Those last three books
Apr. 15th, 2006 03:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
melwilBook 67: Dancing Queen by Thalia Kalkipsakis
"Weeeeeeeelcome, Charlie!" Rosie, the dance teacher, yelled above the music. As she clapped her hands, her nail polish glittered. "Just find a spot at the barre."
This is a short girl's book from the series 'Go Girl!' which bill themselves as real life stories about real Aussie girls. It's easy to read - something you'd put into the hands of a reader beginning novels - and there are cute cartoon-y pictures throughout.
The story is about Charlie - a girl moving dance schools so she can learn modern dance rather than ballet. She doesn't feel right at the new school and tries to fit in, until an incident teaches her she needs to be herself.
The story is fairly inoffensive, except for the idea that ballet dancing is boring (we have enough trouble keeping young girls in ballet classes without a book confirming their fears), and the 'very cool' Rosie the dance teacher, who makes me look like some old fuddy duddy. A pretty basic young reader's book.
2.5 out of 5
Book 68: Make Friends With Jade/Amy by Ann Bryant
Jade's spirits sank down to her socks because if she told the truth about what she was doing at the weekend, some people might think she was showing off. Being a show off was as bad as being a teacher's pet.
Remember how the Baby-Sitter's Club had 'lesson' books - you know the one's that taught you to be yourself, or to follow your heart. It seems that there's a lot of books around at the moment that are written just to tell lessons. This is one of them.
The 'catch' with this book is that it's two books in one. First we get Jade's story - about being yourself - then we flip the book over and read Amy's story - about not judging a book by it's cover. The connection is that we meet Amy during Jade's story.
There's little/no characterisation in the books - there isn't enough time for that. It took me about 15 minutes to read the whole thing. And I suspect it might be boring to young girls too - a lesson is better when it's got a decent story behind it.
A 2.5 out of 5
Book 69: Amy Peppercorn: Beyond the Stars by John Brindley
"France!" Ray Ray had yapped at my dad. "France first. Then after, the states. France, the States!."
My dad had turned to my mum, "Did you hear that?" he said, as if she'd suddenly become extremely hard of hearing, 'France! America!"
Oh boy.
Where to start. Amy Peppercorn is the newest British pop sensation, with massive following, troubled friends and a guy who hangs around and doesn't really do anything except insist on calling her Lovely. Then the press find out all sorts of secrets that Amy's been keeping. Oh, and I think she has epilepsy - though that plot point just sort of popped up somewhere near the end. (Note to writers of children's series - you do need to introduce the characters somewhat in later books)
The writing is terrible. Lots of repeating, lots of strange things that don't really fit in. Think the speed of West Wing, except written by a ten year old girl. On drugs. The characters are striving just a little too hard not to be flat and end up overwritten and stupid. And the premise is just dumb.
And there's a website too - Amy Peppercorn. It's terrifying/amusing.
A 2 out of 5
"Weeeeeeeelcome, Charlie!" Rosie, the dance teacher, yelled above the music. As she clapped her hands, her nail polish glittered. "Just find a spot at the barre."
This is a short girl's book from the series 'Go Girl!' which bill themselves as real life stories about real Aussie girls. It's easy to read - something you'd put into the hands of a reader beginning novels - and there are cute cartoon-y pictures throughout.
The story is about Charlie - a girl moving dance schools so she can learn modern dance rather than ballet. She doesn't feel right at the new school and tries to fit in, until an incident teaches her she needs to be herself.
The story is fairly inoffensive, except for the idea that ballet dancing is boring (we have enough trouble keeping young girls in ballet classes without a book confirming their fears), and the 'very cool' Rosie the dance teacher, who makes me look like some old fuddy duddy. A pretty basic young reader's book.
2.5 out of 5
Book 68: Make Friends With Jade/Amy by Ann Bryant
Jade's spirits sank down to her socks because if she told the truth about what she was doing at the weekend, some people might think she was showing off. Being a show off was as bad as being a teacher's pet.
Remember how the Baby-Sitter's Club had 'lesson' books - you know the one's that taught you to be yourself, or to follow your heart. It seems that there's a lot of books around at the moment that are written just to tell lessons. This is one of them.
The 'catch' with this book is that it's two books in one. First we get Jade's story - about being yourself - then we flip the book over and read Amy's story - about not judging a book by it's cover. The connection is that we meet Amy during Jade's story.
There's little/no characterisation in the books - there isn't enough time for that. It took me about 15 minutes to read the whole thing. And I suspect it might be boring to young girls too - a lesson is better when it's got a decent story behind it.
A 2.5 out of 5
Book 69: Amy Peppercorn: Beyond the Stars by John Brindley
"France!" Ray Ray had yapped at my dad. "France first. Then after, the states. France, the States!."
My dad had turned to my mum, "Did you hear that?" he said, as if she'd suddenly become extremely hard of hearing, 'France! America!"
Oh boy.
Where to start. Amy Peppercorn is the newest British pop sensation, with massive following, troubled friends and a guy who hangs around and doesn't really do anything except insist on calling her Lovely. Then the press find out all sorts of secrets that Amy's been keeping. Oh, and I think she has epilepsy - though that plot point just sort of popped up somewhere near the end. (Note to writers of children's series - you do need to introduce the characters somewhat in later books)
The writing is terrible. Lots of repeating, lots of strange things that don't really fit in. Think the speed of West Wing, except written by a ten year old girl. On drugs. The characters are striving just a little too hard not to be flat and end up overwritten and stupid. And the premise is just dumb.
And there's a website too - Amy Peppercorn. It's terrifying/amusing.
A 2 out of 5
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on 2006-04-15 01:09 pm (UTC)I think didactic writing is the fastest way to kill a kid's urge to read for pleasure. It's one thing to have a story that demonstrates something the author feels is important, but another thing entirely if the story only exists as the author's soapbox.