oh my goodness so cute! can't believe I haven't read some of these books! oh my goodness so cute! can't believe I haven't read some of these books! ...more
I LOVED the first book Mother Bruce and hoped for such awesomeness with the second. It was cute but not as cute as the first. It just lacked....somethI LOVED the first book Mother Bruce and hoped for such awesomeness with the second. It was cute but not as cute as the first. It just lacked....something! Still look forward to more!...more
I see this illustrator has made several of these books and I read this to my kids. Great for the, learning to read but the pictures didn't go with whaI see this illustrator has made several of these books and I read this to my kids. Great for the, learning to read but the pictures didn't go with what the author wrote, the cat looks absolutely bored and I'm not of fan of these illustrations. Needless to say I hated the book. Lol but that's just me.. ...more
Another wonderfully bittersweet book by Kate DiCamillo!
Interestingly this is the second middle grade fiction I’ve read recently that was set in the 70Another wonderfully bittersweet book by Kate DiCamillo!
Interestingly this is the second middle grade fiction I’ve read recently that was set in the 70’s. We’ll have to see if the trend keeps up. DiCamillo does a fabulous job of finding the humor and hope in tragic situations. She adds enough quirky characters and then puts those characters in painfully awkward scenes that helps to keep their tragedies in perspective. If you’ve read any of Kate DiCamillo’s other books, I’d put this on par with her *Newbery honor book “Because of Winn-Dixie”.
But I don’t think Raymie Nightingale is quite as good as “The Tale of Despereaux,” which is both a Newbery Award winner, and one of my all-time favorite books. I’ve you’ve never read Kate DiCamillo, then I’d say that Raymie Nightingale is a good place to start....more
I picked up an ARC of this book at the very first BookCon (when it became its own event and not just the last day of BEA open to the public). I had thI picked up an ARC of this book at the very first BookCon (when it became its own event and not just the last day of BEA open to the public). I had the privilege of listening to a panel discussion with Holly Black, Cassandra Clare and Maggie Stiefvater (I know, right!?) and Holly and Cassandra talked about what it was like to write this book as a partnership. If I remember correctly, they said they came up with the idea to write a book like Harry Potter, but with a twist. And boy is it a major twist!
I can’t say too much without giving it away, but it adds a unique element to the overdone kid-goes-away-to-magic-school storyline. Callum Hunt doesn’t want to go to the Magisterium, and so when his trial comes up he fails, and fails spectacularly. Only instead of being rejected, Call finds himself admitted to the strange, underground boarding school, and makes friends with another boy and girl at the school. It is a little darker than the earliest Harry Potter books, but there are many similarities. That is until Clare and Black put their own unique spin on the trope, and you can’t help wanting to read more....more
I really liked the cover to this one, and I picked it up for that reason alone. The jacket blurb and author bio then piqued my interest sufficiently tI really liked the cover to this one, and I picked it up for that reason alone. The jacket blurb and author bio then piqued my interest sufficiently to read the novel.
The main character, Jack, has synesthesia, a legitimate neurological condition that causes crossover in the senses. Tastes are perceived as colors, and smells as feelings, etc. In Jack’s case it leads to sensory overload, which he must learn to control if he is to find his missing father.
When he stumbles upon the Lost Property Office, he meets Gwen, a young apprentice clerk in a secret organization and discovers that he has amazing abilities. Jack can “spark” or see glimpses of the past by touching minerals in the surrounding environment. Full of history, secret organizations, and adventure, The Lost Property Office is reminiscent of the movie National Treasure.
It is well written and fast paced, even if the plot was a little predictable. I had really high hopes for this story, and while it was a good book, it didn’t quite deliver all I had hoped for. ...more
I first fell in love with Norse mythology when I was in middle school. After devouring as much Greek mythology as I could find, I found myself hungry I first fell in love with Norse mythology when I was in middle school. After devouring as much Greek mythology as I could find, I found myself hungry for more stories and naturally turned to Norse mythology. I’ve been happy to see a bit of an uptick of popular interest in Norse mythology recently, no doubt due to the success of the Marvel Thor movies.
Whether you enjoy the actual mythology or the Hollywood Chris Hemsworth version, you’ll likely enjoy Gaiman’s story. Heck, even if you know nothing of Thor and the other Norse gods, you’ll likely enjoy the book. It is only around one hundred pages, and a quick read, but still very satisfying. True to most mythology, there are some morally complicated situations in Odd and the Frost Giants, but the book takes them in stride and refrains from passing judgment. Much of that is accomplished because Odd is a wonderfully cheerful character, despite all the hardships he passes through. It made for a refreshing twist on Norse mythology.
True to most mythology, there are some morally complicated situations in Odd and the Frost Giants, but the book takes them in stride and refrains from passing judgment. Much of that is accomplished because Odd is a wonderfully cheerful character, despite all the hardships he passes through. It made for a refreshing twist on Norse mythology. ...more
Fast paced, creepy and suspenseful, Spill Zone is the first graphic novel in the series, and will leave you with more questions than answers.
The heroiFast paced, creepy and suspenseful, Spill Zone is the first graphic novel in the series, and will leave you with more questions than answers.
The heroine, Addison is an artist who sells her photographs of the disaster area known as the spill zone. The story was based in part, on a terrible incident that happened in central Brazil. Westerfeld explains that thieves broke into a closed-up hospital and took a radiotherapy unit to sell for scrap metal. The young daughter of the junkyard owner was fascinated by the strange glowing substance inside, and played with it and shared it with others.
As a result several people died, dozens of contaminated homes had to be torn down and even a hospital wing where contaminated people sought treatment had to be closed. Both creepy and horrible, no? Perhaps the story struck me because I have connections to Brazil.
As far as Spill Zone goes, I do have to admit that there was a little more swearing than I would have preferred. Not as much as many novels, but then again graphic novels have less text to begin with. I also really, really enjoyed reading through the blog posts on thespillzone.com. Westerfeld and Puvilland share each page of the graphic novel digitally, as well as some of the background for the story. It would have been awkward to try to read the novel on the website (though it can be done and is free), but it was fascinating to read the author and illustrator’s comments as I worked my way through the story again.
Spill Zone grabs you and keeps your attention, but is a bit unsatisfying—mostly because there is no word yet on when book two will be available. ...more
Book number three in the Magisterium series picks up a little of the slack left by book two, but not as much as I’d hoped. The plot does not follow thBook number three in the Magisterium series picks up a little of the slack left by book two, but not as much as I’d hoped. The plot does not follow the pattern of the two previous books and instead opens up the door to wider problems than those personal ones faced by the students.
But then, unfortunately throughout entire middle of the book those students focus on their personal problems. Things happen, of course, but nothing that really moves the plot along until the very end.
Call isn’t quite as likable as in book two, and nothing really happens with the tension between he and Aaron (tension is inevitable when your best friend and magical counterweight may be trying to kill you).
I really prefer to review a series as a whole, or at least wait until I’ve read an entire series before reviewing individual books. This series may be a prime example of why. I still think Black and Clare can pull it off, but if they don’t I’ll have recommended that you own the first book, obtain the next few and opt out on the final ones. And who wants to own only part of a series?...more
I think this one narrowly missed the infamous second-book-slump. It lacks that wonderful twist from the first book, of course. It also feels like the I think this one narrowly missed the infamous second-book-slump. It lacks that wonderful twist from the first book, of course. It also feels like the story arc too closely mirrors that of the first book (and also Harry Potter). In essence, something happens at home, they go to school for a while, and then something bigger happens when they should be in school and then it is the end.
But like I said, it narrowly missed that dreaded slump. Callum wrestles with the concepts of good and evil, and indulges in a lot of humorous introspection which ultimately makes him all the more likable. The friendship between Tamara, Aaron and Call deepens, despite what could develop into serious betrayal. Plus the metal monster, Automontones, was just cool. The Copper Gauntlet was a satisfying enough second book, and engaging enough to make you want to pick up book number three....more
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