Ramblings

Another Thanksgiving has come and gone. My resolution to sit back and read while my now grown daughter cooked also came and went. While she is a wonderful cook, it is so very hard for me to just sit back and watch and not jump in to help as well as add my "way" of doing things. Plus it was at my home and after a few near misses, I was concerned about my cooking equipment. So I got a total of 1 book read this weekend. I am not happy with myself about this. I will be stronger in my resolve for Christmas!

Book Review - Croak by Gina Damico

Croak by Gina Damico

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Lexington Bartlby is having a bad day. Well, make that a bad year. Okay, make that a bad two years. Since she turned 14, two years ago, Lexi has been working very hard to turn her squeaky,clean image into one of a troubled, trouble-making teen. The problem is, Lexi just can't figure out why she is doing the things she does. Lexi's parents have put up with the fighting, swearing, and even petty thieving that have become everyday occurrences around the Bartlby house. But with her senior year staring her in the face, they have decide it is time for a change. For Lexi this means being shipped off to Croak to live with her Uncle Mort. When Lexi hits Croak, she quickly finds out Uncle Mort has an agenda of his own. He is going to train Lexi in the family business, reaping souls. Lexi soon finds out there are worse things out there than her.
I really enjoyed this book. However, for the first couple of chapters it is really hard to like Lexi no matter how much you try. There is no explanation as to why she is so bad. But once Uncle Mort roars in on his motorcycle things started to pick up. He gives back to Lexi as much as she dishes out. The other quirky characters who live in Croak also bring humor to the story. Through her interaction with them and Uncle Mort we see why Lexi acts as she does and gain understanding and a little more sympathy for her. I am now anxiously awaiting the next installment of Croak.
For teen readers 12+ due to violence and language.



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Book Review - Agent Amelia: Zombie Cows by Michael Broad

Agent Amelia: Zombie Cows by Michael Broad

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Amelia Kidd is once again saving the world from evil geniuses and criminal masterminds. This time she is up against zombie cows; mad music teachers; and ex-supermodels turned bakers. With the help of her trusty backpack, crazy gadgets and truly terrific disguises, she foils her enemies plans for world domination time and time again. Always on the lookout for people carrying black briefcases (because evil geniuses and criminal masterminds always carry briefcases to keep their fiendish plans in) she protects the world day in and day out, even though she doesn't work for the government of anything.

Amelia is a fun character for those intermediate readers who may not be ready for Matilda just yet but want some adventure. With short chapters, these books are also good for emerging readers who want chapter books but are not ready for the longer fiction books. I recommend these books for ages 8 - 10.



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Book Review - Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Clearly Brian Selznick has created his own type of storytelling. With the use of pictures and words, he takes us through a story that tugs at our heartstrings and makes us look at the world a whole lot differently than when we began reading Wonderstruck. Using pictures, he tells us the story of a young girl in 1927 Hoboken, New Jersey. Her emotions are so plainly drawn, we feel her fear and loneliness through the pages. Using text, Selznick also tells us the story of Ben, a young boy growing up in Gunflint Lake, Minnesota in 1977. Ben is also a lonely, frightened child who finds himself searching for where he belongs. Wielding his usual magic, Selznick carries through each child's story, bring them together in an ending which will make your heart sing and your eyes cry at the same time.
I recommend this book for people of all ages, old and young, who love a good story.



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Book Review - Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Peter Nimble is a blind. Everyone knows that blind children make the best thieves. With keen ears that hear the smallest sound, and fingers that are nimble and small enough to slip in almost any lock, they are able to get in anywhere and get out before anyone notices they were there. Peter is the best of these thieves. As a matter of fact, he is the greatest thief who ever lived. And as an added bonus, Peter is an orphan with no parents to care about him or miss him. At first, Peter is forced to work for an evil man, who makes Peter steel treasure for him everyday. Until one day, Peter meets a mysterious man selling hats. This is where Peter's life changes and he is thrust into a fantastical world where an orphan thief just might be king.

I really, really enjoyed this book. At first, I was wondering about a book that opens with the line "Now, for those of you who know anything about blind children, you are aware they make the very best thieves" and describes ravens pecking out Peter's eyes. But as I read on, I became enamored of Peter and his plight. I quickly started rooting for Peter in his efforts to find his place in the world. With each new twist of the plot, I became more engrossed in the story. However, due to some of the bloodier content in the book, I would only recommend it for children 10 and up. This is an especially good book for boys who like adventure.



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Book Review - Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter by Martha Rustad

Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter by Martha E. H. Rustad

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Animals in Fall: Preparing for Winter is an upgraded version of Martha Rustad's Animals in Fall. By changing the real-life photos to illustrations and adding more details to the text, this book has been bumped up from a picture book to an easy reader. The illustrations added are colorful and eye catching while not taking away from the text. Added informational text boxes allow for parent participation in reading this book with their children. The child can read the simple text on each of the subjects, while the parent can add the information contained in these text boxes. Adding new animals, information, and even an activity in which children can see what it feels like to have blubber, have boosted this books enjoyment level.



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Book Review - Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer by Maureen McGowan

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer by Maureen McGowan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Princess Lucette's world is one of darkness and loneliness. Cursed at birth, Lucette is awake only during the night while the rest of the kingdom is asleep. To make matters worse, the one who cursed Lucette is the Vampire Queen of the neighboring kingdom. Now it is up to Lucette alone to defend her subjects during the night against vampire attacks. Will Lucette be able to keep her kingdom safe? Will she spend the rest of her life alone in the dark? You get to choose the path Lucette takes in this wonderful version of Sleeping Beauty. So choose well and maybe Princess Lucette will live happily ever after.

With wonderful characterization of the fairytale Sleeping Beauty, McGowen gives the old tale a new twist by adding vampires to the mix. Now instead of lying asleep waiting for the kiss of true love, Princess Lucette gets to stake a few vampires along the way. Which she does with great skill. Being able to choose which way the story goes allows the reader to read this wonderful story again and again, with the same outcome just different journeys getting there.



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