Book Review: Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce Arram Draper is a magical prodigy, but he’s still only ten years old (even if he tells his classmates he’s eleven.) So he’s really excited to be allowed to go to the circus with his father and grandfather while they’re in town. And yes, the elephants are really cool, especially when one saves him… Continue reading Book Review: Tempests and Slaughter
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Book Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Book Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin On Alice Island, off the coast of Massachusetts, there is a bookstore, Island Books. It isn’t doing so well right now. Owner A.J. Fikry was never the most sociable of people, and he’s gotten downright surly since the death of his wife Nic. Sales… Continue reading Book Review: The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry
Comic Book Review: Little White Duck: A Childhood in China
Comic Book Review: Little White Duck: A Childhood in China by Na Liu & Andrés Vera Martínez Da Qin (Na Liu’s childhood nickname) and her little sister Xiao Qin lived a peaceful life with their parents in Wu Han. When Da Qin was four, a very sad thing happened. The leader of her country, Mao… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Little White Duck: A Childhood in China
Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 21, 24 & 26
Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 21, 24 & 26by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami, a psychopomp who helps lost spirits find their way to the afterlife. He’s part-human, and must use expensive tools to make up for his weak powers. Between these expenses and debts saddled on Rinne by his deadbeat father Sabato,… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volumes 21, 24 & 26
Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1
Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1 by various creators In 1940, a year after Batman debuted, he gained the first superhero kid sidekick in comic books. Robin aka Dick Grayson served several functions. Kid appeal, merchandising, lightening up the tone of the stories a bit, and giving Batman someone to have… Continue reading Comic Book Review: Showcase Presents Robin the Boy Wonder Vol. 1
Manga Review: Black Jack 2
Manga Review: Black Jack 2 by Osamu Tezuka Before Osamu Tezuka became a full-time manga creator, he was a medical doctor. He drew upon this training and experiences with Japan’s medical establishment for his work on Black Jack starting in the 1970s. Black Jack (birth name Kuro’o Hazama) is a brilliant physician and surgeon who is… Continue reading Manga Review: Black Jack 2
Manga Review: Infini-T Force 01
Manga Review: Infini-T Force 01 Story by Ukyou Kodachi, Art by Tatsuma Ejiri Emi Kaido is not your normal high school girl. For starters, her father is always away on business (currently in Los Angeles) and her mother passed away, so Emi lives alone in a huge apartment. But perhaps more important is her love… Continue reading Manga Review: Infini-T Force 01
Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volume 25
Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volume 25 by Rumiko Takahashi Quick recap: Rinne Rokudo is a shinigami, a psychopomp who guides stray spirits to the afterlife for rebirth. But he’s part-human, so he has to use (often expensive) tools to make up for his weak powers. That, plus debts his deadbeat father Sabato saddled him with, and being… Continue reading Manga Review: Rin-Ne Volume 25
Magazine Review: Saucy Romantic Adventures August 1936
Magazine Review: Saucy Romantic Adventures August 1936 by various This was one of the “spicy” pulp magazines, sold “under the counter” to readers wanting something more titillating than the standard action fare. By modern standards, this is pretty tame stuff, mostly consisting of descriptions of women’s naked bodies (minus genitalia) and strong hints that the… Continue reading Magazine Review: Saucy Romantic Adventures August 1936
Book Review: Nine Lessons
Book Review: Nine Lessons by Nicola Upson A churchyard in a village not too far from Cambridge in England has one too many bodies in its graves. The victim, a respected organist, was entombed alive, and odd details about the scene make it clear that this was murder most foul. Detective Chief Inspector Archie Penrose… Continue reading Book Review: Nine Lessons