tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-84202568483490121472024-03-04T23:54:48.666-08:00Live to ReadI cannot live without books.bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.comBlogger626125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-407261203923987392016-11-25T20:54:00.001-08:002016-11-25T20:56:05.356-08:00The Gifts of Imperfection<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaBl2elpKIjb855QBRz-myM_E54yhZD8Aa5oFvQJYWGaxEkaS-s4VTUofW2UCQ_VowSsS0SEkiXVofJQGakazt0kLxQEoIuW9-Tc7-v296Z6dd6TogNoLOtkthAqICh7sDFYiYDZnedA/s1600/gifts+of+imperfections.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaBl2elpKIjb855QBRz-myM_E54yhZD8Aa5oFvQJYWGaxEkaS-s4VTUofW2UCQ_VowSsS0SEkiXVofJQGakazt0kLxQEoIuW9-Tc7-v296Z6dd6TogNoLOtkthAqICh7sDFYiYDZnedA/s1600/gifts+of+imperfections.jpg" /></a></div>
By Brene Brown<o:p></o:p></div>
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Each day we face a barrage of images and messages from
society and the media telling us who, what, and how we should be. We are led to
believe that if we could only look perfect and lead perfect lives, we’d no
longer feel inadequate. So most of us perform, please, and perfect, all the
while thinking, “What if I can’t keep all of these balls in the air? Why isn’t
everyone else working harder and living up to my expectations? What will people
think if I fail or give up? When can I stop proving myself?”<o:p></o:p></div>
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In The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown, PhD, a leading
expert on shame, authenticity and belonging, shares what she’s learned from a
decade of research on the power of Wholehearted Living—a way of engaging with
the world from a place of worthiness.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In her ten guideposts, Brown engages our minds, hearts, and
spirits as she explores how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and
connection to wake up in the morning and think, “no matter what gets done and
how much is left undone, I am enough,” and to go to bed thinking, “Yes, I am
sometimes afraid, but I am also brave. And yes, I am imperfect and vulnerable,
but that doesn’t change the truth that I am worthy of love and belonging.” <o:p></o:p></div>
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Brene Brown is one of my favorite authors for self-help and
research. She just turns things on their heads and helps you see things from a
totally different perspective. I loved her book “Daring Greatly” which focused
a lot on shame resilience and vulnerability and how it was a good thing. In this
book she focuses mostly on Women and how imperfection is truly a gift and how
to accept yourself whole-heartedly and live the truth that you are enough and
your worth doesn’t depend on how much you get done in a day or what others
think of you or even what you believe about yourself. It’s a book about loving
yourself and giving yourself a break. I really enjoyed it, but still prefer “Daring
Greatly”. Brene Brown does a few TED talks that are definitely worth watching too. like this one: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iCvmsMzlF7o/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iCvmsMzlF7o?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o</a></div>
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I give it a 3.5 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10050274404470466924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-11978034605527921022016-11-25T20:44:00.003-08:002016-11-25T20:44:57.882-08:00Dory Fantasmagory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5U_lRB2n8LliX5AEmbsEoKR4V7Wu7E-cEHosI1ZcT-_iDoqbmJo7Q37RFbtMn-0Kp1OXHksMixJZu6AWm0edHFbDyXuvs7x_XSQAQHiGj-l2NqtOmbDsoPGxqPVpa9wDvwocVvVOigI/s1600/dory+fantasmagory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5U_lRB2n8LliX5AEmbsEoKR4V7Wu7E-cEHosI1ZcT-_iDoqbmJo7Q37RFbtMn-0Kp1OXHksMixJZu6AWm0edHFbDyXuvs7x_XSQAQHiGj-l2NqtOmbDsoPGxqPVpa9wDvwocVvVOigI/s320/dory+fantasmagory.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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By Abby Hanlon<o:p></o:p></div>
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As the youngest in her family, Dory really wants attention,
and more than anything she wants her brother and sister to play with her. But
she’s not too much of a baby for them, so she’s left to her own
devices—including her wild imagination and untiring energy. Her siblings may
roll their eyes at her childish games, but Dory has lots of things to do:
outsmarting the monsters all over the house, moving into the closet, and
exacting revenge on her sister’s favorite doll. And when they really need her,
daring Dory will prove her bravery, and finally get exactly what she has been
looking for.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This book has been compared to Junie B Jones and for good
reason. It’s a transitional book, one that is good for those just starting to
read larger chapter books. Dory is a little girl who so badly wants to play
with her older siblings but they just find her annoying. It’s a charming story that
is made for laughing and remembering what it was to use your imagination for
everything and getting into heaps of trouble! I’d say this is a great book for
kids aged 6-9 depending on their reading ability. It was cute and fun to read. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I give it a 3 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10050274404470466924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-33276676322158279532016-11-25T20:28:00.001-08:002016-11-25T20:28:53.686-08:00The Devil's Storybook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYzAq9AnXN-1P7-HCb0gYekYVDFCrTs7LFGGb2OIrhOL1cLLFUhZDyiINi35vf51Kymm1IeeJD73CTnIG5O0tRglRSux5eJH06tdtx2WdUjrXfglNUA5a4H_-HV2x-d2xYG3lemgNjL4/s1600/devils+storybook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkYzAq9AnXN-1P7-HCb0gYekYVDFCrTs7LFGGb2OIrhOL1cLLFUhZDyiINi35vf51Kymm1IeeJD73CTnIG5O0tRglRSux5eJH06tdtx2WdUjrXfglNUA5a4H_-HV2x-d2xYG3lemgNjL4/s320/devils+storybook.jpg" width="236" /></a></div>
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By Natalie Babbitt<o:p></o:p></div>
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Every now and then, the Devil likes to pop up into the world
for an adventure. He’s a trickster and a mischief-maker, and just as full of
vanity and other human failings. But he’s also a gifted storyteller.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I discovered this little gem after looking up books by
Natalie Babbitt, who is probably best known for “Tuck Everlasting”. I’ve read a
few of her books and enjoy her storytelling. This book has been banned in many
schools and towns simply because it’s a book featuring the Devil. Of course
this made me even more curious because I could not see Natalie Babbitt writing
anything derogatory for children. This is a book full of short stories about
the Devil and how he tries to torture and make people’s lives miserable. It
ends up being ironic, instructive at times, and pretty humorous. It is one of
those books that as a kid reading it, I would’ve been entertained by the
stories, but as an adult I was impressed by the underlying wit of the stories.
It was interesting to read. It can be along the same tone as Grimm fairy tales.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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I give it a 3 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10050274404470466924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-89393274005978769202016-11-25T20:20:00.002-08:002016-11-25T20:20:47.371-08:00Amulet Book 1: The Stonekeeper<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkfyEWU0Pq9juY59AtWdW1T2Px3LlyLMht2o3NroA9HNcKNOPrFy6gKfvKQReaM2t2JcQTswAxYQ9DeEWhEXeJ5n4tDEQPRW-FquaXx6mWnWVE_T6DgGV0yAk2lBXpAFAnYCzJC2H-Ts/s1600/amulet+stonekeeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkfyEWU0Pq9juY59AtWdW1T2Px3LlyLMht2o3NroA9HNcKNOPrFy6gKfvKQReaM2t2JcQTswAxYQ9DeEWhEXeJ5n4tDEQPRW-FquaXx6mWnWVE_T6DgGV0yAk2lBXpAFAnYCzJC2H-Ts/s1600/amulet+stonekeeper.jpg" /></a></div>
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By Kazu Kibuishi<o:p></o:p></div>
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After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move
with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the
strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures
the kids’ mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to
lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and
talking animals. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical
rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying
monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a graphic novel pointed at elementary aged children
(6-12 years). I never would have picked this up if I hadn’t repeatedly seen it
being checked out at the library where I work. It was so popular it got me
curious. It’s a quick read with good illustrations. The story is more adult
than I was expecting, dealing with loss, responsibility, and grief along with
battling magical and mechanical creatures. It was interesting to me, and had the
same kind of feel of a sort of Alice in Wonderland, but darker and without the
overt whimsy in it. Emily is a very serious young girl who feels the burden of
being the oldest and watching out for her brother and mother now that her Dad
is gone. I can understand why it is so popular, and I have a nephew who doesn’t
necessarily love reading, and he grabbed onto this series and devoured it and
got his friends reading it too, which tickled me pink! It’s a great book to
pick up for reluctant readers. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I give it a 3.25 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10050274404470466924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-46410159504374415342016-11-25T20:07:00.000-08:002016-11-25T20:07:17.292-08:00The Books of Umber Trilogy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTruWOIIhyGyaZB8gLdOsWpjul7f55N4Vf-3PeDNV6-7WrsJfUw3_vpncMCxDyaTOAIjOMzF5jgL8QsLeO_MGfrhqUdPRljV8C51u2FKxYpJS7MPnyCYwc6VLcJu0SEmlGve84WJcEy4/s1600/happenstance+found.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTruWOIIhyGyaZB8gLdOsWpjul7f55N4Vf-3PeDNV6-7WrsJfUw3_vpncMCxDyaTOAIjOMzF5jgL8QsLeO_MGfrhqUdPRljV8C51u2FKxYpJS7MPnyCYwc6VLcJu0SEmlGve84WJcEy4/s320/happenstance+found.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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By P.W. Catanese <o:p></o:p></div>
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Twelve-year-old Happenstance awakens in a cave with no
memory of who he is or how he came to be there. Soon a mysterious trio arrives
to take him away: the explorer Umber, the shy archer Sophie, and Oates, whose
strength and honesty are both brutal. Hap and his new acquaintances narrowly
escape the cavernous underworld and make their way to Lord Umber’s bustling
jewel of a harbor city, Kurahaven. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Once there, Hap learns that Lord Umber is an extraordinary
man—he’s a merchant, adventurer, inventor, royal adviser, and chronicler of all
things monstrous and magical. But Umber’s accomplishments can’t answer the
question closest to the boy’s heart: Who is Happenstance? <o:p></o:p></div>
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Desperate to uncover clues in his new, baffling
surroundings, Hap accompanies Umber on dangerous and unusual missions. But Hap
soon learns that there are powerful enemies inside the kingdom, and a ruthless
assassin is hot on his trail. Faced with many unknowns, Hap knows one thing is
certain: There’s a reason Umber has chosen him…if only he could determine it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I’m reviewing this as the entire trilogy, which I normally
don’t do, but I read them in quick succession and felt like it would be better
to just review this series as a whole rather than in parts. That being said, I
adored the first book and its odd plot and many mysteries. I needed to know who
Hap was and why he was different. I was hooked pretty early on in the series,
and also enjoyed the cast of characters presented. Umber was the consummate
lovable genius with a band of misfits as his friends. I moved on quickly
through the second book, which resolved some things and brought up even more
questions. I was still hooked and enjoying the world that I was beginning to
feel comfortable in. Now, the third book deviates quite jarringly from the
first two, so much so that I was left feeling bereft of the character growth
that had happened in the first installments. Without divulging any spoilers, I
will say that my level of disappointment was crushing. It felt like all the
plot, the mystery, and the wants and needs of the protagonist were set up as a
neat wholesome meal on a table and then quite deliberately wiped off the table
to the ground. Dismayed at this turn of events, I cannot really recommend this
book because the end was so unsatisfying, sad, and lackluster. It not only
changed in tone and purpose, but felt rushed like the author had gotten tired
of writing. I’m incredibly sad about this, and I do understand that decisions
were made about the story that I’m sure he felt were right, but it ended up
making this avid reader confused and let down. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I give it a 3 out of 5- if not for the ending it would’ve
been much higher. <o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10050274404470466924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-19619279633513215602016-11-25T15:56:00.000-08:002016-11-25T21:09:01.028-08:00Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7uFU3-3BsLVqGAP_SQPZkcp0F8i6HS3N6eOwD7OXmXmW1RYDIRzN_nc69aXG6eOvw_1wGr16C4n7aT0nfI9WuTMlrWFXf9HzgMyMNje7OzCalxjtAHVYcmsj-pmSzsV0DYGnogfnHTc/s1600/nicholas+st+north.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7uFU3-3BsLVqGAP_SQPZkcp0F8i6HS3N6eOwD7OXmXmW1RYDIRzN_nc69aXG6eOvw_1wGr16C4n7aT0nfI9WuTMlrWFXf9HzgMyMNje7OzCalxjtAHVYcmsj-pmSzsV0DYGnogfnHTc/s320/nicholas+st+north.jpg" width="232" /></a></div>
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By William Joyce<o:p></o:p></div>
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Before Santa was Santa, he was North, Nicholas St. North—a
daredevil swordsman whose prowess with double scimitars was legendary. Like any
swashbuckling young warrior, North seeks treasure and adventure, leading him to
the fiercely guarded village of Santoff Claussen, said to be home to the
greatest treasure in all the East, and to an even greater wizard, Ombric
Shalazr. But when North arrives, legends of riches have given way to terror of
epic proportions! North must decide whether to seek his fortune…or save the
village. <o:p></o:p></div>
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When our rebellious hero gets sucked into the chaos
(literally), the fight becomes very personal. The Nightmare King and his evil
Fearlings are ruling the night, owning the shadows, and sending waves of fear
through all of Santoff Clausen. For North, this is a battle worth fighting…and,
he’s not alone. There are five other Guardians out there. He only has to find
them in time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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This book was magic. It had that perfect tone of nostalgia,
childhood, myth, and wonder. It was comforting and felt like I was being told a
bedtime story by the author. It was soothing to read and full of hope as well
as danger and adventure. North is a great character, someone who has spent his
life as a warrior pirate, and finds that he is more than just a treasure-seeker
once he discovers the amazing village of Santoff Clausen. He especially loves the
children. Sound familiar? And so the story and legend begins in a small unique
and magical town, threatened by a darkness and terrible evil. It’s got the
classic hero’s journey and a wonderful tone full to the brim with good. I
highly recommend this series. (It’s also where the Dreamworks movie “Rise of the Guardians” got it's inspiration. There is a clip of that <u>amazing</u> movie below!)<o:p></o:p></div>
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I give it a 4.5 out of 5<o:p></o:p><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10050274404470466924noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-25836839164075185652016-11-25T15:48:00.000-08:002016-11-25T15:48:09.022-08:00Puss in Boots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQNI8AS7a1s7deDCwHUhCtmQQkwv1ff-Cz1bk4H7ZwAXDw8wn1Q9qehk1CnX5rZf2NgCLT5JwpoaAldNS7SQuC0qmidN6ccd_5YNrVBZRpU0K3LEEP_Bbe5OYVboT0sFeW2LPq0eoh-o/s1600/puss+in+boots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipQNI8AS7a1s7deDCwHUhCtmQQkwv1ff-Cz1bk4H7ZwAXDw8wn1Q9qehk1CnX5rZf2NgCLT5JwpoaAldNS7SQuC0qmidN6ccd_5YNrVBZRpU0K3LEEP_Bbe5OYVboT0sFeW2LPq0eoh-o/s320/puss+in+boots.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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By K.M. Shea<o:p></o:p></div>
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Though she dreams of adventure, Gabrielle—a peasant girl—is
given only a cat for her inheritance and is told she must marry, immediately.
So when the cat, Puss, offers her a life of excitement in exchange for a pair
of boots, Gabrielle jumps at the opportunity. Through Puss’s cunning and
Gabrielle’s good deeds, they become celebrated heroes in small villages across
the country. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Their adventurous life is complicated by Prince Steffen—a
handsome prince who has a low opinion of love. He befriends Gabrielle and comes
to grudgingly respect Puss as they work together to purge monsters and brigands
from the countryside.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Disaster strikes when Steffen realizes his growing feelings
for Gabrielle, and Puss and Gabrielle fight the evil ogre who rules the lands
of Carabas. Can Gabrielle save Carabas? Will Steffen accept his feelings for
her before it is too late? <o:p></o:p></div>
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K.M. Shea has quickly become my favorite writer of e-books
and fairy tale retellings. I’ve never been a big fan of this fairy tale, so I
think that is part of the reason why I ended up not liking this book as much as
her others in this series. It’s also a story that happens before the second
book in the series, even though this is the 6<sup>th</sup> book, which made for
a tiny bit of confusion as I read and tried to put things in their
chronological order. Gabrielle is an interesting heroine because she just wants
to find some adventure, she never set out to be a hero or take silly risks. She
genuinely cares about people, but tends to be standoffish. It made for an
interesting plot. Steffen was my favorite character, though I did enjoy the
friendship between Gabrielle and Puss quite a bit. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">This gets a 3 out of 5- it was average.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10050274404470466924noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-24091858846129642322016-11-02T20:12:00.000-07:002016-11-02T20:20:35.829-07:00Skulduggery Pleasant: Mortal Coil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs5Qj0xms_hyphenhyphenhJG_5q61vVqCFWgDqURFbthzaxqkylwA1PW9rMdRjbnCez75ksaljeUKpJEy2pMYAgcnUP4FZ8h3Yj4Af5rPFdYkSmlBte99LtFDcGm-ZBxNJhq90tBlCSnnPpwU6wI0/s1600/moral+coil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfs5Qj0xms_hyphenhyphenhJG_5q61vVqCFWgDqURFbthzaxqkylwA1PW9rMdRjbnCez75ksaljeUKpJEy2pMYAgcnUP4FZ8h3Yj4Af5rPFdYkSmlBte99LtFDcGm-ZBxNJhq90tBlCSnnPpwU6wI0/s320/moral+coil.jpg" width="206" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Derek Landy<br />
<br />
Skulduggery Pleasant and Valkyrie Cain are back--just in time to see their whole world turn upside down! While they struggle to protect a known killer from an unstoppable assassin, Valkyrie is on a secret mission of her own. This quest, to prevent her dark and murderous destiny, threatens to take her to the brink of death and beyond. And then the body-snatching Remnants get loose, thousands of twisted souls who possess the living like puppets, and they begin their search for a being powerful enough to lead them. Facing such insurmountable odds, Skulduggery, Valkyrie, Ghastly, and Tanith can trust no one. Not even each other.<br />
<br />
<br />
Skulduggery Pleasant is by far the darkest book series I’ve
ever read. I usually stay clear of horror in all shapes and forms because it
tends to get gory and makes me feel nasty inside. Derek Landy though, I just
keep coming back to Skulduggery because I love the characters, and the humor.
Oh the humor. It’s by far the best part of the series! I laugh out loud at the
witty clever and ridiculous things that they say. It’s such a juxtaposed theme:
you’ve got horror (legitimate horror mind you) and then you’ve got
laugh-so-hard-I cried parts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This, the 5<sup>th</sup> book in the series, was quite a bit
darker than I expected, at parts I had to put the book down to just look up and
see that the sun was indeed still shining outside. Between Valkyrie trying to
figure out how to escape the future that has been foretold for her, figuring
out how to capture and stop the Remnants, and just trying to not die this book
is action packed to the extreme. The hard thing about reviewing this series is
that you don’t want to spoil anything, and the plot is so intertwined it’s
almost impossible to talk about it without giving something away! I will say
this though: if you like humor and horror, keep on reading Skulduggery. Holy
cow is this a great read. Plot. Writing. Characters. Everything is just top
notch. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give it a 4 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-46509338015962427122016-06-25T21:54:00.001-07:002016-06-25T21:54:47.254-07:00Miss Burton Unmasks a Prince<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg84WQGuI8QTvTXGVz6NhmMju-c1v04inKoI84Tr7CW9mW832GkOXGJVfnBSMUNcM4g6c9a4ZOpXl4XdKapxWiSu8uVF51GEdUXa1b6ytpXgEPe2GYA-ZW2GiitJLZLm6iRUAaSAeWqU/s1600/miss+burton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmg84WQGuI8QTvTXGVz6NhmMju-c1v04inKoI84Tr7CW9mW832GkOXGJVfnBSMUNcM4g6c9a4ZOpXl4XdKapxWiSu8uVF51GEdUXa1b6ytpXgEPe2GYA-ZW2GiitJLZLm6iRUAaSAeWqU/s320/miss+burton.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Jennifer Moore<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1812<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Southern Belle Meg Burton is her parents last hope of
avoiding financial ruin, and a distant cousin’s kind gesture seems an ideal
solution: he will sponsor Meg for a London Season. The Pursuit of a wealthy
husband was not exactly how the bookish young woman had envisioned her first
trip abroad—after all, what does a girl from Charleston, South Carolina, know
about being a lady? Amidst the stunning gowns and extravagant balls of the ton,
Meg feels like an imposter. Thankfully, she has one friend who knows her true
self—Carlo, a handsome stable hand. Despite their difference in station, love blossoms
between the unlikely pair, and Meg is sure of one thing: she wants nothing to
do with the insufferable European aristocracy. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Prince Rodrigo de Talavera has lost everything to Napoleon.
Jaded by war, he has become bitter and miserable—until he meets Meg, an
American woman whose eccentric schemes and passion for life remind him what it
is to laugh and to love. If only she knew him for himself and not as Carlo the
stable hand. With the shadow of deception looming over their happy acquaintance
and the dangers of war drawing ever more near, can Meg and Rodrigo find the
courage to put aside their pretenses and discover if they can be loved as they
truly are? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Okay, this is my favorite so far from Jennifer Moore. I did
like Becoming Lady Lockwood, but didn’t care so much for Lady Emma’s Campaign.
This was right down my ally. Meg is a southern belle that has traveled across
the sea for a London season, and she worries that she will never be up to snuff
for the polite society in London. She feels homesick and out of place until she
meets Carlo, the stable hand, and makes a friend. What she doesn’t realize is
that Carlo lied about who he really was, and he is in fact, Prince Rodrigo from
Spain. Afraid that he will lose the only friend and companion who doesn’t treat
him like a trophy if he tells the truth, Rodrigo is frustrated when he starts
to fall for the spirited Meg. And, like so many love stories before this one,
we are left to wonder if the lies will prove too much for a love that could be
once in a lifetime. While the premise is not new by a longshot, there’s a
reason it’s used so often. It works. I loved reading this. Rodrigo is burdened
by the war he and his sister left behind, Meg by her homesickness and feeling
so out of place in a new country. I loved their story and it was a great way to
indulge my need for a clean romance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I give it a 4 out of 5</span>bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-35426936556314915332016-06-25T21:52:00.003-07:002016-06-25T21:52:58.504-07:00Westly: a Spider's Tale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4NXttwbTDz6R21V_2fFoQVDpXz82sjai61VF-MTbQkmKbGq5NtZe2sLUwTyTeOjr_fhN1WCJf_Vypamatq20nsIUX_vmXW1n_eqwiULXLeBjX9EIlqyTy5YbVlteDLdHk9NWc0a2O-Q/s1600/westly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq4NXttwbTDz6R21V_2fFoQVDpXz82sjai61VF-MTbQkmKbGq5NtZe2sLUwTyTeOjr_fhN1WCJf_Vypamatq20nsIUX_vmXW1n_eqwiULXLeBjX9EIlqyTy5YbVlteDLdHk9NWc0a2O-Q/s1600/westly.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Brian Beus<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Westly emerges from his cocoon, not as a beautiful
butterfly, but as a spider, he is rejected by the butterfly kingdom and
undertakes a journey to discover who he really is. But not even the dirt eaters
can offer him answers. Not the dragonfly, the centipede, the moth, or even Zug
Zug, the fly. None have ever seen an eight-legged creature who can spin webs.
However, Westly’s new friend the Raven has offered to help. If only the Raven
could get inside the glass menagerie where Westly and the other bugs lives. Yes,
yes, the Raven is sure he could change everything. But sometimes things don’t
turn out the way we plan. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a sweet tale that reminded me a bit of “Hope for the
Flowers”. But in this tale, the
caterpillar knows what he is destined to be: a butterfly, the most majestic and
perfect of the animals in their kingdom. When the caterpillars all go into a cocoon,
Westly does not come out a beautiful butterfly, but to his dismay he comes out
a monster that he doesn’t even recognize. He runs away and falls down to the
place where the crawlers live. Nobody has ever seen anything like Westly, but
unlike the butterflies, they welcome him so long as he works for his keep.
Westly is desperate to return to the life he thinks he deserves, as a
butterfly, so when he meets a Raven claiming to know how help him, Westly is
sucked into a plot the could destroy everything. Westly is a cute and short
novel that I enjoyed but will not likely read again. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give it a 3 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-77151863000665052602016-06-25T21:51:00.001-07:002016-06-25T21:51:48.905-07:00Switch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJg7WbL2Qgvy5iCRxyjk3YpOdF5gzBRGY07KV-UiNQ3qBRyu5vadnRgntXe_gEvxzkkSL4QdWOk4XOtA_isrobLxZKVaSgKnls_oal_etSD80O2Tuv2CzEvbBQ22c6m28Tx28hGi9ozns/s1600/switch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJg7WbL2Qgvy5iCRxyjk3YpOdF5gzBRGY07KV-UiNQ3qBRyu5vadnRgntXe_gEvxzkkSL4QdWOk4XOtA_isrobLxZKVaSgKnls_oal_etSD80O2Tuv2CzEvbBQ22c6m28Tx28hGi9ozns/s320/switch.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Ingrid Law<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Gypsy Beaumont has always been a whirly-twirly free spirit,
so as her thirteenth birthday approaches, she hopes to get a magical ability
that will let her fly, or dance up to the stars. Instead, she wakes up on her
birthday to blurry vision…and starts seeing flashes of the future and past. But
when Momma and Poppa announce that her very un-magical, downright mean Grandma
Pat has Alzheimer’s and is going to move in with them, Gypsy’s savvy—along with
her family’s—suddenly becomes its opposite. Now it’s savvy mayhem as Gypsy
starts freezing time, and no one could have predicted what would happen on
their trip to bring Grandma Pat home…not even Gypsy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This has been a long time coming! I’m so glad that Ingrid
Law is continuing the stories of the Beaumont family and the Savvy world. The
special thing about her books is that they aren’t just about fantastical powers
or crazy plots, they’re ultimately about finding your true self. Gypsy is a
free spirit, utterly unique and a bright spot in her family, but coming up on
her 13<sup>th</sup> Savvy birthday Gypsy is not only wondering what her Savvy
will be, but is dealing with how others see and treat her. Trying to be ‘normal’
and have friends makes her shrink a little from who she really is, and she has
a tough choice to make; be whirly-twirly self, or someone who doesn’t stand
out, but is accepted in society. True to form, while tackling this question,
all kinds of havoc is wreaked as Gypsy gets her Savvy and the family goes
through yet another change with Grandma Pat coming to live with them. The
result is another Beaumont road trip. If you’ve read Savvy and Scumble, (And if
you haven’t, please please do!) you won’t be disappointed in Law’s third book. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give it a 3.75 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-48825482427856149192016-06-25T21:50:00.000-07:002016-06-25T21:57:40.592-07:00Clementine Books 1-7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGqo-Jm9WHoLzhtG65jC65gjOsUce2RIQhBlEDQeD0nlu__JqxqkKlaVtlrqOg2cnAV-ZeajNwBVK-wWY_BAajl-UooaCCnIIEvsIGZDOXbv8ermNghYMGfeV6T2yw3ncCL3UWY1P9M0/s1600/clementine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGqo-Jm9WHoLzhtG65jC65gjOsUce2RIQhBlEDQeD0nlu__JqxqkKlaVtlrqOg2cnAV-ZeajNwBVK-wWY_BAajl-UooaCCnIIEvsIGZDOXbv8ermNghYMGfeV6T2yw3ncCL3UWY1P9M0/s1600/clementine.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;">By Sarah Pennypacker<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Clementine is having not so good of a week.<br />
<br />
-On Monday she's sent to the principal’s office for cutting off Margaret’s
hair.<br />
- Tuesday, Margaret's mother is mad at her.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
- Wednesday, she's sent to the principal... again.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
- Thursday, Margaret stops speaking to her.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
- Friday starts with yucky eggs and gets worse.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br />
- And by Saturday, even her mother is mad at her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Okay,
fine. Clementine is having a DISASTROUS week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "georgia" , serif;">This is such a cute and well written series. I hope there are
more. Clementine is a little firecracker of a girl and is capable of getting
herself into more trouble than most little girls. One of the things I love
about this series is that Clementine is such a unique character that it is easy
to believe she is a real little girl living out in the world somewhere. Her
family is another high point with her artist mother, her father who is the maintenance
man in their apartment complex, and her little brother who we never figure out
his real name because Clementine is determined he’ll have a vegetable name
because she got stuck with a fruit name. This series is cute, full of life and
troubles, and would be a wonderful read-aloud to kids. It’s a great book
because it will entertain kids and adults alike as the kids will understand and
laugh at Clementine’s shenanigans and the adults will shake their heads and
laugh at her parents’ reactions. This is a great series and can be read quickly
with a smile. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: white;"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
</span></span><br />
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 13.5pt 0in;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">I give the series a 4 out of 5</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-71249822539933362662016-06-25T21:49:00.000-07:002016-06-25T21:50:30.212-07:00Beastly Bones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gmC1HAEt_hvzbWm_ZxdDxSo23xBlbi47Jvu-bDC6acZ9X5KRizLSW-8gUCPdPFEbB19LD3I-sAd_8vYkMEde6DS6LekNzBpE0CaP7CLC5EKf2zT4u4KIu-cUaniFhgMBDN0zj2ZKFIE/s1600/beastly+bones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gmC1HAEt_hvzbWm_ZxdDxSo23xBlbi47Jvu-bDC6acZ9X5KRizLSW-8gUCPdPFEbB19LD3I-sAd_8vYkMEde6DS6LekNzBpE0CaP7CLC5EKf2zT4u4KIu-cUaniFhgMBDN0zj2ZKFIE/s320/beastly+bones.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By William Ritter<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In 1892, New Fiddleham, New England, things are never quite
what they seem, especially when Abigail Rook and her eccentric employer, R.F.
Jackaby, are called upon to investigate the supernatural. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, members of a particularly vicious species of
shapeshifters disguise themselves as a litter of kittens. A day later, their
owner is found murdered, with a single mysterious puncture wound to her neck.
Then, in a nearby Gad’s Valley, dinosaur bones from a recent dig go missing,
and an unidentifiable beast attacks animals and people, leaving their mangled
bodies behind. Policeman Charlie Cane, exiled from new Fiddleham to the valley,
calls on Abigail for help, and soon Abigail and Jackaby are on the hunt for a
thief, a monster, and a murderer.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This sequel to “Jackaby” is just as oddly cute as the first
book. This book centers more on Abigail than Jackaby, however, and has a more
definite young adult book feel to it. I enjoyed the first book because it was
quirky and reminded me strongly of Doctor Who with the unconventional
protagonist of R.F. Jackaby, who I’m convinced we will never know his actual first
name (Coincidence? I think not). Abigail is fine as a narrator, but she does
start to grate on my nerves a little in this one. She can be a little too
contradictory in nature. She’s described as an independent thinker, but she
also comes across as being slow. I understand that it can be difficult to write
giving the reader more information than the characters have, but if not handled
very well it makes the characters seem stupid when they aren’t. I wish the book
focused a little more on the mystery of Jackaby. There are a lot of blanks to
fill in with him that I would like to know about. It was rather disappointing
to see this turn in plot for the series and I’m hoping that it won’t be
exclusively about Abigail. She is slotted as the book’s ‘everyman’ that the
reader will be able to identify with, but Jacaby is so much more interesting
that it’s because of him that I’ll keep reading. While I didn’t like this
sequel as much as the first, I still plan on reading the next book which is
about another interesting character, the original owner of Jackaby’s house, the
ghost, Jenny. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give this a 3 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-42695721524390953832016-06-25T21:47:00.000-07:002016-06-25T21:47:15.212-07:00Unraveled<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTAO8bm2YA6m8IAFm8DJeA6znf4UXb8RlV-uk4z9FQi1iLozyYF8j9poudydVPDG36P-xIm9T_lBUskK6nuVmTMOamcVTyO_S38gtQmZbrLgDXIAW205M0O9yC7hj6xynwLlMjFhRp7k/s1600/unravelled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTAO8bm2YA6m8IAFm8DJeA6znf4UXb8RlV-uk4z9FQi1iLozyYF8j9poudydVPDG36P-xIm9T_lBUskK6nuVmTMOamcVTyO_S38gtQmZbrLgDXIAW205M0O9yC7hj6xynwLlMjFhRp7k/s320/unravelled.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Julie Daines<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In the years since the fever that took both her family and
her ability to walk, sixteen-year-old Bronwen has been relegated to the lonely
status of cripple. But when a fortuitous encounter with a mysterious mountain
witch reveals the magical possibility of regaining the use of her legs, Bronwen
can’t help but envision the life she never had. Powerless to resist the promise
of a second chance, Bronwen dons the enchanted but homely shoes the witch gives
her and embarks on a journey that takes her from her small village in the
countryside to the glittering court of the king—and from a lonely life of
solitude to a life filled with attention from two very different young men. But
when Bronwen’s desire to be accepted leads to compounding lies and a mountain of
trouble, the power of true love is tested. Can Brownwen’s dream of being happy,
whole, and loved ever be attained?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After looking at the cover for this book I was expecting
some kind of twist on the Cinderella story, and that tinted my reading of the
book, but in a good way. I felt like I was reading a fairy tale retelling but
wasn’t quite sure which fairy tale. I liked this easy-to-read story and enjoyed
the setting of Wales. Bronwen is a girl who gets the chance to see what her
life could’ve been if circumstance and sickness hadn’t changed her fate. She is
a cripple, and feels like she will never have the life she dreams of with a
husband and family of her own one day. She knows that no man will want a
crippled wife. So she sets about her daily chores trying to content herself
with her home and the things she can still do. But when she is kind to a witch,
she finds herself bequeathed a ratty pair of shoes that are much more than they
seem. They give her healthy legs again, but at a cost. She sets out at the
urging of her mother to present herself to the court. It is there that she
learns how different life is for her now that others see her as ‘whole’. Throw
in two different men who both care for her in different ways, and all the lies
that she has told to keep her secret, Bronwen has found that life isn’t easy
even when you’ve got two sturdy legs to stand on. This is a quick read that is
more than just a romantic story, it’s a story about being honest and true to
yourself and recognizing that strength is about more than being whole or
broken. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give it a 3.5 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-12436332815104656912016-06-19T12:37:00.000-07:002016-06-19T12:37:00.126-07:00The Imaginary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPqPRazS3ND-W9oaX8XtpLlEG-ip3-PhtBvRjqfRhfpNEglj_enBJ8evdW_i8VZ0QWH__5cevmBdv0qwAMU95s4WWdvrct2LctkTgCbPW0GSWBvr7PBPkSrh3eewbSMjJEAfe5MghaKM/s1600/imaginary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPqPRazS3ND-W9oaX8XtpLlEG-ip3-PhtBvRjqfRhfpNEglj_enBJ8evdW_i8VZ0QWH__5cevmBdv0qwAMU95s4WWdvrct2LctkTgCbPW0GSWBvr7PBPkSrh3eewbSMjJEAfe5MghaKM/s320/imaginary.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By A.F. Harold<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rudger is Amanda Shuffleup’s imaginary friend. Nobody else
can see Rudger—until the evil Mr. Bunting arrives at Amanda’s door. Mr. Bunting
hunts imaginaries. Rumor has it that he even eats them. And now he’s found
Rudger. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Soon Rudger is alone, and running for his imaginary life. He
needs to find Amanda before Mr. Bunting catches him—and before Amanda forgets
him and he fades away to nothing. But how can an unreal boy stand alone in the
real world? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a quick little read, probably focused at older
elementary aged children, but I was surprised to find a dark undertone to this
book. Mr. Bunting (this has to have a reference to the nursery rhyme right?) is
a man who eats imaginary friends. This story is all about Rudger, an imaginary
who has lost his friend and is being hunted by Mr. Bunting. It’s a bittersweet
story about imagination, growing up, and knowing when to let go and when to
hang on tight. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give it a 3 out of 5- average. <o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-2621222474454079222016-06-19T12:22:00.000-07:002016-06-19T12:22:01.428-07:00Lord Fenton's Folly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDAl16WyolsUvdEyEmT_vazDd1KP3LubOp32u3Oxx-ESwPO77zWIHDAnhuMETJpLx3j17SZYU11_ZrU6KyILrRelA-Du5DycPXghvwHUQZco_bXxWUHlVNdue1_Q-JagosCh_aLmih-c/s1600/lord+fentons+folly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDAl16WyolsUvdEyEmT_vazDd1KP3LubOp32u3Oxx-ESwPO77zWIHDAnhuMETJpLx3j17SZYU11_ZrU6KyILrRelA-Du5DycPXghvwHUQZco_bXxWUHlVNdue1_Q-JagosCh_aLmih-c/s320/lord+fentons+folly.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Josi S. Kilpack<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lord Fenton is a gambler and a dandy, and he will be
stripped of his wealth and position unless he rises to his responsibility—one of
which is to marry. Far from being a giddy groom, Fenton chooses the
unobjectionable Alice Stanbridge simply because he had known her as a young
girl and his mother feels Alice would make a good wife. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Alice, however, has harbored feelings for Fenton since their
first meeting years ago, and his proposal is a dream come true. Not only would
a match with the most-eligible bachelor in London secure her future, but it
will also give her a place of distinction and admiration. Had anyone admired
Alice for anything before now?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Alice learns that she is not only an unwanted wife, but
a demanded one, however, she closes her heart. Only when Lord Fenton faces the
greatest trial of his life does he begin to find love beyond the folly. Could a
great love come from a beginning such as this?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The historical regency “proper” romances are one of my
guilty pleasures, and I can’t help but blow through them for a shot of warm
fuzzy goodness. I was especially excited about this one because of Lord Fenton’s
funny cameos in Kilpack’s other regency romance “A Heart Revealed” and was
looking forward to seeing the comedic Fenton meet his match (pun intended).
This was an unpleasing read for me. I’m going to give a few spoilers in the
following so stop reading if you don’t want to know. Usually there is some kind
of moral hang up that happens preventing the romance from progressing. This is
the case for Fenton, who has an issue with intimacy because of the
transgressions of his father. I had a really hard time reading this because of
that. I disliked reading it, and it didn’t feel like a true ‘proper’ romance
because of it. As I’ve always stated however, I am highly sensitive and don’t
care for anything of a sexual nature in my books. A good kiss is okay, but
other than that makes me uncomfortable. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give it a 2.75 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-66753573622929931492016-06-19T12:20:00.000-07:002016-06-19T12:20:33.083-07:00Mechanica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9jItXPe4cIhreEscEf3edalc_RFptPS4QJ_nBOWqlExcu0Jyrbwq1TrEMYK5PdhAIipUvKJv28nKKXip6eIEV8WHUjU1LdgSfBN_W1W6Z_4Nh6RGOLq0FMcJO8IQ3n7zvuNRRElF4jY/s1600/mechanica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9jItXPe4cIhreEscEf3edalc_RFptPS4QJ_nBOWqlExcu0Jyrbwq1TrEMYK5PdhAIipUvKJv28nKKXip6eIEV8WHUjU1LdgSfBN_W1W6Z_4Nh6RGOLq0FMcJO8IQ3n7zvuNRRElF4jY/s320/mechanica.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Betsy Cornwell<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her ‘mechanica’ to demean
her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee.
Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have pushed her into a life of
dreary servitude. When she discovers a secret workshop in the cellar on her
sixteenth birthday—and befriends Jules, a tiny magical metal horse—Nicolette starts
to imagine a new life for herself. And the timing may be perfect: there’s a
technological exposition and a royal ball on the horizon. Determined to invent
her own happily-ever-after, Mechanica seeks to wow the prince and eager
entrepreneurs alike. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There are literally hundreds of different retellings of
Cinderella, and being the avid fairy-tale connoisseur that I am, how can I turn
down a steam-punk version of the famous story? Mechanica is interesting because
of the machines and world that was built to house a mechanical genius
Cinderella. One of the more interesting aspects of the world building here is
that there are still fairies and magic, but the mechanical is where the humans
lean, and the mixture of the two is considered treasonous. While this version
has all of the classic themes, like a ball, slipper, fairy godmother, and the
stepmother and sisters, it has plenty of originality and a great twist ending
that made this a really fun read. If you enjoy retellings as much as me, this
one is worth a gander. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">I give it a 3.5 out of 5 </span>bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-10347269047483071922016-06-19T12:19:00.000-07:002016-06-19T12:19:04.338-07:00The Immortal Nicholas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27DXYMAHP66pu-Ytq6qW5akqTTaaDIOyX2MvMPG2K7Y-cJEunXGM5NYZzxLlxigZz-TOa4kQZxid3bYyAkX5V_Jh9Nc-JJJmQa5eDFfu9DBqJYw5lHRThrJvqxSPjFRiTqdsHuxVxLQY/s1600/immortal+nicholas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj27DXYMAHP66pu-Ytq6qW5akqTTaaDIOyX2MvMPG2K7Y-cJEunXGM5NYZzxLlxigZz-TOa4kQZxid3bYyAkX5V_Jh9Nc-JJJmQa5eDFfu9DBqJYw5lHRThrJvqxSPjFRiTqdsHuxVxLQY/s1600/immortal+nicholas.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Glenn Beck<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Before he was Father Christmas he was simply a father.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Author Glenn Beck realized years ago that somewhere along
the way, his four children had become more focused on Santa than the meaning of
Christmas. No matter how he tried, he could not redirect their attention away
from presents and elves to the manger instead. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Glenn didn’t want to be the Grinch who spoiled the magic of
Kris Kringle, so he had to find a unique way to turn his kids back toward the
true meaning of Christmas. He decided the best place to start was by first
turning Santa himself back toward Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That was when one of America’s best storytellers began to
craft a tale that would change everything his kids thought they knew about
Santa—the incredible story he went on to tell them that Christmas Eve spans
over a thousand years and explains the meaning behind the immortality and
generosity of the man named Claus. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Immortal Nicholas has now been expanded and reimagined
into this novel for adults; a novel full of drama, history, legend, and heart.
From the snowy mountains of western Asia, to the deserts of Egypt, to Yemen’s
elusive frankincense-bearing boswellia trees, this is an epic tale that gives
the legend of Santa a long overdue Christ-centered mission. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In this novel, Glenn Beck fundamentally transforms the
figure that the world now mainly associates with shopping, all while staying
true to the real story of the baby who brought redemption and salvation to the
entire world. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When I saw this book last Christmas I was excited to see
what Glenn Beck had done with the legend of Santa Claus. I was expecting a tale
of redemption, warmth, and that special feeling that comes with Christmas. I
was disappointed to find that, while this book is first rate and has a long and
engrossing tale to tale, it was not what I wanted out of a Christmas book. The “Santa”
of the story is a man who experiences loss of every kind, and must find a way
to live and keep living, for he discovers that he has become immortal. It is a
tale of survival and cruelty, of family, love, and hope. As stated, it is a
good novel and story, but not a feel good read. There is a lot of battle,
bloodshed and cruelty in this book and it focuses a lot on the misery and
difficulty of life. Of course Glenn does introduce Jesus Christ at one point
and His teachings. It just fell flat for me, which was disappointing. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It gets a 3 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-68647442815665347712016-06-19T12:17:00.000-07:002016-06-19T12:17:44.264-07:00Infinity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGmWsp1NxNQN_TlQkF3CrmQanE_ehyphenhyphenrwZUj1U4u8DHveXy6BWf2GZNar0sDRZtkiHCCzQmerVf-bZhQDsSsHXe05zeJp3RAS7NOotXiXSDnUK1k_IsjLaBvJjxAzyO_UkcjBKEmYuUTA/s1600/infinity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRGmWsp1NxNQN_TlQkF3CrmQanE_ehyphenhyphenrwZUj1U4u8DHveXy6BWf2GZNar0sDRZtkiHCCzQmerVf-bZhQDsSsHXe05zeJp3RAS7NOotXiXSDnUK1k_IsjLaBvJjxAzyO_UkcjBKEmYuUTA/s320/infinity.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Sherrilyn Kenyon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about
the world around him. Streetwise, tough, and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the
stuff of legends…until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved
by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, the
teenaged Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark Hunters: immortal vampire
slayers who risk everything to save humanity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for
a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football
team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake
the undead. But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his
fellow students are turning into flesh-eating zombies—and he’s next on the
menu. As if starting high school isn’t hard enough…now Nick has to hide his new
friends from his mom, his chain saw from the principal, and keep the zombies
and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or
suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I picked up the audiobook version of this popular YA series,
and was impressed by the narrator. This book has plenty of snark, attitude, and
supernatural beings. Nick Gautier is a kid who would do anything to please his
mom, tries his best to not let the kids as his fancy prep school get him down
for being poor, and is doing what he can to figure out a whole new world where
he discovers zombies, werewolves, vampires, and vampire hunters exist…and maybe
possibly demons and gods. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This book had plenty of teenage southern sass in it, which
probably wouldn’t come across as well to someone who just read the book versus
someone who listened to the audiobook. As a whole, this book was entertaining
and introduced some mysteries to hook readers into figuring out just what the
future holds for Nick. My biggest hang up about it was the swearing and the
tone. If it weren’t for Nick’s near constant sarcasm, this book would be too
dark for me. As it stands, I’ll not be reading the rest of the series. The
sexual comments, liberal profanity, and demons, murdering, and the promise of
even more mayhem as the series progresses turned off my desire to continue the
series. However, if you like horror, demons, sassy southerners, immortals, and
mysteries, you should probably pick this up. It’s a fast paced good read if you
don’t mind the above mentioned content. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give it a 3 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-79862710531243914352016-06-17T16:48:00.001-07:002016-06-17T16:48:34.016-07:00Ranger's Apprentice The Early Years: The Tournament at Gorlan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqeL_SLflI0ZYqPAEWWA_o6RCkNrjmNmcuSwI0s6Z_PxkkgdVfl7euUr0Mct6a73urwRePF02OqqJzoIcB6W6pHoXdSdinFhr3kws3OuHA7NUZM0vOZOp2_-Ye6UQt1wta05PmIDCOEw/s1600/tournament+at+gorlan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCqeL_SLflI0ZYqPAEWWA_o6RCkNrjmNmcuSwI0s6Z_PxkkgdVfl7euUr0Mct6a73urwRePF02OqqJzoIcB6W6pHoXdSdinFhr3kws3OuHA7NUZM0vOZOp2_-Ye6UQt1wta05PmIDCOEw/s320/tournament+at+gorlan.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By John Flanagan<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When Halt and Crowley discover that the ambitious Morgarath
has been infiltrating the Rangers in order to corrupt the Corps, the young
Rangers travel north to find Prince Duncan, seeking a royal warrant to stop
Morgarath before it is too late. By weakening the Ragners, the most powerful
force in support of the King, Morgarath plans to steal the throne. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yet when Halt and Crowley arrive in Gorlan, they discover
just how close Morgarath has a plan to discredit the Prince and alienate him
from his father. At the same time, the Baron of Gorlan has been conspiring to
win the trust and admiration of the Council of Barons to further his plan. If
the young Rangers are to prevent the coup from succeeding, they will have to
tread a dangerous path, which leads them to a thrilling climax at the annual
tournament at Gorlan, where a series of bitter duels must be fought and won.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This origin story brings readers to a time before Will was
an apprentice, and lays the groundwork for the epic battles that will culminate
with The Ruins of Gorlan and The Burning Bridge. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
YES!!! I love you forever and ever Mr. Flanagan for giving
me more Ranger’s Apprentice! Especially since this new series, (yes series!) is
all about my man Halt. If you read The Lost Stories, you know the story called
The Hibernian, which explains how Halt came to know Crowley and also how he was
trained as a Ranger. This book picks up where The Hibernian leaves off, and
brings us right into the rise of the evil Morgarath and his plot to take over
Araluen. We’ve got sword fights, torture, revenge, chases, escapes, true love…well
it’s not the Princess Bride, but it’s just as good! I love this series, and I’ll
recommend it to pretty much anybody who likes a warm friendship filled adventure.
Keep ‘em coming Mr. Flanagan!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
It gets a 4 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-58686814842287731002016-06-17T16:46:00.000-07:002016-06-17T16:46:45.571-07:00Magnus Chase: The Sword of Summer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeHcUUUghZr2SWqySh00htCWe1koVhTSZJFNAKewD4bIccvB6PpIAlLruejt2CL1dgyJPDGkkh9HRJ0WiQyIp0JiDxztZv9cz02lwQv_k_PwQaAu5evsgHDVD8VCgJSIrVCZi89b-Gjk/s1600/magnus+chase+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFeHcUUUghZr2SWqySh00htCWe1koVhTSZJFNAKewD4bIccvB6PpIAlLruejt2CL1dgyJPDGkkh9HRJ0WiQyIp0JiDxztZv9cz02lwQv_k_PwQaAu5evsgHDVD8VCgJSIrVCZi89b-Gjk/s320/magnus+chase+1.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Rick Riordan<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his
mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving
by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day, he’s tracked down by an uncle he barely knows—a man
his mother claimed was dangerous. Uncle Randolph tells him an impossible
secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing
for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To
prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been
lost for thousands of years.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between
his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal
decision.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I cannot say how excited I was when I learned that Rick
Riordan would be doing another series based on Norse mythology. Admittedly, I
only had a basic knowledge of the Norse god family tree, but I was on
tenterhooks wondering just who Magnus’s godly parent would be. After all, that’s
part of the fun right? I was not disappointed in Riordan’s choice, in fact I was
downright ecstatic! Not what I was expecting, but I’m excited to see where
Magnus will go with that pedigree. (No spoilers I promise!) I also enjoyed the
fact that Riordan tied this series into the Percy Jackson series with Annabeth
being Magnus’s cousin. Nice. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you enjoyed Percy Jackson, definitely give Magnus a go.
You get a new look at the more well-known gods like Thor, Loki, and Odin, made
popular by the Avengers and Thor movies. Which also get a pop culture mention
that made me laugh. This book stays more true to the mythology and not the
comic-ology that most people know. It’s a fun rollick around the nine realms,
meeting different species like dwarves and elves. It was pretty awesome people.
Just read this and try not to like it. Although, it may help to do a Wikipedia search
of the basics of Norse mythology before you start. It makes it more fun to read
when you have a working idea of the story behind the story. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I give it a solid 4 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-40339794143806434442016-06-17T16:44:00.001-07:002016-06-17T16:44:55.425-07:00The Tapestry book 4: The Maelstrom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3fe_l5X1sbxHK4r49vHrTcqCLL-sxxYfaB33Pvz5_5z3kDcZwOs-ACIn-MRFYLRW5R9XKU4Z0m_cX5djXTKgZ4qOjSeFY8uljO8Yg02jGQt6s1pfHFGeChdRYHUzApndahEUDHSysa8/s1600/the+maelstrom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3fe_l5X1sbxHK4r49vHrTcqCLL-sxxYfaB33Pvz5_5z3kDcZwOs-ACIn-MRFYLRW5R9XKU4Z0m_cX5djXTKgZ4qOjSeFY8uljO8Yg02jGQt6s1pfHFGeChdRYHUzApndahEUDHSysa8/s1600/the+maelstrom.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Henry Neff<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The world is at the brink of ruin…or is it salvation?
Astaroth has been weakened, and the demon Prusias is taking full advantage of
the situation to create and empire of his own. His formidable armies are on the
move, and Rowan is in their sights. Rowan must rely on Max McDaniels and David
Menlo and hope that their combined powers can stop Prusias’s war machine before
it’s too late. But even as perils loom, danger stalks their every move. Someone
has marked Max for death and no one is above suspicion. Should the assassins
succeed, Rowan’s fate may depend on little Mina whose abilities are prodigious
but largely untested. And where is Astaroth? Has he fled this world or is he
biding his time, awaiting his next opportunity?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Henry Neff created a pretty awesome world when he began The
Tapestry series. It was compared to Harry Potter when it first appeared, and
was one of the many ‘magical boarding school’ novels to come out after Harry
Potter. What makes The Tapestry special, is that it’s a series you honestly can’t
predict. It’s got mythological creatures, secret warrior guilds, gods and
demons, and so many twists and turns that it makes me giddy to read them. I
still don’t think I’ll ever get over the third book’s well scene. That’s all I’m
saying. Creepy. As. Heck. But awesome! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Finally I was able to grab the audiobook and listen to The
Maelstrom (book 4) as I commuted to work and back every day. I had forgotten
how much I love this series. It also made it great that the narrator was really
good. The goblin voices were spot on, as well as Prusias’s oily voice. One of
the things that genuinely surprised and delighted me was how this world that
was created by Neff fell to demons. The good guys didn’t win, they’ve been
hanging on for dear life and fighting for it for nearly the whole series. Max
and David have gone on a secret mission to discover what they can about a
supposed weapon that the demon Prusias has commissioned to destroy Rowan before
they go to war. It’s a break neck ride and more than once I was afraid for the
lives of my favorite characters. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This story is involved, and the penultimate novel in the
series, ending with a war for Rowan’s survival. It’s amazing and crazy good. My
only criticism is that the 5<sup>th</sup> and final book of the series is only
available in e-book format! Gah! I want it now, but have to save my pennies to
buy it on my kindle. It’s one of those stories that I want to finish, but am
also afraid to finish because I don’t want it to be over. I’m stretching this
out as long as I can stand!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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I give it a 4.25 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-85491893776847401732016-06-17T16:43:00.000-07:002016-06-17T16:43:00.609-07:00The One Thing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRx-3_VF0crXqiMMhk8T5OsFdWylUAn7SqMkr8Y_PGSxEtbYSm3EThKA18Y59mIR79_V15eL16lY2oj5WQpKljrqEWewI3yibGTUjfdgRAbEzs7oXr8mE5R1F37Cc3lcX5axdteF-86dw/s1600/the+one+thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRx-3_VF0crXqiMMhk8T5OsFdWylUAn7SqMkr8Y_PGSxEtbYSm3EThKA18Y59mIR79_V15eL16lY2oj5WQpKljrqEWewI3yibGTUjfdgRAbEzs7oXr8mE5R1F37Cc3lcX5axdteF-86dw/s1600/the+one+thing.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Marci Lyn Curtis<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maggie Sanders might be blind but she won’t invite anyone to
her pity party. Ever since losing her sight six months ago, Maggie’s rebellious
streak has taken on a life of its own, culminating with an elaborate school
prank. Maggie called it genius. The judge called it illegal. Now Maggie has a
probation officer. But she isn’t interested in rehabilitation, not when she’s
still mourning the loss of her professional-soccer dreams, and furious at her
so-called friends, who lost interest in her as soon as she could no longer lead
the team to victory. Then Maggie’s whole world is turned upside down. Somehow,
incredibly, she can see again. But only one person: Ben, a precocious
ten-year-old unlike anyone she’s ever met. Ben’s life isn’t easy, but he
doesn’t see limits, only possibilities. After awhile, Maggie starts to realize
that losing her sight doesn’t have to mean losing everything she dreamed of.
Even if what she’s currently dreaming of is mason Milton, the magnetic lead
singer of Maggie’s new favorite band, who just happens to be Ben’s brother. But
when she learns the real reason she can see Ben, Maggie must find the courage
to face a once-unimaginable future…before she loses everything she has grown to
love. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I read this with high expectations, and was a tad let down.
The interesting thing about this book, the mystery that you keep reading trying
to figure out (why Maggie can see Ben and no one else) is a let-down. While you
do find out why she can see Ben, it’s a superficial explanation and doesn’t
really answer ‘how’. This is a story that isn’t concerned with detailing the
fantasy aspect of the novel, but focuses on the moral and coming-of-age
implications of the plot. I found that irritating and a cop-out. Even a one
paragraph explanation of how she can see Ben would’ve made me a lot happier.
With that said, I did enjoy learning a little more about blindness and how
people are taught to live with it and function as normally as they can. I enjoy
learning that way and was intrigued when I came across information I didn’t know.
The love story was okay, but this was more of Maggie’s story of learning to
live with a disability that changed her dreams and focus in life. It was pretty
run of the mill for a YA novel though. Nothing really exciting or noteworthy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I give it a 3 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-59406612952787461362016-06-17T16:41:00.000-07:002016-06-17T16:41:09.848-07:00Flora and Ulysses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf6LyyleJ_OMLjGw1Lt0EqYvvrZjq2WpJ8B340FINVQRpZ1pBOX-fl-Ppjp5un7msGt1hU7PTQ5UWC1FLEc28k-VDqedswxSB-5o19rqgUuS4gF0GhAoU6nVzTP8_DbakDcZXCgjyy1s/s1600/flora+and+ulysses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCf6LyyleJ_OMLjGw1Lt0EqYvvrZjq2WpJ8B340FINVQRpZ1pBOX-fl-Ppjp5un7msGt1hU7PTQ5UWC1FLEc28k-VDqedswxSB-5o19rqgUuS4gF0GhAoU6nVzTP8_DbakDcZXCgjyy1s/s320/flora+and+ulysses.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Kate DiCamillo<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The 2014 Newbery Medal winner. Holy unanticipated
occurrences! This is a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing
characters and featuring an exciting new format—a novel interspersed with
comic-style graphic sequences and full-page illustrations, all rendered in
black and white by K.G. Campbell.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tackling hard themes, Kate DiCamillo introduces little
Flora, a girl with a big imagination, divorced parents, intriguing neighbors,
and a super-powered squirrel she names Ulysses. Be ready to follow the meeting
and friendship of Flora and Ulysses with a ready smile and a thoughtful heart.
This is a story of belonging, loyalty, and learning just what really matters in
life. There’s a definite reason this book won a Newbery. My only disclaimer is
that the mother smokes quite heavily and also is a writer of romance novels,
which comes into play in a few minor instances. I suggest this book for older
kids at least 12 and up just for some of the more mature themes of divorce and
relationships. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I give it a 4 out of 5<o:p></o:p></div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8420256848349012147.post-81735130742717127132016-06-17T16:39:00.000-07:002016-06-17T16:39:33.540-07:00The One and Only Ivan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxX53Mx_t9izI5MkRrNcRPwH6ykB6PO94qfBIrPhhVXxDbrd6eaI86Zal7EAHPATR4968iqkkxPLuFZx6wFi00CivxSjK_ChqHWwZBD8_1_RADPv_44JIyGfj1UkdH2hKyAjpL8i1ay8/s1600/the+one+and+only+ivan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxX53Mx_t9izI5MkRrNcRPwH6ykB6PO94qfBIrPhhVXxDbrd6eaI86Zal7EAHPATR4968iqkkxPLuFZx6wFi00CivxSjK_ChqHWwZBD8_1_RADPv_44JIyGfj1UkdH2hKyAjpL8i1ay8/s320/the+one+and+only+ivan.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
By Katherine Applegate<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Winner of the 2013 Newberry Medal and a #1 New York Times
Bestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author
Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected
friendships. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan,
this illustrated novel is told from the point-of-view of Ivan himself. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Having spent 27 years behind the glass walls of his
enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him.
He hardly ever thinks about his life if the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies
himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he
meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their
home, and his art, through new eyes.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is a sweet story of an artist named Ivan. Ivan happens
to be a gorilla that lives in a small mall zoo. His paintings are sold to
tourists and he is pretty content with his life and his friends. Bob is the
mutt that stays with him sometimes, sleeping on Ivan’s belly at night. Stella
is the old and wise elephant that is Ivan’s best friend. Then things start
changing around the mall. A new baby elephant is sent there, and Stella makes
Ivan promise to take care of her. In this short novel we come to care for and
cheer for Ivan, Stella, and Bob, along with their human friends who band
together to save baby Ruby, and in turn just might find a better life for
themselves as well. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
4 out of 5</div>
bookjunkiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08917775119914305753noreply@blogger.com0