Kathryn's Inbox

Just a little humour courtesy of Snoopy and Woodstock :-)

Non-fiction reads are few and far between on this blog, and I'm really not quite sure what inspired me to read a popular study on sanitation, but the whole thing was tastefully written and utterly fascinating. How to best dispose of human waste is a problem faced by every society in every part of the globe. The way that waste is disposed of is also done quite differently depending on population, environmental factors and how much money individual nations have to spend addressing the problem. It can also be an indicator of wealth, class and even religion.  It is also something that is rarely talked about, to the point that I'm pretty sure that at least someone will be offended or grossed out that I even dared mention this book on my blog. Anyway, George's account of human waste disposal well written and interesting, whether she is discussing high tech toilets from Japan, those in India who made toilets environmentally sustainable and accessible to everyone, not j...

View this post on Instagram Glittery heart sticker, spotted on the corner of King William Street and Gilbert Street, Adelaide #stickerart #streetart #heart #glitter #kingwilliamstreet #gilbertstreet #adelaide #southaustralia A post shared by Kathryn White (@kathrynsinbox) on Mar 18, 2019 at 1:37am PDT

Before she was Captain Marvel, Carol Danvers was Ms Marvel, a superhero who was determined to be the best of the best. Carol Danvers--The Ms Marvel Years features Volumes 1-17 of the comic, along with a couple of specials. Originally published in 2006-2007 a number of the comics cover Ms Marvel's role in the Civil War event. Just a little bit different from the recent Captain Marvel movie, this selection of comics is a little bit cynical and occasionally sexist (seriously, did we really need to see her undies from that angle on page two of Giant Size Ms Marvel?) On on the other hand, it is kind of amusing to see a superhero hiring a consultant because she thinks it will be a good PR move. (And what a disaster that turns out to be.) I wasn't really a fan of the Civil War storyline, but I get the historical context. However, what really makes this one shine is Ms Marvel's friendship with young Anya--the two make an unusual but great team. There is also action aplenty...

This one is so cute that I couldn't resist sharing it. Happy Friday, everyone!

The streets of London are tough, but under the ground there is a secret organisation made up of kids, who help other kids who would otherwise be in danger. The secret organisation is called The Haven and they fight for justice. When eleven year old Ollie finds himself in grave danger after the murder of his guardian, the Haven is quick to take him in. Here Ollie finds himself on an adrenaline fuelled adventure, one that is as unpredictable as it is frightening. But it might just prove who Ollie has the potential to read. This was an enjoyable read, one that works equally well for the middle grade market as it does for the YA market. Lelic's storytelling is fast and furious, yet sympathetic enough that I found myself cheering for Ollie as he tried to make sense of his new world, and do the right thing by the other kids. In some ways this one reminded me of John Marden's Tomorrow When the War Began. Ollie is an appealing character and readers will warm to him immediately....

Sir Odo and Sir Eleanor, the youngest knights in the realm, and their talking swords are back and ready for another fun and action packed adventure. Or more to the point Sir Eleanor is ready for another fun and action packed adventure. Sir Odo would rather be at home in the mill. Still, duty calls as the pair find themselves on a dangerous quest to stop an evil impostor from stealing the crown. Rest assured, there are dragons, fights and bats aplenty as the duo team up with Edga and Hundred to complete their quest. The second novel in the Have Sword, Will Travel series lives up to the high standard set by its predecessor. I found myself thoroughly entertained as Sir Odo and Sir Eleanor went about their quest in the way that only the bravest of children can. The adventures they have along the way are fun and unpredictable, just as a good middle grade fantasy novel should be. With its rich world building and quirky humour, this one is almost certain to appeal to readers of all ag...