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The Midnight Peacock: The Sinclair's Mysteries

Katherine Woodfine

9.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

Book

A fast-paced historical mystery adventure for readers aged 9+ years, with gorgeous Edwardian period...

young adult crime

SmartKid Maths HD: Education game to learn preschool, 1st and 2nd grade math exercises!

Education and Games

(0 Ratings) Rate It

App

A smart math game that recognizes and adjusts to your child’s strengths and weaknesses and...

Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Sing, Unburied, Sing in Books

Oct 3, 2017

Sing, Unburied, Sing

Jesmyn Ward | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry

8.5

(6 Ratings)

Book Rating

A Toni Morrison novel updated for modern times

This is no doubt a modern day version of reading a Toni Morrison novel. From the magical realism aspect to social issues affecting African Americans, this novel is both haunting and almost poetic.

The story follows a family on their way to a prison, in which the children's white father is due to be released. The teenage boy and his three year old sister are mostly dependent on one another as well as their grandparents Pop and Mam. The mother Leonie is absent, and rather aloof in their upbringing, forcing her son, Jojo to bring up his kid sister. In between are disturbing stories featured in flashbacks and ghostly apparitions, The novel explores interracial relationships, police brutality and even post traumatic stress disorder to a degree.

While it can seem haphazard, going back and forth in time, and random narratives appearing throughout, it leaves the reader with a sense of unease and despair at the violent nature of society. A truly intriguing read.

Kudos

ClareR (5726 KP) rated In My World in Books

Nov 7, 2017

In My World

Jillian Ma, Mimi Chao (Illustrator) | 2017 | Children, Education

6.0

(2 Ratings)

Book Rating

A beautifully illustrated and worded book

This is a book that looks in to the mind of an autistic child, and their struggle with other people understanding how they think and view the world. The illustrations are beautiful - and I like how the main character is actually a human child which is much more relatable to all children, whether they're autistic or not. The book shows that we might see autism as something negative, but the child has a world of their own imagination in which to live happily - I can see other children realising that they too have this imaginary world and that they're not so different after all. As with many children's books about autism that I've seen lately, it is all about fostering understanding; helping the non-autistic child learn that they are not so different, and that any differences are what actually make us all individuals. A lovely book that I'm sure will be popular.

I received this book free for an unbiased review through NetGalley and publisher.

Kudos

Dominique Marie (7 KP) rated Dot and the Kangaroo in Books

Nov 28, 2018

MMD Reading Challenge 2017- For Fun
Category: Book set in a place you've never been/want to visit

Back to the Classics Reading Challenge 2017
Category: Book about an animal/or animal in Title

I'm giving this book 4 stars. I enjoyed it so much. Dot gets lost in the Australian Bush and is befriended by a Kangaroo. She meets many creatures while trying to find her way back home. I loved the descriptions of the Bush and the creatures that live there. This is a really good children's book, and the only problem I had with it is that all humans are demonized. There is no distinction made between poachers and those who hunt for food. I have always wanted visit Australia, even though some things about Australia terrify me, for example, killer spiders. I actually used to watch the Dot movies when I was a kid. I had no idea that it was based on this book until I was looking for books to read for the Challenges. I'm really glad I found it!

Kudos

Awix (3310 KP) rated A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) in Movies

Feb 3, 2020

Inarguable indicator of cultural hegemony (movie built around an entirely US-centric cultural figure manages to get an international release) also turns out to be an impressive and moving drama. Cynical and misanthropic journalist is assigned to interview beloved children's TV host and font of decent folksy wisdom. Can the power of niceness conquer all?

Movie inevitably loses a lot of its resonance for a viewer who only became aware of Fred Rogers and his TV show a short while ago, but this is still a charming and imaginative film. Just how much of it is actually true is probably one of those questions best not asked, but Hanks gives a brilliant performance, somehow managing not to come across as incredibly cheesy, while - in a less showy role - Matthew Rhys is also extremely good as the journalist. If you take away the slightly surreal Fred Rogers elements this is basically just another drama about someone working out his issues with his father, but it's a highly impressive one.