The Blood Cure by K.A. Linde- Review

  

    

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Author: K.A. Linde

Publication Date:  21 August 2018

Publisher: Random House

Series:  Blood Type

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Age Recommendation: 17 and up

Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

 The stunning conclusion to the Blood Type series finds the world in chaos and turmoil with one final battle left to determine who will survive—humans or vampires. She had the world on her shoulders. Now she has nothing. Reyna Carpenter was twenty-one when she became a live-in blood escort for the ruthless and darkly handsome vampire Beckham Anderson. She thought this was just a small price to pay for feeding her brothers back home. But nothing went as planned. Not even her tumultuous relationship with Beckham. And now she wonders if anything will ever be the same again. As she finds herself in the midst of a losing rebellion, she and her trusted friends must flee from a city conquered by the vampire elite. With their plans blown to pieces and everything they knew and loved gone, their future hangs in the balance. Despite all she has lost, Reyna must rise from the ashes, reclaim the life that was stolen—and complete her mission, once and for all. 

     

My Review:

I have loved this series from the very first book and I am still in love with it all the way to the end.  You know in K.A. Linde style that this book is chock full of action, intrigue, shocks, and romance so you know that means there isn't a whole lot I can tell you with out spoiling the entire series.  Now luckily for all of us this time, Blood Cure is the last book in the series (wait, is that really a 'luckily for all of us moment', maybe not...I don't want it to end) and K. A. Linde doesn't leave us standing precariously on a cliff needing only a light breeze to send us over the edge.  No, this time she wraps things up beautifully and we have the end we all needed, doesn't mean getting there is going to be pretty, but there is an HEA and I love it.  

There is a lot of introspection in this book from both Beckham and Reyna and while I like that it brings some wonderful growth for the characters it also slows the pace of the book a bit and I have to say it was the only negative for me this time around.  There were a lot of moments of just standing around with quiet thoughts and I can see readers finding themselves skimming those sections just trying to get back into the thick of the action or the romance.  Now, like I said it isn't a terrible thing as the character development of both Beckham and Reyna really shines in this book.  They both truly become the 'people' we always knew they could be and make every hard moment that they go through, that we go through with them worth all the suffering and pain.  

Even with my one 'complaint' about the amount of introspection this book is still chock full of action.  You might have those lulls but they always come back around to fast paced, high action moments that you expect.  Beckham and Reyna's world got turned upside down at the end of book two and we start off right where we left them, in the thick of things and trying to find a new path and forge a ew future for humans and vampires.  Everything comes with a price though and boy do those two pay it.   If you have been of a fan of this series from book one you are going to love what is to come in this book.  If you haven't' picked up this series before now, go back to the beginning, you have to start with Blood Type or you will be completely lost. Each of these books build on the ones that come before it so reading in order is a must.  Luckily they are awesome reads that you will fly though because you just HAVE to know what happens next.  I am actually jealous of those who get to pick up the series now and read it as a new reader, one because you get to start a new adventure and two because you don't have to wait to find out what happens, those cliffhangers in books 1 and 2 aren't going to leave you in misery while you wait for the next book to come out, luckily book nerds, haha. 

This is a fantastic Paranormal Romance and I really hope to see more of this genre coming from K.A. Linde in the near future, she is turning into an automatic one-click author for me!   Grab this series up y'all you won't regret it. 

~ HAPPY READING ~

             

 

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A startling new vision of paranormal romance: When a human ventures into the world of vampires—a decadent milieu of blood-bonds and betrayal—she discovers that not all is what it seems.

For Reyna Carpenter, giving up her body isn’t a choice. It’s survival. In a civilization laid waste by poverty and desperation, Reyna accepts a high-paying position with the wealthy and hungry vampire elite. Her new job is as the live-in blood escort for the intimidating, demanding, and devilishly handsome Beckham Anderson. He’s everything she expected from a vampire, except for one thing—he won’t feed off her. Reyna soon discovers that behind Beckham’s brooding, wicked façade lies a unique and complex man. And that, in a dark and divided world, she is more valuable than she ever would have believed. For with each passing night, Reyna can’t shake the sensation that it’s Beckham who’s afraid of her. 

  Note: Reyna and Beckham’s story continues in Blood Match.

 

   

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 As the provocative, sensual Blood Type series continues, the rare bond between Reyna and Beckham is threatened by betrayal, greed, and twisted secrets. A desperate human. A powerful vampire. A world divided. Reyna Carpenter was promised paradise. She was delivered into hell. Giving up her body for money was supposed to be the hardest part of becoming a blood escort. She never expected to lose her heart to her dark, enigmatic boss, Beckham Anderson. After being taken by a depraved captor who plans to rule the world, Reyna will do anything to return to Beckham. She just has to find the will to survive this game. From the pawn, rises a queen. Note: Reyna and Beckham’s story begins in Blood Type and continues in Blood Cure. 

 

 K.A. Linde is the USA Today bestselling author of more than fifteen novels including the Avoiding series and the Record series. She has a Masters degree in political science from the University of Georgia, was the head campaign worker for the 2012 presidential campaign at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and served as the head coach of the Duke University dance team. She loves reading fantasy novels, geeking out over Star Wars, binge-watching Supernatural, and dancing in her spare time. She currently lives in Lubbock, Texas, with her husband and two super adorable puppies.

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Grump by Liesl Shurtliff - Review

“A hilarious reimagining of its origin story with a wonderfully detailed world and interesting twists on classic characters.

Sure to be a hit with fantasy fans looking for comedy.”

—BOOKLIST

GRUMP

THE (FAIRLY) TRUE TALE OF SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARVES

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Author: Liesl Shurtliff

Publication Date:  29 May 2018

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Series:  Standalone

Genre:  Middle Grade Fantasy

Age Recommendation: 9 and Up

Rating: 5 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

You know her from the New York Times bestselling books, Rump, Jack and Red. Now, Liesl Shurtliff is BACK with the real story behind Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in GRUMP , a fast-paced and clever middle grade that stars a—you guessed it!—grumpy dwarf who gets tangled up in Snow White’s feud with the wicked queen.

Ever since he was a dwarfling, Borlen (nicknamed "Grump") has dreamed of visiting The Surface, so when opportunity knocks, he leaves his cavern home behind. At first, life aboveground is a dream come true. Queen Elfrieda Veronika Ingrid Lenore (E.V.I.L.) is the best friend Grump always wanted, feeding him all the rubies he can eat and allowing him to rule at her side in exchange for magic and information. But as time goes on, Grump starts to suspect that Queen E.V.I.L. may not be as nice as she seems. . . .

When the queen commands him to carry out a horrible task against her stepdaughter Snow White, Grump is in over his head. He's bound by magic to help the queen, but also to protect Snow White. As if that wasn't stressful enough, the queen keeps bugging him for updates through her magic mirror! He'll have to dig deep to find a way out of this pickle, and that's enough to make any dwarf Grumpy indeed.

My Review:

I love these little middle grade fairytale retellings.  They are just so much fun and full of laughter and moments of truth and understanding.  

How does an author take a beloved children's fairytale and make it new, by bringing it to you from a different point of view.  Grump is the story of Snow White but from the point of view of one of our beloved Seven Dwarves.  I have to say that Borlen's story is a little sad at times, his life isn't an easy one and he comes by his nickname 'Grump' honestly.  I think that Grump's story is a wonderful way to bring the idea of not feeling like you fit in and how hurtful bullying is to our youngest readers, As well as learning to look inward and reflect on who you are and the choices you make.  These Middle grade readers re ones who are about to embark on the journey of middle school and high school and will be more inclined to find themselves dealing with the issue of bullying and with feelings of being 'different'.  I love the way Liesl uses these challenges in Grump' story and helps him fight back and overcome, finding his place in the world and not relying on others to be that place.  

Liesl keeps Grump fresh and page turning by giving us unexpected twists and turns, keeping moments suspenseful and engaging.  I will say that I was not a huge fan of Snow White but as this is Grump's book and his POV I am okay with that.  Yes, I would have liked to have found her as engaging as the original but Grump shines enough on his own to let me wash away Snow White's failings as a character this time around.  

All in all Grump is simply a wonderful character and I think will be a huge hit ( I can't wait to pass it along to my 9 year old now) with the Middle Grade set.  All of these Fractured Fairytales are wonderful additions to your school/classroom/home libraries.  Each on a new twist on a favorite fairytale full heart and with a heartfelt lesson included.  I can't recommend them enough!  

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Meet Liesl

“Life itself is the most wonderful fairy-tale.” – Hans Christian Anderson

I grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah the fifth of eight children. My seven siblings tortured me but I really like them now. I loved dancing, singing, playing the piano and reading books by Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and Roald Dahl. I also read Grimms’ Fairy Tales so often I wore through the binding. Today I live with my husband and four children in Chicago, which is a wonderful city except that it is decidedly flat and very cold in the winter. When I write, I often wander back to my childhood and gather the magic that still remains. I hope to share that magic with children everywhere.

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Snow and Rose by Emily Winfield Martin - Review

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Author: Emily Winfield Martin

Publication Date:  10 October 2017

Publisher: Random House

Series:  Standalone, possibly a series

Genre:  Middle Grade Fantasy

Age Recommendation: 8 and Up

Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

A New York Times bestselling author-illustrator brings readers into the woods to meet two young sisters and a strange bit of magic in this reimagining of the classic but little-known fairy tale "Snow White and Rose Red." 

Snow and Rose didn't know they were in a fairy tale. People never do....

Once, they lived in a big house with spectacular gardens and an army of servants.

Once, they had a father and mother who loved them more than the sun and moon.

But that was before their father disappeared into the woods and their mother disappeared into sorrow.

This is the story of two sisters and the enchanted woods that have been waiting for them to break a set of terrible spells.

Bestselling author-illustrator Emily Winfield Martin has created a world that sits on the border of enchantment, with characters who are grounded in real emotions that readers will recognize in themselves.

(Art inside the book)

My Review:

What a sweet read this was. I loved just about everything about it.  It has the feel of the classic Grimm Fairy Tale but with new twists and new details into the girls lives and personalities.  Snow and Rose is a beautiful book inside and out.  Just look at that cover and tell me that you don't want to fall into this world, know that as stunning as the art work is the story is just as wonderfully and beautifully told. This is a book you pick up because it is gorgeous, beautifully illustrated, exquisitely bound, it is a book you just want to touch and stare at.  It is also a story to easily lose yourself in, the way that Emily writes is as beautiful as the way she draws.  

"The forest where things live that are as old as the world - the spirits within the trees, hidden from view.  They see all that happens: the little and the big, the lives and the deaths, the comings and goings.  The trees watched them, now, the two girls had come."

I think that my favorite thing may have been the way the forest spoke in this book.  I am a bit of a nature geek, (I wanted to use the word naturist but then worried you'd all think I was running around the forest nude, haha) so this book where the forest itself is a major player in the story line is something that truly connected with my heart.  Snow and Rose among other things reminds me of how much humanity is missing as we take ourselves farther and farther away from nature.  There are lessons to be learned within the forest that one can not learn anywhere else, there is a freedom that we lost, there are adventures that we will never have.  I realize that this isn't the lesson that Emily was likely trying to tell but I love being able to share this book with my girls and remind them of the mystery that nature holds, the adventures to be had, (though if they bring a bear home we may have to have a talk, haha) and the voices that they are failing to hear when we lose sight of the knowledge that trees do talk.  

The story of Snow and Rose is one of sadness, adventure, hope, despair, friendship, family, and growth.  Snow, a rather self-centered and bratty child in the beginning of the story (though one must remember that she is just nine/ten years old) struggles to come to terms with her current life situation.  Her anger, though understandable keeps her from being able to accept that she can not continue on in the life she had become accustomed to.  Her faith in her father, her belief that he will come back is both heart breaking and heart warming.  You want to believe as she does, that the signs all point to him not having been killed in the forest.  Rose, is the opposite of her sister, she doesn't shine quiet so brightly, her emotions more subdued, he understanding of her family's situation heartbreaking but admirable.  She is what we would consider an 'old-soul'.  Through out their adventures in the forest it is lovely to see how Snow is finally able to see that though she doesn't have to give up hope, she does have to accept the life she now lives.  She learns that things, parties, pretty dresses, these are not what truly bring joy but that friends and family do.  Rose on the other hand learns that she has to allow herself to trust others, that she doesn't have to be the 'old-soul' all the time that there can be joy found even in sadness and struggle.  

I loved all the elements and how Emily weaves them all together to make a beautiful tale.  Just when you think something won't make sense, won't fit, that it feels as though it is some side plot you discover that it is a key to the entire story.  So don't get bogged down by all the little pieces, especially in the beginning where it feels as though each chapter is dedicated to something new, know that these pieces are all a part of the puzzle that when put together correctly (as Emily does) you will have a beautiful picture by the time you reach the end.  

The beginning of Snow and Rose can feel a bit slow, but again this is just what Snow and Rose need.  They need these little moments to complete the story, think of each chapter as it's own mini adventure on a great big adventure to discovery.  The end felt a little rushed, but it is still completely enjoyable and fulfilling, and it does leave the possibility open for more in the future and I truly hope that Emily Winfield Martin will be bringing us more adventures from Snow and Rose!  This is a great book to use as an introduction to classic fairy tales.  Grimm Brother's fairy tales can actually be quiet scary and your younger readers may not be ready for them yet so Snow and Rose is a wonderful way to give them the world of fantasy without giving them nightmares!  I loved reading this and can't wait to share it with my girls, plus it is just plain and simple a gorgeous book that I am going to display proudly on my shelves!  

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Emily Winfield Martin makes paintings, books, and other things. She is the author and illustrator of Day Dreamers (forthcoming, 2014), Dream Animals (2013), Oddfellow's Orphanage (2012) and The Black Apple's Paper Doll Primer (2010). When she was small, she spent every moment drawing, reading, dressing rabbits in fancy clothes, and having many peculiar daydreams. When she grew up, she began to illustrate those peculiar daydreams, and after college, she created a cottage industry called The Black Apple, which sells all manner of art and etceteras.

She works in a tiny nook of a studio filled with old children's books, wind-up toys, and stacks of fabric. Her work is inspired by fairy tales, music, myths, carnivals, children's books from the late 19th through mid 20th century, her favorite films, and autobiography.

She likes bears and sea monsters and seashell pink poppies. She lives and works among the giant fir trees of Portland, OR.

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There's A Monster in my Book by Tim Fletcher -Review

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Author: Tom Fletcher

Publication Date:  12 September, 2017

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Series:  Standalone

Genre:  Children's Picture Book

Age Recommendation:  1-7 years

Rating: 5 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

Bestselling author of The Christmasuarus, Tom Fletcher, has written a brand new picture book perfect for bedtime, where a mischievous monster has invaded the pages of your child's book!

This read-aloud, interactive picture book treat invites children to make magic happen page by page, tilting, spinning and shaking the book, and then seeing the funny results when each page is turned. A fantastic celebration of all the fun that can be had with a book, with a wonderful wind-down bedtime ending!

My Review:

There's a Monster in Your Book is a fun, interactive, sweet read for your littlest book nerds.

There's a Monster in Your Book!  Nobody wants a monster in their book, how are you going to get rid of that pesky but cute little monster?  You're going to wiggle, shake, shout, tickle, and turn all about.  I loved how fun this book is for little readers, I have to admit even when I read it alone the first time I found myself wanting to do all the things the book suggests to get that little monster out of the book.  The art is crisp and clean as is the story line and directions.  It's a perfect read aloud book for your pre-schoolers, not overly complicated in either art or word.  Everyone will see and know exactly what is going on and will have giggles being heard all through your school halls or your home.

There's a Monster in Your Book is the perfect book to read anytime but would be especially lovely read right before bed or nap, a chance for your child to get their wiggles out and then snuggle in just like Monster does with a calming hug or pet on the head.  This is a great book for any pre-school through 1st grade classroom or any young readers shelf at home.  While you might start out reading this one out loud you will soon find your pre-readers 'reading' it back to you!  There's a Monster in Your Book is just one of those books that makes you smile whether you're 2 or 40-ish (ha).

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Tom Fletcher is an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and children's author.

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The Book of Gold by Bob Staake - A Mom MondayReview

A Mom Monday Review:

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Author: Bob Staake

Publication Date:  12 September, 2017

Publisher: Shwartz & Wade

Series:  Standalone

Genre:  Children's Picture Book

Age Recommendation: 5 and up

Rating: 5 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

Young Isaac Gutenberg isn't a curious boy . . . that is, until he meets an old shopkeeper who tells him about The Book of Gold. This special book, hidden somewhere in the world, holds all the answers to every question and turns to solid gold when opened.
Isaac is determined to find the book--it will make him rich! He opens many books in his search, but quickly closes them when they don't turn to gold. That changes one day when he opens a book, looks at the page, and a question pops into his mind. From then on, he reads every word.
Time passes and Isaac ages, but he still scours dusty attics and flea markets, crisscrossing the world, searching for The Book of Gold

My Review:

Oh My goodness you 'guys', this book!  It is going to be hard for me to tell you just how much I enjoyed this story.  The art is beautiful, it is active and engaging, it is muted yet vibrant.  I could happily simply stare at the pictures all day with out the words and still have an amazing story play out in my mind.  This is one of those books that you can go back to over and over again just to look at the art and find something new every time.  And the story....

Okay, imagine Pixar and their movie Up.  It has those vibes, it made my heart ache while still bringing me incredible joy.  Readers....this book, this CHILDREN"S PICTURE BOOK, gave me ALL the FEELS, ALL OF THEM!  It made me curious, it made me anxious, it made me want to weep for the passing of time, but laugh for the exhilaration of adventure, and shout for joy over discovery.  I closed the book and wished that I could go back in time and start over with the knowledge of this book and the desire to live my life as Issac Gutenberg did, full of adventure, learning, and life!  It is the reminder that reading can open the world to you, can take you places you may never have gone to (whether in actuality or just through words) with out books.  It is a reminder that there is more out there in the world than just games and toys (for adults or children, ha)...that you don't have to be bored or lonely, that you can open a book and discover amazing things.

I also loved that The Book of Gold promotes the use of our libraries and tempts us to find the hidden gems of small bookstores with their haphazard stuffed shelves and musty book smell...I swear I could smell it coming out of the pages of The Book of Gold and it sent me to a very happy place.

I don't think I could shout my love for this book quite enough and I try so very hard not to get exuberant in my reviews, but Book Nerds....EVERY ONE needs this picture book on their shelves.  It should become a classic because it is simply that beautiful of a tale.  While I encourage you to read a book in any format (besides pirated, please don't do that) I suggest that if you can you purchase this as a hard copy, you want to truly be able to enjoy the art and I don't believe you will be able to do that with an e-copy.  That said, if you can't purchase a hard copy or simply prefer e-books still get this book because it is so very worth it!

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Bob Staake has authored and/or illustrated more than forty-two books, including The Red Lemon, a New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Children’s Book of the Year. His work has graced the cover of The New Yorker a dozen times, and his November 17, 2008 Barack Obama victory cover was named Best Magazine Cover of the Year by Time magazine. He lives on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts

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Imagine That: How Dr. Seuss Wrote The Cat in the Hat by Judy Sierra - A Mom Monday Review

A Mom Monday Review

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Author: Judy Sierra

Illustrator: Kevin Hawkes

Publication Date:  12 September, 2017

Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Series:  Standalone

Genre:  Children's Biography

Age Recommendation: 4 and Up

Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

A lively new picture-book biography of the most beloved children's book author of all time: Dr. Seuss! 

Have you ever wondered how the great Dr. Seuss wrote his most famous book? Did you know that for The Cat in the Hat, he wasn't allowed to make up the fun words he was known for--like OOBLECK and IT-KUTCH and HIPPO-NO-HUNGUS? He was only allowed to use words from a very strict list!

This bouncy account of the early career of Dr. Seuss (a.k.a. Ted Geisel) proves that sometimes limitations can be the best inspiration of all.

Kid-friendly prose (with Seussian rhyme for Ted's dialogue) and whimsical illustrations by award winner Kevin Hawkes recall the work of Dr. Seuss himself. Writing tips from Dr. Seuss and exclusive letters from the author and illustrator, detailing how they created this book, are included!

My Review:

I love a book who's description starts with 'Have you ever wondered...', there is just something about those four words that will hook me, and honestly my children, every time.  Now 'IMAGINE THAT' it said "Have you ever wondered how the great Dr. Seuss....stop right there! Do you honestly need any more?  Have I ever wondered ANYTHING about Dr. Seuss, more like have I ever wondered EVERYTHING about Dr. Seuss!  Dr. Seuss is I believe for most of us likely to have been the very first author we ever read all by ourselves, his books told us, showed up that we can do it, WE CAN READ with out help. He is likely the start of many of our book obsessions and honesty you never grow out of loving a Dr. Seuss book, his books call to me even to this day, if I see one I can't walk by with out picking it up and flipping through the pages.  A Dr. Seuss book can brighten us on our dark days, will make us laugh and smile even if you have read the book a hundred times...I could go on and on, but this isn't a review of Dr. Seuss himself but of a little biography about a point in Dr. Seuss life and how this one little book of his that was a great big challenge ultimately has changed all of our lives forever.  

Imagine That is a wonderful children's biography revolving around the development of Dr. Seuss's iconic The Cat in the Hat.  Did you ever wonder how or why The Cat in the Hat came to be, did you know that The Cat in the Hat changed everything about the way children learn to read.  Did you know that Dr. Seuss and The Cat in the Hat have a favorite accessory in common?  Did you know that Dr Seuss, of all people, had to follow special word rules when writing The Cat in the Hat?  I loved this book for all the little tidbits and history that it gave me in a a mere 40 pages, and not only that but the wonderfully inviting art on the pages.  

I loved that this little biography about Dr. Seuss and The Cat in the Hat is more that just facts, there is an underlying story of never giving up.  A tale for children to read and be reminded that things are not always going to be easy but if they put their mind and heart into it they can accomplish great things.  It is a book that would be the perfect fit for any budding writer, little or big.  It is a fantastic book to have in your classrooms, I'd say from Pre-K to 3rd grade and on library shelves for any age.  It is the perfect book to read during Read Across America. What better book to add to your Dr. Seuss collection than a wonderfully written and illustrated story about how Dr. Seuss wrote and changed our reading lives with The Cat and the Hat!

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

I took the long-cut to being an author. Out of college I did temporary work in offices and libraries, while at night, I wrote poetry and made strange life forms from cloth. When I teamed up with a puppeteer, Bob Kaminski (my husband), I was able to bring my cloth creations to life. We began performing on the streets of San Francisco, at Renaissance fairs, and at schools. After attending a workshop on Balinese shadow puppetry, we traveled to Bali and Java to learn ancient techniques from modern masters, and we adapted material from American folklore to the shadow screen. I became so fascinated by the power of ancient myth and folktale to engage a modern audience that I enrolled in the Folklore and Mythology Program at UCLA, where I received my Ph.D. While I was a student there, I attended a talk by the author-illustrator Uri Shulevitz, and heard him say that a picture book is like a small theater. A puppet theater is also a small theater, I thought. I can do that! My first children's books were adaptations of folktales, and soon, I was able to incorporate my lifelong habit of writing poetry into my work.

Currently (Spring 2014), I live in Eugene, Oregon, with my husband. I divide my writing time between children's books and a long term project on folktales, grandmothers and cultural evolution.

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Kevin Hawkes is the illustrator of over 35 acclaimed picture books and chapter books including Library Lion, The Librarian Who Measured the Earth, Weslandia, and Sidewalk Circus. His vibrant colors, unusual perspectives, an dry sense of humor are hallmarks of his work. He lives with his charming wife and children in Southern Maine where he is often found wandering aimlessly in his garden. When forced indoors, he works quite happily painting cobalt blue skies, imaginary landscapes, and flying pianos.

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The Loser's Club by Andrew Clements - Review

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Author:  Andrew Clements

Publication Date:  29 August, 2017

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Series:  StandAlone

Genre:  Middle Grade Contemporary

Age Recommendation: 8 and up

Rating: 4 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

The beloved New York Times bestselling author of the modern classic Frindle celebrates books and the joy of reading with a new school story to love!

Sixth grader Alec can't put a good book down. So when Principal Vance lays down the law--pay attention in class, or else--Alec takes action. He can't lose all his reading time, so he starts a club. A club he intends to be the only member of. After all, reading isn't a team sport, and no one would want to join something called the Losers Club, right? But as more and more kids find their way to Alec's club--including his ex-friend turned bully and the girl Alec is maybe starting to like--Alec notices something. Real life might be messier than his favorite books, but it's just as interesting.

With The Losers Club, Andrew Clements brings us a new school story that's a love letter to books and to reading and that reminds us that sometimes the best stories are the ones that happen off the page--our own!

My Review:

What an enjoyable read The Loser's Club was.  I am not sure that this would have ever been a book I would have picked up on my own or that one of my girls wold have and knowing that makes me a bit sad because we would have missed out on something fabulous. So, thank you Random House for scooting this across my desk and into my world.  

The Loser's club is one of those books that have a quiet sense of easiness about them.  It is a book that you just sit back and enjoy for the sake of the story.  It's not action packed, it's not a challenging read, it's not 'emotional' dramatic, it is simply just a great read.  I see so much of my oldest and myself in the story of Alec, a boy who just wants to read.  I loved his love of the written word, the fact that he reads books he loves over and over, that he lets the stories take him away, that he lives and breathes the words on the pages.  I also loved his acceptance of himself.  Alec knows who he is and while it may rankle that some people try to tease him about it he never lets it tear him down.  He accepts himself and doesn't much care what others think and that is a strong message that our children need to hear.  They need to know that being true to themselves is a wonderful thing and that just because someone else doesn't understand it and tries to tease you for it that doesn't make you any less, nor should it make you feel like you need to change to be like everyone else!  

As a mother and an avid reader I laughed over Alec's predicament.  He has to find a way to balance his love of reading with his responsibilities...it's hard Alec, I know, it is SO hard!  But this ingenious boy finds a way to make his reading dreams come true and he does it kindly, elegantly, and respectfully.  I think one of my favorite things coming from an adult standpoint is the respect that Andrew weaves through this story.  He never makes any of the teachers out to be monsters.  He makes them kind, if demanding.  He makes the reader realize that the adults aren't trying to be mean or hateful, they are trying to find balance and trying to do what is best (through their knowledge as adults) for Alec and others.  Do some rules seem silly to Alec, sure, some of them seemed silly to me.  But I loved that Alec didn't make it out as these teachers or his parents being awful, instead he found a way to work with them and maybe a little bit around them.  

I also loved the little moments where we see Alec is growing up.  He's a sixth grader now.  He and his classmates are starting to discover that maybe girls and boys aren't gross cootie laden creatures.  It's not in your face, it's not overpowering to the story but recognizing that there is something pretty about a girl in your class or something appealing in a boy is part of growing up and part of this story and I think that Andrew wove that in wonderfully.  A younger reader may not pick up on it but a late elementary school or middle school reader might and they might recognize that these new feelings aren't unusual or weird, they are just part of becoming older.  Don't get me wrong, this is not a major part of this book.  It is ver subtle, just the moments where Alex recognizes a change in the people around him.  It isn't a big deal, it simply is and it's truthful and honest to this age group.

The Loser's Club is a wonderful book about finding your way or making it when the need arises.  It's about being true to yourself, being open to change.  It is about being thoughtful and kind and doing what you love while still taking care of the things you are responsible for.  I hope that this will become a staple on teachers classroom bookshelves and in libraries.  I can't wait to get it and pass it along to my girls to read!  

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Andrew Clements is the author of the modern classic, Frindle, as well as books like The Landry News, The Report Card and The School Story, and has over 13.5 million books in print! His work has been nominated for 50 state awards and translated into over a dozen languages. Before he was a New York Times bestselling author, Andrew was a public school teacher and father of four boys. He now lives with his wife in Maine.

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The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman - Review by Olivia and Mom

In anticipation of the release of 

The Book of Dust on 19 October, 2017  

my 11 year old, Olivia and I read The Golden Compass. Below you will find her review as well as some notes from mom! 

 We can't wait for this coming release and new spin-off series! 

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Author:  Philip Pullman

Publication Date:  13 November 2001

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Series:  His Dark Material, book 1

Genre:  Middle Grade/Young Adult Fantasy

Age Recommendation: 10 and up

Rating: 4-5 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

Lyra Belacqua is content to run wild among the scholars of Jodan College, with her daemon familiar always by her side. But the arrival of her fearsome uncle, Lord Asriel, draws her to the heart of a terrible struggle—a struggle born of Gobblers and stolen children, witch clans and armored bears. And as she hurtles toward danger in the cold far North, Lyra never suspects the shocking truth: she alone is destined to win, or to lose, this more-than-mortal battle.

Olivia's Review: (5 Stars)

The Golden Compass is a book that takes place in Philip Pullman's own version of the real world.  In this world humans live together with daemons, every human has their own daemon and they can never go far from each other.  Daemons take on the forms of animals, like cats and dogs, only children's daemons can shift between forms.  One day a girl at Jordan College, named Lyra, goes on an incredible journey all because of a series of unfortunate events (hahahahaha).  She and her daemon, Pantalaiomon, end up meeting all sorts of people, also some armored bears.  

The writing in The Golden Compass is great and in my opinion it is a similar style to Watership Down. [Mom Note: This is a huge compliment because Watership Down is Olivia's favorite book, period]  The characters are very interesting and for some of the evil ones I felt almost as angry as Lyra herself.  

Since it is the first book in the series, the outcome is a bit of a cliffhanger, it made me really eager to read the next book!  

Mom's Review: (4 Stars)

I truly adored this book.  As Olivia mentioned the world building is the real world yet not.  In the beginning I struggled a little to grasp that while everything seemed familiar to me, this is not the world that I am used to.  The world building gave me vibes of a parallel universe and once you let that settle in your soul it is so easy to get lost in this world of mystery and magic.  

I know as I read the book after Olivia I kept asking her, but why is this happening, where did they go, etc and she just kept telling me 'Mom, read the book.  I can't tell you with out going you spoilers!' and it was so true.  You have to trust that this book is going to take you where you need to go, it is going to wind you down a path with several surprises but ultimately and satisfyingly get you to the 'end' (as much of an end as the first book in a trilogy can be) and answer the majority of your questions.  I loved that I wanted more all the time, I wanted to flip to the middle of the book, then I wanted to flip to the end...but I am telling you now do not do that.  Ride this book out page by page and let yourself go in it's beauty.

Now with all that said I know that this book is not for everyone.  This is a book that will challenge your thoughts on adults and children.  It will challenge your ideas on how you see the world, on your thoughts about large government or religion having power over the masses.  It will make you think about the purity of children and their inherent goodness and how the choices they make and the choices the adults around them make will shape them.  These aren't things that most young children are going to pick up on.  As you saw in Olivia's review, her thoughts while reading the book leaned more to the magical aspects of the daemons, the action, and of course the bears.  I loved train theme (to me) in the story, the growth in Lyra as she begins to discover just who she is and who the people around her are.  Do I always like the choices she makes, certainly not but I am coming at this from an adult with children stand point and while I would like them to be brave and to find their own path, I wouldn't like how Lyra spends a good portion of her time lying to discover what she wants to know.  Does it get us to the end and is she better than what we see at times, yes, but as an adult mom it made me cringe now and again. These same things aren't aspects that a young reader will really pick up on.  What they will see is her desire to find answers, her bravery, her protection of her friend, her understanding that people are people no matter their wealth, ability, etc and of course the bears...because seriously the bears are freaking awesome.  

The Golden Compass will turn some readers away.  Philip Pullman is unabashed in his agnostic beliefs and that comes through in this book.  Again, this isn't something that most children will pick up on with out the guidance of an adult in their ear but it is certainly a heavy part of the book and you should be aware of that before going in.  Think of the Golden Compass as the antithesis of The Chronicles of Narnia.  The Golden Compass is a beautifully written story full of adventure and daring and a truly wonderful read.  

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

Connect with the Author:

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Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo - Waiting on Wednesday

In honor of International Women's Day and because I am super excited about this coming book from Leigh Bardugo, today's Waiting on Wednesday is:

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Book Description:

The highly anticipated coming-of-age story for the world’s greatest super hero: WONDER WOMAN by the # 1 New York Times bestselling author LEIGH BARDUGO.

She will become one of the world’s greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning. . . .

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

Wonder Woman: Warbringer

 releases 29 August 2017!

Happy International Women's Day everyone!  

Leigh Bardugo is the #1 New York Times bestselling and USA Today bestselling author of the Six of Crows Duology and the Grisha Trilogy (Shadow and Bone, Siege and Storm, and Ruin and Rising), as well as the upcoming Wonder Woman: Warbringer (Aug 2017) and The Language of Thorns (Sept 2017).

She was born in Jerusalem, grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from Yale University. These days, she lives and writes in Hollywood where she can occasionally be heard singing with her band.

She would be delighted if you followed her on Twitter, elated if you visited her website, and fairly giddy if you liked her selfies on Instagram.

When You're Feeling Sick by Coy Bowles - A Mom Monday Review

A MOM MONDAY REVIEW

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Author: Coy Bowles

Publication Date:  10 January, 2017

Publisher: Double Day Books for Young Readers, Random House

Series:  StandAlone

Genre: Children's Picture Book 

Age Recommendation: 3-7 years old

Rating: 3 Stars

~ I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ~ 

Book Description:

This laugh-out-loud picture book from Coy Bowles, guitarist for the Grammy Award winning Zac Brown Band, will have sick kids feeling better in no time!

Sneezing? Coughing? Taking a sick day? Don t worry, you'll be feeling better soon thanks to this hilarious picture book from Coy Bowles, guitarist of the Grammy Award winning Zac Brown Band. Full of encouraging and super-silly rhyming advice on how to face sick days with courage and a positive attitude, When You re Feeling Sick is just what the doctor ordered! Comes with a sheet of stickers to bring a smile to every sick kid s face.

My Review:

I, like I think every parent out there would be, was super excited when this book came across my desk.  What parent doesn't want to find the perfect book that makes their child (and themselves) laugh out loud when they are feeling sick and down?  I read "Super silly rhyming advice.." and the fact that it came from the pen of Coy Bowles and I was in.  Sadly, When You're Feeling Sick just doesn't quite get there and I can't push it over the line to a fantastic read no matter how I try.

Let's start off with the good.  

The illustrations are fantastic.  Fun, bright, appealing, and engaging.  The authors message comes across loud and clear:  You're going to be okay, take that frown and turn it upside down, this too shall pass, etc.  I loved the note from the author talking about how the book came about (sadly that is not going to resinate with little ones) and what it means to him.  

When You're Feeling Sick is just right there, on the edge of being fantastic but where it falls short is the prose. 

I had such high hopes for the prose in this story considering the author (and maybe that is the problem, I went in with my expectations too high), but the rhymes turn out clunky more than once.  You'll be happily reading along and hit a word and have to go back wondering what you missed that made the rhyme fall off.  I found myself going back through the verse trying to find the word that I surely missed that would have made the rhyme complete only to find it wasn't there at all.  That clunkiness makes it terribly difficult to read and while you're smallest readers may not mind and will be so engrossed in the pictures they may not even notice if you have an independent reader they are going to struggle and might find themselves getting frustrated.  I want so badly to send this book back to the entire Zac Brown Band and say, help.....make it work, because there is so much potential for greatness.  

What you must do however is go check out the Sickness Song that goes along with the book!  If the book leaves you feeling a little blue the song will turn it all around, trust me.  You and your kiddos will be dancing all around the house even if they are hopped up on acetaminophen!

Click the Link to go to Sound Cloud and Listen

https://soundcloud.com/coybowles/the-sickness-song-revised

 I wish I could tell you that it's amazing and everyone needs this in their library but in the end this is a just fun book and if you buy it for not other reason than the illustrations you will have a nice book sitting on your child's book shelf.  I hope that Coy Bowles will bring us more I think he's a fairly new author with an amazing mind that just needs a little time and polish to get his ideas to come through more smoothly.  It's hard with a children's book because you either rhyme or you don't, but you can't be half of one and half of the other. I also hope that he will team up again with Illustrator Andy Elkerton, he really brought this book to life. 

~ HAPPY READING ~ 

COY BOWLES  plays guitar and organ and writes songs for the multiplatinum Zac Brown Band. They have won three Grammys and since 2009, have earned 55 award nominations from the Grammys, Academy of Country Music, American Music Awards, Country Music Association, and Country Music Television. Born in Thomaston, Georgia, Coy was raised on love, support, and the idea that he could do anything he put his heart and soul into. After earning a degree from Georgia State University’s Jazz Studies program, Coy formed the band Coy Bowles and the Fellowship. In 2006, they opened for the Zac Brown Band, and soon after Zac asked Coy to join his band full time. Coy’s first book, the self-published Amy Giggles: Laugh Out Loud, teaches kids to accept themselves as they are. 

Visit Coy at 

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Illustrator ANDY ELKERTON began his career as a graphic designer for video games, when the industry was still in its infancy, and after fourteen years decided to try his hand at being a children’s book illustrator. Since 2002 he has produced work for picture books, advertising, and toy design. He lives in a small town on the west coast of Scotland with his wife and three children.