Musnet: The Flames of the Limelight. Book 3

Kickliy. Musnet: The Flames of the Limelight. Book 3 of the Musnet series. 2017. 56p. ISBN 978-1-941250-15-0. Available in the graphic section of the library.

Musnet has not made much progress in his quest for becoming the best painter. Rémi is ill and has been concealing it since the beginning. Musnet parted ways with him, but still cares. He has troubles of his own, however, for Mya’s family, with whom he lives, is being evicted by Mr. Rattison. Musnet comes up with a clever way of preventing this tragedy by striking a deal for art with Rattison. Caught by Monet’s cat, Musnet fears the worse but after saving its life, he realizes that the Cat is actually friendly and knows a lot about painting. Will the help of his friends be enough to complete his project and save Mya and her family from eviction?

Musnet: Impressions of the Master. Book 2

Kickliy. Musnet: Impressions of the Master. Book 2 of the Musnet series. 2016. 54p. ISBN 978-1-94125013-6. Available in the graphic section of the library.

Musnet pursues his studies of painting, but all is not well at home. First, his home has been hijacked by a spider who attacks him. Rémi continues to slow Musnet’s training down. Mya’s family is being bullied by the rat landlord. Mya is mad that he’s not spending any time with her. And Monet’s cat has closed many of the access points to Giverney, making Musnet’s life harder.

Musnet tackles his spider problem, and he soon realizes that Chiby the Japanese spider is friendly and ready to help him. He’d been gone on vacation for a while, but upon his return had discovered that Musnet had taken over the room. He’s more than willing to share with Musnet. The two intrepid companions intervene when Mya’s father is mousenapped by a red-eyed owl. They develop an effective plan and manage to free him, and Musnet is even able to regain his paints that the owl had stolen in the first book.

The relationship with Rémi is harder to mend. Clinging to his classical style, Rémi is upset to discover that Musnet continues to take lessons by observing Monet. He gives him an ultimatum: classical, or impressionism, but not both. He also breaks Musnet’s brush. Rémi is not well, however, and Musnet soon discovers that the old master is dying ...

Buddha Boy

Koja, Kathe. Buddha Boy. 2003. 128p. ISBN 9780142402092. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

When Justin first sees Michael, he finds him rather odd. Not wearing a coat in winter, and begging for food in the cafeteria, Michael, who goes by the name Jinsen but who is mocked and called Buddha Boy by the other students, approaches life with the thoughts of being at peace with the universe. Justin doesn’t get it. Why is Jinsen always smiling, despite the insults and physical abuse other students hurl at him?

Then the worst happens. Justin is paired with Jinsen during economics. They are to work together on a game. Jinsen invites Justin over to his house to work on their project, and Justin discovers that Jinsen lives in a nice house and owns more art supplies than Justin has ever seen. Very artistic, Jinsen designs the visual elements of the game, while Justin creates the paper. Impressed by Jinsen’s art, Justin tells him he should join art class. Jinsen does so, and joins Justin’s table, much to the dismay of his friends.

As Justin gets to know Jinsen, he realizes that the boy is both talented and deeply committed to his faith. Justin begins to question himself on the value of faith and belief. He witnesses Jinsen being abused by other students on more than one occasion, but Jinsen always keeps a smile on his face. However, every instance of bullying challenges Justin to be more than a bystander. With his friendship with Jinsen deepening, Justin finds himself having to make a tough decision. Should he continue to remain quiet so he better fit in the social structure of his school, or should he stand up for someone who is so different but whose personality is such a ray of warm sunshine in an otherwise dreary life?

Friends and faith mix really well in this beautifully written book about the power of one individual to change the lives of many people. Fans of realistic fiction will enjoy exploring the world of Justin’s high school and the drama that Jinsen refuses to participate in.

Musnet: The House of Monet. Book 1

Kickliy. Musnet: The House of Monet. Book 1 of the Musnet series. 2016. 56p. ISBN 978-1-941250-09-9. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

On his own since birth, Mouse travels from place to place looking for work and for his next piece of cheese. Arriving at Giverny, Mouse meets a sassy mouse girl named Mya who directs him towards a hole in the tree where he might find employment. Mouse discovers the hole is inhabited by Rémi, a squirrel painter who is keen on the old ways of the masters. Rémi is cantakerous, but he grudgingly agrees to take Mouse on as an apprentice. Mouse bargains with the old squirrel and in exchange for his work he expects to receive painting lessons.

Worried about him, Mya finds Mouse camping in the back yard. She warns him about the cat that lives here, and invites him to dinner with her parents. After a hearty meal, Mya’s parents invite Mouse to stay with them in this large manor house. Mya guides Mouse to his own room, filled with books and paintings. She also shows him where the human of the house works. His name is Monet, and he is creating huge canvases with unique color schemes filled with light. Right then and there, Mouse decides that’s how he will paint.

Rémi, however, has other ideas as to what constitutes a classic painting. Over the next few days, Mouse learns more about painting, and he even gets some paints of his own. When he creates his first painting, Mya tells him that his signature is missing. But Mouse has never had a name. So Mya says it’s time to pick one, so he selects Musnet, in honor of Monet and his amazing collection of colors.

Drawn in a style made famous by French artists, Musnet is illustrated with the beautiful colors that made impressionism famous. The story is attractive and its illustrated nature provides a visually appealing complement to Musnet and Mya’s tale.

Musnet's adventures continue in Musnet: Impressions of the Master.

Between Shades of Gray

Sepetys, Ruta. Between Shades of Gray. 2011. 344p. ISBN 0-399-25412-9. Available at FIC SEP on the library shelves.

It is 1941, and Lithuania has just fallen into the Soviet sphere. When Eastern Europe was divided between Hitler and Stalin, the Russian dictator acquired all of the Baltic Republics and quickly invaded them. Now Communist rule has been imposed, and enemies of the State are disappearing.

Lina is an average teenager. At fifteen, she loves to draw and paint, and she has enough talent that a long career as an artist awaits her. Except that her father works at the University, and he is both educated and middle-class, two things that the Soviets hate. In the middle of one night, Soviet NKVD officers barge into their house and order Lina, her brother and her mother to pack up their things and be ready in 20 minutes. Her father has already disappeared a few days ago, and Lina is worried about what happened to him.

Put into cattle trains, they leave Lithuania under cramped and dangerous conditions and make their way east, to Siberia. With Hitler violating the pact he made with Stalin and the Germans attacking the Soviet Union, the country finds itself at war and yet is able to spare resources to insure that its enemies remain imprisoned. Lina and her family spend a winter at a makeshift camp. Through it all, Lina hangs to her art and draws information on handkerchiefs, hoping that they will eventually get to her father.

Refusing to sign a confession, they are soon transferred to another camp, this time north of the Arctic Circle. Facing horrible conditions, Lina is forced to decide how far she is willing to go to survive.

The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone

Griffin, Adele. The Unfinished Life of Addison Stone. 2014. 256p. ISBN 978-1-61695-361-4. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

Addison Stone was one of the most brilliant artist of her generation. Blazing a light through the art world, she exploded on the scene after her junior year of high school and moved to New York City, where she ultimately died in an accident unfurling artwork high above a bridge. Told by the people who knew Addison, as well as from her own words collected through interviews, the reader explores the tormented life of someone who clearly suffered from schizophrenia. We read about her rebel life and her unwillingness to bend to the rules. Her parents struggle through their marriage, and her brother, who loved her very much, tries to help. The only time Addison feels like herself is when she is working on her art.

Discovered by her art teacher in high school, she enters and wins prestigious state and national awards, and signs up with an unscrupulous art dealer. With more money than she knows what to do with, she moves to New York City where she encounters rich Zach, the son of one of her art dealer’s wealthier client, and they madly fall in love. The relationship strains, however, and Addison jettisons Zach for Lincoln, a fellow artist. Zach can’t let go, however, and he begins plaguing Addison’s life. She returns the favor by burning down his cottage in the Hamptons.

As her life struggles escalate, Addison sinks even further into mental illness, and Lincoln finds himself unable to help her. Addison is just too much, even for the people who love her. A rebel to the end, we will never know what she could have accomplished. Was her death a preventable accident, or was it murder? Neither Zach nor Lincoln are speaking, but after reading through countless interviews and careful documentation, the reader can only reach one conclusion ...

Leonardo Da Vinci

Tracy, Kathleen. Leonardo Da Vinci. Part of the Art Profiles for Kids series. 2009. 48p. ISBN 978-1-5841-5711-3. Available at B LEO on the library shelves.

If you had to name one artist of the Renaissance, you would probably produce the name Leonardo da Vinci. An illegitimate son of a notary and of a peasant, Leonardo was imbued with an insatiable curiosity and incredible artistic talents. As a young man he apprenticed with Andrea del Verrocchio, before striking out on his own. He worked on several paintings and sculptures, moving from place to place within Italy seeking patrons to support him in the face of his lifelong financial difficulties. Leonardo ended up working for the most influential families and Kings of the era.

Embroiled in several lawsuits over not completing work on time and his propensity for young men, Leonardo nevertheless achieved a reputation as an innovative artist. His Mona Lisa remains the most known example of Renaissance painting. Fascinated by human anatomy, Leonardo carefully studied dead bodies and produced intricate drawings of the human form. He documented extensive research in many fields of science and biology, and also illustrated several revolutionary ideas such as the parachute and the helicopter

Despite his reputation, Leonardo was not a prolific artist. He spent years working on his paintings and sculptures, and most of his work remains incomplete in the form of notes, sketches, or unfinished paintings. Falling in obscurity a few decades after his death, it was not until the 19th century that his genius became apparent. A fascinating individual and a true Renaissance man, Leonardo continues to inspire centuries after his death.

Girl with a Pearl Earring

Chevalier, Tracy. Girl with a Pearl Earring. 1999. 233p. ISBN 0-525-94527-X. Available both as FIC CHE on the library shelves and as an audiobook from Overdrive.

Griet’s father is an artist in the Dutch city of Delft in 1664, but an industrial accident costs him his vision. With no breadwinner working, Griet’s family, including her mother and younger sister are in danger of starving. Her father, using his contacts at the artists’ guild, finds Griet employment as a maid in the household of Johannes Vermeer, a locally known painter of portraits and other scenes. Interviewed by the painter, Griet realizes that he is intrigued in the way she arranges the colors of vegetables before putting them in the soup. At sixteen, Griet is not ready to leave her parents’ house, but her income will be the difference between an economically tenuous life and one of hardships and hunger.

Vermeer works slowly, and only produces a few paintings a year. His wife is pregnant with another child, and the household needs help with cooking, cleaning, and the laundry. Yet to Griet, the most important part of the day is when she gets to clean the master’s studio. None of the other family members are allowed there, and as Griet develops strategies for cleaning and replacing items in exactly the same spot, she begins to gain an appreciation for Vermeer’s work. Soon, Vermeer himself discovers that Griet has a good eye for art, and begins having her assist him in his paintings by preparing various colors, and providing small details that enhance the paintings.

But Griet’s presence is not appreciated by Cornelia, the third daughter, who does everything to make Griet’s life miserable. Catharina Vermeer, the lady of the house, is also resentful of this attractive maid. When Van Ruijven, Vermeer’s wealthy patron, notices her, he gets Vermeer to paint a portrait of Griet by herself, so he can possess her. Sitting for a painting, however, is about to create resentment and conflict in the household, as Griet will be overstepping her bounds as a maid to that of a model and confidente of Vermeer. If her role is discovered, it will surely mean the end of her employment in the Vermeer household. Yet, so drawn to art, can Griet resist Vermeer’s lure?

Vermeer only painted 35 canvases during his lifetime, and little is known of his life. But his style of painting and the choice of his subjects now define Dutch art of the time period. Based on the Girl with a Pearl Earing, a real painting by Vermeer, this story imagines who the person in the painting was and what type of life she led in the mid 1600s in Holland.

Monument Men: Allied heroes, Nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history

Edsel, Robert M. Monument Men: Allied heroes, Nazi thieves, and the greatest treasure hunt in history. 2009. 473p. 885 mins. ISBN 1599951495. Available as an audiobook from Overdrive.

As the German war machine was rolling through Europe during World War II, it became clear to museum curators and staff, as well as art experts around the world, that Hitler and his cadre of committed Nazis were systematically looting the art and historical collections of conquered countries and shipping it out to Germany for “safekeeping.” Hitler’s goal was to create the best art museum in the world in his hometown of Linz.

As early as 1940, plans were made by the museum community in the United States to help locate, retrieve, and return these works of art, but it wasn’t until 1943 that the U.S. Army recognized the need to have an official cultural policy and officers in charge of cultural preservation and recuperation that the Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program was established. Led by George Stout, the head of the conservation department at Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum, Monument Men landed with the invasion force on D-Day and spread throughout Europe as the Allies slowly pushed back the German armies towards Germany.

A lack of political will meant that the Monument Men were always under equipped, lacked basic necessities, did not receive proper recognition for their mission from military authorities, and had to fight tooth and nail to preserve and rescue the cultural heritage of Europe. Racing against time and the advancing Russians who were intent on extracting war repairs through capturing the art looted by the Germans, the Monument Men were able to save Western Europe’s most significant cultural masterpieces and worked tirelessly for decades to reunite art with their former owners.

This story of courage and undaunting drive from men who were in their forties, fighting a young man’s war, illustrate clearly why they are called the greatest generation. Without them, our cultural heritage would be significantly smaller.

I’ll Give You the Sun

Nelson, Jandy. I’ll Give You the Sun. 2014. 371p. ISBN 0803734964. Available at FIC NEL on the library shelves. This book has been nominated for a Flume Award in 2015.

The twins Jude and Noah have always been very close, close enough to refer to themselves as NoahandJude. Noah falls in love with Ben, the athlete next door who is only spending the summer here. Jude is a daredevil, and her entry into her teenage years have caused a chasm between herself and her mother, who is an art critic and a biographer, and who clearly loves Noah more.

Both teens are hoping to enter a special high school for artists. The death of their mother makes them question everything they knew, and both cope with this tragedy in different ways. Noah stops making art, and tries to live a more sedentary life while hiding his homosexuality. Jude, meanwhile, goes from being a tease to hiding herself underneath oversized sweatshirts, while actively believing in ghosts.

Told from both Noah and Jude’s perspective, I’ll Give You the Sun also adds a few years to the narration. Noah relates events and thoughts from his isolated and artistic life at thirteen, whereas Jude describes her life three years later. And yet, somehow the two of them speak to each other as if it was happening at the same time. Having been separated by thoughts and by action three years ago, can the two twins find a way to make peace with each other and begin the healing process they haven’t had following their mother’s death?

A Mad, Wicked Folly

Biggs Waller, Sharon. A Mad, Wicked Folly. 2014. 448p. ISBN 978-0-670-01468-2. FIC BIG on the library shelves.

Victoria Darling loves art, and wishes more than anything else that she could become an artist whose paintings hang on walls of exhibits. She’s worked hard at learning her craft, but in the year 1909 women don’t enjoy many of the same rights as men. Being of the upper class, Victoria is not free to do as she pleases but must bow to the wishes of her parents.

When her father finds out she’s been posing nude in an atelier in France, she’s put back on the next boat and sent home, where her art supplies and tools are confiscated. From now on, Victoria must apply herself to redeem her social rank and prepare for marriage.

But when she encounters Police Constable William Fletcher during a Suffragette demonstration, she is forced to make a stark choice: her art, or the financial security of a loveless arranged marriage. Arrested during the demonstration but freed thanks to PC Fletcher’s testimony, Victoria must now hide her desires from her parents. She still pursues an application to the Royal College of Art, but must do so while insuring that no one will know.

So Victoria hides her true activities from her mother, her father, and even her fiancé, whom she thought would be more supportive. Aided by her lady’s companion Sophia, and by a suffragette named Lucy, Victoria decides that Will and Art, after all, is worth more than what her father can offer her.

Historically accurate, this novel superimposes Victoria’s struggles on the larger women’s rights movement of the early decades of the 20th century, and, as society is evolving, so must attitudes towards women. The men in this book, aside from PC Fletcher, hold antiquated notions of womanhood, and frown upon Victoria’s choice of pursuing art, arguing that she should be a wife and a mother and nothing more. But Victoria’s drive and dedication eventually earns her the respect of her peers, if not of her family.

If I Stay

Forman, Gayle. If I Stay. 2009. 201p. ISBN 0525421033. FIC FOR on the library shelves.

Mia has always loved music. When she picked up the cello as a young child, her parents thought it was a phase. Punk rockers to the core, her parents exposed her to all kinds of music, but they never thought she would prefer classical. When it became clear that she really loved the cello, her parents provided her with tutors, but Mia quickly exceeded their skill levels. Now with a college professor, Mia has applied to Julliard, and she’s certain she got in.

Here lies the problem. Mia is in love with Adam, who’s in a band out here in Oregon, and his band has finally taken off. They have a recording deal, and they go on tour throughout the Northwest. Going to Julliard would mean leaving everything she loves, but the music, behind. It will be, however, the greatest opportunity she will have to improve her skills on the cello.

Facing this dilemma, Mia, her brother, and her parents get in the car one February morning and head out for a drive through the wonderful snow that fell overnight. Her parents’ car is crushed by a truck, and her parents are killed immediately. Mia walks out of the accident, but then discovers that her body is still laying in the cold snow, Beethoven still playing in the background.

Stuck between life and death, Mia can only observe her body and the reactions of people who surround her. Now the dilemma is simple. Should she fight to live, or is it okay for her to go?

If you liked this book, consider reading Thirteen Reasons Why, Please Ignore Vera Dietz, We Were Liars, Zoe Letting Go, Black Box, The Vanishing Season, or Kiss of Broken Glass. All of these books feature a tragedy and a voyage of self-discovery as the central element of the plot.

Liz Emerson, in Falling into Place, suffers a similar fate to Mia but she herself caused the accident on purpose, and her life is viewed in snapshots and recalled in moments dated before her wreck.

Girls Standing on Lawns

Kalman, Maira and Daniel Handler. Girls Standing on Lawns. 2014. 64p. ISBN 978-0-8707-908-1. FIC KAL on the library shelves.

This delightful short book is a collaboration between Maira Kalman, a children’s book author and artist, and Daniel Handler, who writes under the name Lemony Snicket. This book features forty black and white photographs from the Modern Museum of Art in New York City, along with short poetic entries describing some of the photos. Kalman herself painted twenty scenes to accompany the photographs.

Each of the photographs was taken by an unknown person, and Kalman and Handler meditate on why the photos might have been taken, who might have taken them, and what they represent. The themes of memory and childhood are explored, and readers are asked to imagine the lives of these children.

Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything

Lockhart, E. Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything. 2006. 182p. ISBN 0385732813. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

Gretchen Yee is having a terrible time. She attends the Manhattan School for Art and Music, but since everyone is different, Gretchen feels ordinary. She’s not special, she doesn’t stand out. All she likes to do is draw cartoon characters, and her hero is Spider Man. She dated Shane, the new student, for a few weeks at the beginning of school, but now it’s like she’s got the plague and is studiously ignored by the opposite gender, even though she’s completely engrossed in Titus. Even her best friend, Katya, is not available to get together anymore since she’s babysitting her younger siblings.

Then all hell breaks loose. Her parents announce they’re getting a divorce. Her drawing teacher hates that she draws everything in a cartoon style. And gym, where the girls have to shower and dress afterwards, is torture as Gretchen finds every girl better looking than she is. Talking to Katya in the changing room, she announces she wishes she were a fly.

Lo and behold, she is turned into one, and she ends up spending a full week in the boys’ locker room, where she learns more about boys than she ever thought possible, from seeing them naked to hearing their conversations when they think girls are not around. She even discover things about herself she didn’t know. However, will she ever change back into a person, or will she be condemned to end up in the spider web in the upper corner of the locker room?

Absolutely hilarious, Fly on the wall is an interesting take on Kafka’s Metamorphosis and the power that wishes have.