Tofu & T-Rex, The Demon in the Teahouse and The Penderwicks
Wanting to go on a dinosaur dig is cool, forming the Union of Students Concerned about Cruelty to Animals is cool, having a mother who is a fugu chef is cool, and making sausage from scratch is, big surprise, very cool. Smith has written a book with a bunch of quirky characters who do not overwhelm the storyline with "weirdness," or even worse, "cuteness. There's a lot going on in Tofu and T. Rex that a reader will respond to with a grin, a nod, or a bit of personal revelation.
And there's a lot to think about after the book is finished, which may be the most surprising and best thing of all. Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler. I love a good historical mystery. For me when an author purposely sets a mystery in a specific time period and then makes the events and atmosphere of that period critical to the story, it is kind of a like getting a whole second story for free. Not only do you have a killer mystery to follow, but you also get to soak up all the surrounding drama as well. Of course the whole thing can go to hell in a second if the author is no historian and only chooses a period at random, or worse, tries to steal some suspense from actual historical events.
I hate it when that happens. When it's all done right though, a historical mystery can be fantastic, and Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler certainly know what they are doing with the adventures of fourteen year old Seikei in early 18th century Japan. Seikei is the son of a tea merchant but has always dreamed of being a samurai. As the events unfold in the first book in the series, The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn , it becomes clear that, as the son of a merchant, he is destined to remain in the class of his birth with no hope of fulfilling his dream. This weighs heavily on Seikei, who wishes not only to learn the honor and courage of the samurai but also to be a poet, something only the samurai class is permitted to do.
It will no doubt surprise most young readers to know that the warriors of old Japan were both master swordsmen and writers, but for Seikei it makes perfect sense. His longing to be part of their world is what propels the first story along as he falls into a mystery surrounding a samurai he meets while traveling with his father.
He finds himself becoming a critical part in solving that mystery, and in the process Seikei also gets a front row seat to the politics of the samurai class and learns that not everything and everyone is as perfect as he always thought. What is nice about this sudden awareness is that it only deepens Seikei's faith in the samurai ideals, while allowing him to develop a healthy dose of cynicism when it comes to dealing with individuals who claim, rather casually, to embody those ideals.
The mysteries in both of the first two volumes in this series are first rate.
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They demand the reader pay attention, and they proceed at the appropriate speed with the collecting of clues, spying of suspects, and no small amount of undercover work on the part of our hero. The fact that Seikei ends up working for the famous samurai and advisor to the shogun, Judge Ooka, a real historical figure who is revered in Japan, only gives the plots more realism and a boatload more credibility. The history is so fantastic in these books that I really can't stress it enough, but it isn't the slightest bit dull or pedantic.
Of course, when you think about it though, how could samurai training be dull? Reading about the samurai code, understanding their talents and skills, and even learning about the culture and traditions in Japan almost three hundred years ago is fascinating in the hands of the very talented Hooblers.
Seikei is a first rate teen hero, and his continuous quest to find the truth in his world while attaining the level of wisdom he aspires to is both admirable and, dare I say, refreshing. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading about his adventures thus far, and I very much look forward to the other titles in the series.
Any boy or girl would love to read about Seikei and his world, but these books will particularly appeal to those readers who yearn for more significance in their own lives, who want to reach that level of wisdom and honor that Seikei dreams of as well. And hell, if you know a would-be poet, it wouldn't hurt to let them read about the samurai.
It just might give them the confidence they've been looking for. There is a certain genre of young adult books that has seemed to live forever. It includes titles like The Saturdays and Gone-Away Lake by Elizabeth Enright and always involves a group of boys and girls who run around and have a lot of fun adventures while not saving the world. These are the ultimate bologna sandwich and lemonade books; they are made for rainy days stuck indoors or sunny days outside in a hammock.
There are only the most basic of truths to found within them: I also liked this book since it also got me thinking to have a positive perspective, or else you'll miss the great things in life. I hope more people read this fantastic book, and I would love to read it again if I ever have time. May 01, Steven R. McEvoy rated it it was amazing.
The main characters in this story are Freddie, a young militant vegan, Hans-Peter, her cousin, and Opa their grandfather. Some of the same characters from Greg's earlier book Ninja, Piranhas, and Galileo are back again as well. Freddie has been sent to spend the school year at her grandfather's after being suspended for having burned down the football field back in Texas. Soon there are problems in Chicago and it appears as though Freddie is back to her old tricks. But things are not always what they appear. The story is told back and forth between Hans-Peter's and Freddie's perspectives.
They are two family members who are very different but still family, and who learn to be there for each other. I have to be honest - I love these books and wish that Greg would write more of them. They are great stories that are wonderful to read. And I would rather visit the Preshtigo School than Hogwarts any day! Read the review and with links to other reviews of books by the authors on my blog Book Reviews and More.
And a link to an interview with Greg leitich Smith. Jan 02, Chazzi rated it really liked it Shelves: A vegan living in a carnivore world. That is what Frederika is confronted with when she is expelled from her current school in Texas and sent to live with her Opa and cousin Hans-Peter in Chicago. You see, Opa owns Delicatessen Kowalski and Hans-Peter is working on a new recipe for sausage when he isn't reading about dinosaurs. Frederika reputation for staging dramatic events in her promotion of veganism, that tended to go awry, was well known at the prestigious Peshtigo School, a private school A vegan living in a carnivore world.
Frederika reputation for staging dramatic events in her promotion of veganism, that tended to go awry, was well known at the prestigious Peshtigo School, a private school by Lake Shore Drive. She had been attending there before her family moved to Texas. This was to be of no help to Hans-Peter who had just applied to attend it. There was also the trials of living in a small bungalow house with one bathroom, two bedrooms, two teens and an Opa who didn't put up with shenanigans.
There are also two bullfrogs and a paper-mache dinosaur in the mix.
- Questions?.
- Joy To The World!
- Radiochemistry and Nuclear Chemistry.
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- A Dog Named Ty (Redeemed Book 14).
- Gesund zur Arbeit (German Edition).
This was a fun and quick read. Written from both perspectives presented alternately throughout the whole book, you get the story from both sides.
Tofu and T. Rex
Both kids have goals and how they go about it is pretty humourous. With Opa keeping the helm on track life seems to somehow weather the small storms that arise. Dec 10, Annette rated it liked it Shelves: In trouble again for her "civil disobedience," radical vegan high-schooler Freddie is sent to live with her Grandfather and cousin in Chicago where they run a decidedly non-vegan deli. Much hilarity ensues as Hans-Peter tries to get into the exclusive school that Freddie is trying to Not be thrown out of.
A solid, if not particularly memorable, juvenile. I learned more about sausage making than I ever expected - or necessarily wanted - to, but I won't hold that against it. I found the Synopsis: I found the cultural tidbits about life in early 21st century Chicago interesting, even if the plot was nothing to write home about. Jul 22, melissa rated it it was ok. Young Adult books are the new chick-lit.
- Skaakmat vir hom (Afrikaans Edition).
- Rising The Ranks With Kindle & Amazon!
- Complete Works, Volume I: For Piano: 1 (Kalmus Edition)?
Because I say so. Pretty much everything you would expect. Young characters, life lessons learned, clean as in PG and can be read in one sitting.
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It's better than watching tv. Unless that TV is Hell's Kitchen. Who probably would not make tofu! And if he did he would say 'fuck' a lot! Jan 15, Lea rated it liked it Shelves: Freddie is a militant vegan. Hans-Peter is her sausage-making cousin.
Throw in an Old World grandfather, eccentric private school faculty, and a large dinosaur head and you have a fun story that will keep the pages turning. Enjoyed this book immensely. Apr 25, Lauren rated it liked it. Pretty good, Ninja's Pirhana's and Galileo was better though. Sep 01, Caroline rated it really liked it Shelves: