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The concept of Crossed Out was definitely one that caught my eye. Stephanie's ability to help spirits cross over to the other side was fascinating enough alone, but the fact that she didn't really want this ability added that edge for me. From the very first page I watched as Stephanie tackled this “gift” of hers. I loved how Kim Baccellia pointed out Stephanie's very real feelings. Who wouldn't feel a bit confused and lost if you were constantly contacted by spirits?
Although I really adored Stephanie's character, I felt like there wasn't enough of an opportunity to get to know her very well in this story. Her development felt very rushed, and in fact by the time that I realized what was going on in her life I wasn't that invested in her struggle. I think Kim Baccellia did a great job of building Stephanie up as a high schooler and as a daughter, but I would have liked to see more attention paid to what she was on the inside. I like to be invested deeply in my characters so that I can support their struggles.
In the same respect, I felt like the overall story line was a bit rushed. There are a few key scenes in the book that are rushed through, and then mentioned later as important events. For one of these I was so confused that I had to go back and read the entire chapter before. I think there is a lot of promise in this story, and in this series, but that it just needs a little more polish. I for one am quite intrigued by Stephanie and her new found friend's abilities! I'd be on board to see what happens to them next.
Overall I think that Kim wrote a very original feeling and solid story, it just needs a bit more attention to detail. As I said I loved the concept and truthfully there is a lot to appreciate if you give it a read! I'll be looking out for more writing by Kim Baccellia and hope to see Stephanie back in another installment.
Ah Fantasy. Once I read this genre like there was no tomorrow. Devouring books about dragons, mages, wizards, witches and the like. At some point, that I can't seem to remember happening, I fell out of love with these books and moved on to more realistic fiction. I've been wanting to get back into the world I left behind though, so I jumped at the chance to review Charles Hall's The Witches of Endylmyr. I sat down, cracked open the book and was suddenly lost to the world for three hours. Yes, that's how good this book was.
For those of you out there who are Fantasy fans like me, you know that the key to a good book in this genre is world building. The characters can be perfection, the action can flow beautifully, but without that very special and new world built for the reader there is no story. I am always impressed when authors can build a world so perfectly, without breaking any of their own rules, and bring it to life for the Fantasy reader. That being said, I applaud Charles Hall for his world of Endylmyr. From rock, to tree, to animal, his world shines off the pages with vivid clarity. Close your eyes, and you can see it there before you. I was so amazed! Even before I fell in love with the cast of characters, I was already in love with the land in which they resided.
Once again, speaking to those who frequent this genre, you know that these books often have a copious amount of characters within them. It is part of the world building (lineage and all that), and therefore also an essential piece of drawing the reader in. Hall's characters are well developed and interesting, from the hero to the most supporting character! He brings his characters to life, each with their own personalities. It will likely surprise you how easily you slip into their world and begin to remember each of them. It is as if you are standing there with them as they journey!
Action abounds in this story, and it is a very fast-paced read. Hall weaves an epic fantasy that caught me in its web and drew me in until the very last page. Thank you to Outskirts Press for leading me to this gem, and I cannot wait for the next installment!
To say that I highly recommend this book is a given. Those of you out there who have a love of Fantasy, please pick this up. You are in for a treat.
Human Blend was one of those books that caught my attention early on. Laney, or Julie as she is known as most of the book, was an endearing character who chose to use her special abilities for good. On the run from men who want to use her abilities for their own devices. When I first met Laney I was drawn in by her sweet disposition, and the way she seemed to mesh so quickly with everything around her. Although her past was dark, she was determined to start anew.
The unfortunate part about Laney's personality though, is that she is torn. There is the girl who wants to start anew and let people into her life, and then the girl who remembers her dark past and is afraid to trust. I was a little thrown off sometimes at how often these two parts of the same character seemed to switch back and forth. For instance Laney seems to have absolutely no issue with allowing Austin into her life and falling almost instantly for him. However she also doesn't seem to want to share herself with them. I don't know, it all seemed a bit too convenient to me how they met and fell for one another so fast.
In fact, people seem to flit in and out of Laney's life with the greatest of ease in this book. You know in a movie when there is a window conveniently nearby as soon as the actor needs one? That is Laney's life. As soon as she needs someone to be there, they happen to appear. Just when I was reading and confused as to what exactly was going on in her life, someone appeared to explain it to me. It's not that I wasn't intrigued by the way that Pescatore implemented Laney's gift, I was. The author shares just enough information to keep you reading, and then lets on as to just what the characters are towards the middle. It was a nice way to keep me reading. I just felt that I never really got to know Laney fully because she was constantly being overshadowed by the other characters and their abilities.
My other issue with this book was simply the typos. I realize that this is a self published book, but it was extremely distracting to find those. As a person who edits papers as a job, they popped off the page at me and made it hard for me to read on. Just as I was immersed in Laney's world and starting to feel a part of the story I'd notice a typo, or a massive change in the tense of the sentence, and be pulled right back out. I suppose that is a testament as to why editors are so very important.
I'll end here. The fact remains that I did enjoy Human Blend in terms of the premise and the abilities that are shared with the reader. However the romance aspect and the typos made it difficult for me to fully get into. I think with a little more polishing, Lori Pescatore's book has the opportunity to become a real gem. If you can look past the surface you'll find yourself immersed in Laney's world, and it's not a bad place to be.
Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country picked up exactly where the first book left off, but this time the story focuses more on Zan's brother, Dael. This made me extremely happy, since my what I missed in the last book was getting to know more about the other characters. Again I must say I was impressed at how quickly the story grabs your attention. The death of Dael's wife causes him so much grief, that he retreats deeper into himself and becomes a shadow. All he dreams of now, is vengeance.
The huge divide between Zan and Dael is what really drives this story forward. Although they are working towards the same goal at times, ultimately they come at it with two entirely different points of view. As always, Zan is kind and resourceful. However now he must deal with a torn heart. His brother Dael has become a vengeful person, caring more about his vendetta than his tribe. Now Zan faces the choice between doing what is write for his tribe as a whole, or choosing to side with the brother he still feels a deep love for.
In this particular story, the tribe follows Zan and Dael to a gorgeous new part of the land, where food and water are plenty. I was extremely impressed at the vivid description of this “beautiful country”, since it stood out so well against the arid landscape the tribe had called home before. It was also very refreshing that Zan had an understanding of how difficult it would be for all of his people to get to this new land. I noticed in the first book that Zan never had a problem going back and forth, but I wrote it off to the fact that he was young. Seeing his tribe endure real hardship on their move brought me back to the reality of having to trek such a far distance on foot. Again, the perfect way to further immerse you in the story.
As I mentioned above, Zan-Gah and the Beautiful Country is not only another beautifully woven story, but it gave me everything that I was missing in the first book. This book once again moves at the perfect pace, always allowing you just enough to keep you completely immersed in this prehistoric landscape. Allan Richard Shickman has created a unique and intriguing world that I enjoyed so very much. I sincerely hope there is a third book very soon! I'd love to see what happens to Dael after he journeys out alone.
Let me premise with the fact that I once was a hardcore fantasy book follower. My shelves were filled with Tor books and I had mastered the art of remembering the names, lineages and personalities of multiple characters. Yes my friends, reading a fantasy book is like stepping into a brand new world. You start by feeling your way around to see if you can get acclimated, but once you do you're hooked. I missed that. So I was excited to read Bloodmaiden as soon as I opened it!
The book opens with a suspenseful first chapter, drawing you in almost instantly. We are introduced to Crislin, the new Qelda of Tynan, and her new husband. What follows is a gorgeous romp through beautiful dynasties, roving countrysides and an all around vividly painted world. My absolute favorite part of stories like these is falling in love with the world that is created within. Christine Schulze does a fabulous job of providing enough description to paint a mental picture for the reader, while still allowing them to add in certain details on their own. It was fantastic!
Characters. Characters are an extremely important part of any fantasy story. I think that is why I ended up with such an affinity for strong characters at all. It fuels my reading. I can happily say that the characters in Bloodmaiden, all the way down to the smallest supporting one, were excellently written and completely intriguing. I was hooked into the story with the setting, and brought further into it by the character development. My one qualm with the characters, however, was the lack of conversation between Crislin and her husband. Although I feel like it may have taken away from the story somehow, I would have liked to see them interact more. I felt their love, but part of me wanted to see it as well.
As for the story itself, my one difficulty while reading was the quick pace at which the story moves. It isn't that the story isn't engrossing. It is in fact so engrossing that I was a little thrown off by how quickly things were happening. By the time I would figure out exactly what the important events in the chapter were and how they tied into what I had previously read, a new plot twist was thrown at me. I'll admit that it definitely kept the story fresh! It kept me at the edge of my seat for sure. However I would have liked a little more time to slowly revel in the beauty of the world and the words on the page.
Overall Bloodmaiden is a very solid and well-written story! I haven't even begun to delve into the delicious dragon-fueled dynasties, or any of the other epic parts of the storyline. I'll leave that up to you to discover as you dive into this beautifully written book. I happily recommend this book to all fantasy lovers out there! Enjoy!
When it comes to World War II, there is not shortage of books on the subject. Although many of them are historical accounts, there are of course those that are more historical fiction. When I find books like this, I generally feel the need to read them. The real facts are hard to deal with, but when they are told through a fictional family or singular character, it makes it a little easier for me to stomach. With all the atrocities that were committed during this time there is no end to the fodder for stories. When I saw Pocket of Guilt I knew it would be one that I would read.
What sets this book apart from most others that I've read is that it deals with the plight of the average German citizen that lived during this time. It is often ignored that they too were affected quite horrendously. There were food shortages that led to starvation, abuse, and the constant need to guard what you said for fear that you would be pulled in for treason. It is from this average citizen point of view that this book is told, and I'll admit that I was extremely intrigued by that fact. The environment that Dora Lee Thompson recreates for the reader is terrifying and interesting at the same time.
The part of this book that struck me most was that it deals with the trials of teenagers during this time, specifically LDS teens. The reader follows them through their daily lives, watching as they are expected to conform to the brutality of the time. They find themselves unable to survive without being expected to commit criminal acts, and it tears them up inside. I was really impressed by this book mainly because it is told through the eyes of these teens. Although I was already originally interested by the simple fact it dealt with the common people, seeing this dangerous time through the eyes of teens was fascinating.
Overall Pocket of Guilt was a fascinating and well-written read. My one qualm was that the characters I was following were a little underdeveloped. Those who follow my blog know that character development is extremely important to me in a book. I was always hoping to learn a little bit more about them as I read. Still, that was really the only thing that I saw while reading. The rest was all just fascination. I do warn that this book is not a light-hearted read by any means, but it is well worth the time.
After reading Anyone Can Die, I definitely see why people would have given James LePore's first novel so many rave reviews. He definitely has a way with words and the ability to create very vivid and realistic characters. The one thing that bothered me while reading this particular set of short stories was that I didn't know who these characters were. If I had known that this was a companion novel initially, I probably would have gone and grabbed A World I Never Made to read first.
Written in what I would consider to be vignettes, LePore delves further into the lives of each of the characters that he created in his first novel. I must say that despite not having met these characters before, he does provide enough background about them to let a new reader's interest become peaked. From what I've read in the reviews of others, these stories give a nice addition to the lives of Pat, Megan and Max from the previous story. My one gripe with Megan's story especially was that there wasn't any distinct ending to her story. I felt a little lost at this point anyway, so I really wanted her story to wrap up nicely. Max's story on the other hand I really did love.
Really the only reason that I rated Anyone Can Die at a lower level was simply because I felt like I didn't get to dive deeply enough into the characters and their development. The stories themselves were well written and interesting on their own, but picking up any story without previously being introduced to the characters within is tough. I do honestly look forward to going and reading James LePore's first novel! After reading this, I am eager for more of his fantastic writing.
Zack and Matt are brothers, abandoned by their parents at a very young age. Matt possesses supernatural powers, the breadth of which he isn't even sure of yet, and it is up to his older brother Zack to protect him from those who would hurt him. Enter a demon who wants to use Matt's powers for his own. Cruel, sadistic, and unmerciful, he is determined to get to Matt at any costs. The question becomes simply this: How far will Zack go to save Matt?
That whole paragraph right there essentially sums up the entire book. Unlike most books that I've read lately, Sheila Hendrix sticks right to the point. Nearly the entire story is focused right on the brothers and the reader follows along as they fight against the powers of the demon while trying to stay sane. Honestly, it was a little circular in plot for my taste. I didn't dislike it, but Matt and Zack basically did a lot of travelling between the same three spots before anything more happened. I felt like I was reading the same part of the story over and over.
What The Betrayal honestly reminded me most of was the show Supernatural. Any of you who have watched it before might see what I mean. Two brothers, one has supernatural powers, the other one is the protector. Pretty similar. Therefore I actually did enjoy the premise of the story. I just feel like it could have been executed a bit better in terms of more action happening towards the beginning. to keep interest going. On top of that there were also a lot of previous events in the boys' lives alluded to that the reader didn't witness. I would love to see Hendrix either write a prequel where we get to see these events, or perhaps do a flashback in the next book.
Pertaining to characters, Zack and Matt were likable enough. You can feel the brotherly bond between the two of them very easily as they fight to be together. There are times when they make inside jokes, or when the rib one another for things that happened in their past. I liked how easy their relationship was with one another. Just like brothers should be! I think Zack is probably my favorite, but I of course have a think for the protective type.
Overall The Betrayal was a fairly quick and enjoyable read. Like I mentioned above, there are some things that hampered my immersion into the book. However they were minor enough that I did get involved with the brothers and their fight. I'm hoping to see more from Sheila Hendrix soon and see where these boys go next.
To say that The Healing Spell touched me is an understatement, but I can't quite find the words to accurately describe how much I truly adored this book. Filled with lessons, angst-driven at times and completely uplifting at others, it is one of those books that truly made a mark on my life as a reader. From the moment I started the book I fell in love with Livie and her sisters. In fact, this book had the power to transport me back to the days when I too felt like Livie did. Lost, lonely at times, and yet still always loved.
My love for Livie started when, as I mentioned above, she reminded me of that tough time between being a child and becoming a teen. At 11 years old, Livie isn't sure where she fits in the world around her. She doesn't quite get the “girlie” things that her sisters do, but she isn't quite comfortable being described as a tomboy either. Watching her navigate this difficult time in her life was so deeply touching. As I watched her make decisions, some good and others bad, I fell more in love with her character. Livie is one of those flawed, realistic characters that I adore. You see the cracks, but you love her all the more for them.
As for the story itself, it is pure magic. I think I cried more during this book than any other that I've read, as I contemplated how I came to be the person that I am now. We've all been through what Livie is going through, even if it wasn't the exact same. The sheer honesty between these pages is what really drew me in. Unfortunately, there isn't too much I can say without giving the plot away, so instead I'll gush over the setting! It is so apparent that Kimberly Griffiths Little researched the bayou that she set Livie and her family in. The lush setting jumps off the page at the reader, and I am sure I learned more about Louisiana bayous than I ever knew before. Besides being the perfect backdrop for Livie's story of hope and growth, it is also a fascinating entity in its own right.
You can probably tell from my gushing, albeit rambling, review that I really fell in love with this book. I'll be sad to part with my copy when I give it away tomorrow, but I'm looking forward to purchasing one of my own! The Healing Spell will definitely be one of those books that I'll read again. I'm looking forward to it.
I'll say it. I'm a sucker for ice cream. Sweets in general really, but ice cream remains my absolute favorite sweet treat out there. I'll eat it in the middle of winter, happily, while I shiver under a blanket. Yup, I'm a glutton for punishment! So when I saw that this book was being offered for review, and I read the synopsis, I knew that I would have to read it. People and ice cream? Amazing!
The best part about this book is the way that it is set up. Steff Deschenes spends the first chapter explaining her theory, and then each subsequent chapter describes a flavor and compares it to a person. It's amazing how accurate she is! Although she does mention how everyone will see her parallels differently, I was in agreement with everything that she wrote. It's hard not to be when her stories pull you back into times in your past. Kind of like a sweetly driven road-trip to childhood. Her stories are the perfect mixture of heartfelt and fun.
Each of one the chapters is amazingly written, and extremely fun! Perky might be a good word. Steff made me laugh out loud with her writing, especially when she would go off on random tangents. The people she brings to life in her stories really made an impression on me and, like I mentioned above, reminded me of people I've lost and found in my own life. I was really smitten with her mention of the fact that we loose, gain, and loose friends often in our lives. I used to feel bad about that, but this book reminded me that it is a normal occurrence.
I think the reason I connected so much with The Ice Cream Theory is because I see a lot of parallels to my own life. A reader needs to go into this book with an open mind and heart. If you appreciate a good, witty read, you'll love this book! Recommended to lovers of ice cream, and people who would just like a good laugh.
Once again, completely smitten with this book! If you'll remember, I recently reviewed the first book in the series and loved that one as well. Without a doubt, the best part about these books is the imagination that shines off the pages. When I was younger, my favorite thing to do was pretend. Ethan and Dallin allow the reader to do that and present them the opportunity to learn new facts at the same time. Amazing!
On that note, I feel the need to say that Ethan and Dallin are still two of the most precocious and enjoyable male protagonists I've had the pleasure to meet in a Middle Grade book. Quick witted boys who constantly throw out puns, they are so much fun to follow! I absolutely adored watching them tackle the crazy adventures and characters who crossed their path. If your children are stuck in the phase where learning is boring, treat them to this book. They'll come away happy and with new information!
The Lost City of Atlantis (TTA #2) further cements in my mind that this is a fabulous series of books. A perfect combination of silliness, facts, and fiction, these books are perfectly written for the age group they are aimed at. I recommend these to the young, the young at heart, and anyone who happens to fall in between those two categories!
Okay, you know how children are attracted to repetitive and silly songs? Yes, I'm sure if you work with children or have children you know what I mean. Even as adults we can't escape these songs, because they get stuck in your head for days! The Duck Song by Bryant Oden does just that, and that's why I love it!
The illustrations in this book are so cute, they look like they are drawn by kids. Forrest Whaley was only 14 when he animated the video. I thought that was amazing! I especially love the different emotions that pass over the owner's face as he gets increasingly annoyed with the duck. Adorable! Emerging readers will be smitten with the illustrations, and will be able to pick up on the story quickly because of the repetition.
Ready for the best part? It comes with a CD! Yes my friends, this is a song. Your children can learn the song and then sing along with the pages in the book. What is even better is that the CD holds 11 other silly songs for kids, all of which are hilariously sweet! If you have children, work with children, or are just a big kid at heart, you need a copy of this book.
Have you ever picked up a book, read the first page and found it so enjoyable that you just breezed through? Connie Cobbler: Toy Detective was that book for me. I picked it up, met Connie and fell in love with the toy based world that James Desalvo built for his readers. An hour later I was done with the book, amazed at the ending, and totally in love!
In case you are wondering, yes, the whole cast of characters in this book are indeed toys! After all, Connie is a toy detective. The reader gets to meet dolls, stuffed animals and action figures of all shapes and sizes. The best part? All the subtle and snide humor that is packed into this story. From the names of the characters, to the way they interact, there is a giggle on every page. Reading this book actually kind of transported me back to the days when I had some of these toys. I laughed over the pull string doll who had to pull her string in order to get a word in edgewise. Ah toy humor!
At the core of this lighthearted read though is a genuinely intriguing mystery. Someone wants Connie dead, and parts of her past are coming back to haunt her. DeSalvo throws in some really fantastic twists and turns that keep you guessing. I thought I had the mystery solved about half way through, and then I was hit with the realization that I was completely off track. When the character you think did it bites the dust....you're clearly not solving the mystery very well. Oops.
I'll sum it up here. This is a highly enjoyable and quick read! If you appreciate some good snide humor and love a light mystery, then this is a book for you. I give James DeSalvo tons of credit for creating such a fun read. I cannot wait to see what is coming up next for me to read!
I went into Rising Shadow completely blind, all I knew about the story was that there was a race called Soterians that are created when evil begins to outweigh good in the world. Interesting premise! After reading so many books in a row about paranormals, and people with special powers, I was looking for a different take on the subject. My hope was that the Soterians would sate my need for some superhero goodness with a bit of a twist.
The story starts with a flash forward look at the ending, and therefore begins with a big bang! As I opened the first page, I was immersed. Jacquelyn definitely picked the perfect opening to the book. It pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading. Sadly, this pace doesn't continue throughout the book. As I was getting to know the characters and their friends, the story was getting slower and slower paced. There were pages I found my eyes glued to every word, and then other pages where it seemed as though nothing was going on.
One thing that I did love about this book was the cast of characters and their diversity. From the hot headed Michael, to the sweet and patient Rebecca, I found myself adoring the way they interacted with one another. It was refreshing to see romance present in the book without it overpowering the overall story line. However my one gripe was that Ashlyn was often extremely selfish when it came to the team. I kept trying to remind myself that it made her more human and realistic, but honestly it was a bit frustrating to read.
Overall I enjoyed Rising Shadow enough to finish it and I did love the ending! If the pacing had been a bit better, I truthfully would have loved the story even more. Jacquelyn Wheeler has created a new world, complete with the superhero twist that I was looking for! I'm looking forward to diving into her new book, Merger and finding out what happens to Ashlyn and her crew.
It's Not about the Crumbs! explores parallel tales across countries in an easy to read book for kids. I was really impressed with the three versions of Hansel and Gretel that were presented. The reader is allowed to explore the story from a mixture of European sources, from an African version and then from a Japanese version. As an older reader, and one who loves reading the same tale from different perspectives, I had a great time reading all three and seeing where they had similarities!
As to reading level, although the book claims that it is “easy-to-read” and for younger readers, I'm not entirely sure what level this would be for. I can say that my first grade class would definitely have trouble with some of the words in this book. Although the tales are definitely written in kid-friendly language, there are also some concepts that they might not grasp or feel uncomfortable with.
I think this is definitely a great asset to parents who have reluctant readers! I would suggest that parents read it first though to see if it matches their child's reading level, and also to see if they are comfortable with the story matter. After all, we all know fairy tales can be a little dark at times. Overall I'd give this book a solid four on the recommendation scale!
Short stories are becoming my new favorite read of choice! After reading a particularly long set of books, it's nice to dive into a collection of short stories. They are like tiny hors devours, sating my appetite until I'm ready to take on another long book. My favorite type of short stories? Horror or mystery. So when I was approached by Lisa Polisar to review her newest collection, of course I agreed!
Let me say that I loved this collection of short stories! They are fast paced, full of great wit and dialogue, and each one is so different. Polisar is able to pack a huge punch into each and every story. By far, I have to say that I fell in love with her ability to create such fantastic characters in such a short word count. My favorite would have to be Francine from “Dixie's Glass”. She was sassy, smart, and a bit lost. Loved her! All the characters in this collection are amazing though.
The only thing that lost me a little bit was the endings to a few of the stories. It may have been the fact that I just completely missed whatever the message was! I don't deny that it sometimes happens. However the stories I got the most out of were the ones that the endings really caught my attention and blew me away. Honestly, the best part about a collection of short stories is that even if one story throws you off, you have the ability to completely fall in love with the next one.
Are you a mystery fan? Do you enjoy short stories? Then this collection is definitely for you! I highly recommend it, and hope that you become a fan of Lisa's work as well!
In terms of realistic fiction, Chasing Alliecat was my first foray into this world in YA fiction. This book hooked its fingers into me and drew me into reading from the very first chapter. If this is what all realistic fiction is like, well please let me say that I'm more than happy to go find some more! I felt so invested in these characters that I loved every minute of this book. Absolutely amazing.
If you are the type of reader who wants their characters to be well developed and drive the plot, this book is for you! Sadie, Joe and Allie are all so different and yet there are similar parts in their lives that draw them together. Like a band of lovable misfits, I had a blast watching them interact. Sadie provides the sensibility, Allie the toughness and Joe the adorable awkwardness. The three of them just meshed so perfectly that I really felt like they were real people. I'd hang with them in a heartbeat.
Their love of mountain biking especially ties them together. I loved the descriptions of the way they felt as they rode. The sheer adrenaline that was described sounds amazing! Reading about how mountain bikers have such respect for nature and their bikes, it really blew me away. How much do we really hear about mountain bikers anyway? I have to say that it was refreshing to see a book about a sport like this. Mountain bikers have always impressed me, but to see younger characters who were so invested? Wow, just wow. You can definitely tell that Rebecca has a passion for this.
Story wise, Chasing Alliecat felt to me like a roller coaster. A wild ride indeed, this book starts out slow and allows you to meet the characters and get to know them. Then all of the sudden things start to happen, the characters are moving at a lightning pace and there are times when you'll forget to breathe. Trust me. The ending of this book especially just blew me away. To say that I loved Allie, Sadie and Joe's story is a bit of an understatement. I'd say more that I actually felt a part of their story. It's so true to life.
Am I being vague? Definitely. I won't give a single part of this book away for you because honestly that would be doing you a disservice my friends. Suffice it to say that this is a fantastic story! Chasing Alliecat has it all. Friendship, romance, mystery and intrigue. You want it, it's there! You'll need to go grab a copy as soon as you can to see what I'm talking about.
I'm not entirely sure where to begin in my review for this book. Broken Birds is the story of a family growing up in the aftermath of the Holocaust. This story is dark, but what makes it so much more difficult to read is knowing that it is truth. Jaclyn, one of the five Poltzer children, is the narrator of the book and following her through her memories is heart wrenching to say the least.
A little bit of back story for you. Channa, the mother of these children, was a survivor of the Holocaust. Despite everything she managed to escape, and even made it to America to marry a decent man. However she cannot seem to let go of the images and memories that have become a part of her. She just can't seem to make the switch to loving mother and parent.
What I enjoyed most about reading this memoir was honesty that brims off of every page. There is no screen here. Nothing to separate the reader from the atrocities that are being remembered on every page. However even when things seem bleak, there is always that glimmer of hope that the family might persevere. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll end here. Still it's a definite truth that this is a book well worth your time.
Broken Birds was definitely not a book that was an easy read. It is filled with anguish, deceit, and horrific acts that are burned into the memories of the people within it. However, in terms of memoirs, this is definitely one of the most intriguing ones that I have ever read. Under all the pain and darkness, Jeanette Katzir shares with us the power of human survival and understanding. I know that this isn't something I would have normally read on my own, and so I thank Katzir for offering it to me for review. A tough read definitely, but one that is well worth it.
What Thoughts Without Cigarettes genuinely reminded me of was my childhood. Oscar Hijuelos has a very easy writing style that borders on conversation. I was taken back to the days where my grandfather used to sit around and tell stories about when he was young. Always interesting, sometimes a bit confusing, and maybe a little rambling, the stories were a part of who he was. While reading this I felt like I was transported back to that time. Except this time it was Oscar Hijuelos sitting there and sharing his history with me, and I was definitely paying attention.
I'm not a huge reader of memoirs to be honest. If I choose one, it has to hold my attention and to do that it has to be well-written. Hijuelos has a very straight, and frank writing style. Fans of memoirs will appreciate the confessional style with which he bears his soul to the reader. However this can also be a little confusing at times. There were paragraphs that I was presented with that were just one extremely long run on sentence. Also, it was tough sometimes to pin point key people in Hijelous' life, since he often ran on other tangents while telling a story. On the bright side, his writing is also very evocative and descriptive. While reading I could close my eyes and picture the run down apartment he grew up in, or the bars he frequented with their smoky rooms and sultry singers. That was definitely a key element to my appreciation of this memoir.
Even more than a story of his growing into a writer though, Thoughts Without Cigarettes is the story of a boy who becomes a man. A rags to riches tale if you will. What really drew me in was the fact that such an amazing author, such a lyrical writer, came from such a difficult life. Feeling like an outcast from your own culture is something that I was able to connect with personally, and I felt for him every step of the way in his explanation. However, Hijuelos not only shares his boyhood with us, but populates it with people who are vivid and true. Although I don't know a single one of these people personally, I feel like I met them simply through his descriptions of them. He isn't afraid to share both the good and parts of his life. Whether an event was for the better or the worse, it's all there in black and white.
I'm rambling now, so I'll wrap it up. For those of you out there who enjoy memoirs, and are looking for your next read, pick up Thoughts Without Cigarettes. Even if you aren't a huge fan of memoirs, this is a great one to start with. Oscar Hijuelos has a history that is definitely interesting. With some of the best descriptive writing I've seen, and a story that is deep and honest, it is well worth a read.
This book was super cute, although I'd probably aim it at middle grade readers or much lower YA. Pip is a character that will speak to a lot of kids out there, since he's always being blamed for everything. Isn't that how all kids feel? See, Pip isn't a bad kid, he's honestly just curious. It's the adults and his bossy older sister that don't understand him. Sometimes it's just tough being a kid.
That's Pip's mantra as you navigate the book with him. I loved seeing things from his point of view, and I giggled a lot at the things he got in trouble for. Not once was he actually attempting to make people mad. Pip has the childhood problem of “saying what you mean” and “telling the truth”, and that tends to get him in trouble with adults. They keep thinking he is talking back or lying. I think what made me laugh most is how he recaps what he learned at the end of each chapter. I see the first graders I work with doing that every day. In fact we ask them, what can you do better next time?
Stylistically I think The Misadventures of PIP is rather interesting! Younger readers will enjoy how each chapter is dedicated to a day, and also follows a very set format. Pip starts out by sharing his morning, then his school day, and finally by recapping what he's going to try to do the next day to be a better behaved kid. Too cute! His voice is simplistic in the best way possible, and it's very easy to believe that you're being told a story by a younger kid.
Overall I really enjoyed Pip's misadventures! I see this as the perfect book to read out loud to a class, taken a day at a time. I also think this would be a fabulous book to start reluctant readers out on. They are guaranteed to see a lot of themselves in Pip, and feeling connected to him definitely makes the book that much more fun to read. If you have younger readers, or appreciate a simple and cute story once in a while, give The Misadventures of PIP a try! I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.
As an educator, there are three things I look for when I pick a book for my kids. Especially when said book is going to be used for something kids get bored easily by, like nutrition. The illustrations need to be eye catching, the story needs to be easy for the kids to follow, and there needs to be a bit of humor. When you work with first and second graders, trust me, getting them to giggle is the key to keeping them involved! When I picked up Do Witches Make Fishes? and skimmed through it, I knew I'd found a gem.
Justin Wolfson is the illustrator for this book and I commend him for his fabulous work! Each page shines with vivid color, and has interesting textures. Essentially they are a treat for the eyes! The kids in my class were constantly making comments about the pages and talking about what would happen next. They giggled over the backgrounds and gasped over the scarier scenes. When a class of first graders are that invested in a book, I'm impressed!
The story line is also fantastic. At its core, this book is a morality tale about eating healthy. Through a silly and over the top story, the little boy finds out his mom's healthy food isn't as bad as it seems. Each page has rhyming sentences, and I took this as an opportunity to discuss rhyming words along with our nutrition lesson. Anytime a book presents more than one “teachable moment” I'm so happy! This book is sticking with me for my next class. I guarantee it!
Do Witches Make Fishes? is one of the cutest books dealing with nutrition I've seen! From the moment that I opened the story to the first page the kids were hooked. They loved the rhyming, were struck by the illustrations, and I think they may have even learned something! Gasp, I know!
My foray into short story compilations has been pretty limited, but I can still tell you that Separate Kingdoms stories pack a massive amount of emotion into such short pieces. These eight stories literally bleed tragedy and angst, but in the best way possible. Laken's writing is absolutely stunning. Well-worded prose, mixed with bittersweet stories and descriptive language create one deep read. This is not a set of stories that will raise your mood, let me warn you now. However Separate Kingdoms is so beautifully tragic and so realistic that it makes you want to keep reading, despite the somber tone of the stories.
What you'll find between these covers are portraits of individuals learning, or struggling, to cope. Each one of these stories contains someone who is battling inner demons, fleeing from reality, longing for something more, or simply avoiding everything in an effort to blend in. It is no surprise that sometimes I was uncomfortable while reading these stories. Watching these characters navigate their respective inner battles is heart wrenching and sometimes hits a bit too close to home. Laken's ability to write the bare, naked souls of her characters is admirable, to say the very least.
I truly don't think I will be rereading this compilation. Although I was drawn in at the time, Separate Kingdoms is most assuredly not a light read. I applaud Valerie Laken for her ability to shine a spotlight on the dark and gritty parts of all of us. These stories may not make you feel good, but they will definitely make you feel something. The only word I can truly think of to explain what you'll find between the covers of this book is “poignant”, but even that doesn't seem like enough of a description. If you are a lover of short stories, or even a reader of great fiction for that matter, Separate Kingdoms is definitely something that you will want to check out.
Lovers of Fantasy should be well aware that we are awash in a world of clones. Despite my deep love of this genre, it's true that a lot of times every story is like the one before, and so I become a bit jaded when it comes to starting a new book. However, lucky for me, J.G. McKenny approached me with Eon's Door. From the moment I opened it on my ereader I was swept away into a beautifully crafted world. With deep ties to nature, and a distinct lack of complicated character names or races, this book stole my heart.
Miann, the young protagonist in this book, was an extremely dynamic and well-written character. His love for his people, for his family, and for the connection he had to the Nature around him, was beautifully done. I fell in love with his persistence and compassion. However what really brought the book home for me was McKenny's ingenious tie to the world that we , the reader, live in. He brings a character from the outside world, from a place where Nature is stagnant and flat, into this gorgeous world of his. The dynamic between Miann and Bobby truly, in my opinion, is what makes this book. Each from a separate home, yet fighting for the same end goal. I adored them.
As I've already mentioned, the world that is built in Eon's Door is utterly breathtaking. I'll admit the fact that there were times when I found myself wanting to know more. One thing that you won't find in this book is over explanation or an overload of imagery. Instead, there is a generally flowing and descriptive sense to the writing that pulls you just far enough into the world to understand what is going on, without being confusing. There is a depth to Miann and Bobby's story that builds up slowly, adding and adding, until it all fits together in the end and you're left breathless at the thought that it all worked out so wonderfully. In my opinion, the story line is executed perfectly.
If there is one thing I honestly did miss in this book, it was the lack of forward motion that occurred at times. Although Miann and Bobby are on an epic quest to save Erla, there are times where things just seem to stop. At certain points I felt a void of emotion coming out of the characters. It was almost as if they were just moving where they needed to go, and not really thinking about it. I also felt that there were scenes whose brevity was unnecessary, especially as they were important to the overall story. Certain events were just brushed over in a matter of pages. It wasn't often enough to hamper my overall enjoyment of Eon's Door, but it did cause me to knock off one star in my rating.
Still, I'll be the first to admit that this is the first book in a long time that stood out to me in this genre. It's ties to nature, the depth of the story line, and the wonderfully written characters, all mesh together to create something that is wholly immersive and enchanting. I may have had my slight qualms, yes, but overall I fully believe that J.G. McKenny has written a gem. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more of his work, and I highly suggest that you do the same.
Every now and then I'm presented with a book to read that I really don't know a lot about. It hasn't gotten crazy amounts of buzz, I don't see it plastered all over other blogs, and in fact were it not for it being offered to me I likely would have missed it. These books often turn out to be real hidden gems. Books that I want to sing praises for and share with others. True to form, Calling for Angels definitely fits this bill!
Centering around the life of Em, this book was pure joy to read. Em is a character that we can all probably relate with, no matter our age or country of origin. She is lost in the world of “clones” at her school, unwilling to conform to their standards and feeling like she is average in all aspects. What I loved about Em was how clearly not average she was! Alex Smith created a character who has her own pizazz, her own sweetness and snark, and yes this girl likes books which makes her a-ok in my book! Suffice it to say it was easy for me to fall in love with Em. She's my kind of character.
Em's life changes drastically all at once. She finds herself facing the clear reality that we all are thrown into at some point, realizing that the older she gets the more things will change. Her grandparents are getting older, her brother is drifting away, and Em isn't sure where she fits in anymore. Enter Zack and Kai. To say that there are two sweeter boys anywhere else would be tough for me. These two were both so amazing that I had a hard time declaring loyalty to one. Both adorable, both sweet. What's a girl to do with two such amazing guys around?
At the end of the day this book has a little bit of everything. I think younger readers will see themselves in Em and understand what she is going through, while older readers will appreciate the subtle way that familial relationships and the trials of growing up are woven into this book. There wasn't a page I read where I wasn't smiling at some point. Between Em's wit, Zack's adorable awkwardness and Kai's sense of humor this book is one sweet and amazing read. I really couldn't imagine a better way to spend 149 pages.
Overall, Secrets, Monsters and Magic Mirrors is a pretty nice retelling of fairy tales. What really kept me from falling for this compilation though was the choice in the tales themselves. In order to keep things simple, it was decided to pick the most watered down version of each of the fairy tales that are featured. No embellishments, no excitement, just the bare bones story.
Now I'm not saying that I wanted something overly stylized. Nothing Disney-esque. Quite the opposite actually! The original Grimm's fairy tales are fantastic all on their own. I would have liked to see some of the intrigue, and the darkness from those brought over into this compilation. After all, what is a fairy tale without a little magic thrown in now and then?
What saved this for me, and made me swoon, was the illustrations. I loved the fact that each story had it's own set of illustrators. From the highly colored, vivid and downright adorable graphics in Snow White, to the more anime flavored graphics in Princess and the Pea, each story had it's own life to it. I think for the most part they all fit perfectly! Each illustrator brought their own voice to the story that they were bringing to life.
Final verdict? I'd say this is definitely a graphic novel to borrow at the library. I also think it would be a fantastic way to share fairy tales with beginning readers. There isn't really anything overly gory, sexual or inappropriate in the illustrations. This could be a way to bring the fairy tales they already know and love to life.