Whip Cracking Wednesday

Flight Explorer Volume 1, Villard, 2008

I really want to like this book. I am always on the hunt for interesting and original graphic novels that would work well in elementary school libraries It looks wonderful with full color panels and original stories. There are four volumes which is a real plus, gotta love a series.

I like the short story format. After years of playing Mario Brothers, I enjoyed "Copper: Mushroom Crossing" by Kazu Kibuishi. "Fish N Chips" is the story of a superhero goldfish in a bowl who saves the planet from a collision with an asteroid.

I was ready to give it gold stars for an elementary library when Missle Mouse, the space faring hero from the cover, yelled, "Holy Crap!" Now to be fair he was battling a killer satellite and later a mechanical octopus-like creature, and, on the list of obscene and untoward swear words, it is fairly tame. Graphic novels do use vivid language. Still, it seemed out of place and incongruous coming from a cute little space mouse with a blaster.

Honestly, I am NOT finicky about "language" in children's and YA books. Most of the time I do not even notice it or care because it fits into the story line.

I was asked once about the "language" in Mike Lupica's Travel Team and I had to scratch my head. I did not remember any strong, moderate, or even mildly provocative language. I did recall a compelling story with some unforgettable characters.

Which brings me to "Missle Mouse: the Guardian Prophecy." D' Arvit! This is science fiction/fantasy. Why the frak wouldn't Jake Parker use some kind of creative blasphemy instead of a mundane vulgarity? As FireflyWiki.Org so eloquently puts it, "Da-shiong bao-jah-shr duh la doo-tze!" " Ai ya! "

Whip Cracking Wednesday

I have had to come to grips with a serious and potentially life impairing situation.
I have too many books.
I love books. I just love, love, love, love books but my lack of organization and the sheer numbers of them in my life are having serious consequences for me as a blogger and as a mother.

Me: You entlings get your rooms cleared. The vacuum needs access to the carpet in order to work. I cannot even see the floor in your rooms. How are you going to vacuum your rooms when they look like this?

entlings: [smirk] What ever you say Mom. Where do want this pile of Mike Lupica books?

Me: Oh, stack them with the other piles next to the overflowing bookcases, on the floor, in my bed...um....room...

oh....

entlings: [high five each other]

So I did the brave thing, the mature thing.
I pulled myself up by my bootstraps and threw myself at the feet of entling no. 2 and begged her to help me. I offered her great and multiple rewards if she would organize my book stacks, my piles, shelves and me.

She is a whirlwind of efficiency and organization. She can analyze a problem and break it down into manageable and do-able parts. I have often referred to her as my major domo.

First she set me to work on the picture books which I divided into fiction and nonfiction for review purposes.

She separated the signed copies of books and put them in a protected book case. Then she assisted me with the organization of the novels.

entling no. 2: What about this book, have you read it?

Me: No.

entling no. 2: Are you going to read it?

Me: Yes.

entling no. 2: What about this book, have you read it?

Me: Yes, I've read that one but I have not written a review yet.

entling no. 2: Are you going to write a review?

Me: Oh yes, it was a great read.

entling no. 2: Then we will have a stack of "review immediately" books.

Me: That's a great idea. I'm going to go check my email now.

[CRACKKKKKK!!!!]

Me: YIKES!

entling no. 2: I said...immediately. The books cannot move on to a good home until you write about them and you are going to write about them ... now!

Me: [gulp] Can I eat lunch?

entling no. 2: Only, after you've written one review.
Oh, by the way, when we are done here, Mom, we are going ... to the gym!


Me: [gulp]

So neighbors, BookMoot hereby institutes Whip Cracking Wednesdays where I will be reviewing some great books which have languished for much too long on my bookstacks of reproach.

By the way, entling no. 2 needs a job...if you would like to hire her, please drop me an email.