MARCO IMPOSSIBLE by Hannah Moskowitz Book Review
Publication Date: March 19th 2013 by Roaring Brook Press
Rating: 
– Acceptable | 
Book Summary: Thirteen-year-old best friends Stephen and Marco attempt a go-for-broke heist to break into the high school prom and get Marco onstage to confess his love for (and hopefully steal the heart of) Benji, the adorable exchange student and bass player of the prom band. Of course, things don’t always go according to plan, and every heist comes with its fair share of hijinks.
Marco Impossible by Hannah Moskowitz Book Review Overview:
- Marco can be a bit overbearing by the end of the book
- The sibling relationships are a highlight of MARCO IMPOSSIBLE
- A speedy read with a satisfying ending
Stephen is going to help his best friend, Marco, break into the high school prom so that he can declare his love for Benji in MARCO IMPOSSIBLE by Hannah Moskowitz. The recent middle school graduates are going all for nothing with a crazy plan for a declaration of love. While Marco is figuring out the last minute plans for their heist, Stephen learns that someone may be out to get Marco – someone who is uncomfortable with the fact that Marco is gay. Stephen must help accomplish Marco’s plan while uncovering who might be behind all of the hate crimes.
I know that part of the point of this book is to hate Marco quite a bit. After all, it is Stephen who is our protagonist and we want him to finally step out from Marco’s shadow. I know Marco is being bullied and all, but I really hate how he takes it all out on Stephen. He can really be a brat sometimes. His character was starting to get overbearing towards the end, and it made relating to Stephen a lot easier.
What I love most about MARCO IMPOSSIBLE by Hannah Moskowitz is the endearing relationships between Stephen and all of his siblings. As the middle child, he has such different relationships with each of his five siblings. I love that even if they are all different, they clearly love each other. I thought that the sibling relationships in MARCO IMPOSSIBLE by Hannah Moskowitz were truly genuine.
MARCO IMPOSSIBLE by Hannah Moskowitz is a pretty speedy read with a satisfying ending. Despite my fallbacks with Marco, I’d still be willing to try other Hannah Moskowitz books. In fact, this one has just made me more curious about her young adult novels. I’d recommend this book to middle grade readers who love strong friendships and familial relationships.
About the Author
|
Find the Author
|
Hannah Moskowitz wrote her first story, about a kitten named Lilly on the run from cat hunters, for a contest when she was seven years old. She was disqualified for violence. Her first book, BREAK, was on the ALA’s 2010 list of Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults. She is a student at The University of Maryland.
Permalink
Book Review, Three Stars - Audience: Middle Grade, Author: Hannah Moskowitz, Book: Marco Impossible, Borrow It, Genre: Contemporary, Publisher: Roaring Brook Press | 
792 words
Commentary: I usually never ever put a book down as DNF. Sometimes, very early on in a book I know the timing is just not right and I won’t be able to sit through reading it. I give it the first 30 or so pages (like a manuscript, HAH!) before I decide that I need to put it down. Maybe next time, I’ll enjoy it more than I do now. This is not a review. This is just a note to self – and fellow readers.
THE HERO’S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM by Christopher Healy
Publication Date: May 1st 2012 by Walden Pond Press
Book Summary: Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince Gustav. You’ve never heard of them, have you? These are the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only as Prince Charming. But all of this is about to change. Rejected by their princesses and cast out of their castles, Liam, Frederic, Duncan, and Gustav stumble upon an evil plot that could endanger each of their kingdoms. Now it’s up to them to triumph over their various shortcomings, take on trolls, bandits, dragons, witches, and other assorted terrors, and become the heroes no one ever thought they could be.
Debut author Christopher Healy takes us on a journey with four imperfect princes and their four improbable princesses, all of whom are trying to become perfect heroes–a fast-paced, funny, and fresh introduction to a world where everything, even our classic fairy tales, is not at all what it seems.
I just couldn’t read this one right now because:
- I really wanted to keep going with The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy because of the fact that I received this book for review and that the people at Walden Pond Press are just so freakin’ awesome. But I just wasn’t feeling it. Partly because it was so long.
- I legit gave this book a shot. I read over a hundred pages. But the plot was too meandering and I just didn’t find it laugh out loud funny. It couldn’t sustain my attention for more than a few pages. It was a struggle for me.
Chances of Me Picking Up This Book (Again): Slim
- The chances of me of picking up The Hero’s Guide to Saving Your Kingdom by Christopher Healy is slim to none. I’ve passed on my ARC onto someone who will hopefully give it more of a chance than I did. While I’d love to dabble more into middle grade, The Hero’s Guide just wasn’t for me.
Permalink
Maybe Next Time, Memes - Audience: Middle Grade, Author: Christopher Healy, Book: The Hero's Guide to Saving Your Kingdom, Genre: Fantasy, Publisher: Walden Pond Press | 562 words
WONDER by RJ Palacio Book Review
Publication Date: February 14th 2012 by Random House Children’s Books
Rating: – Exceeds Expectations | 
Book Summary: I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.
August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?
R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.
Wonder by RJ Palacio Book Review Overview:
- Mostly told through Auggie’s perspective but also switches to the perspective of other characters
- Inspiring and touching story; Auggie is such a delightful character to read about
- Makes you think twice about how you act towards someone with a disability
There is always some hesitation in my part when picking up middle grade novels, because there’s always the chance where the novel is not as accessible to older readers. I didn’t have a problem with WONDER by R.J. Palacio in that aspect. I think that Palacio does a wonderful job of making her writing appeal to readers of all ages.
What surprised me the most about WONDER by R.J. Palacio is the impact it had on me in terms of my thinking of how I act towards someone with a disability or a handicap. Auggie is such an inspiring character to read about. His life is hard – there’s no doubt about that. And it made me sad to read about him. But Auggie is such a fighter and he tries so hard no matter how many obstacles get in his way. Auggie made me put my problems into perspective. My problems seemed so petty in comparison to the life that he lives. Furthermore, WONDER by RJ Palacio made me think about how I conduct myself in public. WONDER will make me think twice next time I see someone with a disability or a handicap.
At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about the switching perspectives throughout the novel. For the most part, the novel is told from Auggie’s point of view, but randomly switches to other characters such as his friends. My dislike for the multiple perspectives was short-lived; I fell in love with Palacio’s writing style and I loved seeing Auggie from other people’s eyes. My love for him as a character grew even more.
The ending of WONDER by RJ Palacio gave me such a warm and fuzzy feeling. As a reader, I felt like I grew so much with Auggie on this emotional roller coaster. His character was developed so well throughout the book and I wanted to give him a massive congratulatory hug at the end.
WONDER by RJ Palacio is the kind of middle grade novel that should be read by all. It’s not just a “children’s” book.
Other Book Reviews:
Poetry to Prose
The Reading Date
About the Author
|
Find the Author
|
RJ Palacio lives in New York City with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. For many years, Palacio was an art director and book jacket designer, designing covers for countless well-known and not so well-known writers in every genre of fiction and nonfiction. She always wanted to write, though. So Palacio decided to just go for it. Wonder is her first novel. And no, she didn’t design the cover, but she sure does love it.
Permalink
Book Review, Four Stars - Audience: Middle Grade, Author: RJ Palacio, Book: Wonder, Borrow It, Genre: Contemporary, Heartwarmer, Makes You Think, Publisher: Random House | 1022 words
- Action Packed
- Hahaha Funny
- Keeps You Guessing
- Masterful World-Building
- Must Buy
- Page-Turner
- Poetic Prose
- Romantic Read
- Tear-Jerker
