Varian JohnsonBesprekingen

From Kirkus: "A candid and powerful reckoning of history."

Gr 3–7—Bold artwork accompanies authentic characters in this pitch-perfect look at sibling rivalry and adolescent
self-discovery during the dreaded middle school years. Heading into sixth grade with different hopes and
expectations, twins Maureen and Francine find their once close relationship threatened—but their biggest challenge
arrives when both decide to run for class president.

Great audiobook narrator; he was the perfect narrative voice.

10-year-old Ant is teased about being small and weak. But is it really weak to be a nice person and talk about your feelings? Ant's best friend has bullying tendencies and seems to be carrying on the tradition of toxic masculinity, but luckily Ant makes a new friend who is 1000% better. Her name is Shirley and she gets teased about being tall and confident.

This was kind of like a sports story, but with a card game called Spades instead of athletics. It reminded me a bit of [b:Not an Easy Win|61356472|Not an Easy Win|Chrystal D. Giles|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1664754617l/61356472._SY75_.jpg|96769757] which featured chess. Spades is often accompanied by trash talk, but the "yo mama" jokes in this book are so old and corny. I cringed.

From the description I read, I thought Ant's recently deceased grandfather would play more of a role in the story, and while he definitely has a presence in the story, he's not talked about much. This is not a book about grieving the loss of a grandparent. It's more of a book about emotional maturity, friendship, trust, and coming to terms with a very flawed parent.

Content notes: Ant's father is an alcoholic but tries to hide it. He also has a gambling addiction. There is nothing super traumatic on the page.

An homage to [b:The Westing Game|902|The Westing Game|Ellen Raskin|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356850909s/902.jpg|869832] with historical context that adds a lot of depth. I liked that the plot shifted between the present-day when Candice and Brandon are trying to solve the mystery and the past events on which the mystery is based in the 1950s. Young readers will learn a lot about American history and segregation while also considering the prejudices that still run rampant today.

I thought the plotting could have been tighter and that the kids could've gotten to the puzzle-solving earlier in the book. As a mystery, this wasn't as carefully constructed as I think it could have been (not like The Westing Game, for example). But when you consider that the author was trying to give the book more of a conscience/soul than just a standard mystery, it makes sense. The twist, when it comes, is a doozy that I didn't anticipate at all.

Representation: Black main characters

7/10, this was a good novel, and I enjoyed this one. The plot was very interesting, since it was about the concept of family tensions, and it was executed well. The characters were very fascinating, yet enjoyable to read, they were identical twins, and have their differences and similarities, which I liked. I've read books about family tensions, some of which didn't go so well, such as All About Mia, and She's the Worst, but this book actually manages to capture this issue well, which I liked. The flashbacks of the twins when they were younger were a nice touch, they got along during that time, compared to when they were in 6th grade and they drifted away momentarily, but got along again in the end. If you like a story about family, this is the book for you.

First, I love Dion Graham's voice and I will definitely look for more book narrated by Dion in the future.

Second, this was a great book. I love how many different topics are brought up in this book, alcoholism, gambling addictions, drug addictions, being raised by grandparents/aunts/uncles, and financial issues. These are all issues that children around the world have to deal with and can relate to.
I also love that this book centers around family and community and that everyone in the family has learned Spades and there is a huge community tournament.

I hope that games like Spades, Bid Whist, Hearts, Gin Rummy, Scopa, Cribbage, etc. are still played in households today. I grew up playing some of these games and I am so grateful that I learned how to play.

I want to say this book is aimed at middle grades, since the main characters are 11 and 12 years old. But it’s a fairly sophisticated story for that age group, so I’m not sure. Candice finds a mysterious letter among some things left for her by her late grandmother, and the letter leads her on a quest to unravel a mystery. The story takes place in the American south, and there’s a lot here—discrimination based on race and sexuality, unlikely friendships, broken families, forbidden love—all spreading over three generations. The protagonists often speak in terms that only much older people would use, while the adults almost seem dumbed down at times. It was a bit distracting—I feel like a better editor would have caught those inconsistencies and given the author a chance to correct them. I’m not sure which group of readers I’d recommend this to, but it was an entertaining read with an emotional punch at the end. Oh, and it made me want to revisit the books of Ellen Raskin, who was one of my favourite authors when I was Candice’s age.

This book got a lot more complicated than the puzzle mystery I expected. Similar to Dreamland Burning, this story used a mystery to connect characters from the present to the past, and parts of the story were set in the past. It was done so well, I could picture every last detail of the people and their town. What I didn't expect was the wide range of social topics that came up. Including gender roles, racism, bullying, family relationships, and more, this book dove wholeheartedly into the complicated world that the characters inhabit. Don't let the young kids on the cover deceive you - this book is a challenging read, and would be great for older teens as well as younger kids up for the challenge.

Maureen is bummed that a computer glitch messed up their school schedules, and she and her twin sister Francine hardly have any classes together in their first year at middle school. Suddenly Francine says she is going by Fran, and starts to make plans that don't include Maureen at all. Twins is realistic fiction in a graphic novel format, and it is so good! Sister drama and friend drama combine to make the kind of intense social situation that a lot of people can relate to.

This is a great middle school book about growing up and growing apart. I liked the dynamics of the two sisters and how they love one another. The drawings were amazing. Great book.

After her parents get divorced, Candace and her mother move into her late grandmother's house in a different town. Over the summer she makes friends with the boy next door, and when she finds a clue to a local hidden treasure puzzle in the attic, together they try to solve the mystery while also facing casual racism from adults and bullying from other kids.

The narrative moves back and forth in time between present day and the 1950s, telling both the story of Candace's search and the origin of the hidden treasure. It's the Westing Game for this generation; in fact Raskin's book gets references here several times, and although The Westing Game is still the superior book, this one is still a good time and definitely worth a read.

While criticisms of the worldbuilding are valid, I was just here for the vibes, man.

Well, this was FUN! Slick-mouth Scott is in a hellish, sci-fi military school, and he's about to break out! The art style was simple but complimented the story well. I thought the dialogue was fun/ny and learning about the setting and Scott's past kept my interest.

Scott doesn't know when to shut up, but I like him a lot. Let's just say the boy's mouth is cut long and wide. I also thought Barda was going to be a filler bully character, but she gets some depth.

Even though Himon's departure felt a bit rushed, Bekka's illness doesn't get resolved, and we don't find out any more about Scotty boy's past, I had a really good reading experience with this, and I would love to read more with these characters.

An interesting puzzle book type adventure -- a scavenger hunt mixed with math clues that holds the unfolding story of the events in a small South Carolina town in the 1950s. Notable in many ways -- from the strong connection and context storytelling about race relations in the south in the 50s, to the well done modern storyline that kids will find accessible, to the very personable characters and the puzzling mystery, all set firmly in an African-American community. Touches on so many things -- fear of the police and the struggle for equal representation in city jobs, scapegoating, passing, toxic masculinity, bullying, being an ally to gay family and friends, divorce, girls' ability in math and in athletics -- it's just chock full of great stuff that can be pulled out... or not, because it's also just a really intensely readable story about a couple of lonely, book reading kids on summer vacation. Great stuff! 12 year old main characters.

Hmmmm, ok, so I liked the crew in this book, and I appreciate a good heist, of which there were several interlocking elements in this book. Also, I think dropping us in medius res to begin with is excellent, although it did make me wonder a few times if there was a previous book. That said, this isn't so much a mile-a-minute plot -- it's an intricate read, that proceeds at a measured pace. Also, since it is ALL about elections, tampering with elections, buying elections, etc, it's a bit upsetting to me given the current political climate. Finally, holy hiccups but these kids take their elections and themselves very seriously. I mean, come on, it's a middle school student body election -- do people really care that much? I went to a non traditional school, so I'm honestly perplexed. Anyway, still a great, clever crew and a solid heist book.

Nice graphic novel about finding your space, even when you look exactly like your twin sister. 6th grade is a big adjustment for Fran and Maureen Carter, and then they end up running against each other for student council president. Great family support, friends who call you on your pity party, and a really good story.

This was such a fun and enjoyable graphic novel to read. the story was based on twin sisters and their adventures of going into middle school. The book talked about the two discovering their own identities and facing conflict going into middle school. They begin to grow apart and are faced with obstacles that they must overcome as a family. This novel would be great for intermediate readers. Definitely, a fun read for middle school girls!

more da vinci code than westing game

Ten-year-old Ant is "dealing" with a lot—Dad's addiction and lies, a friend turning on him, taunts about his height, a new friend who is (gulp) a girl and whom (gulp) he might like-like. And, oh yeah, preparing for the 22nd annual spades tournament. The card-playing theme ties everything together, even the tough topics. The narrator (identity hidden for most of the book) is refreshing. Definitely adding to our grade 4 and 5 school library. Varian Johnson, I can't wait for your next book.

I did not enjoy this story at all. I think mostly because I have no previous knowledge of the character and the story seems to start in the middle. The characters are either in another world or demission, maybe hell???? They want to escape and get to earth. The reason I say hell is because they are trained to die and rebirth or reform. But Mister Miracle has been able to escape the “school” or “training facility” but not able to help others do so yet. The story was not holding my attention. It also felt old in illustration, both in style and color. This could be because I was reading a galley so I will hold judgement on that factor. Over all, I did not really enjoy this book, which was sad. Maybe a second go I will like the character better. I do know some kids who will love it, and as such should be added to library’s DC collections.

A reimagined version of Scott Free is trying to escape from Goodness Academy, a hellish boarding school for teenagers on Apokolips, the home planet of Darkseid and his pantheon of evil gods. In an attempt to make Jack Kirby's endlessly boring Fourth World mythology more timely, many characters are now BIPOC and racism is introduced to Apokolips, with one character putting on whiteface in order to get ahead in the hierarchy. But as a theme it never really seems to go anywhere, and Darkseid never shows up so we don't see how this works with his traditional gray/mauve pallor.

The escape artist aspects of Scott Free don't really get much of a spotlight. He tries to escape, but not a lot and not in particularly clever ways, with an old Walkman cassette player/recorder playing way too big a part of most of the plans. His mentor, Himon, seems to do most of the planning, and we never get to see Scott learning much or perfecting his craft.

The art bummed me out with its muted and morose color palette, which, sure, is fitting, but just depresses me the longer I look at it. And why not have Scott's costume pop as a contrast to the gloom to show he's different? Fully triangular noses on some of the character bugged me, especially Kalibak's nose with its color mismatched against the rest of his face -- way too distracting. And it took me a long time to figure out that the floating red ovals all over the pages were not clothing decorations or insects or drones but rather meant to convey action. It might have been less confusing if a lot of the characters weren't wearing the same ovoids on their collars.

Mostly, I hate Jack Kirby's Fourth World a lot, and you need to do something really special to make me forget that. This listless story with off-putting art falls far short of the tipping point.

Imagine your only competition for student council president being your identical twin – someone who people often have difficulty distinguishing from yourself – and you’ll understand how hijinks ensue in this graphic novel about family and friendship. The typical middle school story of finding your identity and adjusting to new and changing friendships is amplified here by the main character feeling in competition with her twin sister. The characters feel realistic on the whole and while this story feels wrapped up pretty well on its own, it's easy to see other stories of the twins (or their pals) arising in the future.

This title is perfect for fans of books like Smile, Best Friends, and Invisible Emmie. Its bright and expressive illustrations add to an already interesting story, and readers will not want to put it down.

I have to admit that one of the reasons I wasn’t that fond of The Great Greene Heist may be because I’m reading it because as part of the 2019 March Book Madness middle-reader sweet 16 bracket, and it just doesn’t rise to the high level of writing that I’ve experienced with the other books.
But... the good things:
—diverse cast of characters in a non-heavy setting, as in, it is not about poverty, civil rights, overt discrimination, and the characters seem middle-class or rich. Sometimes I think kids enjoy a book like this because it is a real break from the heavy lit they are required to read.
—the author’s other books are highly lauded

The meh things:
—It’s hard to get into. Many characters are introduced in the space of a few pages, some characters don’t have a lot to do with forwarding the plot. In one case, I could never remember the beef Jackson Greene had with the character, and I was too underwhelmed to go back and figure it out. Like in a heist movie, I think you are supposed to be so intrigued that your curiosity propels you to continue watching. Didn’t really work for me.
—The plot is really outlandish and ridiculous. The core problem is that, the reader has to believe in the god-like powers of the 8th grade student council president as a motivating factor in the heist. I was in student council in middle school, and I’m pretty sure student councils have little consequential power anywhere.
—The school, the teachers, the students are all just a little too unbelievable. I kept asking myself if it was a private or public school? One thing about writing about wealthy kids is that they risk not having much underdog status, and not being terribly interesting or likable, which is true for the main characters. The driving force behind the heist just isn’t that compelling.

Jackson Greene lost his best friend, Gabriela de la Cruz when he was caught sort of kissing another girl. After four months of no communication with Gaby, Jackson vows to help her win the student council presidential election against the hated Keith, who Jackson knows will cheat to win. Jackson recruits Victor, Bradley, Megan, and Charlie, all with their own specialties, to help with the election and develops a plan, but several thing go wrong before they can even get started.

The Great Greene Heist is truly a middle school equivalent of Ocean's 11 with Jackson filling the role of planner, Danny Ocean. The con Jackson proposes has several layers and all of them build into a twist and turn filled last couple of chapters that make this book wildly entertaining. My only complaint with the story is that the staff members of the school are all generalized as being, prejudiced cheats, but overall, The Great Greene Heist is a fun story well worth the read. 4 1/2 stars.