Two years ago I saw my friends reading a book and asked them about it. They said that it was called Dawn and the Impossible Three. It was the fifth book in an eight-part series. I soon bought it and started reading. This graphic novel is based on the story by Ann M.Martin, written and illustrated by Gale Galligan. The fifth book is about a girl named Dawn, who just moved to Stonybrook, Connecticut, with her mother and brother just after her parents divorced. Despite struggling to fit in, she finds a friend, Mary Anne. Mary Anne invites Dawn to the “Baby-sitters Club.” That’s where middle schoolers meet up and get paid for babysitting. Dawn thinks that, when she joins the Club, her struggles will be over. She was wrong. She is being closely watched by a member of the “Baby-sitters Club,” Kristy, who is certain that Dawn isn’t responsible enough to be in the Club. Dawn is determined to prove Kristy wrong by Babysitting three impossible kids. (Marnie, Suzie and Buddy), who have been all but abandoned by their mother. Mrs. Barret seems to be constantly busy. Her carelessness is always putting her children in harm’s way. The three kids become a priority for Dawn. As tough as it is with her friends, soon Dawn finds out that her mom and Mary Anne’s dad used to date! Even tougher, Dawn has to accept that they are going to start dating again. Given that Dawn’s parents are divorced, she has an ability to empathize with Marnie Suzie and Buddy whose parents are also divorced. As she tries to understand the Barretts, she finds out more about Marnie, Suzie and Buddy’s mothers divorce. Little does she know what’s happening behind the scenes. What follows is a series of unexpected events. In this story, Dawn has to hold everything together to let everything go. I recommend this book to people who like graphic novels and books about trusting your instinct. While we learn the importance of trusting your gut, we get caught up in this journey with Dawn as she juggles babysitting three kids with the challenges of friendships and family. At the end of the book Dawn discovers her inner courage and confidence. Dawn and the Impossible Three by Ann M. Martin, illustrated by Gale Galligan. Graphix, 2017. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
Book Reviews
The Beast Player, Reviewed by Aditi, 12
Have you ever wished to communicate with animals and understand their thoughts and feelings? The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi (translated by Cathy Hirano) is not your usual fantasy book. Even if it has magical creatures and kingdoms, it is unique in almost every other way. Elin, The Beast Player’s main character, has a special gift; she can communicate with magical beasts! No one else in her kingdom has this unique power. Elin’s life seems to be perfect until the untimely passing of some Toda called Kiba, the largest and strongest group. The Toda are creatures similar to water serpents and dragons. Some of them were held in captivity to be used in war, while some remained in the wild. Elin’s mother, Sohyon, isn’t native to the village; since she is an Ahlyo, the villagers allowed her to care for the Toda. Ahlyo is a group of people adept at controlling creatures as they hold special skills, or as the villagers call it–magical powers. They, however, are sworn to secrecy. The initial setback to Elin’s perfect life occurs when these captive creatures are found dead. Immediately after discovering the dead Toda, Sohyon was certain that their life would change for the worse. She uses her ‘powers’ to summon a wild Toda, puts Elin on its back, and signals it to save Elin’s life by leaving the village. When Elin finally reached land, she was miles away from her village, and worst of all, she had just lost her mother. Soon, Elin meets Joeun, who cares for her and becomes her foster father. Joeun taught Elin many things: from making a harp to caring for the bees, and best of all, to read! Nonetheless, things change when Elin starts school–a special one that trains students to care for the Royal Beasts. Royal Beasts are animals that are not allowed to understand humans nor communicate with them. Soon after arriving at Kazalumu Sanctuary, Elin’s school, she meets a young and injured Royal Beast, Leelan. After convincing the headteacher, Elin was allowed to care for the young beast. As months passed by at Leelan’s side, Elin became a motherly figure to theyoung animal. Elin’s encounter reflects upon my own experience of developing a strong bond with my pet fish, whom I lovingly named Bluey; his blue and red hues were stunning! I cared for him very much and spent hours at a stretch just watching Bluey swim around in his cozy tank. Sadly, he didn’t live for long. In retrospect, maybe Bluey’s ‘cozy’ tank was not so comfortable after all. Perhaps he would have lived longer if he was in the wild. The Beast Player is a well-paced and captivating book that left me spellbound till the end. Even if Elin’s bond with Leelan meant breaking foreign rules, she loved Leelan. Elin wanted to keep her safe from the queen’s nephew, who was determined to use the Royal Beasts as weapons of war. “She had never dreamed that people would manipulate Royal Beasts with the Silent Whistle, just like the Toda. Her heart sank as she listened.” spoke deep into my heart and resonated with Elin’s empathy for these animals. If you like adventure, animals, and some action, then The Beast Player is the right book for you! The well-crafted story of a strong-willed girl conveys a beautiful message of love, empathy, and perseverance. After reading this book, I learned an important lesson: never stop trying, even if your hard work leads to brick walls. There is always hope for a change! The Beast Player by Nahoko Uehashi, translated by Cathy Hirano. Square Fish, 2020. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
Bridge to Terabithia, Reviewed by Florence, 12
Have you ever imagined yourself in a world where anything could happen? A perfect example of this world is in the book Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. This novel tells the story of two characters, Leslie Burke and Jesse Aarons, whose imagination brings them together. Leslie and Jesse start out almost completely different from each other. Leslie is bold, inventive, and mischievous. In contrast, Jesse is hard working, serious, and insecure. Leslie and Jesse want nothing to do with each other, until they realize what they have in common. Jesse shows creativity through art. He is a talented artist. Leslie is always wild and free. The world can be anything she wants it to be. She has many ideas, one of which becomes the secret, magical, kingdom of Terabithia. In addition to their creativity, they share curiosity about the world beyond what they already know. This combination leads the friends to Terabithia. In the forest near their homes, they create a secret, faraway place to escape their troubles, have fun, and let their imaginations run free. Leslie and Jesse became the rulers of Terabithia. They take on the problems in their real world and come up with plans to deal with them together. They have fun roleplaying, telling stories, and sharing thoughts. To enter the kingdom, they have to swing across a river with a rope. Once they cross, they are in a whole new world where they can be themselves. They keep it secret, so that no one can ever discover it but them. Leslie and Jesse develop such a trusting friendship that they can really help each other with their troubles. I love this book because it addresses problems kids have in the real world, as well as shows how imagination can play a big part in life. For instance, when the school bully is causing trouble, their imagination helps Jesse and Leslie come up with a plan. There are several reasons this book deserved to be the Newbery Medal Winner. The way Katherine Paterson describes Terabithia made me feel like I was there with the characters. As I follow them into Terabithia, it seems as if the woods are enchanted. It’s like being invited to the secret world. I also like the balance between fantasy and reality that Paterson creates. Everybody from fourth grade up can enjoy this book. It has just as much to offer for girls as it does for boys. When you get to know these characters, you might find yourself in them. If you enjoy this novel, you might enjoy the other stories Katherine Paterson has to offer. I’m glad it doesn’t end in Terabithia! Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson. HarperCollins, 1997. Buy the book here and support Stone Soup in the process!
