Karen KrossingCritiques

On one level, Monster vs. Boy is a compelling thriller, but it's also a vehicle for kids to think about their deepest fears. I loved all of the characters, but Mim, the exquisitely and compassionately drawn monster, is a standout. Dawz, the boy, is her perfect counterpoint. A great book for kids to read as a page-turner, but also one that will stick with them for a long time.

Karen Krossing relates the story of our first universal ancestor with lyrical language that comforts and reassures. She explores a complex subject in a way that's understandable for the youngest reader yet doesn't talk down. This reads like a lullaby yet explores so much. It's a book that families will read together time and again.

Punch Like A Girl is a story about a girl named Tori who confuses people when she starts to lash out and becomes more moody. She ends up punching a girl at a store and having to do community service. At the community for domestic abuse victims, she bonds with a little girl who ends up getting abducted. In this book Tori goes through many trials and has dealt with things that no child should have to.

This story was one that hits the heart. It was a great and easy read. It was one of those that would be good for students who are maybe struggling with things at home or with difficult things in their lives. It wouldn't be an appropriate one for a full class, but one that I would keep on hand.

(I got this book free from Librarything's Early Reviewer's program in exchange for a review.)

This is a pretty good young adult novel covering several issues, mainly the ins and outs of adolescent friendships, sexual assault, and domestic violence. The fact that the protagonist, Tori, was sexually assaulted by her ex-boyfriend is pretty obvious, although it isn't directly stated until almost the end of the book because she is afraid to tell anyone. In the meantime, her bizarre and aggressive behavior -- acting out from the trauma -- fracture her relationships with her two best friends, Aleah and the gender-nonconforming Jamarlo, and alarm her parents, who, to punish what they perceive as misbehavior, make her to do "community service" volunteering at a shelter for women and children fleeing domestic violence. Volunteering turns out to be therapeutic for Tori, and she finds the strength to come to terms with what has happened and finally share it with her friends and family.

I can't really say anything bad about the book, other than the fact that if the author wanted the whole sex assault thing to be a surprise, it definitely wasn't one. As a fellow rape survivor, I thought Tori's emotional and behavioral problems were portrayed very well, and her friends and the people at the shelter seemed like real people, not just plot devices. A good book; I would particularly recommend it for teen girls who are recovering from sexual assault.

Tori is a badass with some secrets as to why she's as rebellious as she is, why she decided to shave her head and why she's suddenly more violent then she's ever been before.

This story touches on quite a few important topics for teens and young adults such as rape; abduction; abuse, etc. I found this book compelling and hard to put down but at the same time it was super predictable in the plot. I do think that teens will really enjoy this book as I did as an adult.

I would definitely recommend picking it up ESP. If you like hard hitting or ya books with some tough topics. Thank you to library thing early reviewers and orca publishing for the free copy!½

A fantasy adventure inspired by Norse mythology (Ymir, Odin, creation) as well as an Ojibway legend of the Sleeping Giant.

To save his father, Bog, a young cave troll, journeys to discover a lost treasure rumored to heal trolls turned to stone. He's also on a quest to stop the infamous Troll Hunter, who is mercilessly killing trolls and training other humans to do the same. Along the way he uncovers his true identity and deals with the aftermath of that revelation.

I found the simplistic writing better suited to young readers, 12 and under, than mature readers who may want more in the way of characterization or plot. However, the theme of Other and being different is a definite learning opportunity if a parent or teacher were doing a read-along with that younger reader. Potential discussions about prejudice, interracial relationships, biracial children, kids dealing with divorce, especially those feeling stuck between warring parents, constantly being pulled into arguments and feeling pressured to pick a side (parent).

3 stars

Bog has its moments and a decent story line. However, given the variety of themes/topics, I suspect it may not be something some juvenile readers will complete. Those who do, however, will find it an interesting story that gives them something to ponder regarding how we treat those who are different.

Bog was a great read, an entertaining chapter book for kids of all ages.

Bog is a young cave troll, out hunting with his father, when his father is turned to stone. He returns to his grandma and the other kids (sort of a foster / cousin situation) where we learn that trolls are often hunted. Bog, against his normal instincts, decides he will hunt this Troll Hunter and stop him.

Bog's emotion is relateable, and his logic, rationalization, and growth throughout the book make him appealing. His friendship with Small, a huge forest troll, and his changing relationship with a young human girl named Hannie both show different aspects of his character.

The climax is predictable, but not unenjoyable. Although the pleasant resolution felt a bit forced, I did appreciate that there was a sort of epilogue that explained that everything didn't just "magically get all better". Bog still has reservations about how things worked out, but his growth as a character and honesty with himself and others is admirable.

I think this is a great book for young readers. The age range is stated as 9-14, but I could see some 7- and 8-year-olds really enjoying it too. The reading level is probably closer to a 9-year-old range. There is a bit of violence, which younger readers may shy away from, but it never feels excessive or unexplained.

Something happened with Matt at Carmen’s party, but Tori won’t tell anyone about it. Her best friend Alena keeps trying to get her excited about going to the 11th grade anti-prom, but all Tori can think about is what happened the last time she went to a party. Unable to face up to her inner turmoil, and unable to speak about what happened, Tori shaves off her long hair and starts getting into arguments and fights. After an encounter that almost gets her arrested, her parents force her to perform community service.

Read the rest of the review on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2015/08/02/punch-like-a-girl-karen-kros...

Definitely a positive young adult novel that helps show the way through trauma. There is some some content that is very hard to swallow but it is not graphic or vulgar. Karen Krossing has taken the very serious topic of abuse and delivered it in a way that causes the reader to sit back and think about it once the book is over. The characters are relatable. The plot is not unique, as it is a story about abuse that we have all probably read before, but it is the characters that take this book to the next level. Words cannot describe how positive this book was in the way it revealed dealing with abuse at a young age. I thoroughly enjoyed this from star to finish!

This is a great book for late middle school to high school aged students. The story covers hard topics like rape, abuse, kidnapping, vulnerability, and bullying without being overly graphic or over the top. The main character is likable and easy to relate to even if the reader has never experienced such hardships. I really enjoyed how each chapter began with a vocabulary word with accompanying definition that connected to the plot.

The writing wasn't stellar and there were many plot points that were obvious, but I do not think that is always a bad thing for a YA novel. Sometimes quick, gripping reads are important to get students into reading. This is a great gateway book for other more complicated reads.½

A well-written and gritty YA novel. Unlike much of the lighter YA novels out there, Punch Like a Girl deals with issues of both domestic and sexual abuse in a realistic way that is thought-provoking yet appropriate for a younger audience.

I especially appreciated the research that was done by the author on how shelters for women suffering from domestic abuse function as I think those scenes would be eye-opening for some readers.

Punch Like a Girl brought me to tears. As a one-time victim of domestic violence, I felt these issues were dealt with realistically. I also enjoyed how the author created characters who were quirky and complex and allowed to be themselves, in particular the characthers of Jamarlo and Carmen. This is a book that would be beneficial for all young adults to read, although I highly recommend it to anyone.

Note: Early Reviewer selection - I was provided a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Readers and fans of Laurie Halse Anderson's YAL novel Speak will enjoy this story about a girl named Tori who has been traumatized (although we don't know how) and has a difficult time finding her voice.

The story opens with Tori, who is a high school junior, shaving her head in the middle of the night. Obviously distressed about something, this single act is the beginning of a downward spiral for Tori. She begins standing up for herself to some whom she sees as threatening, which only gets her into trouble with her parents and friends.

After a fight (in which she punches a very large classmate, hence the title of the book), Tori's parents convince the "victim" to not press charges, on the promise that Tori will perform community service. She elects to do her hours at a battered women's shelter. Here she meets a very special young girl, who, through a string of incredibly intense events, helps Tori confront the thing that has been eating away at her.

This book explores the ideas of family, friends, high school relationships, domestic abuse, and how a traumatic event can lead a person to close themselves off from those who care for them - and how that same person can find life again.

Having been a high school teacher, I am certain that many students, boys and girls alike, would enjoy this book. There is quite a bit of room for speculation and discussion, and I could see a publication of this book being offered with "questions for discussion" at the back.

Overall, a good read for teens, addressing real issues that all teens should be aware of, and have a chance to discuss.

This review can be found on my blog https://realteachermama.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/coming-april-2015-punch-like-a-...

This book has a good message: it's important to lean on friends and family when going through a trauma. It was a quick read, but was so clearly geared toward young adults that it felt a bit too simplistic & formulaic. Girl endures abuse, withdraws, lashes out, accepts & heals. Nothing extraordinary but I think I would have dug it if I was, say, 13.

Love the cover, though.

Punch Like a Girl is a teen novel told from the perspective of high school student Tori Wyatt. The book starts out with an attention-grabbing scene that describes Tori shaving her head. At this point, Krossing only provides a slight hint as to why she is doing it, leaving readers to pick up bits and pieces of the inciting event throughout the story. Besides altering her appearance, Tori’s attitude changes, as well, causing her friends and family to wonder why she has become so angry and aggressive.

I can see teens really getting into this story in the beginning because it contains realistic characters and relationships, arguing among friends, instances of bullying, and an air of suspense surrounding Tori’s transformation. However, I can also see some teens losing interest during the scenes when Tori carries out community service hours as a volunteer at a shelter for abused women and children. I hope readers do not lose interest too often, though, because Tori experiences a lot of positive growth while volunteering, much to the credit of Casey, a little girl who inspires Tori to reveal the cause for her uncharacteristic behavior.

For the most part, Tori’s actions seemed plausible given what happened to her, but I just kept thinking that her transformation was too much too fast. I understand that her anger and aggression were a result of bottling up what happened to her, but I didn’t fully buy that she wouldn’t have confided in her best friends, Alana and Jamarlo.

***POSSIBLE SPOILER*** I also found myself wondering why everyone in the story seemed to think Matt was such a great guy. Wouldn’t someone like him—someone who has issues with possessiveness and aggression—be kind of an all-around jerk? And the way he moved on so quickly from Tori to Melody seemed like a sign that he probably dated many girls before Tori, so surely Tori wasn’t the first he assaulted.

Overall, I liked this book because it held my interest and because it aims to cover several important topics, including:

*Dealing with negative emotions in non-violent ways
*Confiding in trusted individuals if you are ever the victim of abuse
*Walking away instead of confronting a bully

This book would be a good classroom read for middle school students.

**Thank you to Orca Book Publishers for providing me with an advanced reader copy of this book.½

3.75 Stars
A moving story revolving around some important themes, especially domestic violence and how to survive it. The MC is realistic and her responses are not only understandable but also believable. There is a secondary plot with a different type of domestic violence addressed that is written into the overall storyline. A good conversation starter for discussions about abuse, standing up, and speaking out.

LT Early Reviewer

I was doubly excited to read this book because (1) I enjoy YA fiction and (2) I have enjoyed working in the field of human services with displaced children. So I had a lot of expectations for this book. I was pleased with the storyline, how the different pieces wove together, seemingly fractured, but came together realistically in a resolution that made sense, considering all that had happened. I enjoyed the main character development, and felt that her emotional states were realistically portrayed for each big moment.

Some things I did not like so much were most of the supporting characters, which remained dimensionless to me throughout the story, and some of the dialogue seemed like it was trying too hard to be in "teen-speak."

Overall, with the story and the main character being strong points, I was pleased with this book and am happy to own it!

It's not a bad story, but all of the characters are flat. Even Briar, the main character, is one dimensional. I received a copy via librarything.

Thematically, not a bad story. But definitely, definitely, not my cup of tea. Before I let my opinion of this book cloud your mind, I do want to state that while, I might not have loved this book, I don't see why some kids wouldn't. It's a kid's book through and through and kids (probably 3rd through 6th) that are into fantasy and fairy tales might get a big kick out of this. Usually, I'm perfectly fine reading children's books, but this chapter book must have been the exception. I was a sheer force of will power that enabled me to finish it. Basically the story goes a little something like this.

Bog, a cave troll, goes to seek revenge for his father's "death" (he was turned into stone). The legendary troll hunter has been training recruits on how to trap trolls and lure them into the sunlight. Bog decides that the only way to protect his remaining family is to hunt the Troll Hunter and stop the cycle. Before he sets off on his quest, his grandmother gives him shocking news, Bog is half human! Bog always wondered why he wasn't as ugly and big as the other trolls, but he never could have imagined that his father was ever in love with a human. With a heavy heart he sets out of the woods, before long he saves the life of a forest troll, Small, and they become fast friends. Small agrees to help Bog on his quest but there is only one catch, they have to take a little human child with them. Bog adamantly refuses but when he discovers that there may be a legendary nose stone that can turned stone trolls back to life he begrudgingly takes her along in case she may be useful.

Yep, that's about it. The folklore surrounding the trolls was interesting as was their descriptions. I just couldn't give a hoot about the plot.

I am loving Karen Krossing's Bog so far! The trolls are (obviously) nonhuman characters but Bog is very relatable. His feelings and fears are all too real.

I have to say that I love the cover art/design, as well as the book.

(More detailed review to come when I have completed the book!)

Bog by Karen Krossing presents a different kind of quest for a kid's book. Instead of following a human into the supernatural world the book offers the reader a young troll as a main character who must go searching for a way to save his father and come to terms to his own existence. This world is interesting and the premise is really fun. I especially like the conflict escalation that happens mid to end of the book and the main character's solution at the end is cool. However the characters aren't quite as fleshed out as I wanted them to be, the main character, his companions and his family all give us a brief look into their minds and hearts but not enough for the readers to be fully invested in them. It's a shame because seeing a book written in my neck of the woods (around Lake Superior) is a treat but while I can say it is a good book I think it could have been better.

Even though it was for kids- this book was great. Bog is about a troll- Bog, who leaves his family to avenge his father who was killed by hunters. The writing was easy to understand. Perfect for any age really. It was a quick read and lovely cover. Who knew trolls were so charming?