Book Review: Painting Pepette

PAINTING PEPETTE by Linda Ravin Lodding tells the charming story of Josette, her pet rabbit, and their artistic quest.

This beautifully illustrated picture book begins in the home of young Josette who lives in early 20th century Paris. After seeing all the family members represented in paintings on the walls of her home, young Josette goes on a quest to find an artist to paint a portrait of her rabbit, Pepette. From Picasso to Matisse, each artist captures a different aspect of the lovable bunny. However, Josette has her own vision of the perfect portrait.

Claire Fletcher’s watercolor illustrations bring each artist and their style to life.

Librarians will find this adorable picture book to provide an excellent introduction to famous artists of the Montmartre district in Paris during the 1920s. In addition to the historical connection, the story’s emphasis on different perspectives and thoughts on what’s “art” makes it particularly effective for discussions about the meaning of art.

To learn more about the author, go to http://www.lindalodding.com/.

Published by little bee books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster on June 7, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Website Review: The Roaring Twenties

THE ROARING TWENTIES is an interactive exploration of the historical soundscape of New York City through primary source documents.

This engaging multimedia project immerses users in the sounds of New York City in the 1920s through three themes: sound, space, and time.

The Introduction discusses the the time period and the primary source materials used as the basis for the website. These include the text of noise complaints, news reel footage, maps, and other historical materials.

The Sound section features sources of city noise including traffic, transportation, building operation, homes, streets, harbor/river, collection deliveries, and miscellaneous. Each category includes specific text and video examples of noises and complaints.

The Space section provides a clickable map of New York City. Users can explore primary source documents and watch video footage related to city noise.

The Time section contains a clickable timeline that can be used to explore noise complaints, videos, news, and other information.

The Info section provides access to background information about the three themes along with links to additional resources.
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Librarians will find this website to be an fascinating way for youth to immerse themselves in this time period while learning about the usefulness of primary sources in research. Partner with both English and History teachers to immerse young adults in this time period.

To visit the website, go to http://vectorsdev.usc.edu/NYCsound/777b.html.

Book Review: The Steep and Thorny Way

THE STEEP AND THORNY WAY by Cat Winter is a thought-provoking historical mystery set in the 1920s.

Hanalee is a biracial teen struggling to identify the truth behind her father’s death in an era of prejudice and racial violence.

Librarians will immediately see parallels to Hamlet making this title popular with English teachers. Look for an audience among youth who enjoy historical fiction, but also those who like connections with Shakespearean themes. The plot’s many twists and turns will make this young adult novel popular with youth who enjoy mysteries and ghost stories.

To learn more about the author go to http://www.catwinters.com/.

Publisher by Abrams Kids on March 8, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.

Book Review: Lair of Dreams

LAIR OF DREAMS by Libba Bray is the second engaging suspense in The Diviners series.

Set in the 1920s, this paranormal thriller features an array of fascinating characters from the first novel including Evie, Sam, Jericho, and others. A sleeping sickness is spreading through New York City. Henry DuBois and Ling Chen are diviners who are able to walk in dreams. Will they be able to solve the mystery of this rapidly spreading illness or will they be trapped in the dreamworld? In addition to the dream theme, many subplots will keep readers connected with all the characters and prepare fans for more books to come.

Bray has become a master of blending historical fiction with supernatural fantasy elements. From speakeasies to racism, a wide range of political and social issues are seamlessly woven into the fabric of this haunting story.

Fans will be standing in line for this exciting thriller. Consider a library event that includes period costumes and ghostly decorations.

To learn more about the author, go to https://libbabray.wordpress.com/.

Published by Little, Brown, an imprint of Hachette on August 25, 2015. ARC through Edelweiss.