Book Review: Jane Austen

Jane Austen by Mª Isabel Sánchez Vegara

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series from Frances Lincoln Children's Books is absolutely wonderful! Featuring famous women from history we are treated to the life, challenges and successes of one woman per book in the Little People, Big Dreams series. This edition is #11 in the series and it features Jane Austen. How perfect for a book to be about Jane; given that she gave us some of the most beloved stories ever.
I like how the drawings and words are sophisticated enough without being too difficult for even a 4-year-old to enjoy when read to. It's particularly great that the book points out how Austen was not allowed to do the things her brothers did and did not put her name on her books. I think the average little girl will ask why to the reader, so be prepared to answer why Jane didn't use her real name.

Overall this is a lovely little book. And I look forward to more of the books in this series including those on Lucy Maud Montgomery, Marie Curie or Amelia Earhart. There are so few women in history that our little girls can truly look up to, and it can be difficult for children to understand how different the world was before, or even is now depending on the ethnicity, race, class, etc. that the child is born into. These books are an excellent way to inspire children to be anything they want to be; even if someone tries to tell them they can't.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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Book Review: Anna at the Art Museum

Anna At the Art Museum by Hazel Hutchins


This is a beautiful, brilliant and creatively educational children's book. I love that almost everyone can likely appreciate Anna's boredom in the art museum. I personally wouldn't be bored in an art museum but take me to a car show and I'm bored beyond belief (and feel just like Anna!).
While the things Anna does and gets in trouble for are very relatable; what is truly brilliant about Hazel Hutchins story is that you can teach (or learn for yourself) some art at the same time! All the pieces shown throughout Anna's Art Museum are famous and notable to some degree. Not every notable artist is in here (it lacks Leonardo Da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, to name a few) but there are enough that even an art history student might learn to recognize a painting or two!

I love how all the art themes on each page are relevant to how Anna is feeling or what she (or others) is doing in the museum. This is a clever way to show kids that art is reflective of real life. The key to this book, especially if you're reading it to an older child (8+), is to teach the child the names of the art and the artist as you go through the book. Don't worry you don't need to know them all yourself there is a handy index of each piece of art at the back of the book.
So brush up on your art history and dive into Anna at the Art Museum. You and the child(ren) you read to might learn something from this adorable book.

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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Book Review: School for Psychics

School for Psychics by K.C. Archer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is a difficult book to review if only because a lot of people are going to be put off by the topic in general. Do we really need another book about kids that go to a magical school no one knows about?
The answer here, for me, is yes!

The Writing
K.C. Archer has done a beautiful job of writing a fast-paced, interesting and well put together novel in School for Psychics. It would be unfair to say that this isn't original because Archer's school is very different from those I've read about in the past. Additionally Archer has a way of drawing the reader in. I didn't want to put this book down!

Romance
One of the best written awkward teenage romances I've read in awhile. I love how you think maybe it will be one way, and then it's not. It's not insta-love; it's insta-lust at times; but that is real and does happen. Especially to teenagers. There are both sweet and awkward moments between our lead gal and the primary love interest. Just like in real life.

Lead Gal is a "Bad Girl"
I love our lead gal and her genuine bad girl status that is established right away in Chapter one. She has an authenticity that spoke to me. I was, personally, far from the best teenager (lol). I got in trouble, a lot, not just from my parents; but from law enforcement and at school. So I connected with our lead gal. I also sympathized with her as it was clear that many of the things happening to her were, perhaps, not all her fault. Many were just a 'side effect' of her psychic ability being erratic. I think for many teens, whether it's psychic ability or hormones, it's difficult to really figure out the world around you. And events can be experienced in such a vivid way, when you are a child/teen, that they tend to be overwhelmed. This confusion with the world, inability to trust anyone and difficulty fitting in is all brilliantly portrayed by Archer in School for Psychics. It doesn't matter 'triggers' or 'creates' the feelings you have (be it ESP or not) because at the end of the day these feelings manifest in the same way. Archer does a great job of correlating this urban fantasy book with real life situations.

Overall
School for Psychics is a clear example of why you can't judge a book by it's troupe. Just because you've read something similar before doesn't mean that the book in front of you isn't just as good, or even better, than the five books you read this year with a similar theme. And let's face it, we all love the kids going to a special school troupe. Why? I think it's often because we wish we were special enough to be pulled from our current existence into a magical world where we are important. Let's face it, it's all about standing out (in some way, shape or form) and feeling critical to events and people around you. Archer captures all this and more in her characters and intricate plot. I just need the second book now!

Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

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