Monday, April 20, 2015

Smile by Raina Telgemeier and Sisters by Raina Telgemeier

Smile
Beginning with Smile, Raina recounts her early teenage years in San Francisco, how she severely injured her two front teeth and the horrific surgeries, braces, headgear, and fake teeth that resulted. Not only does she go through all of these dental woes while trying to be just an average teenager, but she also deals with boy trouble, frenemies, her annoying younger sister, and one very frightening earthquake. The vibrant and colorful graphics make this an absolute fun read, and kids, or even adults, won't have any trouble identifying with her struggles.
Sisters

Sisters, naturally, focuses on the relationship Raina has with her younger sister, Amara. The two cannot get along for any reason, but then their younger brother is born and their parents start acting strangely. Over the course of a road trip from San Francisco to Colorado for a family reunion, both sisters know they need to band together but are having a hard time changing how they act. This is a much more sparse graphic novel with simple black and white line drawings compared to the brightly colored and detailed drawings in Smile, but Sisters is still well worth the short time it takes to read.

Discussing family, relationships, and the angst of growing up, these two stories are highly recommended for children on up to adults. If you like Smile or Sisters, be sure to check out Drama, also by Telgemeier.

Monday, April 13, 2015

An Appetite for Violets by Martine Bailey

An Appetite for Violets
This light historical novel tells the traveling adventures of Biddy Leigh, who in 1772 is happy in her position as an undercook at a large British estate and is about to marry her beau. Unfortunately, Biddy and a few other servants are recruited by the newly wedded Lady Carinna to travel with her to her uncle's villa in Italy after a spat with her husband. Considering the lengthy trip, their party pauses in France to rest, and Biddy begins to experience and appreciate the wonders of fine cuisine, documenting and adding recipes to The Cook's Jewel, a household book of recipes. Throughout the trip, Lady Carinna confides more and more secrets with Biddy, who looks remarkably like the Lady herself. Eventually, Biddy is obligated to comply with Lady Carinna's desperate machinations but is unaware of the great danger she will face as a result of her complicity.

Each chapter begins with a recipe out of The Cook's Jewel that directly relates to Biddy's cooking in the chapter to come. The ending is rather predictable if one pays attention to the generous hints along the way, but readers who enjoy historical tales or novels about food will find much to like in An Appetite for Violets. Bon appétit!