Book Review: Ruby Red

 Title: Rudy Red

Author: Kerstin Gier

Translator: Anthea Bell

Summary

Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era! Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon, the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

My Review

Ok I'm gonna be up front with you.  When I first started seeing this book around I could NOT figure out what the fuss was about.  And I will admit I based that quite a bit on the cover.  From pictures, the cover just didn't look interesting.  I really don't like the girl on the cover.  She looks waaaaay formal and almost uncomfortable.  Now I made myself look into the book further and read some review.  Ok, so it was about time travel (which seems to be the latest thing).  I enjoyed Hourglass, so when I was offered a copy for review I decided to take it. 

Starting it out I still wasn't sure.  I was a bit confused.  There are many characters all related, and I had a hard time remember who was who and how they were all related.  BUT something about it was hooking me in, so I kept going.  Slowly I was pulled deeper into the story.  I really liked the main character Gwyneth.  She was quirky, smart (in her own way), and not willing to let herself be bullied.  I liked her, and when I like a character I can stick with a story.  So I let Gwen pull me along.  And I'm glad I did!

Now the plot - Again I'll admit that I found parts of it confusing.  There's all kinds of half stories told - things Gwen can't know or doesn't know or people refuse to tell her.  That, for her and the reader, can be frustrating.  But again how Gwen handled it kept me going.  I wanted to see how she would react to more of what was thrown at her - and mostly I wanted to see her succeed and prove her aunt and others wrong.  None of them like what happens with Gwen, and they are very angry at her and Gwen's mother.  This made me mad because I liked Gwen, so they shouldn't be mad at her!  The plot unravels fast but yet slow.  Fast because a lot of information is thrown out at once, but slow because it takes forever for people to be honest with her.  In the end I have a clear understanding of what is going on but I soooooooo need to know more.  And whoa what a shocker at the end!!!

Ok lastly I have to comment on Gideon the boy of the story.  He seems to swing back and forth between being a jerk to being caring, and honestly I don't know which side to trust.  It's like I want to trust him, but he's been a part of this longer than Gwen, so I don't know his deep knowledge might be used against Gwen's naivety.  Even what happens at the end - I'm not sure if I can trust it.  I guess I'll just have to wait and see.

For the Guys?  Nah not really.

Final thought:  Ok I get the fuss now. I will be looking foward to the rest of the series.
Best stick-with-you image:  Gwen in the fancy dress
Best for readers who: Like time travel, are ok with being in the dark some
Best for ages: 12+

OH! And about the cover..... still don't like the picture of the girl, but I do love the red and silver in person.  Super pretty!

Book Review: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Title: A Monster Calls

Author: Patrick Ness and Siobhan Dowd

Publisher: Candlewick Press

Summary

The monster showed up just after midnight. As they do. But it isn’t the monster Conor's been expecting. He's been expecting the one from his nightmare, the one he's had nearly every night since his mother started her treatments, the one with the darkness and the wind and the screaming... The monster in his back garden, though, this monster is something different. Something ancient, something wild. And it wants the most dangerous thing of all from Conor. It wants the truth.

Costa Award winner Patrick Ness spins a tale from the final idea of much-loved Carnegie Medal winner Siobhan Dowd, whose premature death from cancer prevented her from writing it herself. Darkly mischievous and painfully funny, A Monster Calls is an extraordinarily moving novel of coming to terms with loss from two of our finest writers for young adults.

My Thoughts

Ok I'll admit that I didn't know a lot about this book before I read it.  I knew it was by Patrick Ness, and I love Patrick Ness, so I wanted to read it.  I also knew that he wrote it based on a story idea of Siobhan Dowd.  Otherwise I didn't know much about what it was suppose to be about.  I, wrongly, assumed it was a scary book.  Well ok it's a scary book, but not about the kind of monsters that normally scare us in books and movies.  The monster in this book, the real monster is much much worse. 

Instead of the book I was expecting, I was drawn into a story that grabbed a hold of me with both hands and didn't let go.  And at times that hold was directly on my heart.  I won't lie, there were parts of this book that were hard for me to read because it hurt my heart (even now as I'm typing this I feel how I felt while I was reading it).  But even at those parts I was compelled to read on.  Why?  Why do that to myself?  I had to be there with and for the main character Conor.  It would've felt wrong to abandon him.  I had to be there with him as he faced the monster in front of him.  As I saw where one monster was leading him right up to the face of another, much worse, monster.  As the reader I knew what was coming, and I could only stand there helpless as I watch him have to face that monster and try to survive. 

Along with facing that monster, Conor also learns some other lessons told in three stories that seem confusing and frustrating to him.  But it is these three stories help Conor face that last monster and the truth that lives within it.  As an adult I was reminded about lessons life has taught me throughout my years.  Lessons that are good to remember even though they were hard ones to learn.

I liked this book.  I really really did.  I has stuck with him in a very personally way.  Some books just so perfectly tell a story you know in your heart.  This one did that for me.  I didn't get the book I expected, but I really think I got the book I needed.  Thank you Patrick Ness for telling Siobhan Dowd's story and telling it so well.

Final thought:  The monsters in this book were far scarier than ones that just go bump in the night
Best stick-with-you image:  More a thought:  sometimes being seen is what you think you want but it might not be
Best for readers who: Can handle a more serious story.  This isn't a story I'd hand to any kid.
Best for ages:  Are at least 11 but really it would depend on the maturity of the child

Book/Magazine Review and GIVEAWAY: Discovery Girls

Today I have something a bit different.  Instead of reviewing a book, I'm reviewing a magazine.  That magazine would be Discovery Girls.  The publishers of Discovery Girls asked if I would be interested in reviewing the magazine and hosting a giveaway.  At first I was hesitant, but then I realized that my goal is to get kids reading.  And if I can get them reading a magazine that's awesome!!!! So I said yes.  A bit later I got some copies of issues to look at.  I realized that I knew this magazine from our school library, but I had never really looked at it before.  I wish I had!


What is Discovery Girls?
Discovery Girls, an award-winning magazine aimed at tween girls, has produced four books packed with real-world practical advice. The books deliver their best strategies so girls can successfully deal with friendship troubles, embarrassing moments, life's toughest problems (like death and divorce), body issues, crushes on buys, school pressures and more. The set includes: Friendship Hardships - Making friends who respect and understand you. Sticky Situations - How to bounce back from almost anything. Getting Through Tough Times - Handling life's toughest challenges. Getting Your Questions Answered - Advice on family, friendships, boys and more. All of the books reinforce the power of girls to overcome disappointment, develop postive images about themselves, seek the right kind of help, talk to their parents and learn how to grow from failures.

What I Thought:

Discovery Girls is a great magazine for the tween set because it shows REAL girls.  Even the covers are read girls of all shapes and sizes.  I love that!  I'm not saying other magazines are bad, but it's frustrating to have all these teen magazine staring at you covered with "perfect" actresses, singers etc.  I have a daughter, and I've worried about her comparing herself to those images.  What a great relief to see a magazine that shows what real girls look like, and they really do look like real girls.  I teach in a middle school with almost 900 students grades 5-8.  I know what girls this age look like!  This cover is a mirror to what a typical girl would see around them.  Love it!

Ok, so that's the cover, but we all know we can't judge a book by it's cover.  Upon looking through the pages I learned that what you see on the cover is just what you'll see inside.  Real girls, real issues, real problems.  Loved that too! In the issues I saw there were pieces about zits, baking cupcakes, lying to parents, envy and cell phones in schools.  My favorite though was a whole piece from older girls telling what they wish they had known when they were younger.  They were all things I would tell my daughter, but because they came from mom she didn't want to hear them!  Maybe she'll listen to older girls. 

I wish I had know about this magazine when my daughter was younger.  She's 12 now, and pretty much on the upper end of the target audience.  Although I will say she nabbed my copies and pretty much read them cover to cover :)

Now to go with the magazine, they also sent me a book titled Fab Girls Guide to Getting Through Tough Times.  This book presented a bunch of tough situations a young girl might find herself in, and advice on how to deal with it.  Some topics included: cyber bullying, admitting being wrong, being "left" by friends, being part of different culture, parent losing a job and many more.  The advice was very sound and well done.  I could see a young girl turning to this book to get some advice when she's a bit to scared to ask a parent.  Very well done.

For the Guys?  Nope.  It's Discovery Girls :)

Final thought:  A great way to get girls reading and not putting unrealistic expectations in front of them

Best for readers:  Who aren't readers and are intimidated by books

Best for ages: 8-11

Now for the giveaway

Discovery Girls is giving away two copies of their 10 Year Collector's Edition.  They sent me a copy and it's great!

To enter:

Must be a US Resident

Must be at least 13 or is younger supply a parent email

Must fill out the form

Ends June 30

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Title: Divergent

Author: Veronica Roth

Summary

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is—she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

During the highly competitive initiation that follows, Beatrice renames herself Tris and struggles to determine who her friends really are—and where, exactly, a romance with a sometimes fascinating, sometimes infuriating boy fits into the life she's chosen. But Tris also has a secret, one she's kept hidden from everyone because she's been warned it can mean death. And as she discovers a growing conflict that threatens to unravel her seemingly perfect society, she also learns that her secret might help her save those she loves . . . or it might destroy her.

My Review

I'm not completely sure how to even start this review.  My fear is that this review will just fall into gushing and nothing else!  To put it in the simple form: I LOVED this book.  It has been the first book in a long time that I didn't want to put down - where I was pulled completely into the story.  I tore through it having to force myself to put it away to sleep!  That hasn't happened with a book in a very long time. 

Why did I love it? First of all I really liked Tris/Beatrice.  She was smart, strong, brave, funny (just because of how she thought about things), loyal.  And she was so clueless about things that it made her a complete under-dog.  I love cheering for the under-dog, and she was definitely one I could cheer for.  What really helped with this was the thoughts that Veronica Roth let us hear inside Tris.  They way she tried to work through things - her almost complete inability to admit defeat, her willingness to step in and fight for others, her willingness to question who is she and why she is.  I loved it all.  Roth made Tris thoughts so clear and such an important part of the story that I felt I truly knew Tris by the end.  She became utterly real.  And can I let you in on a secret?  I like her better than Katniss <insert gasp here>.  I just did. 

As for the plot - the main focus of this book is really Tris trying to make it through initiation.  Can she do this?  Does she have it in her?  How does she deal with others making fun of her or wanting her gone. This made the plot much more character driven, but that doesn't mean dull!  There is action.  Fights between the initiates, daring acts - things like that.  They definitely add a thrill and tension to the story, but the real conflict is the one inside Tris.  It just happens to be played out in a very physical way.  There is the whole tension you see brewing between the fractions, and it's very clear that this will play a huge role in the next book, but this book seems to be setting that up more than anything.  Towards the end of the book, the conflict does switch to outside of Tris, and you really see the set up for further books.

Ok I have to talk about Four, the trainer working with Tris.  He's fantastic.  And the relationship between him and Tris is great.  For once it wasn't forced or instant!  I won't say much more at the risk of giving all things away, but I really did like this part of the story.  I also liked Four's back story.  It definitely added to his depth and sets up some later events in this book and I'm sure later books. 

I do want to comment about the world they now life in.  The idea of dividing people into fractions that focus on one part of our personalities, or really what makes us human, is a very unique idea.  In the book you can see how this isn't the best idea - that it's very hard to take all our natural tendencies and only let one through.  They way I saw it, each aspect of the different fractions should work together in one person.  Even from the start of the book, it's hinted at that this system is beginning to fall apart around them.  That was once set up on strong ideals have morphed over time into warped beliefs.  At one point Tris reads a part of her fractions manifesto and it talks about courage being brave in everyday acts.  I really think this idea is at the heart of the book - what is courage.  I'm curious to see how it plays out in the rest of the series.

Ok <GUSH ALEART> I love this book.  It was thrilling, sweet, strong, daring, funny, scary and nonstop.  It is the first book in forever that still has me thinking about it after finishing it.  I remember all the character names (ok I'm really bad at that usually), I feel connected to Tris and Four.  I want to know  NEED TO KNOW what is going to happen to them, to the world they live in, to some of the more minor characters that I even grew to care about.  I want to go back into Veronica Roth's world and feel Tris's strength and courage.  Four told her she's so awake when she's being brave.  I could feel that come through the pages, and I want to read more of it!

For the Guys? YES!!!!!!! Like Hunger Games it should appeal to the boys just as much.

Final thought:  Um, I loved it! :)
Best stick-with-you image:  Train jumping
Best for readers who: Like dystopia, strong female characters and cheering for the under-dog
Best for ages: 12+

Book Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Title: Hereafter

Author: Tara Hudson

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live.

Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

Thrilling and evocative, with moments of pure pleasure, Hereafter is a sensation you won't want to miss.

My Thoughts

I don't normally do this, but I have to start this by commenting on the cover.  WOW! I remember the first time I saw it.  I loved it then, and I love it now.  It's just so pretty, but yet there is this starkness about it - an almost sadness. Now that I know the story - I see how this cover fits it.

This story starts out with Amelia who is lost.  She had died, but she doesn't remember anything about how or why.  She just drifts through her afterlife.  I was struck by how sad this would be.  To be left literally adrift alone and lost.  I've read a lot of books about people who have died and ended up in some sort of afterlife, but this is the first time they've been left in almost a mystery.  I really felt for Amelia during this.  I mean, there's the pain of missing someone, but how hard would it be to not even know who you should be missing!

Then along comes Joshua.  He can see her, and things begin to change.  She is less adrift and actually more alive.  But of course this brings it's one set of complications.  The relationship between Joshua and Amelia was sweet.  I did have to let go that the "immediate attraction" issue again.  I wasn't as frustrated by it this time.  I think that had to do with the situation Amelia was in - so alone until Josh, so I could buy the attraction easier.  And maybe it had to do with her being a ghost!  I don't for sure, but I could buy it a bit better than in other stories I've read.

About the plot - it's pretty slow moving.  At times it dragged.  This is a 400 page book, so it covers a lot.  Sometimes I think it could've skipped a bit, but it wasn't enough to drag the entire book down.  The mystery of Amelia's past did keep me intrigued.  I wanted to know too what had happened to her and why was she where she was now.  That mystery was nice since it didn't make it entirely a romance book.  Maybe that's why the quick attraction didn't bother me so much!  Anyway - the unanswered questions kept me reading.

In the end I enjoyed the story.  I didn't LOVE it, but it did hold my attention and it had enough uniqueness to make it stand out. 

For the Guys? Nope. Yes yes some boys would like it, but most of my boys would not be interested.

Final thought:  Not what I expected.
Best stick-with-you image:  Can't say or I'll give something away
Best for readers who:  Like a ghost story with romance and mystery
Best for ages: 12+

Book Review: Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison

Title: Something Deadly Comes This Way (Madison Avery #3)
Author: Kim Harrison
Publisher: Harper

Summary

I'm Madison Avery, in charge of heaven's hit squad . . . and fighting it all the way.

When Madison died the night of her prom, she knew her life would never be the same. Now she has a powerful amulet, a team of rogue angels by her side, and the ability to flash forward into the future to see the shape of destiny. And of course, now she's finally with Josh—a perfect boyfriend who doesn't even mind that she's dead.

But being dead has its disadvantages, too. Madison feels caught between the light and the dark, and between her real life and her timekeeper status. When Madison has the opportunity to get her body back—to be alive again—she faces her most difficult decision yet. If she claims it, she could return to being a normal girl—and have a chance at a real relationship with Josh. But would having the one thing she wants most in the world also mean giving up everything she's worked so hard for?

My Review (could contain spoilers)

I liked this book.  I liked that it was filled with hope - the hope that people can change if we give them the chance.

For those that haven't read this series you need to know that Madison is trying to change the way heaven has done thing for thousands of years! Not an easy feat.  She has succeeded in her plan once, but no one believes it really possible.  She is definitely fighting an up hill batter.  But one worth fighting for.  Heaven is all about saving souls at all cost.  Madison sees a new way to save them, but it involves some risk too.  Thankfully she has some of heaven on her side - Barnabas and Nakita who use to fight each other are now fighting with Madison.

Ok about Madison - I liked her.  How can you not like a girl that wants to save your soul without killing you! She's had a lot shoved upon her, but instead of giving up and just doing what the seraphs want she stands up to them and fights.  I loved that about her.  She carried such hope within herself that I think others could latch into it and go with it. 

Barnabus and Nakita were great as usual.  We get to learn a lot more about Barnabus this time around, and that really does add depth to him.  At least you know more why he does what he does.  And Nakita - she was a lot of fun this time around.  She was also growing and learning more about herself and her cause.  Her whole discussion of having a soul was pretty interesting.  It was also interesting to watch her become almost more human - something from the first book I'd never thought possible.

The plot of the story was pretty simple - save the girl and change her life.  At first I thought the girl they were trying to save, Tammy, couldn't be the only focus but it was.  Of course there are thing mixed in, but her life is what Madison's success or failure hinges on.  The fight for Tammy's life moved the plot along not in action but in thought.  The events that happen in trying to help her present all the questions that Madison needs to answer and all the people she needs to unite.  The plot is much less action based and much more problem based.  Madison, Nakita and Barnabas are hit with problem after problem and how they solve them will either change the ways things have been done or solidify they even more.  That tension was very clear!

One problem - once again I had to remind myself over and over the difference between a dark reaper and a light reaper.  I think I finally got it in the end but I did struggle!!  I think the problem was that I always thought that titles should be reversed.

For the Guys? Maybe.  Not much romance.  If I guy could get into the idea of how is it best to save a soul.

Final thought:  I enjoyed the book.
Best stick-with-you image:  The black wings with Tammy in the hospital
Best for readers who: Don't need constant action
Best for ages: 13+

Book Review: Die For Me by Amy Plum

Title: Die For Me

Author: Amy Plum

Publisher: HarperTeen

Summary

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.
Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent.

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen.
Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind.

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

My Review

Ok let me start by saying that I didn't dislike this book.  That said - I didn't love it.  I wanted to - I really really wanted to.

Why didn't I love it?  I just felt like I had read the story before.  I DON'T like comparing books to Twilight, but I couldn't help it with this book because there were actual scenes and details that reminded me so much of Twilight.  From the "family" that Vincent lives with to the fact he doesn't sleep to when he was born.  It just felt like I had read it before.  Not that the writing was bad - I didn't find that at all.  The story flowed.  The dialogue was fine - not clunky or anything - it wasn't that at all.  It just didn't seem overly original.

The romance?  I had a hard time buying into it.  Vincent and Kate saw each other once, and they were completely "drawn" to each other.  Yes yes this happens a lot in books and usually I can over look it, but this time it seemed even more to come out of nowhere.  This made it real hard for me to feel attached to. 

What did I like?  I loved the setting.  That part was very unique because not many YA books are set in Paris.  I really did like that.  It was neat to see how that played into the story.  I also liked the character of Charlotte.  She seemed the most realistic of all the characters (kind of like Alice in Twilight my fav character LOL! Sorry to keep comparing!!!!).  I also liked the realism in how Kate is responding to the death of her parents.  My heart went out to her in that regard over and over.  I think the author hit her reaction right in that regard.

Who do I think will like it?  My 7th grade girls will LOVE it.  And after all aren't they more the target audience??  Actually I had a couple of girls pick it up before school got out and they really liked it. 

Again, I didn't hate this book.  I think I just had higher hopes for it that weren't reached.  If you love romance books with some action you will love it.

For the Guys?  Nope.  Even with the touch of action they'll still find it to romancey.

Final thought:  Not for me but others will love it.
Best stick-with-you image:  Paris lit up
Best for readers: Who love paranormal romance
Best for ages: 12+

Book Review: Enclave by Ann Aguirre

Title: Enclave

Author: Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Summary

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first she thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

My Review

This book started out with a ton of action - within the first few pages there is blood and branding! I was cringing.  And for the most part that pace keeps up throughout the rest of the book.  From fighting the freaks, to fighting other dangers Fade and Deuce battle and battle.  I started to feel physically tired for them!  I mean within a few days the whole world Deuce has ever known what turned completely upside down, and she is on the run.

Deuce was raised to follow the rules of the enclave (her underground tribe) - to never question them.  She fully believes that the rules are there to help them survivor and live even if it's a meager existence.  She proudly becomes a Huntress, so she can protect those rules and the people in her enclave.  And I guess if I grew up where she did I would feel the same.  They know nothing else - except Fade.  Fade didn't grow up in the Enclave, but he now lives there as a Hunter.  Deuce's unease around Fade is completely understandable knowing what she believes and how he is an "outsider".  As the reader I found it interesting to see how and why this feeling begins to change.  I get very frustrated when a character seems to make these huge leaps and changes in beliefs based on nothing.  Enclave doesn't do that.  You can see and understand Deuce's rationale.  It seems logical and grounded.

The pace of the plot maintains pretty good throughout the story - even as more characters come in.  What helps is the ever constant presencee of the Freaks.  Freaks are a zombie-like creatures, but they don't infect others. There is never the fear of being bit like in zombie books.  The Freaks keep the tension high because you never know if they are going to show up, how many there will be and whether they will be smarter Freaks.  At times when Fade and Deuce should feel safe they quickly learn they aren't.  Very seldom could they completely rest - and as the reader I felt like I couldn't either.  And when the Freaks arrive so does the fear, blood and action. As other fears come and go throughout the book, the fear of the Freaks remains right up until the end. 

A couple of complaints about the book - I know that in most dystopic stories how far into the feature the story is set is kept pretty vague, and they usually doesn't bother me.  But in this book the number of years into the future confused me.  Sometimes it felt like generations, but other times it seemed like it hadn't been that long.  At points this confused me, and I found myself trying to figure that out instead of following the story.  Not a huge problem but not one I encounter much when reading dystopia.

The other was the ending.  It just kind of ended with tons of stuff hanging out there.  Now I know there is going to be another, but it still ended pretty abruptly to me.  I have a ton of questions that I felt could've been answered and still left enough uncertainty open for the next book.  It a way this book felt like just a set up for the rest of the series.

Guy Rating:  Four Thumbs up!  Yes there is a bit of romance, but I honestly think a guy could "ignore" that in favor of the blood, fighting gore and action :)

Final thought:  Lots of action and freaky Freaks
Best stick-with-you image: The smell of the Freaks
Best for readers who: Can handle tension and blood
Best for ages: 13+

Book Review: Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Title: Hourglass
Author: Myra McEntire
Publisher: Egmont USA

Summary

One hour to rewrite the past . . .  For seventeen-year-old Emerson Cole, life is about seeing what isn’t there: swooning Southern Belles; soldiers long forgotten; a haunting jazz trio that vanishes in an instant. Plagued by phantoms since her parents’ death, she just wants the apparitions to stop so she can be normal. She’s tried everything, but the visions keep coming back. 

So when her well-meaning brother brings in a consultant from a secretive organization called the Hourglass, Emerson’s willing to try one last cure. But meeting Michael Weaver may not only change her future, it may change her past. 

Who is this dark, mysterious, sympathetic guy, barely older than Emerson herself, who seems to believe every crazy word she says? Why does an electric charge seem to run through the room whenever he’s around? And why is he so insistent that he needs her help to prevent a death that never should have happened?

My Review
I havent' read a book in a loooooong that hooked me this much.  I found myself doing what I do when I'm really liking the book.  I kept setting it down and repicking it up.  Now that may sound like I don't like it, but really it means I love it.  I do that (I believe) because I want the story to last, and if I kept reading I'd tear through it and be done with it's goodness way too soon!

Why did I enjoy it so much?  It kept me so intrigued.  What was really happening with Emerson? Who was Michael and could I trust him?  What was Hourglass and could it be trusted?? And then as the story went on - I was completely kept on my toes from understanding what Emerson really could do to how would it all turn out!  And even though I had the "paranormal" part it was done in a way that was new and refreshing.  It didn't seem like the same old story just told with new characters.

About those characters: Emerson was great.  Wow did that girl have a lot to deal with! And she keeps thinking she hasn't or that she's crazy.  What she doesn't realize is she's amazingly strong having dealt with everything and still be there kicking and fighting.  Even though she built up a huge wall around herself, she's still caring enough to step up and do what she knows needs to be done in order to help people she's never met.  Over and over her strength screamed through, but in such a realistic way because mixed within that strength was fear and sadness and loneliness.  Without the full package she would not have been as likable.

Michael was great too, but I will admit that he was a bit more one dimensional.  I liked him, but we were kept in the dark more with him, so I found it harder to connect to him.  He was so focused on wanting to do the right thing for the right reasons that sometimes I wanted to kick him and say lighten up!  I will say that by the end of the story he had fleshed out a ton more for me as he let go allowing himself to seem more human.

As for the plot:  Be prepared for tons and tons of twists and turns!  It's one of those books that you never know how much you can trust.  I love that! And I love how all the pieces came together.  The plot and explanation could have easily fallen apart because there were so many pieces - complicated pieces!, but Myra McEntire did a fantastic job bringing the thread together.  I don't want to say much more about the plot for fear of giving anything away.  There are so many tiny things that bring a-ha moments, and I'm afraid I'll ruin some for future readers!  Just be prepared to have what you think turned around on you!

Side note on a favorite minor character:  I loved Kaleb! Loved him! Him personality just jumped off the page and walked around the room.  And trust me he'd be happy to hear that.  I do hope to see more of him in future books.

*********************************

Ok after rereading my review I don't think I was clear enough.  I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK! It has kept me thinking about the plot and the characters after I've finished.  That speaks volumes for me.  I want to know more - I want to go back into the world of the book.  I want to see what happens in the relationship between Emerson and Michael.  I want to see more how Myra McEntire skillfully pulls together a technically difficult plot.  Ok that's says it better :)

Final thought: A great "time" that was a refreshing and an on-your-toes read
Best stick-with-you image:  The description of Kabel
Best for readers who:  Are looking for something new
Best for ages: 13+

Be sure to check out my author interview with Myra McEntire.

Tween Tuesday Book Review: The Grand Plan to Fix Everything

Title: The Grand Plan to Fix Everything
Author: Uma Krishnaswami
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Book Summary

Eleven-year old Dini loves movies—watching them, reading about them, trying to write her own—especially Bollywood movies. But when her mother tells her some big news, it does not at all jive with the script of her life she has in mind. Her family is moving to India…and, not even to Bombay, which is the center of the Bollywood universe and home to Dini’s all-time most favorite star, Dolly. No, Dini is moving to a teeny, tiny village she can’t even find on a map. Swapnagiri. It means Dream Mountain and it only looks like a word that’s hard to pronounce. But to that open-minded person who sounds the name out, one letter at a time, it falls quite handily into place: S-w-a-p-n-a-g-i-r-i. An honest sort of name, with no surprise letters waiting to leap out and ambush the unwary. That doesn’t mean there aren’t surprises in Swapnagiri like mischievous monkeys and a girl who chirps like a bird—and the biggest surprise of all: Dolly.

My Review

I'll be honest - I don't know much about India and Bollywood, so I went into this book a bit clueless as to what to expect.  I was very pleasently suprised at what I found.

The Characters:  The main character is 11 year old Dini (Nandini).   In the very first chapter we learn two things - Dini loves a very famous Bollywood actress, Dolly Singh and she is moving to India for two years.  As this would anyone, it throws her and her best friend Maddie into a spiral.  They only way they have out of it is to focus on the fact that something seems wrong with Dolly since her last movie had no happy songs in it, and that Dini is moving to the same country as Dolly.  So instead of focusing on the fact she is moving, her and Maddie focus on how to "fix" Dolly.

Dini seemed liked any other 11 year old I know who is completely obsessed with a certain actor/actress or singer.  She knows everything about Dolly, about her movies and about her life.  I know girls that could tell me everything about whoever famous they "love".  It's through this obsession that Dini's personality comes through.  She's determined and refuses to acknowledge that, even with her plan to fix whatever is wrong with Dolly, it may not happen.  All she sees is what she can do - yes getting frustrated at times, but always finding a way around it.  I don't think, if I was 11 like her, if I would've felt as confident in my ability to carry out my plan!

The Plot:  The interesting thing about how this story is written is that it's not just from Dini's view point.  It jumps around to several key players in the story including a very likable mail carrier.  At first I found this a bit confusing, but as the story progressed I had learned all the characters, so the jumping around was fine.  And by that time I was super curious how all these pieces were going to come together.  It was pretty cool to see how Uma Krishnaswami was able to take all those think story threads and bring them together to a very satisfying ending.  Sometime when you have that many pieces floating around, something gets left hanging.  I didn't feel that happened in this story at all.  How the mail carrier's story played out was really sweet to me.

I found this to be a sweet story filled with kismet.  Here's how Lal (the mail carrier) talks about what kismet is.

There is is again, that thing that most people would call coincidence.  Lal prefers to think of it as kismet.  Some people would say kismet means fate but really it's a far more beautiful idea - it is the idea that in spite of all the obstacles, some things are meant to be. (pg 118-9)

To me that was really what this story was about - that basic hope that things that are meant to be will work out in the end.

Final thought:  Filled with sweetness, color, sound and yes kismet
Best stick-with-you image:  The monkeys
Best for readers who: like a story where lots of pieces come together
Best for ages: 10-13

Be sure to come back tomorrow when I interview the author!

Tween Tuesday was started by The Green Bean Teen Queen.

Book Review: The Midnight Gate by Helen Stringer

Title: The Midnight Gate
Author: Helen Stringer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Book Summary

It’s been two months since Belladonna Johnson discovered she was the Spellbinder, and she’s full of questions about her powers. When a ghost finds Belladonna and her classmate, Steve, and gives them a mysterious map, the friends don’t know if they should be looking for or hiding from the one person who holds the answers to Belladonna’s powers: the Queen of the Abyss. Throw into the mix that Belladonna’s parents, who are ghosts, have disappeared and that her brand-new and maybe even sinister foster family seems to know more than they’ll let on, and you have a sequel made of high adventure and intrigue, seasoned with affecting characters and topped with a dollop of wit.

My Review
I love when I enjoy a sequel more than the first book.  That happened with The Midnight Gate!  Where has Spellbinder seem to have more action and a faster pace, The Midnight Gate was slower but more complex and brain twisting (yes brain twisting!)

The Characters:  I really enjoy Belladonna.  Here's a girl that's picked on, left out and basically a loner.  She has just "saved the world", and now must slip back into her normal life - well as normal as seeing the ghosts of your dead parents can be! What a tough place to be. Here she's suppose to be this amazing person capable of things others aren't, but she can't even stop the class bully from picking on her.  It just makes me like her that much more.  Then we things start to really unravel and everything she did get support from is gone you get to see her start to stand on her own two feet better.  When I think back to how she was at the start of Spellbinder until the end of this book it's amazing to see how much stronger she has become. There are still times when her youth blinds her to things that me, as an adult, could see happening.  Realistic but at time a bit frustrating because I just wanted to see what I saw!

Steve - her Paladin (protector) is a bit frustrating in this book.  He definitely fulfilled his role as the Paladin, but he was struggling with changes in his own life, and the way he was dealing with it made him a little less likable.  As the story went along I grew to like him better again because he did redeem himself over and over, but it was frustrating how much he seemed to blame Belladonna.  It wasn't her fault I wanted to yell at him! He is very brave and very smart and at times very very foolish! Although I do know a lot of twelve year boys and that is pretty typical.  I am very curious to see how his character will continue to play out and mature.

The Plot:  Like I said, this story moved slower than Spellbinder, but that allowed it to be more complex.  There were tons of twists and turns with a healthy dose action mixed in especially at the end.  Once I got hooked into the mystery of the map that Belladonna and Steve had been given plus the whole mistrust of the family Belladonna has to live with, I couldn't put the book down.  The plot pulled me along - not like a raging storm, but like a steady strong current.  And just when I thought it was slowly something new would jump in and disturb everything!

I will say that sometimes the plot lost me with the description of who was doing what - especially when it came to the Shadow People that Belladonna was seeing.  I had to reread a bit to make sure I got it. 

Final thought:  Nice solid sequel
Best stick-with-you image: The shadow people while on the swing
Best for readers who: Like to watch a mystery slowly begin to unravel
Best for ages: 11+

Book Review: Crepe Makers' Bond by Julie Crabtree

Title: Crepe Makers' Bond
Author: Julie Crabtree

Book Summary

Ariel is the head chef in her family kitchen. Cucumber salads, fettuccine carbonara, fish tacos, and peanut butter pie are just a few of the dishes she crafts when she’s feeling frustrated by the world. And it’s turning into a frustrating year. Ariel, Nicki, and Mattie have been inseparable friends since they were little kids, but now Mattie’s mom has decided to move away. It’s the girls’ last year in middle school, and they can’t fathom being separated. The friends concoct a plan that will keep Mattie in the Bay area — she’ll move in with Ariel and her family. But before you can say "bff," the party is over. Everything Mattie does gets on Ariel’s nerves, and it’s not long before the girls are avoiding each other. This was supposed to be their best year ever, but some painful lessons are threatening to tear their friendship apart. Can the girls scramble to make things right before the bond crumbles?

My Review
How many times when you were in middle school did you wish you lived with your best friend? Or how many of us had best friends move away? I think many many of us could raise our hand to both those questions.  Because of that, this is a book that tons of girls will be able to relate to.

The Characters:  Ariel is a pretty typical 8th grader.  She's easily embarrassed, loves her family yet at points wants nothing to do with them and her friends are the most important thing to her.  I liked Ariel, and I think most girls will be able to relate to her a lot.  When she finds out her best friend is moving she reacts the way I've watched countless girls I teach react - including the plan to have M (her best friend) move in with her.  I liked, too, her love of cooking and how she used it to de-stress.  I think most girls have something they do when they are feeling stressed out, so it was neat to see how she used that.  The only bad part about her cooking - it made me hungry!!!

As an adult I did find Ariel a bit self-centered at times.  She talked a lot about how she wanted everything in her life to be and what her friends and family were to do to fit into her plan.  That is pretty typical of this age group, but as an adult reader I did want to remind her a few times it wasn't all about her!  I did like the growth she had at the end of the book though.  She definitely stepped out of herself and focused solely on the needs of M and her family.  It endured her more to me.

As for her two friends M (there is an explanation as to why just M!) and Nicki - they too were pretty typical 8th graders.  Full of drama, confusion, emotions and their lives.  In the end I think I liked M more than Ariel.  She grew up a whole lot faster.  I may have to read Discovering Pig Magic to hear more about her story.

The Plot:  The plot centers around what happens when two best friends end up living together.  As an adult, I could've told them it wouldn't go as expected, but 8th graders need to learn everything for themselves! I liked how the tension builds between the friends.  It was very realistic, and at points made me feel their discomfort.  The side story with Nicki was interesting, and it added to tension nicely too.  Because of Nicki's mysterious behavior, Ariel found she didn't have someone to turn to when things weren't going well.  It made her even more confused and uncertain.  She had to struggle more, so it made the outcome that more satisfying.  In the end, M and Ariel's stories wrapped up well.  I was definitely satisfied with how it all turned out.  I am, however, curious about what will happen with Nicki, and I wonder if there will be a book about her.......

Final Thought: Definitely a story that middle grade girls will able to relate to - and hopefully learn from!
Best stick-with-you image: All the food!
Best for readers who: Are girls - especially girls that have had a friend move away
Best for ages: 11+

Do miss the interview I did with Julie Crabtree.  You can go HERE to read it!

Book Review: Cinderella Ninja Warrior

Title: Cinderella Ninja Warrior

Author: Maureen McGowan

Book Summary

In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

My Review
I've been seeing a ton of these books where a classic tale is changed in some way as well as a lot of retelling of fairy tales. Cinderella is probably my favorite Disney "princess" story, so I was pretty interested in this one.  I'm glad I got to read it!

Ok we all know the story of Cinderella and the argument about how she needs "saving" from the prince.  Well this is a Cinderella that needs saving, but she's far from helpless.  I so love the fact that this Cinderella is learning magic and ninja skills.  Given the chance she would be able to fight back.  Unfortunately for her this story still contains the evil step mother and bossy step sisters.  And to make matters worse - this step mother knows magic.  She uses that magic to keep Cinderella locked in the house.

The Characters:  Loved Cinderella.  She was just fun.  I could see hanging out with her and having a good time.  She never gave up and jumped into situations that scare her without backing out.  She wasn't completely confident, but she refused to give up.  I loved how she entered the magic competition even though she didn't know much magic and if her step mother saw her it could be the end of any chance of escape.  It's cheesy but you know the saying "when life gives you lemons make lemonade"?  Well Cinderella did that and more.  Gotta like the kick butt ninja she was becoming!

Ty, the love interest, seemed nice and sweet, but he did lack the depth that Cinderella had.  He was necessary to carry out the Cinderella story, and I really liked that he wasn't there as the only way to save Cinderella.  It was clearly more of a partnership with pure support.

The step mother and sisters were pretty stereotypical but that was to be expected since that's the role they need to play in the story.  I did like that they weren't so over exaggerated to the point of being too much.  They were annoying, mean, cruel and horrible but not too much so.

The plot:  If you don't know this is a "pick your own ending" book.  I haven't read on in years, and I found it really fun.  I've been reading a lot of books lately where I didn't like some of the choices that the main character made, so it was refreshing to be the one making the choices!  The plot had enough twists and surprises to keep things interesting which was great considering the Cinderella story is one we all know.  I did have a few things figured out before they were revealed, but also some things surprised me.  The plot pulls you along - well it did me because I was excited to get to the next choice!  I liked how it all ended and was amazed at how all the different paths came together.

I do have to comment briefly on the love story.  We all know that Cinderella is the story of a girl finding her prince.  This one is no different even though this Cinderella could kick most princesses' butts.  The love story was sweet boarding on cheesy, but it feet the story.  I had a lot of "awwwww" moments, and I think we can all use those.

Final Thought:  Nice ninja action mixed with magic and love. 
Best stick-with-you image: Ok I'm a sucker for pretty gowns so the description of a gown she wore!
Best for readers who: Like choices, likes a twist on the familiar and likes fun stories
Best for ages: 11+

Now stay tuned tomorrow for a great guest post by the author and a giveaway!!!

Friday is For the Guys Book Review: Scrawl by Mark Shulman

On Fridays I like to focus on books that would be good for boys.  Not that girls wouldn't enjoy these books, but they are definitely written more for boys.

 

Today I have a book review of:

Scrawl by Mark Shulman

Book Summary

Tod Munn is a bully. He's tough, but times are even tougher. The wimps have stopped coughing up their lunch money. The administration is cracking down. Then to make things worse, Tod and his friends get busted doing something bad. Something really bad.

 

Lucky Tod must spend his daily detention in a hot, empty room with Mrs. Woodrow, a no-nonsense guidance counselor. He doesn't know why he's there, but she does. Tod's punishment: to scrawl his story in a beat-up notebook. He can be painfully funny and he can be brutally honest. But can Mrs. Woodrow help Tod stop playing the bad guy before he actually turns into one . . . for real?

 

Read Tod's notebook for yourself.

My Review
I'm always amazed by a book that has as strong clear voice - one that seems to come off the page and almost walk around the room as a real person.  I found that voice in Scrawl. It was the strength of that voice that pulled me through the rest of the story.

The characters:  The main character Tod is a bully.  There is no way around that.  He takes money from others, scares them - all the traditional stuff.  It would've been really easy to dislike him, but because the book is written from his perspective you understand the why he is doing some of what he does.  It doesn't excuse what he does, but at least you understand and can sympathize some (and I believe Tod would hate me saying I had "sympathy" for him!).  What comes through most for Tod is that deep down you know he's got so much that could be going for him.  He's unbelievably smart.  He can figure out the "game" that people are playing and play right along or pull it right out from them.  It was interesting, as a teacher, to see what he had to say about teachers and how they treat kids.  Tod's thoughts did make me step back and look at my own thoughts. 

The other interesting part about Tod was, that even though he was a bully, he still did these things that were sooooo non-bullyish, and he cared about things that people would never in a million years think he would care about.  His personality was not the stereotypical bully personality all the way through.  The cool part - he knew that and sometimes he'd show it just to throw people off - to remind them that the world isn't always how they think it is.

The Plot:  Much of what put Tod in detention was unclear at the first.  This is mainly because Tod is writing the story, so he doesn't feel the need to explain the whole thing.  I had to piece things together even at the end when more was told.  I did have a bit of a problem following the story some because I got confused as to whether something happened in the past or just now. 

The story is much more character driven than plot driven, so although you do see Tod conflicted with what to do I felt it was much more focused on who Tod was and the question of who he was going to be.  Every conflict in the story seemed to push that question to the front.  What I liked about this and the plot over all was that it had a clear wrapped up ending for the current situation but not for Tod's life over-all.  It didn't end like a Disney movie.  It ended in reality, and that I liked.

One side note about the ending - the very end there is a whole thing about how something is worded. I had to read it several times to get it exactly.  I do worry that some readers (younger ones) might not get that at all and then miss some of the point of the story.

Final thought:  Tod's voice was so strong it was like I was listening to him read his notebook!
Best stick-with-you image:  The end of the play
Best for readers who:  Like stories that are more about a character and less about a story
Best for ages: 13+
Other books or authors that are similar: Walter Dean Myers

Two Team Owl Double Review: Bitter Melon and Revolution

Today I have to very mini reviews from one of my biggest readers.

First up:

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow

Book Summary
Frances, a Chinese-American student at an academically competitive school in San Francisco, has always had it drilled into her to be obedient to her mother and to be a straight-A student so that she can go to Med school. But is being a doctor what she wants? It has never even occurred to Frances to question her own feelings and desires until she accidentally winds up in speech class and finds herself with a hidden talent. Does she dare to challenge the mother who has sacrificed everything for her? Set in the 1980s.

Team Owl Review
This book is really an amazing book with an amazing plot.  The main character in Bitter Melon is Frances (that's her American name, her real Chinese name is Fei Ting), and her whole life she had been expected to go to a medical school to be a doctor, because that's what her mother wants her to do. She hadn't really challenged that until she ends up in a speech class instead of a calculus class, and discovers her love and talent in speech. This book is really about Frances finding the power and courage in herself to make her own decisions about what she wants to do with her life, and her many struggles along the way.

Best for ages 12/13+

My note:  I tried to read this one and had to stop after about the first 75 pages.  I just couldn't get into, but a think a teenage girl would relate so well to the main character's struggle with her mom.  As a mom I had a completely different perceptive.

Next Up

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

Book Summary

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Team Owl Review

My note first! - I handed this book to this particular student to read because I knew she wouldn't be intimidated by the size.  (It's quite long)  She jumped in.  I asked her a few days later how it was going, and she wasn't so sure.  She was a bit confused.  Like the next day she came in and said it just go sooooooooo much better, and she was really liking it now.  The funny things is - well read her review and you'll see.

What she wrote when considering a review 
I read Revolution and I was going to do a book review for it, but I could not figure out what to say! I loved/liked the book but the book itself is kind of...confusing??? I don't know but it sure made it hard to try to come up with a review! But to basically sum it up, the first few pages or 1 chapter are 100% confusing, but once you get past that, she pretty much lays off the big words, and it gets WAY good. Although she throws a twist in at the end that I wasn't sure I liked that much, but I think that I grew to liking it a little better as the end came near. But the book itself is a little thicker...but once you get into the story, the pages go by fast. Oh and I l<3ve the cover!

Review and Author Interview: Halloween Kentucky Style

Today The O.W.L. is excited to welcome Charles Suddeth author of the very fun tween book

Halloween Kentucky Style.

First let me tell you a bit about the book and what I thought of it.

From Goodreads
For Halloween 1959, Mike and Timmy try to trick their cousins, Alice and Rose. The trick is on them when a homeless man and their nine-year-old neighbor team up to give them a Halloween scare that they will never forget.

My Review
I remember growing up heading out on Halloween planning on scaring some people.  I lived in a very (VERY) small town, so we'd run around all evening scaring people, hiding from others and just genuinely having fun.  This book reminded me of that time so much!

What I really liked were the voices of the main characters.  Sometimes I read a tween book, and the way the young character talk is so completely off.  I didn't find that at all here.  Although set in 1959 is still has the true ring of young boys and girls.  I could just see these kids carrying out their plans and reacting to what ended up happening. My favorite line that showed how perfectly drawn these kids were was, "Mike was excited.  This was going to be so much fun, if nothing went wrong.  And what could go wrong?" (pg 30).  That just sets up the characters and the events that unfold.  Love it!

Final thought: Very cute book about something we all love - pulling a prank on others.
Best stick with you image:  Can't say - too much of a spoiler
Best for readers who: Love Halloween.
Best for ages: 8-11

INTERVIEW
I was lucky enough to have Charles Suddeth answer a few questions about his writing and life.

Welcome to The O.W.L.

1. For your most current book - what part/character/event are you most excited/proud about?
        When you write a story and it clicks it is a really wonderful feeling. I liked the story and my friends liked it, but we were all prejudiced. However, an editor at Random House wanted it. The acquisition committee turned it down because it was seasonal, but they would have just sold it for one Halloween. A second publisher offered me a contract, but they weren’t going to promote it right, so I didn’t sign it. Diversion Press offered me a contract. I took it because I found out that they would have it in print for several Halloweens.

2. Tell about your writing process.　 How long did it take you to write your current book from idea to finish?　 Please tell about revision is you can!       I’m old fashioned, so I wrote the rough draft on paper. I can be more creative with pen and paper. It took about two years for the book, mostly for editing and the many revisions. I can understand why you’re interested in revision. I think most writers either hate it or they’re afraid of it—or both. Once you get to know revision, it can be a lot of fun. First, you have to be just as creative with it as you are the rough draft. Don’t be afraid to throw out paragraphs or even chapters or at least rewrite them. Always print out your manuscript and edit on paper. It will let you see your mistakes and/or weak sentences. And read it aloud, even if you’re alone, especially dialogue. Again, you can often hear problems that you couldn’t read. Find someone who can give you good advice and let them read it.

3. Is the story and/or characters based on anything/anyone in your real life?
      Some of the events are loosely based on things that happened to me or people I knew. Determining where the characters came from is more difficult. Although I didn’t specifically base them on anyone, I’m sure that subconsciously I must have.

4. How much say did you have in the cover of this book?　 What is the process for creating a cover (my students are always curious about this!)
     I was asked for my opinion about the cover, but I have a small publisher. I told the editor what I wanted and she accommodated me. Large publishers don’t often involve the writer in the cover at all. They even change the title to meet their marketing needs. This is the computer age, so I was told that my cover was photo shopped. Even the printers get digital files, so I have copy that was sent to the printer. It has both covers and the dimensions in fractions of an inch along the margins for the printer.

5. What kind of student were you?　 Was English your favorite subject in school and did you always write?
      I was usually a good student, but honestly, not always if I didn’t like my teacher. I didn’t have favorite subjects when I was in school, except I didn’t care much for social studies. My sixth-grade teacher had me write a short story, and I have never stopped writing since. An English teacher in high school helped me appreciate and write poetry. I still write poetry, but just for fun.

6. And because it's the owl my standard question always is: WHOOO do you admire when it comes to writing? Whoooo are your favorite authors now and when you were growing up?
     There are so many wonderful writers that it’s hard to narrow down. Mark Twain quickly comes to mind. He not only used his imagination and came up with fantastic stories, but he was conscious of his writing craft. So his work has survived the test of time. When I was in school I liked to read James Fennimore Cooper and Edgar Rice Burroughs, because their stories were great too. Unfortunately they didn’t pay attention to their writing, so their books have gone out of style and they sound clunky. Some of my favorite authors today: JK Rowling because her stories are believable fantasies and she has made readers out of countless kids. Charlaine Harris writes a series of books about Sookie, a young woman fighting vampires. Although they’re too extreme for those under eighteen, Sookie has a tongue-in-cheek attitude that reminds me of young adult books. Another writer I like is Mo Willems. He writes a picture book series about a pigeon, but he drags the reader/listener into the story. When I was younger I liked John Steinbeck, because he was such a marvelous storyteller. Another one I liked was A. A. Milne and his Winnie the Pooh, because of his absolute whimsy. And of course, Tolkien who created a magical world like no other. Instead of super heroes, Tolkien’s tales involved little people doing super things.

Thank you to Charles Suddeth for stopping by!

Review: Broomsticks by Sean McHugh and Katie McHugh Parker

Title:  Broomsticks

Author:  Sean McHugh (also illustrator) and Katie McHugh Parker

From Goodreads
Pocky McGuire has no idea why she is different. No one else in her family can levitate books or freeze and angry dog in his tracks. She felt alone in the world until one day she met a strange boy with a goatee. Unlike Pocky, Stamp had no doubt who he was. He was raised by witches and he was a witch. Upon meeting Stamp, Pocky hoped to befriend her magical counterpart and learn a few tricks of the trade. Stamp, however, wanted no part of anything or anyone mortal, including Pocky. Will it take magic to bring these two kindred spirits together?

My Review
What we need more of are cute, fun, refreshing books.  Broomsticks is one of those books.

The Characters:  Pocky is cool.  She's that kind of friend that everyone needs and the kid of girl we all wish our kids would become.  I like that even as spunky (yes I said spunky) as she is - she's also uncertain.  It kept her real.  There really is nothing worse than a character that seems like they have all the answers all the time - I teach kids and no kid I know is like that.  Even the ones that want to be!  Pocky's cast of friends were fun and pretty typical.  Maggie was fun - and a great balance to Pocky.  As far as Stamp - the boy witch - I did have to get use to him a bit.  He was so kind of snotty and rude, such a sharp contrast to Pocky, that he had to grow on me quit a bit.  In the end I did like him better, and I do think that was intended.

The Plot:  The plot of the story was pretty typical - girl who is trying to figure out her life, her friends and deal with the "cool" kids.  As typical as it is, it completely works for the age group it's written for.  I can see the young tween set eating up the conflict that Pocky has between her friends and the "other group".  It's a conflict that age group can relate to, so it would ring really true to them.  Ok, ok so they couldn't relate to the whole "I'm a witch" thing - but that Pocky's conflict with that was done well enough to seem relatable. 

I also liked how the whole story with Ricky went down.  It had consequences, but you could tell that Pocky and Maggie were going to handle it in a great way as they continue on.  I liked that they didn't fall into the trap of paybacks!  For the age group reading it, that would be a great model and message for them to see.

Over - all a super fun book that young tween girls will enjoy.  I could see lots of stories come out of the adventures Pocky finds herself in. 

Final thought:  Paranormal conflict - realistic and fun story
Best stick-with-you image:  Pocky freezing time
Best for readers who: Are young tween girls
Best for ages: 8-10

Book Review: Twelfth Grade Kills

Title: Twelfth Grade Kills (Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #5)
Author: Heather Brewer

From Goodreads
It all comes down to this.

Vlad’s running out of time. The Elysian Council has given him weeks to live, and that’s if the Slayer Society doesn’t kill him – along with all the citizens of Bathory – first. Then there’s the issue of Vlad’s father, who may or may not still be alive after all these years, and oh yeah, that tiny little detail in the Pravus prophecy about Vlad enslaving Vampirekind and the human race. So much for college applications.

In this epic finale to Heather Brewer’s heart-stopping Chronicles of Vladimir Tod, dark secrets will be revealed, old friends will become enemies, and warm blood will run cold. Just be careful it isn’t yours.


My Review (CAUTION SPOILERS FROM PREVIOUS BOOKS)
I adore this series I really truly do.  It has been so fun watching Vlad grow up and become who he was always intended to be.

The Characters:  Ok I love Vlad - I have from the first book.  He was so easy to love because he wasn't this perfect, self confident boy.  Instead he struggled a lot with everything - from being picked on to dealing with being a vampire.  It was great to see, in this last book, how confident he had become.  He was so much more sure of who is was and what he needed to do.  After 5 books with him he still continued to grow.  I also liked, though, how Vlad still needed to grapple with things happening.  Questioning who and what he should believe, but this time he was much more logical in his thoughts and much more willing to act on them. 

All the minor characters were just as strong as always - from Henry and Joss to Snow and Meredeth.  It was great to see Joss back and how his character develops in the book.  There was so much about him I learned.  Like Vlad he definitely grew throughout the course of the books.  I can't wait to read the books Heather Brewer are writing about him.  It will be neat to learn even more about him. 

And then Snow.  Dear sweet Snow.  Beyond Vlad, she is my favorite character in this series, and I was very please to see how her story developed.  I had worried she would end up fading out of the books, but she was there in a very strong way!

The Plot:  There was a lot going on in this book.  From the question of Vlad's dad, to the question about Vlad being the Pravus or not and saving all humankind!  So many many things!  Thankfully they were all given fair play and nothing seemed short changed.  The questions I needed answered were answered in due time (ok ok so I did get impatient, but that's me!) And boy oh boy was it filled with some awesome twists and turns.  I was never bored because I learned soon on that I couldn't trust anything because it could be pulled out from under me at any time.  What a great way to hold my interest.  This led all the way to a very dramatic final scene where all the answers (well most) are given.  Breath-holding and heart pound right until Vlad's last act.  Well done!

Final thought:  I'll miss you Vlad, but I'm happy with how it all ended.
Best stick-with-you image:  Graduation
Best for readers who: like vampires that don't sparkle
Best for ages: 12+