Sean Tackles London

Sean Tackles London by Tanya Preminger; illustrated by Elettra Cudignotto     64 pages

In this third book of A Children’s Book About Soccer and Teamwork, Sean is now nine years old. He is no longer the whiny, pouty little jerk we saw in Book 2, “Sean Goes to Barcelona.”

Sean is still mad over Lionel Messi and wants to be like him more than anything in the world. The family is taking their summer vacation London for one main reason: for Sean to attend the FC Barcelona soccer camp. At stake is an invitation to play in the Barca youth world tournament.

Sean is positive that he will make the team. The only problem is, there are equally as talented kids vying for the same position on the team. Although he gets a little jealous, Mommy and Daddy help him see that teamwork is the only answer. He may not get picked, but at least he knows that he did his best and hopefully makes an impression on the soccer coaches.

I am a little surprised that teamwork would be the topic on such a high-profile stage. I believe that Sean would have/should have learned that lesson on his soccer team back home. And it was  a little weird that the book's title in hardcover is different than the picture. Therefore, “Sean Tackles London” receives 4 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.

Same Beach, Next Year

Same Beach, Next Year by Dorothea Benton Frank Audio book 10 hours Book 374 pages

The Stanley family, Adam, Eliza and their twin boys Max and Luke, are the picture of familial perfection. Every year they go to the Isle of Palms and have a great time at their condo. One year a new family is introduced into their lives. Eve who is a former flame of Mr. Stanley and her husband and daughter. Well, where there are former flames there is usually trouble and this story is no different. Is the romance between Adam and Eve still there? Can the families' friendship withstand it if it is?

I enjoyed this book, the characters were believable and enjoyable. I usually don't like the trope of elderly people who say crazy things, but Cookie, Eve's mother did make me laugh with her outrageous lack of tact and discretion. This book went by really fast in a time flies when you're having fun kind of way. The dialogue flowed well and there was only 1 plot left dangling that I can think of, but it was a small one so it didn't ruin the story. Overall for people who like family fiction with lots of love and friendship I would recommend this book.

Riptide Ultra-Glide

Riptide Ultra-Glide by Tim Dorsey, 294 pages

Patrick and Barbara McDougall have just been laid off form their jobs as teachers and have decided that now is the perfect time for them just get away for nice Florida vacation. Unfortunately thing start to down hill for them the minute they arrive. Their luggage is lost, their motel isn't exactly how it's pictured in brochures, and a string of events now prevents them from leaving the state. Meanwhile the there's a war brewing between rival drug smugglers over the control of Florida's growing number of pain clinics. To top everything off Coleman seems to have become famous enough for everyone to want his signature. All of this fits perfectly with Serge's next big idea though, and that is to film the next great reality show, starring against their wills, the McDougalls who may or may not be safer with Serge around.

Dorsey continues his series with more strange characters and interesting deaths, such as murder by pelican or death by sandcastle. One the best things about this book is that it continues to explore the character of Coleman, letting him recount an adventure without Serge and making him mildly famous to allow him to share his drug culture wisdom with his fans. While this series generally follows the same overall style every book the characters and details continue to make it worth reading  

This One Summer

This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki, 319 pages

This a graphic novel told from the perspective of two preteen girls, Rose and Windy.  The girls have been summer friends for many years because their families are both at Awago Beach every summer.  This summer is a little different because Rose’s parents have been fighting a lot.  Rose’s mother has been depressed and won’t participate in most family activities.  Rose thinks it has to do with the fact that her mother wants a baby but can’t have one but is angry with her mother anyway.  She and Windy have spent the summer hanging out at a local shop, renting horror films and talking about the older boys who run the shop and their girlfriends.  This is a pretty good realistic story that teen and preteen readers would enjoy.

This One Summer

This One Summer

by Mariko Tamaki, Jillian Tamaki, 320 pgs.

Every summer, Rose goes to Aswego Beach with her family.  While there, she gets to spend time with her best friend, Windy, and the two share a sister-like bond.  One particular summer, Rose begins to notice her parents arguing -- something that has never happened before.  At the same time, she and Windy get wrapped up in some drama between a group of local teens.  Rose struggles with some internalized sexism, which tests her friendship with progressively-minded Windy.

This One Summer is an engaging story, and the illustrations are sweeping and beautifully done.