Caramel’s reviews – Page 23

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel by Kwame Mbalia

Both of the little book bunnies love reading books by Rick Riordan, and both enjoy graphic novels. So Caramel jumped on the opportunity to read and review the graphic novel version of Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, published in 2022 as part of the “Rick Riordan Presents” series. Today he is talking to Sprinkles about this neat book.

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel, written by Kwame Mbalia, adapted by Robert Venditti, and illustrated by Olivia Stephens. — Caramel reviews *Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel*, written by Kwame Mbalia, adapted by Robert Venditti, and illustrated by Olivia Stephens.

Sprinkles: Okay, Caramel, can you tell us a bit about this book?

Caramel: Yes. The book is about a kid named Tristan Strong. Tristan’s best friend Eddie dies in a bus accident, so Tristan goes to Alabama to stay with his grandparents for a bit.

S: Okay, so what happens in Alabama?

C: In the middle of the night, a baby named Gum Baby comes into his room and steals Eddie’s journal. That was the last thing Tristan had of Eddie, so he does not want to lose it. So he pursues Gum Baby and punches something called a Bottle Tree, and so opens up a hole into another world.

S: So is that how he “punches a hole in the sky” as the title says?

C: Yes, because he punches a hole in the sky of this other world.

S: Hmm, that is really interesting! Tell me more about this other world.

C: All the African folk tales are real and they exist on that other world.

S: So it is a world of African mythologies.

C: Yes, African and African American.

S: I see. So Tristan goes into this world and …

C: So he tries to mend the world he kind of broke, but he also meets a lot of interesting characters. There is Anansi the storyteller and Nyame, the sky god. And there are folk tale heroes, like John Henry and Brer Rabbit.

Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel, written by Kwame Mbalia, adapted by Robert Venditti, and illustrated by Olivia Stephens. — Caramel is reading *Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel*, written by Kwame Mbalia, adapted by Robert Venditti, and illustrated by Olivia Stephens.

S: Some children might have read or heard about these characters before, but I think you met them only in this book, right?

C: Yes.

S: So was it a book full of strange characters you did not recognize? Or did the author and the illustrator introduce them to you effectively?

C: Yes! I think they both did an amazing job. I think I got a really good sense of them just by reading this book. Of course if I knew about them beforehand, maybe the book would be even more fun. But it was great fun all the same.

S: So I think fun would be one of your words to describe the book then?

C: Yes. I really like how it ends too. It ends with a bang, I liked it, but also they left a door open for a followup. And I think there are two more books about Tristan.

S: Yes, I saw that too. But I am not sure those are in graphic novel form. Would you like to read them?

C: Sure, I would.

S: Okay, then Caramel. Tell me how you would describe the book in three to five words.

C: Fun, funny, and action-packed.

S: I can see it! I flipped through the pages. The pictures are very dynamic and there seems to be a lot of action.

C: Yes!

S: Okay, then, let us wrap up this review so we can figure out how you can move on to the next book in the series. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel, written by Kwame Mbalia, adapted by Robert Venditti, and illustrated by Olivia Stephens, and eager to read more. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel*, written by Kwame Mbalia, adapted by Robert Venditti, and illustrated by Olivia Stephens, and eager to read more.

Caramel reviews Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs

Today, Caramel is finally ready to talk about the eleventh and currently last book in Stuart Gibbs’ Spy School series: Spy School Goes North, first published in 2023. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking questions.

[Before diving into this review, readers might like to check out Caramel’s reviews of the earlier books in the series: Spy School, Spy Camp, Evil Spy School, Spy Ski School, Spy School: Secret Service, Spy School Goes South, Spy School: British Invasion, Spy School Revolution, Spy School At Sea, Spy School: Project X.]

Caramel reviews Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs.

Sprinkles: So, Caramel, we are finally at the last book of the series, right?

Caramel: Hopefully not for long.

S: I know you want the author to write more books in this series, but for now, this is the eleventh and last book.

C: Yes, unfortunately.

S: But do not sound so glum. The book is good, no?

C: Yes, of course. But I wish it never ended. I wish there was another one.

S: I can see that. And maybe there will be a twelfth book soon. But let us focus on this book right now. So what is this book about?

C: Ben and his friends including Cyrus Hale, who is Erica’s grandpa and a very good spy, are all training up north in Alaska.

S: Oh, so that is the going north part. I was wondering if it would be Canada.

C: Nope. It is not Canada. It starts in Alaska and then it goes over to Russia.

S: I see.

C: So a Russian spy kidnaps Cyrus, and Ben and his friends have to save him. And along the way there is a lot of spy stuff about U.S. and Russia.

S: I see. I wonder if it is historically accurate at all.

C: Well, Alaska was owned by the Russians, and the United States bought it from them, so that part is accurate. I don’t know about the spy stuff of course. They do mention KGB, the Soviet secret service.

Caramel is reading Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs.

S: So is Ben finally dating Erica in this book?

C: Yep. I think they are boyfriend and girlfriend at this point.

S: I see. Does that make the book too mushy?

C: No. It is just as funny as before. For example, Ben does not speak Russian well and there is a lot of funny misunderstanding and miscommunication with the Russian spy. Obfuscate the jitterbug, for example.

S: I am not sure what that means.

C: Neither is Ben. And I am quite sure that was not what the Russian guy was trying to say.

S: I can see how that can be hilarious in some contents, but aren’t they all in mortal danger?

C: Yes, but I read enough Spy School books to know that Ben and friends will get out of this alive. So I can just enjoy the book.

S: Makes sense to me. Do you think these books are getting somewhat too similar or formulaic?

C: No. I mean yes, in each book Ben is facing mortal danger and in each book he figures out some way out of it. But other than that, I think Stuart Gibbs keeps us on our toes, he always comes up with new ways to make things exciting and fun.

S: That is good. So you still like this series?

C: Yes!

S: Okay, so if you were to describe this book using three to five words, what would they be?

C: Funny page turner, as always. That’s five words.

S: Yes, that will do nicely.

C: So can we wrap this up so I can begin to reread the book?

S: Sure Caramel. Let us do that. What do you want to tell our readers as we end this review?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Spy School Goes North by Stuart Gibbs and now does not know what to do with himself as there is as of yet not a twelfth book in the series.

Caramel reviews Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs

Caramel’s last few reviews in 2023 were the many Spy School novels by Stuart Gibbs: Spy School, Spy Camp, Evil Spy School, Spy Ski School, Spy School: Secret Service, Spy School Goes South, Spy School: British Invasion, Spy School Revolution, and Spy School At Sea. Today he is back at it again, talking to Sprinkles about the tenth book, Spy School Project X, first published in 2022.

Sprinkles: So Caramel you just could not resist, and you had to go back to these Spy School novels, no?

Caramel: Yes. Exactly.

S: Okay, so this is book ten. What happens in it?

C: Ben is the center of a targeted conspiracy.

S: That does not sound like anything too different from the other books.

C: The details are important though. For example you need to know about Project X.

S: So tell me about it.

C: Project X is a project of Murray Hill, Ben’s long-time nemesis. He is trying to get revenge by getting all evil people around the world together to get rid of Ben.

S: What does the X stand for?

C: Not sure.

S: In algebra X stands for the unknown, maybe it is something like that? Or as a Roman numeral, X is 10, and this is the tenth book. Maybe that is it?

C: Not sure. I think Murray calls himself X in social media.

S: I see. It makes sense. Okay, tell me more.

C: Murray is determined to get Ben so he puts a price on his head. So a lot of people are trying to kill him. And on top of that, everyone who believes in conspiracy theories is after him too. Because somehow people begin to think he is a lizard person, because Murray spreads a rumor about that.

S: Oh like that wild conspiracy theory about lizards dressed as humans running human governments. I see. Pretty contemporary I suppose.

C: Yep.

Caramel is reading Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs. — Caramel is reading *Spy School Project X* by Stuart Gibbs.

S: Are there any new characters in this tenth book?

C: No, I don’t think so. At least not any important characters.

S: So then there must be a lot of other characters we have seen before?

C: Yes. Essentially everyone we have seen before. Erica is there. His best friend Mike too.

S: I see. What did you like about this book most?

C: When Ben shoots watermelons from a boat.

S: That is a funny image. Is that why you like it?

C: Yes. He was using one of those big boats with a big fan in the back. And he threw a watermelon to the fan, and it threw the fruit very far. I’m not sure if it would work in real life, but it was certainly funny.

S: Totally. Okay Caramel, let us do a quick summary recap. Can you describe Spy School Project X using three to five words?

C: Action packed, funny page-turner.

S: Those will work! Does this book make you want to continue to read the rest of the series?

C: Of course! But unfortunately there is only one more book left.

S: True.

C: Maybe the author will write another one this year. He published one almost every year for the last decade. So I plead to you Stuart Gibbs, please write book twelve!

S: I am not sure he reads our blog but I sure appreciate your enthusiasm Caramel. So let us wrap this up so you can start book eleven. What do you want to tell our readers?

C Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Spy School Project X by Stuart Gibbs and is eager to move on to book eleven. — Caramel loved reading *Spy School Project X* by Stuart Gibbs and is eager to move on to book eleven.

Caramel reviews Amos & Boris by William Steig

It is February, and Caramel is back! Today he is talking to Sprinkles about Amos & Boris, a sweet book by William Steig first published in 1971.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, it is another year, and here we are talking about another book.

Caramel: Yes. There are a lot of books out there.

S: Sure. So what can you tell us about this book you chose for today?

C: This is the story of two animals, named Amos and Boris, who become friends.

S: Tell me more.

C: Amos is a rat. Or a mouse, rather. And Boris is a whale.

S: Okay.

C: Amos wants to travel around the world, but he can’t swim, so Boris saves him. And then they travel together in the oceans for a while and they become friends.

S: So it is a friendship story, right?

C: Yes. It is very much a friendship story.

S: Do you get a good sense of these two characters?

C: Yes. Amos is very kind and caring. Boris is more confident but not arrogantly so. He is also kind.

S: So is kindness one of the messages of the book?

C: Yes. Especially because their kindness is what helps them help one another.

Caramel is reading Amos & Boris by William Steig. — Caramel is reading *Amos & Boris* by William Steig.

S: I see. So what did you think of the story overall?

C: I thought it was very good. I thought it was excellent! Put a link to a meme of Mr. Burns saying “Excellent!”

S: Okay, let me try:

via GIPHY

C: That worked! Yay!

S: Okay, but I am not sure it relates to the book we are talking about.

C: Well, I said the book was excellent!

S: I see. So tell me what you liked about the book then.

C: I liked their friendship. How they helped each other.

S: I see. That is sweet Caramel! What else did you like? Did you like the illustrations?

C: Yes. They are very simple looking but when you look closely there are so many details in each of them! Also in many of them Boris the whale is smiling! And I like that! And sometimes the mouse Amos is also smiling, and that is also nice.

S: Yes, the pictures do look quite simple and simplistic, but now that you told me, I took a better look, and you are so right, there are so many details!

C: Well, I don’t want to say I am always right but you know…

S: Okay, let us not get ahead of ourselves. So you liked the pictures, you liked the characters, you liked the story.

C: Exactly. As I said before, channeling Charles Montgomery Plantagenet Schicklgruber “Monty” Burns, it is excellent!

S: Well, no wonder it is still in print after such a long time. Did you know that this book was first published in 1971? That is more than half a century ago. Does it feel old?

C: No not at all.

S: It makes sense though. From what you are telling me, it sounds like it is telling a timeless story, of friendship and kindness.

C: Yes.

S: And it sounds like you really appreciated it.

C: Yes.

S: Would you have liked it if I had read it to you when you could not read it yourself?

C: Yes. In fact, maybe after we finish this review, you can read it to me. I still like to read together with you.

S: Oh sweet Caramel, of course I will read it to you. Let us wrap this up then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel loved reading Amos & Boris by William Steig and recommends it to all young bunnies who love the sea, and even those who don't, because, why not? — Caramel loved reading *Amos & Boris* by William Steig and recommends it to all young bunnies who love the sea, and even those who don’t, because, why not?