Review: Roll for Initiative

Roll for Initiative
By Jaime Formato
Philadelphia : Running Press Kids, 2022. Fiction. 314 pgs.

After her brother, Devin, moves away to college, twelve-year-old Riley feels lost and alone until she meets Lucy, another girl who likes nerdy things. Riley begins planning her own Dungeons & Dragons game/campaign as the Dungeons Master, and Lucy, Hannah, and Jen join the party. Riley learns to be independent, a leader, and prepares for the upcoming Winter-Con. When Devin returns home from college, Riley, her mom, and Devin must each face their own fears and work together.

If you like D&D, gaming, or any type of role-playing games, you'll love this book. If you haven't played Dungeons & Dragons before, you'll still love this book! Riley and her friends are funny, unique, and strong. With heartfelt lessons interwoven throughout, this story teaches each of us the importance of family, friends, and being ourselves. I loved the relationship between Riley and each character, and I especially appreciated how each character was well-rounded and three dimensional. This is a great middle school read for boys and girls alike.

Comments

Painting for Peace in Ferguson

Painting for Peace in Ferguson By Carol Swartout Klein Treehouse Publishing Group, 2015. Nonfiction. When the city of Ferguson was overrun with so much hate and despair that homes and businesses had to be boarded up to protect property, citizens of the community decided to bring a message of hope by painting the boarded windows. Klein’s rhyming text supports the photographs of the hundreds of artists and volunteers and their artwork as they bring the messages of peace, hope, love, and that by being united they can make a difference. A great book to show children how a community rallied to make a positive change and that even a small gesture can make a huge difference. A great discussion opener on how we should treat each other.

Dragon Run

Dragon Run by Patrick Matthews Scholastic, 2013. 336 pgs. Fantasy Al Pilgrommor is excited for Testing Day, when he will receive his rank, a tattooed number on the back of his neck, and a path forward to his future occupation and life. He feels confident because his parents were fours on a scale of seven, but he is worried for his friend Wisp who doesn't have much of a chance of scoring above a two at best. But when Al is scored a zero, he not only has no prospects, he may lose his life as the dreaded Cullers are unleashed to kill him and his family to purify the land's bloodlines. Al's world is ruled by dragons--the lords and supposed creators of humankind--so he thinks that even if he survives, he will have to make his living as a beggar or thief. But when Al sticks up for his Earther friend in front of Magister Ludi, he is drawn into the struggle of a secret organization hoping to destroy the Cullers, and perhaps the dragons them...

From Story Time: Summer Week 5

Stories in the Park Mousterpiece: A Mouse-Sized Guide to Modern Art By Jane Breskin Zalben New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2012. Picture Book. Janson the mouse, who lives in a museum, becomes an acclaimed artist by copying the styles of paintings she sees there. Includes notes about the artists and works featured. --Editor Stories in the Park Gray Written by Laura Dockrill Illustrated by Lauren Child Somerville, MA: Candlewick Press, 2024. Picture Book. Some days you may feel sunshine yellow or orange-balloon bright. Other days you're gray, or even night-sky black-like a dark scribble on a page, a storm in the clouds, or a puddle in the road. Gray is when you don't feel like yourself, or like you don't belong. But however you feel, there are big hugs (red) and loving lullabies (blue) waiting, and even the grayest sidewalk is a canvas for you to fill with the colors you choose. A tender narration from British spoken-word poet Laura Dockrill and subtle, spare artwork from fo...

Provo Library Children's Book Blog

Search This Blog