Marshmallow’s reviews – Page 21

The Book Bunnies review the books of 2023

At the end of last year, we decided to try something new and New-Year-ish and talk about all the books we had read through 2022. This year, we continue this new tradition and take a look at our reviews for 2023.

[2023 saw the bunnies read and review many books, both new and classic. You can find a full list here.]

The book bunnies review the books of 2023.

Sprinkles: Again, it is probably easiest for me to go over my reviews first, because as usual, I reviewed much fewer books than the two of you. I did enjoy all the books I reviewed though.

First, in October, I reviewed two children’s books about the mathematician Emmy Noether. This was right after the time I saw the one-woman play about her life, so I was very excited to talk about Noether and her life. I think my favorite among the two was Emmy Noether: The Most Important Mathematician You’ve Never Heard Of, written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Kari Rust, and published in 2020. Rust’s illustrations are cute and sharp at the same time, and the cartoonish detractors of Noether are shown humorously while the severity of Noether’s challenges is not minimized. The math and physics connections of her work are explained with precise terms in what is still a totally comprehensible language, and the illustrations support these descriptions. All in all, I thought this was a neat book to introduce young people to Noether and her life.

Sprinkles is posing with Emmy Noether: The Most Important Mathematician You’ve Never Heard Of, written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Kari Rust. — Sprinkles is posing with *Emmy Noether: The Most Important Mathematician You’ve Never Heard Of*, written by Helaine Becker and illustrated by Kari Rust.

Then in November, I reviewed Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Robert Frost and Susan Jeffers, a beautiful picture book that takes the reader along for a ride through the woods of Robert Frost’s famous poem. I love this book and I love the poem, so it all worked out.

Sprinkles is posing with Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening, written by Robert Frost and illustrated by Susan Jeffers. — Sprinkles is posing with *Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening*, written by Robert Frost and illustrated by Susan Jeffers.

By the way I’d love to review more poetry books for young bunnies, so if any of our readers know of any, please send us your suggestions.

Finally in late 2023, I also reviewed a book called My Unfurling by Lisa May Bennett. This was a different kind of book, engaging with rather adult themes, so I felt it would not necessarily fit our blog, but Nicole Pyles was kind enough to have me write a guest post for her blog, World of My Imagination.

Marshmallow: I also reviewed a book with some mature content this year. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel is a graphic novel, a growing-up story of sorts, but it deals with a lot of challenging issues, more so than your average growing-up story.

S: True. I also just finished reading this book, and you are right, I agree, the book has a lot of mature content. You also read a handful of books directed at students older than yourself.

M: Yes, true. I reread How to Be a High School Superstar and How to Become a Straight-A Student, both by Cal Newport. I thought maybe I could get some good ideas as the new school year got going.

S: Makes sense to me. Caramel, you also read about school this year.

Caramel: Well, but mine is all fiction. I began to read the Spy School books.

M: Those are great books!

C: Yes, they are.

S: You have gone through the series rather fast, haven’t you?

C: Yep.

S: I know there are two more books in the series that you need to review, but so far, you reviewed all of the first nine books. Which one is your favorite?

C: It is hard to say. They are all so good!

S: Say you were traveling and needed to take only one with you. Which one would you take?

C: I’m not sure. Can Marshmallow take one too?

S: Sure.

C: Then I’d take Evil Spy School and Spy School At Sea. Wait, no. I’d take Spy School: British Invasion and Spy School Revolution.

S: I can see it is not easy to decide.

C: No, it is not.

Some of Caramel's favorite Spy School books. — Some of Caramel’s favorite Spy School books.

S: So was Spy School the most fun series you read this year?

C: Well, I did not really read a lot of other series this year. But I did read the Wayside School books, and those were fun too. Still Spy School books might be more fun.

S: I see. What else did you read this year that you liked?

C: I also read the new Wild Robot book, The Wild Robot Protects by Peter Brown, and the The One and Only Bob by Katherine Applegate. I liked both of those very much.

Two of Caramel's favorites this year were Wild Robot Protects and The One and Only Bob. — Two of Caramel’s favorites this year were Wild Robot Protects and The One and Only Bob.

S: Among the books you read this year, I think my favorite was Robot Dreams by Sara Varon.

C: I liked that book a lot, too. Though it was kind of a sad book. I wish it had been happier.

S: I know Caramel. How about you Marshmallow? What were some of your favorites from this year?

M: Probably my favorite for this year was Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng. I thought it was very moving and all around a great book. I also really enjoyed reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. I mean, I did not find it very comfortable as I was reading it because it got very tense, but once I was done, I could see that it was extremely well constructed.

S: She is good, isn’t she?

M: Yep. She is a classic, you could say!

One of Marshmallow's favorites this year was Agatha Christie's And then There Were None. — One of Marshmallow’s favorites this year was Agatha Christie’s And then There Were None.

Another of Marshmallow's favorites this year was Our Missing Hearts bf Celeste Ng. — One of Marshmallow’s favorites this year was Agatha Christie’s And then There Were None.

S: You also read a few other classics this year, right?

M: Yes. I read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and Lord of the Flies by William Golding. They were both very good. I can see why they became classics.

S: Agreed!

M: I also read The Adventures of Tintin: The Calculus Affair by Hergé, Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories by Agatha Christie, The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton, and Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume, which are also classics to an extent.

S: How did you like those books?

M: I liked them alright, but they were not my favorites. I mean, I was glad to have read them, but there were other books I liked more this year.

S: I see. You did read mostly fiction again this year. But you did read a few works of nonfiction. Which ones of those did you like?

M: Well, besides Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, I read another autobiographical graphic novel, Dare to Disappoint by Özge Samancı. I also read The Murder of Emmett Till by Karlos K. Hill and David Dodson and Victory. Stand! Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith, which were both historical graphic novels. Last but not the least, I read and reviewed Doctor Who: The Encyclopedia by Gary Russell and The Secret Life of a Snowflake by Kenneth Libbrecht.

S: This might be the most fiction you have ever reviewed till now!

M: It really might. And I liked all of these books.

S: That sounds like a good year to me!

Some of Marshmallow's favorite nonfiction books this year. — Some of Marshmallow’s favorite nonfiction books this year.

S: How about you Caramel? Which nonfiction books did you like most?

C: Well, this year I read and reviewed The Cult of LEGO by John Baichtal and Joe Meno, Star Wars: Complete Vehicles – New Edition, Easy Aircraft Origami by Jayson Merrill, Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles by Landry Q. Walker, Animated Science: Periodic Table by Shiho Pate and John Farndon, Invented by Animals by Christiane Dorion and Gosia Herba, Make Your Own Press-Out Spaceships by David Hawcock, Weird But True! 350 Outrageous Facts (Book 6) by National Geographic Kids, and The Big Book of Amazing LEGO Creations With Bricks You Already Have by Sarah Dees. And they were all really really good.

Some of Caramel's favorite nonfiction books this year. — Some of Caramel’s favorite nonfiction books this year.

S: I can see your pattern. Star Wars books, books about making planes and spaceships, books about animals and other facts, and books about LEGOs.

C: Yep. I guess I am that transparent.

S: It is not a bad idea to know what you like. But you also read two books that were sort of borderline between fiction and nonfiction. I am referring to How to Survive a Robot Uprising: Tips on Defending Yourself Against the Coming Rebellion by Daniel H. Wilson and Oliver’s Great Big Universe by Jorge Cham.

C: Yes, those are also very factful books. But if we are looking at factful books, we have to include Narwhalicorn and Jelly and A Super Scary Narwhalloween by Ben Clanton, too.

S: You are right. How could I forget the Narwhal and Jelly books!

C: I don’t know Sprinkles. Maybe you are getting tired.

S: Maybe I am. We have been talking about books for a while now. And it is getting late. So shall we wrap up this wrap-up of the year?

M: Yes. I am getting really hungry!

S: Okay, let us do that then. All in all, this was a really good year with lots and lots of good books, wasn’t it?

C: Yep.

M: Definitely! And we will continue to read and review many many more in the new year!

S: But we are taking off for January, like we have been doing every year. We should definitely mention that.

C: But we will be back!

M: In February. With many more great book reviews!

S: So happy new year!

C: And stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

The book bunnies, and new friend Red, wish all bunnies around the world a happy new year in 2024, with lots of good books and many friends, old and new!

Marshmallow reviews Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

Today Marshmallow reviews Amari and the Night Brothers, the first book in B. B. Alston’s Supernatural Investigations series, first published in 2021.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books about magic, family, and friendship, then this might be the book for you.

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Amari Peters’s brother, Quinton, disappeared six months ago, and since then, everything seems to be going downhill. People at her private school bully her. She’s Black, of low-income, and is attending private school on a scholarship. Her peers, who are mostly rich and white, view her as a good target. Eventually, after a particularly vile joke about her brother’s disappearance, Amari pushes one of the girls bullying her. She immediately loses her scholarship as a result.

Later at home, Amari receives a mysterious delivery, which according to the delivery person is supposed to appear in her brother’s closet. There, she finds a ticking briefcase, which holds a nomination for a summer tryout for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari’s brother Quinton was a genius who disappeared soon after graduating high school and finding a promising job. The family did not know what this job was, but now Amari has her suspicions, that it had something to do with this Bureau. So she figures this invitation is the best chance she might have of finding her brother.

Eventually Amari figures out that the Bureau manages the humans’ interactions with the supernatural world. There are different departments handling different types of magic, and there is apparently a whole world that regular folks like us do not know about. Now that Amari is initiated to this world, she learns that she does not quite fit in here, either. At the beginning of her training, she learns that her specific supernatural ability is deemed illegal.

Still Amari is determined, against all odds, natural and supernatural, to find out what happened to her brother. But she has many enemies, like the Night Brother and his devious assistant, who will fight to stop her.

Marshmallow is reading Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston. — Marshmallow is reading *Amari and the Night Brothers* by B. B. Alston.

Marshmallow’s Review: Amari and the Night Brothers is a great book for fans of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. An unlikely hero, who finds her strength against all odds, in a world of magic that was unknown to her from the start, Amari is really a likeable character. What is more, the world B. B. Alston builds around her is very interesting. Even though some readers may indeed find parallels between this book and other popular series, the plot of this particular book is unique and most intriguing. I read it breathlessly and I was in the dark about the real explanations of some things until the very end. I kept having these “a-ha!” moments that kept turning out to be “oops!” moments. B. B. Alston seems to really know how to play with the reader’s mind.

I really enjoyed reading Amari and the Night Brothers, and I can’t wait to read the second book.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 100%.

Marshmallow rates Amari and the Night Brothers by B. B. Alston 100%. — Marshmallow rates *Amari and the Night Brothers* by B. B. Alston 100%.

Marshmallow reviews Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Marshmallow and Caramel both loved Katherine Applegate’s 2012 book The One and Only Ivan; Marshmallow even reviewed it for the book bunnies blog. She has also reviewed Willodeen by the same author. Today she writes about Crenshaw, a 2015 novel by Applegate.

Marshmallow’s Quick Take: If you like books about family, friends, magic, or growing up, or if you have enjoyed other books by Katherine Applegate, then this might be the book for you.

Marshmallow’s Summary (with Spoilers): Jackson’s family is having financial issues so much so that he and his sister Robin invent games to slowly savor the small amount of food they have. Their parents are clearly nervous about their financial situation but try to hide it from the kids. Jackson is a no-nonsense kind of kid; he wants the facts, as hard and cold as they may be. He finds it annoying, insulting almost, that his parents are trying to hide their troubles or dismiss them as small or insignificant.

Jackson most fears losing their house. When he was younger (around the time he was in first grade), his family lost their house. His father, who worked jobs requiring physical labor, was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and so they had to live in their van for fourteen months. Thankfully, they could eventually move into an apartment. But now, they are once again facing financial difficulties and a seemingly impending eviction, so Jackson feels overwhelmed.

One night, his imaginary friend Crenshaw reappears. Crenshaw is a large black-and-white cat who has fingers, can talk, and likes bubble baths and purple jelly beans. Fittingly, Jackson rediscovers Crenshaw while he is taking a bubble bath. Most kids would be happy, perhaps comforted, to see their old imaginary friend from their younger years. Jackson, however, is most displeased. He does not want Crenshaw here and now for several reasons. First, he thinks he is going insane. Secondly, he thinks it is childish. And finally, he thinks it forebodes and perhaps guarantees that his family will lose their home and become homeless again. This is because Crenshaw first appeared right after Jackson’s family became homeless the first time. He fears that Crenshaw’s reappearance is a telling sign. So he forces Crenshaw out, physically (out of his house) and mentally.

But this does not stop their eviction. Even though his parents work hard to fix their financial situation, selling almost all of their possessions, Jackson and his family find themselves kicked out of their home and are forced to live once more in their van. Jackson doesn’t know where he will go to the bathroom next, when or where his next meal will be, or even if he will be able to stay in his school. Can he and his family survive a life full of instability and insecurity?

Marshmallow is reading Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate. — Marshmallow is reading *Crenshaw* by Katherine Applegate.

Marshmallow’s Review: I think Crenshaw is a very good book. It depicts a very sad portrait of what a disturbingly high number of children’s lives look like today. The adversity and challenges that Jackson and his family face was actually based on the lives of children the author (Katherine Applegate) met. Jackson and his family’s situation is all too painfully real for too many people today.

This book is moving. The development of the characters and plot is expertly done. The uncertainty of Jackson’s life is evident throughout the book and is conveyed very well to the reader.

I think that Crenshaw is an important book for all people, regardless of age, to read. I think that everyone needs to read this book, so understanding and empathy would increase for those going through a difficult time similar to the one faced by the characters in this book.

I have enjoyed reading some of Katherine Applegate’s other books (you can read my reviews of The One and Only Ivan and Willodeen) and felt that this one had a similar writing “voice”: soft yet powerful at the same time. The simple storytelling makes it an accessible read for all ages and experience levels. There is no violence, sexual content, foul language, or other things that would make this book inappropriate for younger readers; so simply put, anyone of any age could read and like this book.

The main point I would make was that I felt that the titular character of Crenshaw was not seen as much as one could have liked or expected. However, the development of themes (like the magical aspects of life versus the determinedly logical mind of Jackson, or the idea of family forever) was very well done.

I love the cover photo and think the title is very clever. The title for the copy I read is white, but appears to have a 2D fur-like texture. In summary, I really enjoyed reading Crenshaw and would recommend it to all.

Marshmallow’s Rating: 97%.

Marshmallow rates Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate 97%. — Marshmallow rates *Crenshaw* by Katherine Applegate 97%.

Marshmallow reviews And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Sprinkles is an avid Agatha Christie fan, so she was very excited to introduce Marshmallow to her work. Earlier this year, Marshmallow reviewed her first Agatha Christie book, Miss Marple: The Complete Short Stories. And today, she talks to Sprinkles about And Then There Were None, the classic mystery novel, first published in 1939, known to be one of the best-selling books of all time.

Sprinkles: So Marshmallow how should we start talking about this book?

Marshmallow: I usually start my reviews with an overview. We could just do that.

S: Okay, so go for it!

M: If you like books about mystery or enjoy Agatha Christie’s works, then this might be the book for you.

S: That works. Okay, so can you tell us a bit about this book then?

M: Sure. Separately, eight people are invited to spend time at Soldier Island. They are all confused and do not fully understand why or by whom they were summoned to the island, because they do not know their host well or (in some cases) at all. They all travel to Soldier Island (for different reasons) and are ferried there together. They all have different ideas of who their host is; some suspect an eccentric billionaire while others think that the owner is a famous movie star. When they get to the island, they are also confused by the variety in their fellow guests: there is a judge, a doctor, two young men, a young woman, an older woman, a retired military man, and another man who we eventually find out is a former police inspector.

S: So there are eight guests. But the story needs ten people, right?

M: Right. There is a married couple in the single house on the island who are supposed to be the caretakers for the time the eight will be spending there. They make up the last two of the ten.

S: Then what happens?

M: The first night, during dinner, there is an eerie recording that plays and accuses each of the ten with murder. Each of the ten people, the eight guests and the two caretakers, were apparently involved with the death of at least one person, and the voice in the recording claims that they were guilty. Or rather it says “You are charged with the following crimes…” and goes on to list one by one whose deaths each of the guests and the caretakers was responsible for. And of course everyone is unsettled and some want to leave the island immediately but of course this turns out to be impossible. Then one by one, people start dying.

S: So somehow someone got them to this island to kill them off?

M: Yes, basically. After the first couple days the remaining ones figure out that there is nobody else on the island other than themselves, which leads them to the conclusion that the murderer must be among them. This leads to more mistrust and suspicion. While some of the people dismiss the accusations against them, others admit to them and show no remorse. The reader is left wondering how innocent some of the characters are and how they end up dying one by one.

S: How so?

M: There is a nursery rhyme hung up in every guest room called Ten Little Soldiers and it is a story about these ten little soldiers who die one by one in specific ways until there are none.

S: And so the title of the book is And Then There Were None.

M: Yes. This is the last line of the nursery rhyme.

Marshmallow is reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. — Marshmallow is reading *And Then There Were None* by Agatha Christie.

S: The rhyme is pretty interesting. I even reviewed a children’s book about zombies that parodies this rhyme.

M: Actually, the nursery rhyme in the book is coming from a real nursery rhyme that the book’s original title was based on. The title of the book used to be something quite different, but was changed because the original nursery rhyme was very offensive. I am very glad to have read the more modern, updated version, because the older title and rhyme were extremely offensive. Interested readers might read more about the history of this rhyme here. And here is the version from the book now:

Ten little Soldier Boys went out to dine; 
One choked his little self and then there were nine.

Nine little Soldier Boys sat up very late; 
One overslept himself and then there were eight.

Eight little Soldier Boys travelling in Devon; 
One said he'd stay there and then there were seven.

Seven little Soldier Boys chopping up sticks; 
One chopped himself in halves and then there were six.

Six little Soldier Boys playing with a hive; 
A bumblebee stung one and then there were five.

Five little Soldier Boys going in for law; 
One got in Chancery and then there were four.

Four little Soldier Boys going out to sea; 
A red herring swallowed one and then there were three.

Three little Soldier Boys walking in the zoo; 
A big bear hugged one and then there were two.

Two little Soldier Boys sitting in the sun; 
One got frizzled up and then there was one.

One little Soldier Boy left all alone; 
He went out and hanged himself and then there were none.

S: So, overall, what did you think about the book?

M: I was engrossed while reading it. I could not stop! And rereading it is still enjoyable, knowing now how things turn out and who did what and so on, it is really fun to read again, as I am doing now.

S: I know, right? Christie is a master of this genre!

M: I have not read much in the genre actually but I definitely liked this book. The plot is so tightly set up, and everything works out like clockwork, and it is simply captivating. I had to finish it!

S: I know. She is amazing and this is one of her best books. So what would you rate this book Marshmallow?

M: 100%, definitely.

S: I would too. To this day, I find it so intricately put together. I am honestly so happy that I could share this book with you Marshmallow! But this is probably a good time to wrap things up. What would you say to our readers while we do so?

M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!

Marshmallow rates And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 100%. — Marshmallow rates *And Then There Were None* by Agatha Christie 100%.