Better Nate Than Ever: Review Haiku

Totally implausible
and cliched, but a
hecuka good time.

Better Nate Than Ever by Tim Federle. S&S, 2013, 288 pages.

The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett: Review Haiku

Take a stand against
stupid unhelpful testing
mania, you will.

The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett by Tom Angleberger. Amulet, 2013, 224 pages.

Mouse Bird Snake Wolf: Review Haiku

Creation myths in thought-
provoking, nightmare form.
What to make of it?

Mouse Bird Snake Wolf by David Almond, illustrated by Dave McKean. Candlewick, 2013, 80 pages.

Goliath: Review Haiku

The Philistines'
champion as a reluctant
middle-manager.

Goliath by Tom Gauld. Drawn and Quarterly, 2012, 96 pages.

The Truth of Me: Review Haiku

Little truths in a
little package. I want a
dog like Ellie, too.

The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan. Harper, 2013, 114 pages.

Bluffton: Review Haiku

Coming-of-age thanks to
Buster. Summers are better
with vaudeville.

Bluffton: My Summers with Buster by Matt Phelan. Candlewick, 2013, 240 pages.

Call Me Oklahoma: Review Haiku

Fourth-grade identity
crisis engenders
convoluted plot twists.

Call Me Oklahoma by Miriam Glassman. Holiday House, 2013, 123 pages.

Bo at Ballard Creek: Review Haiku

Little House on the 
Prairie for 'forty-niners.
I want to live here.

Bo at Ballard Creek by Kirkpatrick Hill. Holt, 2013, 288 pages.

Pastors' Wives: Review Haiku

Praise the Lord and pass
the sweet tea: rich, nuanced
women of/not of God.

Pastors' Wives by Lisa Takeuchi Cullen. Plume, 2013, 368 pages.

Better to Wish: Review Haiku

I don't think I've
ever hated a father as
much as I hate Pops.

Better to Wish (Family Tree #1) by Ann M. Martin. Scholastic, 2013, 240 pages.

One Dead Spy: Review Haiku

Fast-paced and funny.
Who knew Hale was actually
a terrible spy?

One Dead Spy: The Life, Times, and Last Words of Nathan Hale, America's Most Famous Spy by Nathan Hale. (The other one.) Amulet, 2012, 128 pages.

Invisible Inkling: The Whoopie Pie War: Review Haiku

My favorite of the
series so far. Probably
thanks to whoopie pies.

Invisible Inkling: The Whoopie Pie War. Balzer + Bray, 2013, 160 pages.

Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat: Review Haiku

Such a tricky genre,
but Violet is worth getting
to know. Lovely.

Violet Mackerel's Natural Habitat by Anna Branford. Atheneum, 2013, 112 pages.

P.S. Happy birthday, Cabana Boy!