealed. Thumb-print photos are pinned by location on a map of the world, fitting to the chapters listed below, which highlight each one. Starting with the Cave of the Hands in Argentina, works from Egypt, Italy, Afghanistan, and more are explored with actual images of the artwork and fairly show more detailed descriptions to their creation and possible purposes. At the end, the author opens the door with a chapter about what the future might hold as well as a section on preservation of these artworks.

Starting from the very beginning with the mural artwork found from prehistoric times, the variety of artwork through the ages and it's importance are discussed. Some of these are well-known; others will surprise. The text stays in a somewhat casual tone, letting the facts flow with the atmosphere of a conversation, but it is still a very information based read and comes across as such. So, it is for the older age group and aimed at those, who want to learn more about this form of artwork. This can be used for an art theme in classrooms (even just a chapter or two) and does offer a nice basis for homeschool settings exploring this direction.

The information isn't focused on dates and places. Instead, it takes a rounder view. I enjoyed how the author discloses possible materials and techniques used to form each work. The surrounding culture and intentions are also looked at, staying within the realm of the art piece. Other events and interesting tidbits are added, too, which offer insights into broader art trends in the area, things which might have affected the piece over time, and surprising insights, which aren't usually mentioned. It creates a rich mix, which goes beyond the usual facts.

Each chapter not only holds a photo of the artwork but includes colorful illustrations, which reinforce the other pieces of information being revealed. These stick to a colorful and simpler style, reminding a bit of picture book illustrations. This loosens up the atmosphere, since the text does carry quite a bit of knowledge. These also help bring across the information with more clarity.

This is a wonderful resource for anyone interested in discovering more about mural art and hits the intended audience level well. show less

I almost returned this to the library without reading it. I tried it a couple of times but put it down. I did decide to finally read it though.

The research is good. The account seems honest. I appreciate the inclusion of several less than laudable aspects of how this project came to be and then was carried out.

It covers quite a bit about what happened. Maybe too much and too shallowly? I wanted more details. There are a lot of tidbits and short sections.

As a young elementary school student, show more I would have enjoyed this book as a history lesson. It did read like the kind of book I would have read for school. As an entertainment/informative text reading as an adult I wasn’t as enthusiastic about it.

I have always loved trains and had interest in the building of the first transcontinental railroad. This book might fully satisfy its intended audience of elementary ages school children. For me as an adult now I will need to seek out another book or film. This was a good introduction to the subject though. I do think it was a bit dry.

The illustrations are done in a realistic style. They’re not exactly to my artistic taste but I think they were a wise choice because the book is non-fiction and I think the reader does get a good feel for how things would have looked back then. The pictures are interesting and vivid and help tell the story.

I’m glad I read it but I appreciated it more than I liked it. It’s definitely well done and has useful information as extras at the end of the book and a great map in the front. show less