DNF&Y is used to explain why I gave up on certain books, and what about them just didn't work for me. What I didn't like about something, might be what you love, so it helps to share your thoughts even when they're negative! If you would like additional information, please click on the DNF&Y tab at the top. If you want to join, you can link up at the bottom!
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Megabat by Anna Humphrey,
Kass Reich (Illustrator)
*Expected Publication: August 2018 |
Daniel Misumi has just moved to a new house. It’s big and old and far away from his friends and his life before. AND it’s haunted… or is it?
Megabat was just napping on a papaya one day when he was stuffed in a box and shipped halfway across the world. Now he’s living in an old house far from home, feeling sorry for himself and accidentally scaring the people who live there.
Daniel realizes it’s not a ghost in his new house. It’s a bat. And he can talk. And he’s actually kind of cute.
Megabat realizes that not every human wants to whack him with a broom. This one shares his smooshfruit.
Add some buttermelon, juice boxes, a light saber and a common enemy and you’ve got a new friendship in the making!
DNF after the first quarter or so.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Also, the quote I used may have changed or been altered in some way, but I am quoting from what I received.
I wasn't able to finish reading this book to my son, and I wasn't motivated to read it on my own without him. We stumbled through the first part of the story, and I think that's because the bat's words and phrases came across the wrong way. I'm not sure if he spoke another language, or if he somehow misheard how things were pronounced, or if he just had issues with saying certain things. The why wasn't clarified within the story (at least not what we read). Instead of being cute and endearing, it was obnoxious and detracted from the book.
"Daniel was no bat expert, but something about the shape of the face made him guess it was a boy bat." That statement and how it was presented really rubbed me the wrong way.
In the end, there were more than a few things about Megabat that bothered me, and my son also didn't seem particularly invested in what was going on. He did stop me once to ask what a "smooshfruit" was.
This was my only DNF for April and now you know why! Was there a book you just couldn't finish this month? Let me know in the comments, or feel free to link to your own post!
If it's not keeping the little ones interest then I wouldn't be continuing either. It's funny you mention that, there's been a few illustrated children's books over the years that have been so incredibly sexist, so seeing that throwaway line doesn't surprise me sadly. Sorry you and little mister didn't enjoy this one Linds. Does he typically enjoy adventure type books? Might be worth picking up Percy Jackson if you haven't read that one already.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm reviewing a children's book, I love to read them with my son! It's always fun to get his opinion and see how he reacts to the story. I've noticed a lot of children's books are suggestive and don't represent the values we try to teach. We want our kids to be accepting and understanding, but some books teach a single-minded viewpoint.
DeleteWe LOVE Percy Jackson. I enjoyed reading them years ago, and now I get to read them to my kids! :)
None? Ugh, I can not remember lol. Or was that audiobook in April? Maybe, so one :)
ReplyDeletePoor little batbook
It's great when you don't have to DNF anything! It means you've had a wonderful month of reading.
DeleteIt is always hard to DNF a book but sometimes it just has to be done. Sorry these didn't work out for you.
ReplyDeleteI'm finding it easier to do these days. There are so many books I want to read, and I don't want to waste my time on something I'm not enjoying. It doesn't mean the book was bad, just that it wasn't for me.
Deleteah yes it sounds complicated with this one
ReplyDeleteThe story rubbed me the wrong way! It didn't help that the bat made up his own words. My son kept stopping me to ask what something meant, and then I had to explain that it was a nonsense word made for this book. I could sort of understand what the bat was trying to say, but I was annoyed after a few pages.
DeleteThat sounds pretty awful! Sorry it didn’t work for you or your son.
ReplyDeleteWe moved on to the next book and it was much more enjoyable. :)
DeleteI was the same way! I always finished a book even if I haaaated it. It really dampened my desire to read anything, so I decided to stop. If I don't like it, I stop reading and move on to something else. There are too many other books to try, and I don't want to waste time on something I don't love! I'll even ask to be removed from a blog tour if I don't finish their book. I'll review it on my on time later, but a blog tour isn't the place for it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad this was the only DNF of the month, but sorry neither you or your son really enjoyed this one. I think the "it's a boy" based on the face would annoy me too.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
Right? How hard would it have been for the kid to just ask the bat its name?
DeleteAwww, that's a shame this one didn't work out better for you and your son. The premise sounded so cute.
ReplyDeleteI thought it sounded like a really fun book, but it wasn't what I expected. The language and the content made it a hard story to read.
DeleteI hardly ever refuse to finish after I've started. I think it's book OCD. lol
ReplyDeleteThat was me a few years ago! Now I can't keep reading something that I'm not enjoying. I'd rather spend my time reading something I love! If you read because you feel like you have to, it starts to feel like a job or chore. I didn't want that for myself.
DeleteI don't know why but this is making me giggle a bit that you DNF'd a children's book lol How long was it?
ReplyDeleteI can see why though -when you have to struggle just to try to understand what he means.
Karen @ For What It's Worth
It fell somewhere between a children's and a middle grade. I believe Goodreads says it has 160 pages, but a lot of those are illustrations, or only have a few words. I didn't actually finish it, so I can't say for sure...
DeleteIf I'm struggling through a children's book, what does that mean other kids will do? Are they going to have the same issues, or think the weird words are humorous? It's hard to tell, and that's why I like reading them with W. I get his perspective as well as my own. He seemed confused and uninterested, and I was annoyed and happy to stop reading it.
Oh man, we have this one to review too. Oh well, we'll try it and see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it’ll work for you! 😁
DeleteHmmm yeah, I can see why that statement rubbed you the wrong way, especially in a kid's book. And if your son wasn't even into it, then no point in continuing!
ReplyDeleteI agree! It's a children's book... so I want my child to enjoy it, lol!
Delete