Abrams books | Page 3 of 10

Bullet Train, a book so good that I went to the eye doctor

I picked up Bullet Train by Kotao Isaka intent on experiencing a taut, quickly paced page turner. Instead, I cursed the size of the font, gave the book to my wife, and cursed this book was almost exclusively intended for fighter pilots. However, she could easily read Bullet Train. Apparently, I just needed to see the eye doctor, who probably has eyesight like a falcon who’s out for prey. Actually, I knew that I needed to get the prescription updated, but the summertime malaise had started to take root. My new plastic optics were firmly in place and Bullet Train was firmly on my chest, as a lay down after a muggy summer’s day.

Bullet Train is a thriller that deftly dances between humor and action, with the characters being the thread that aligns them.

Please let the movie be as great as this book was….

Gabe in the After is mglit that welcomes reluctant readers

I love it when a book that I’m not anticipating anything from utterly blows away expectations. Gabe in the After by Shannon Doleski is a book like that. Books like this feel short and make readers wish that there was more to this particular story that would’ve been told. However, at the same time, you be grateful that the book leaves you wanting more, rather than wearing out its welcome. It’s a tricky line to navigate between the two, but Gabe in the After does it with ease and will entrance even the most reluctant of upper elementary through middle school readers.

Gabe in the After is approachable mglit that’s tailor-made for reluctant realistic fiction middle school reads.

Hopeful dystopia, for mglit and up

Puppy Bus, a wonderfully goofy book about going to school amidst change

It starts in late June for us. The department stores start to display their back-to-school supplies, I’ll jokingly call it my favorite time of year, and my kids will roll their eyes in dad joke disdain. There’s also a wave of books that come out to comfort kids as to the new schedules, expectations and routines that many of them will experience for the first time. Puppy Bus is a silly picture book that pokes fun at the changes or new routines that those younger ages will go through by imagining that the human student gets on the dog school bus.

Puppy Bus is a lighthearted, fun picture book that’s aimed at ages four through eight and shows them that change at school is OK.

Let the cute back to school books begin

The Sweetest Scoop, a fun picture book on ice cream, ethics and persistence

The other day I heard on the radio that Touch of Grey was released on this date in 1987. They then went on to chat about Jerry Garcia and I immediately regretted not seeing them on tour with my friend in 1988. However, now I’m all about reading, children’s literature, and introducing kids to great books, which bring us to The Sweetest Scoop, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Revolution. This is a picture book that examines the rise of the duo in the world of frozen treats and corporate responsibility. Don’t read too much into that last series of words because the book is entertaining, has a great narrative, and will make readers smile, in addition to giving them something to learn.

The Sweetest Scoop is a picture book on Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, the flavors, their business, the ethics, and walking the walk.

At the intersection of life, business and ethics is this surprisingly fun picture book

The Power of Yet, picture book fun-with something to say

I spent most of the 2022 school year in a classroom where “Yet” was in large poster board letters on the wall. Then surrounding that word were several short statements encouraging students like “I can’t do that”, which led directly to that large word. The Power of Yet is a picture book by Maryann Cocca-Leffler for pre-K through second graders that primes them to the power of that simple, three-letter word.

The Power of Yet is picture book greatness that teaches young kids about positive thinking, without being preachy

Making storytime great for pre-k and K kids

Under Exposed! 50 Greatest Movies Never Made, fun to read, fascinating to think of

Given that Sam Raimi is riding the Doctor Strange wave, it’s worth reminding audiences of Burst. That was his 3-D film that he produced about spontaneous combustion. It’s got all the makings of a cult classic and was never made, but sounds ridiculously awesome. That’s just one of the films featured in Under Exposed! The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made. Justice League: Mortal, directed by Mad Max legend George Miller is another film that inspires the mind as to what it could’ve been.

Under Exposed! The 50 Greatest Movies Never Made is a fascinating look at cinematic projects that made sense, but didn’t see the light of day.

Ready when you are C. B.

Lifetime Passes, a sly, graphic novel on friends, life and expectations

Never judge a book by its cover. I led one other review like this and that book, much like Lifetime Passes was nothing like what I thought it would be. From the cover of Lifetime Passes one might think that it’s a group of teen social media savvy vampires who are being escorted through a theme park with their elder queen, who was donning red glasses underneath her umbrella. Had I looked at the back cover I would’ve discovered a more accurate read on what the graphic novel is really about.

A darkly comic graphic novel that twists towards the end

The Woman Who Split the Atom, an easy top 10 mglit for 2022

The Woman Who Split the Atom is a fascinating, entertaining, non-fiction book that dares you not to enjoy it. That’s a big claim, especially when you consider that the key group that the book is going after are those middle school, mglit readers who can be notoriously fickle. Now, factor in that the book is the true story about a scientist whose groundbreaking work as a physicist changed the world. Oh, and this physicist is a Jewish woman who you probably haven’t heard of who did the bulk of her research in Germany in the early 20^th century. With all of that going against it, the book tells the story of Lise Meitner in a way that even the most reluctant middle school reader will eagerly turn the pages to see what happens next.

The Woman Who Split the Atom, the true story of Lise Meitner is presented and constructed in an irresistible way for readers aged 10 and up.

Stop, collaborate and read this book-it is incredible for ages 10 and up