Experimenting with new books always comes at a cost!
Sometimes we enjoy them, but other times I feel I am not so sure. This is the story when the worldExperimenting with new books always comes at a cost!
Sometimes we enjoy them, but other times I feel I am not so sure. This is the story when the world is about to end and the next generation may not live their entire lifespan. Toppled in this situation is a family whose elder daughter has been missing for 3 years & they finally think it's time to go & find her. The journey starts with a homely neighbour accompanying them & a cat who loves attention.
It unfolds into a tightly knit world with few main characters that carry their own emotional baggage. On this journey, we understand the power of letting go, forgiveness & what really matters when the end is so near. The writing style was simplistic but I felt a few added layers would have made the story much more impactful to an avid reader.
It felt like a travelogue of family reconciliation which needed a little more exuberance to outshine the inevitable doom. ...more
No one in the village has seen a giant since the last war. But when a giant body falls through the sky and is found dead. To avoid any further troubleNo one in the village has seen a giant since the last war. But when a giant body falls through the sky and is found dead. To avoid any further trouble Anwen (the meadow witch) & Cerys (the best at High Magic) decide to send a plea for help to the giant kingdom by planting a beanstalk. Little did they know this would result in them being transported to that very kingdom.
Astonished to find that the person who died is a King, the two have to stay at the palace until the giants develop a non-magical way to transport them back to their homeland below. It's a chance for Anwen to put her itching brain to the test and solve this murder mystery with a few obstacles and a few new friends in the foreign land.
I enjoyed this short and crisp adventurous mystery and the unique style of investigation. Because the pacing was fast & the characters had a real touch to them, it easily turned into a favourite. If one had to pick this book up just for 3 reasons, I would say the plot, the pacing and the characters. For anyone looking out for a cosy mystery not based in a cafe/bakery, yet having the sparks, check this out....more
The second book in Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth follows the aftermath of book 1. There is a memorial garden project undertaken by Dotty & funded bThe second book in Dotty Morgan Supernatural Sleuth follows the aftermath of book 1. There is a memorial garden project undertaken by Dotty & funded by Mr Sato, who is even willing to further help her open her dream agency of Supernatural Sleuths - in return, he wants a chance to inspect the recent acquisition of her Dad (A Japanese Sword and a Cup). But the artefact is attracting far more attention than just humans and Zombie Ninja is tough competition.
The adventures of Dotty's life make me want to be friends with her, though I think she already has a ton on her plate ...more
When a Chinese-American girl visits her granny, the last thing she expects to happen is a revival of her passionThanks @prhinternational for the book.
When a Chinese-American girl visits her granny, the last thing she expects to happen is a revival of her passion for painting, which was otherwise dwindling with time. When she paints her childhood favourite 'Luna' using the beautiful Jade brush, Luna comes alive! The brush is magical for sure, but magic too has rules that are accompanied by unknown scary adventures.
This middle-grade story is beautifully illustrated throughout the book and would be a great pick for fans of Chinese Legends. The imagination is top-notch, but the author made sure to add a touch of valid explanation (via rules) in this magical world. There is also an underlying message for children/adults reading it allowing them to build upon their acceptance level, being courageous and not being afraid to try new things. Call me old school but I do enjoy that touch in middle-grade books ...more
A tale of a young girl learning to navigate through her life when she was bumped by the tragic event of her best friend's death. The story is weaved dA tale of a young girl learning to navigate through her life when she was bumped by the tragic event of her best friend's death. The story is weaved delicately, accounting for all the emotions that one goes through and how it impact the lives of those around them.
There is a speculative connection between the trees and the characters of the story which was novel to read in a middle-grade book. The telephone angle is the inertia holding it all together and somehow its placement on the tree makes good sense in correlation with the story. I would have enjoyed it more if there were a few more details added and additional events that helped me get attached to the characters as well.
I found the concept provocative and when I learned towards the end of the book about it's inspiration, I knew I had to go and research it. It also made me wonder how grief can decay from inside if you don't find the right outlet for it and sometimes we need external help to get started on this path. ...more
Set up in a modern world, this is a supernatural middle-grade mystery. But can adults enjoy it? I sure did!
Children these days have ample options to Set up in a modern world, this is a supernatural middle-grade mystery. But can adults enjoy it? I sure did!
Children these days have ample options to choose their aspirations, but Dotty has decided to be a supernatural sleuth. While keeping an open mind, she observes situations around her and determines if the phenomenon working out is natural or not - in either case, there has to be a valid explanation. For instance, recently potatoes all across the town have been vanishing and there are no fries. On the other hand, there is a drastic shift in the living choices of the adults of the town, something is totally off about this and Dotty decides to investigate.
The book presents both extremes of the food spectrum very well. The adults creating unbending laws around healthier food choices, especially when it comes to their kids and the equal repulsion kids feel when mandated to follow such rules out of the blue. While the overlying story is a spooky mystery, I enjoyed these added elements of contemporary health-related trends and discussing both the pros and cons around it.
P.S: There is a reference to a Nakali Guru from India and as I understand Hindi, I was a little sceptical on why this name, though I would ask you to trust the author and keep your patience - it will all make sense later.
An old barn in the woods has now become a playspot for the 3 children, and one day, they decide to brew the Witch's concoction, thinking it would do nAn old barn in the woods has now become a playspot for the 3 children, and one day, they decide to brew the Witch's concoction, thinking it would do no harm. Little did they know they were inviting trouble. They have caught the witch’s attention, and it might just destroy everything they hold dear.
I loved the short crisp version this story presented and it's fast paced structure. Some may find it dark, though it was a cozy witchy story for me involving some adventure.
Narrated from the perspective of a typewriter and a young boy, this is a pleasing story of a family that is emotional and humorous. I have so many quoNarrated from the perspective of a typewriter and a young boy, this is a pleasing story of a family that is emotional and humorous. I have so many quotes that I loved reading here that they had to be mentioned at the bottom.
The story is about a typewriter counting his days in the dark corner after being replaced by modern gadgets until one day a person in the family goes missing. Olivetti (the typewriter) believes he can finally be of help, but to do that, he will have to break one of the most conspicuous rules of their world.
Olivetti is next-level witty and the sarcastic charisma of the writing style worked so well for me. It is an overall light-hearted middle-grade book but I would recommend my fellow readers to check the content disclaimers too. The narration style reminded me of the book 'Remarkably bright creatures' and I think the book will be perfect for the fans.
Thanks to @netgalley @macmillanusa @allieinink for the ARC. Genre: #middlegrade #fiction Disclaimers: #cancer #therapy #mentalwelbeing Rating: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Favourite Quote: "If they just read the Oxford English Dictionary, they'd see both expressions were in there. They were both idioms and idioms are phrases that don't follow any kind of logic. My family apparently wasn't following any logic either because they were fighting over figures of speech. They were acting like a bunch of idioms" ...more
This book is mystical, adventurous and peculiar all at once. The creatures mentioned in the book, the world buildup and the rules between elders and cThis book is mystical, adventurous and peculiar all at once. The creatures mentioned in the book, the world buildup and the rules between elders and children are shown how they work (and not told). I enjoyed the descriptive style of the book which I felt was also necessary given the complex monsters and legends introduced within the story.
It's a great book if you love high fantasy elements with constantly changing trajectories but mind you, if English is not your first language, this might be a little top-notch in vocabs.
Thank you @thlehnen for the ARC copy. Genre: #fantasy #middlegrade Rating: 4/5 ⭐️ ...more
This book is a sweet tale of clearing a family name from an incident that tarnished it decades ago. Many have tried this before, but the clues are allThis book is a sweet tale of clearing a family name from an incident that tarnished it decades ago. Many have tried this before, but the clues are all lost in the past, returning to dust and memories. But with unhinging experiences occurring every midnight, Lainie has decided to untangle the mystery once and for all.
The relationship dynamics are the first thing to grasp your attention, be it between the uncles or friends. The story is also narrated in dual timelines, transporting the reader between now and back when the incident occurred, so a little bit of patience is needed to grasp and place them. There is also a legal angle that discusses the case, so if do enjoy the lingo, you can try this for sure.
I enjoyed the eerie feel the story generated and how my feelings fluctuated from sad, to productive, to excited to lovely. Though it is targeted towards upper middle graders, I feel YA onwards would be the people who can fully enjoy it. (Or maybe I am just a child in an adult body...more
This is the second book in the Fanny Fitzpatrick series and it follows N after the story of dealing with the Greek Gods and cockroach problems. SkirtiThis is the second book in the Fanny Fitzpatrick series and it follows N after the story of dealing with the Greek Gods and cockroach problems. Skirting around Dionysus and his weird lifestyle and his life choices, was a very interesting part.
The book carries a light mood essence with lively characters and a little stigma of responsibilities in children of growing age. Fanny has a lively character and all her actions, reactions and impulses seem very realistic. I read this book in a single day but multiple sitting over the weekend. I feel this can be a mood booster if you are struggling to complete your books and looking for a short but entertaining story involving a contemporary world with fantasy characters.
Thank you @cinnabarmothpub for the review copy Genre: #middlegrade ##greekmythology #contemporary #fiction Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
A young girl (Lucy) has lost her only parent and now she is shipped to a tiny island to live with the family residing in a lighthouse post. Her fear oA young girl (Lucy) has lost her only parent and now she is shipped to a tiny island to live with the family residing in a lighthouse post. Her fear of water only grows and though the family is homely and warm, she just can't see herself fitting in. Now all that keeps her going is to keep looking for the antique necklace her father always talked about. But situations reveal that she is not the only one in search of it.
This adventure tale reminds me of the childhood of so many children, each of them slightly notorious and coming from a little privileged background. Life at this lighthouse reflects beautifully how one learns to be responsible for their actions even at a young age if the circumstances require it.
As much as I enjoyed the author's capacity to bring alive the characters, I felt that Lucy was a tad irritating at times, as every time she tried helping, the universe conspired to give the opposite results. The ease at which everything falls in place may work well for a middle-grade reader, but as an adult, I missed a bit more obstacles to the adventures Lucy had.
Thank you @netgalley @dreamscape_media @annarosewriter for the digital ARC. Genre: #middlegrade #multicultural #fiction Rating: 3.5/5 ⭐️
I picked this book for my #februaryreadingprompt of #hugday The book had to be like a warm hug and this sweet middlegrade story was exactly that.
InitI picked this book for my #februaryreadingprompt of #hugday The book had to be like a warm hug and this sweet middlegrade story was exactly that.
Initially, I thought this would be just another story about the animal kingdom, but I was happy when it turned out to be much more. Our protagonist(baby Moth) is excited to start her education at the Minibeast Academy and learn all about moon magic. However, she is pretty disappointed when all the teachers act like walking on glass whenever the topic arises and no one believes in it anymore. Sure that there is a mystery behind the true reason why no one here would talk about it, the little moth has decided it's time to take charge herself.
The narration of the story was done proficiently with character introductions as the book progressed. There were a few surprises here and there that kept the overall zest of the book lively and adventurous. If you are looking for a short read that surpasses the average imagination, you may enjoy this one.
Thank you @netgalley @harpercollinsuk @laura_ellen_anderson for the ARC. Genre: #childrensfiction #fantasy Rating: 4/5 ⭐️ ...more
So much can be achieved, with hope and good company. This magical tale is about a young girl Daisy who lost her mother to the Amazonian Jungle. But wiSo much can be achieved, with hope and good company. This magical tale is about a young girl Daisy who lost her mother to the Amazonian Jungle. But with her gone, new revelations occur in every direction she takes. Her school is suspiciously involved in malicious activities and her escape from that place has led her to a whole new magical place that was otherwise hidden.
The events occurring in the story align perfectly with its pace and camouflage building up. I enjoyed the diversification within the botanist field (green magic), rather than adding other elements of magic. There are adventures, life-sucking moments and even pitfalls in your stomach with new twists. The book was blissfully upbeat, despite the tenuous setting of the storyline.
The definitely starts with a punch of activities, followed by the introduction of a group that still believes in magic, even though no one else on ElsThe definitely starts with a punch of activities, followed by the introduction of a group that still believes in magic, even though no one else on Elston-Fright does. I do have to mention that one of the members of this group is a ghost ...more
The book reminded me of the Disney song "A Whole New World". This is new, strict and hard to survive the world, where the earth is a barren land and tThe book reminded me of the Disney song "A Whole New World". This is new, strict and hard to survive the world, where the earth is a barren land and the survivors live in a small city. Following our protagonist - who is a protective brother to his little sister, is the story of a boy who takes it upon himself to face the consequences of his sister's theft and find himself punished in the most insane way possible. The banishment takes him to far-off lands away from the scary but secure settings of the city. But this new place is so much more! Would anyone even want to return from here?
The book was mesmerising with elements of soul transfer and vivid areal characters. I found many themes mentioned in the book equally reflected in our present society (social injustice, prejudices and hope for a better future). I recommend this book to be read with an open mind and a hopeful soul.
Thankyou @netgalley @donnabarbahiguera @recordedbooks @levinequerido for the ARC
"Assumptions are like raisins in the cookie - always a bad idea!"
All the princesses from different fairytales are protected from the outside world in "Assumptions are like raisins in the cookie - always a bad idea!"
All the princesses from different fairytales are protected from the outside world in an exceptional place. And while each of them lands into this place randomly, one thing they all are taught is how to cope with the modern world of actors, social media and a particular craving for pizza ...more
Violet's life is changing fast, new dad, new house, new year at school and for the first time ever, her own room. What for others felt like privacy anViolet's life is changing fast, new dad, new house, new year at school and for the first time ever, her own room. What for others felt like privacy and freedom, for Violet was like a silent creeper following her everywhere. Covind has impacted many people and the way things run. But when Violet gets sick this time around, it never seems to get better. Health problems that Doctors cannot diagnose are just another layer to her ever-increasing cake of issues. And the cherry on the top is her haunted room!
Though the book is targeted towards middle graders, it felt like a valuable addition to my library. The story talks about changing dynamics in friendships and family, new beginnings and keeping yourself together when the world thinks you are going crazy. The finale portion of the book (the doctor's part) is what felt like a must-have part. Many children have lost their personality and lives because most of the time adults and even doctors don't take them seriously. The messaging here is conveyed beautifully with a fictional touch to keep things interesting....more
The clean city of Arizona seems to be the answer to Avalyn's Asthma issues. But when a new boy appears in town, there is a cloud of dust. Focused uponThe clean city of Arizona seems to be the answer to Avalyn's Asthma issues. But when a new boy appears in town, there is a cloud of dust. Focused upon bullying, assault and abuse this is a beautiful take on school-going children's life with a hint of magical realism element to it.
The unspoken ways in which the author shows us the impact of the surroundings in which a child grows, developing an acceptance level to unacceptable things. Be it letting others downcast them, bully them or abuse them. The underlying importance of a small push towards change goes a long way to building up a domino effect. The approach to introducing these topics to children is done in a very subtle way. Half the time I was busy deducing the sandstorm mystery while the story was also hinting towards other angles.
Thank you @netgalley @hachetteaudio @dustibowling for the ARC....more
This is the first book in the duology by @gaildvillanueva . An adorable world buildup with quite a few hilarious creature compositions. I had a lot ofThis is the first book in the duology by @gaildvillanueva . An adorable world buildup with quite a few hilarious creature compositions. I had a lot of fun reading this book. It does give you a full dose of adventures in different reals, coinciding with the weirdest (in a good way) character relationships. For e.g, in our world, we usually adopt cats, whereas in this world a Cat has adopted a baby girl. The book did have that novel element that makes specific parts of the book memorable.
Talking about its pacing, definitely fast-paced, with a lot of things happening. I had to re-read quite a few areas to reconfirm my suspicions on 'wait! what just happened?'.Which made me think if we needed a breather in between or a slow buildup in certain situations. If I talk about the overall story m not sure if this is something I will remember for a long time. A few characters and moments here and there, I would for sure - but like every little thing? probably not.
Also, one thing that stood out to me was the creature's explanations after the story ended. That gives you insights into which name was derived from where. It's a good bonus to have in fantasy books.
Thank you @this_is_edelweiss @harpercollins for the digital ARC.
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