A Crankenstein Valentine by Samantha Berger Dan Santat (Illustrations)

Sometimes we just don’t want to participate in certain holidays! In this children’s book, a young boy doesn’t want to do all the normal Valentine’s Day activities, like acting in a Valentine’s Day pageant or making a Valentine’s Day paper chain. His bad mood is accented by the illustrator coloring him green and making him look like a little monster. His mood eventually improves when he finds a friend that also doesn’t like Valentine’s Day. 

This is a great book for any kid that takes a dislike to Valentine’s Day or think it’s an icky, mushy holiday. It'll probably get some smiles out of some boys and girls if read to a kindergarten or first grade class. Also, obviously, it's great for Valentine’s Day!

Percy Jackson's Greek Gods by Rick Riordan (Author), John Rocco (Illustrator)

Percy Jackson gives his own very accessible spin on the Greek Gods, focusing mainly on the twelve Olympians, though other gods and the Greek creation myth are touched on as well. I loved the tone that Riordan used throughout the book, it made the myths a lot more modern, in a way, since the language choices were modern. The essence of the old stories are there, but they are told in an up-to-date way through Percy Jackson’s retelling. Fans of Riordan’s books series will probably be able to pick up on the nods to the series. Some of the stories were familiar to me while other ones were new; I especially liked reading about the Titans. Figuring out Greek myths and how they interconnect can be difficult, but this book makes it easier! I would think that middle school and high school students would enjoy this one a great deal.

Hawkeye, Vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon by Matt Fraction (Author), David Aja (Illustrator), Javier Pulido (Illustrator)

This look into the life of Hawkeye when he’s not busy Avenging is fantastic! What exactly does a non-superpowered superhero do in his downtime? Apparently he gets into a lot of trouble, takes care of his dog, and joins in on apartment rooftop barbecues, among some more dangerous activities. I just loved the fun but realistic feel of this volume, and it made me love Clint Barton even more, which I didn’t think was possible. His bad decisions and self-sabotage make him human, but he has a good heart underneath all of that. 

Kate’s exasperation with Clint is sooo realistic and well-done, as is her loyalty toward him. The interactions between Kate and Clint were probably my favorite parts of the book, though I have to same the track suit bros were awesome. I think I would probably be happy reading a spin off comic just about them and their adoption of the word bro, which can be used SO often. The artwork is minimalistic and wonderful, really, evoking a lot of emotion without overdoing anything.

V is for Villain by Peter Moore

Superhero high school isn’t really all that great if your super power is simply being really smart, or so it seems to Brad Baron, kid brother of one of the most powerful superheroes around. In a world where the government and corporations back superheroes and teams who fight mutant villains called Phaetons, Brad is living in his brother and deceased father’s shadows. While it seems like his life takes a turn for the worst after he’s stuck in the school’s equivalent of a “loser” program, it actually becomes possibly the best thing that ever happened to him. Because if you can’t be a hero, maybe you should think about being a villain?  V is for Villain is a fun twist on the whole hero/villain theme. There’s a lot of humor balancing out the more serious parts of the boot, the characters are pretty memorable, and the main character has an awesome voice/tone. There are a couple twists toward the end of the book, and while one is quite predictable, the other is very interesting and adds new depth to the main character. Overall, it’s a good read if you’re into the super-powered people scene. Thank you, NetGalley and Disney Book Group, for giving me access to this galley!

Talker 25 by Joshua McCune

Melissa Callahan lives in a world where people live in fear of dragons. While some of them, like Blues, are relatively peaceful-seeming, others, like Greens, don't mind burning up and eating a few humans on occasion. The government has used the dragon threat to put in place a system akin to martial law. It's rough world to grow up in, where black is the most prevalent color and dragon sympathizers are despised. Melissa Callahan, who lost a mother to dragons, isn't exactly happy with the world in general, but she survives. When a rogue trip to the local dragon reservation later ruins her life, Melissa is dismayed to be tossed into life as a rebel dragonrider and discovers she has a special ability that the government wants to possess. Things do not improve for Melissa, and she faces trial after trial, eventually ending up in a frozen government prison/torture facility, along with her favorite dragon and the boy that she has feelings for. 

With a choppy storyline, dull characters and too many tragic events, Talker 25 was a tough read. The plot is very rushed and many parts of the story are left unexplained. The romance between the protagonist and her love interest is forced and contrived, and there isn't much actual attraction between the two of them. Out of the whole cast of characters, I loved the dragons the most, especially the silver dragon baby. She's precious, and the other dragons are quite wonderful. Unfortunately, there is a great many scenes of graphic, lengthy dragon torturing and killing; it was gratuitous enough to make me wonder if maybe it should be labeled as an adult book instead of a YA novel. Overall, I would say that while this book has some merits, the violence and lack of answers are severe marks against it. Thank you, Edelweiss and Greenwillow / HarperCollins for letting me access this digital review copy.