Frindle

Frindle by Andrew Clements

(Summary taken from the inside book jacket) "Everyone knows that Mrs. Granger, Nicholas Allen's fifth-grade teacher, has X-ray vision, and nobody gets away with anything in her classroom. To make matters worse, she's also a fanatic about the dictionary, which is hopelessly boring to Nick. But when Nick learns an interesting tidbit about words and where they come from, it inspires a great plan: to invent a new word. From now on, a pen is no longer a pen--it's a frindle. It doesn't take long for frindle to take root, and soon the excitement spreads well beyond his school and town. His parents and Mrs. Granger would like Nick to put an end to all this nonsense. But frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. All he can do now is sit back and watch what happens."

I had never heard of this book before, and then my friend reviewed in on goodreads. I thought it would be great for my boys (4th and 5th grades), and when I asked them if they had read it, they both said, "Yes!" That doesn't usually happen. I had no idea. Anyway, they had both read it, so I picked it up and started reading. It is so cute and fun! I read it in one sitting, so it's a very fast and easy read. It's very imaginative, and I think it teaches kids a great lesson about words, about using your imagination, and also about how one person can make a difference. I love Nick's character. He is witty, imaginative, and funny. I also liked Mrs. Granger because of the teacher in me. I loved how the word just took off, and it reminded me of when I was in high school and "like" was just beginning to be used more, and how  my drama teacher pounded it into our heads not to use it. Unfortunately, she was not able to stop the "like" movement, but that's okay. The word frindle took off in the same way. What a fun idea! This woud be a great read-aloud, but it's also great for a silent read.

It's a clean read, so it's great for everyone, which I like!

Rating: G (Clean!)

Recommendation: 5 years and up (I have a four-year-old, and I don't know if she would quite understand it yet.) as a read-aloud. I think it's about a third grade reading level for a silent read.

[Book Review] Emma by Jane Austen

Emma

by

Jane Austen

Blurb:

"Pretty, rich Emma Woodhouse loves to meddle and is sure she knows best when it comes to love. So why not play cupid and bring couples together? But Emma sometimes interferes too much in her friends' lives. And none of the men Emma knows meet her own high standards for a husband. Will her good intentions ruin other people's chance for love? Is there a man who can truly understand Emma and win her heart?"

My Review:

I love Jane Austen! I love the language, the flow, the characters, and the stories. I get sucked into the time period and find myself living in a world very different from our own. This book is no different. I read it when I was in junior high, so it has been awhile. It did take a few pages to get back into the language, but then I really enjoyed it. Emma drove me crazy because she always had her nose in someone else's business, but she was adorable at the same time. Her father seemed old and cranky, but she loved him and took good care of him. The characters are so fun. I could just picture the neighborhood and each individual personality living there. I thought a lot about what they do with all their time. They don't speak a whole lot about work, and yet they can afford big estates and servants. What did they do for work? What did they do with all their time? Sometimes I wish we could go back to a more quiet time like that. No tv or video games, no texting or soccer/dance/basketball/piano lessons. Just living and enjoying the moment. That would be nice. Then again, maybe not. I love most of our modern day conveniences. The story is somewhat slow moving, but that is what I like about Jane Austen books. I love that I can read and get caught up in her world.

The reason I read this particular edition of Emma was to showcase the new artwork on the cover. I really like it, and think it embodies the time period well. It is published by Splinter New York, and illustrated by Sara Singh.

Rating: PG (Only brief kissing and flirting)

Recommendation: 13 and up (I think I read it about age 13, and I loved it.)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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First published: 2/25/13, Updated: 12/15/17

The Light Bridge Legacy (#1) Destiny's Call

The Light Bridge Legacy (#1) Destiny's Call by Elayne G. James

(Summary taken from an email the publisher sent me) " [Destiny's Call] is book one in a YA series that chronicles the adventures of an American girl who learns just before her twelfth birthday that she has been chosen by a race of ancients in Peru to inherit the most powerful magical object in the world. Her move from the Mojave Desert to NYC in book one, parallels her inner journey from sheltered little girl to self-assured young woman, and her growing magical abilities intermittently aid her and get her in trouble. The underlining themes of overcoming fear and embracing who you really are, will resonate with anyone who has had to overcome adversity while trying to find their place in the world."

I really enjoyed this book. It took me by surprise and hooked me from the beginning. I liked Ms. James' writing style. I thought it flowed well, was easy to read and understand, and had just enough mystery to keep me reading. It was  a little confusing, at times, because some of the characters have unusual names, and there are some fantastical words introduced. It took me awhile to get the hang of some of it, but once I did, I read it quickly. It is fantasy, which I like, and there are some different worlds that brush paths. Not alien-like. I don't do aliens, usually, but this is different than that. I liked the characters a lot. I especially liked Ani and Kahete. I liked the parents at the beginning, but didn't like the dad at all towards the end of the book. I'm still not sure what I think of CJ. Sometimes I liked her and sometimes I didn't. I felt bad for her and her circumstances, but didn't approve of a lot of what she did. I found Kahete intriguing and wished there had been more about him.  Sophia also intrigued me. I wanted to know more about her, and her magic, as well. I liked the story and thought the lesson of finding yourself in a big world was very pertinent to today. I didn't like the decision that Ani made without her father's permission. I hope that doesn't give any young adults reason to make similar decisions. I worried about it when I read it, but then when I started to think of other books I have enjoyed where younger characters make similar decisions, I felt better about it. Still, when my children read this we will definitely chat about not making that choice.

This book is fairly clean. There is some language, some stealing, and a domestic violence scene. A man attacks a 13 year-old girl. It is violent, but it is not a rape, and the girl gets out okay. She is injured, but heals fine. There are also a few sketchy choices made by Ani and CJ: disobedience, lying, that kind of thing.

The ending of this book definitely leaves you hanging. I am excited to read book #2, and I would recommend this book, with the previous warnings.

Rating: PG-13 (some language, stealing, a domestic violence scene, and some sketchy choices)

Recommendation: 13 years and up. I think a 13 year-old will be able to handle everything that happens. I would recommend that parents read it first to make sure it is appropriate for their child. Each child is different.

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. 

The Kitchen House

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

(Summary taken from the back cover) "Orphaned while onboard ship from Ireland, seven-year-old Lavinia arrives on the steps of a tobacco plantation where she is to live and work with the slaves of the kitchen house. Under the care of Belle, the master's illegitimate daughter, Lavinia becomes deeply bonded to her adopted family, though she is set apart from them by her white skin. Eventually, Lavinia is accepted into the world of the big house, where the master is absent and the mistress battles opium addiction. Lavinia finds herself perilously straddling two very different worlds. When she is forced to make a choice, loyalties are brought into question, dangerous truths are laid bare, and lives are put at risk."

If you are looking for a light-hearted, fun read, this book is not for you. Wow. It's a very interesting look into the lives of slaves, and the family, on a tobacco plantation. I found it very intriguing that not only was there a class system between the white people and the slaves, but also amongst the slaves themselves. The slaves who worked in "the big house" were treated better than those who worked the fields. They received different food rations and better living conditions. I found the treatment of all the slaves detestable. It surprised me that the women of the house were not treated much better than the slaves were. It seemed that they, too, felt like prisoners in their own homes. I felt bad for Lavinia. She was put in a very difficult position because of her circumstances. One day they treat her like a slave and the next day they expect her to be a "lady" and know everything about that. They also expect her to forget any relationship she may have had with the people around her. Ugh.  I did not like Marshall. He is evil. And so is Rankin. And so is Mr. Waters. I loved Belle, Mama, Papa, Dory, Uncle, and Lavinia. I also liked Mr. and Mrs. Madden. Ben was an interesting character. He definitely had his faults, but he seemed to do the best that he knew how.  I didn't realize that drug addiction was so prevalent in the 1800's. And, just be prepared for a very depressing ending. Sorry, it is what it is. I don't think a happy ending really would have fit with the rest of the book, but oh my, did it need to be that sad???

This book is well written. The character development is really good. I did get confused with all the characters, but I figured it out by the end. I liked the writing style and read it quite easily and quickly. There is language in this book along with many other atrocities. I don't know if everything that happened was typical of slave/plantation life, but if it was, I'm very glad I didn't live during that time. There were rapes, murders, and beatings along with domestic violence, drug addiction, and death. Sounds happy, right?

I liked the book, but did not love it. It was a lot to take in. I'm glad I read it because it helped me see a different point of view of our country's history. I would recommend it with the previous warnings.

Rating: R (This does not follow the movie ratings, exactly, it is just my way of saying that it is NOT appropriate for younger readers.) Rape, murder, domestic violence, abuse, beatings, language, intimacy.

Recommendation: 18 and up. I would recommend that parents read it first, because each child is different.

When a Dragon Moves In

When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore

(Summary taken from the inside book jacket) "If you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move in--and that's exactly what happens to one very lucky boy on the beach. The boy and his dragon brave the waves, roast marshmallows, roam the shore, and have a perfectly amazing time together. but when the boy tries to share the news of his magnificent dragon, no one believes him. That's when the mischief begins. The dragon devours every last sandwich, blows bubbles in the lemonade, and leaves claw prints in the brownies. Is there really a dragon running around on the beach, or is someone's imagination running wild?"

My daughter brought this book home from the school library a few days ago, and I was hooked from the first page. The illustrations are amazing! Brightly colored pages draw you in, and you stare, captivated, until the end. And, then you want more. It's a really cute story, and it hit home for me because my sons loved dragons when they were little. I could totally see this happening to my oldest. And, I could understand each and every reaction from the parents. I could also see myself in the sister. Hahaha. I know it's hard to believe, but I have been accused of being a bit too serious at times. I need a few more dragons in my castles sometimes! I may need to purchase this book! I just want to read it over and over.

Yes, I love this book, and yes, I wholeheartedly recommend it!

Rating: G (Clean!!!)

Recommendation: Great for everyone 0 to 125!

By The Seat Of Her Pants

By The Seat Of Her Pants by Jenifer Rubloff

(Summary taken from an email the author sent me)  "When Betsy Butters, American teen, vacations in Paris, from her Swiss boarding school, Château Mont Blanc, she expects to fall in love with the city, but never, with intelligent and handsome French teen, Alex Petrov. While Alex shows Betsy the city of Paris, they learn about their common likes and experiences, most teens their ages don’t share, and Betsy learns about the Petrov family’s loss in life and fortune. Betsy returns to Château Mont Blanc’s winter campus, in Crans-Montana, and makes a connection between her school and the Petrov’s chalets, misappropriated during WWII. When she experiences a freak ski accident, Interpol’s Inspector Bernard questions if it wasn’t really intentional, and what Betsy has done to cause someone to wish her bodily harm. Unflappable Betsy sets off a chain of events that puts her on a collision course with the thieves out to find the missing Petrov fortune. After more than seventy years of searching, will the treasure be recovered, and will Betsy’s detective work motivate someone to rid himself of her uncanny talents? Inspector Bernard has no clue what curious Betsy may uncover next, and worries how he will protect her until the school year ends."

This is a cute little story. I liked the characters, especially Betsy, Maria, Alex, Chip, and the Inspector. I thought they were fairly well developed and were very likable. I also liked Maria's family.  I got confused with all the girls back at school, but there were a few likable characters there as well. I liked the premise of the book, but was confused in a few places because I did not read the first book. Although it is mostly a stand-alone novel, I think it would help to read the first book. I liked Ms. Rubloff's descriptions of Paris and Switzerland, and her descriptions of the yummy food they ate. However, I did feel bombarded with descriptions and information, some of the time, and it made the book feel more like a travelogue than a novel. It almost felt like she was just trying to throw in as much information as possible.

I did enjoy the story, but I definitely think this book needs some editing. There were many punctuation, grammatical, and spelling errors that made it less enjoyable to read. The dialogue in the book drove me crazy. When the characters spoke, they always called each other by name, and in a real-life conversation that doesn't usually happen. You might use the person's name to get her attention, but after that you don't need to use her name in  each sentence. The other thing that bothered me was that the first half of the book is all about Betsy and her friend Maria in Paris. In my mind, if you invite someone to your home for Christmas break, you are really close friends. After the girls get back to Switzerland, Maria is barely mentioned, and when she is, it is more of a side note. I felt bad for Maria because she did so much for Betsy, and then Betsy didn't even acknowledge her back at school. I also didn't understand what the first part of the book had to do with the story if Maria wasn't involved in the second half. I guess it would be because of Alex. It was also hard to determine which language was being used, because Maria's family spoke Spanish, Betsy spoke English, and Alex spoke French, with a lot of French being used while they were in France. It was a little confusing sometimes.

This book was clean except for the random insertion of this awful story where Betsy is kidnapped and horrible things were done to her. I'm guessing it happened in the first book and Betsy was referencing it, but it seemed random and violent to me.

If you're looking for a cute story and some fun characters, then I recommend this book. Keep in mind my drawbacks, but I did enjoy the story.

Rating: PG-13+ (A graphic couple of paragraphs about Betsy being kidnapped, mild language)

Recommendation: 16 years and up. (I'd say 13 years and up if it weren't for those kidnapping paragraphs)

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Puppet Parade

Puppet Parade by Zeinab Alayan

(Summary taken from goodreads.com) "The life of a puppet master is never ordinary. Oliver Deere knew this when he ran away from home to take up the trade of puppetry, but he had no idea just how much his life would change. After his puppets come to life and flee town, Oliver meets up with a masked girl who hides a mysterious past.

As they travel together in search for Oliver's lost puppets, they find that the line between puppet and master is becoming much less clear - and much more deadly.

When Oliver and his companion enter the strange world of The Parade, they begin to realise that their journey will lead them to discover the truth behind a dangerous villain's path, and in the end, discover more about each other."

I have to be honest. I did not like this book at first. I didn't like the puppets' language, especially. I didn't feel connected to Oliver or Sophie. I didn't like the puppets because they were crude and mean. I didn't understand why Oliver would create such detestable characters. I really couldn't tell where Oliver was, or where Sophie was. And, when did this book take place? Is this modern day or 200 years ago? Not knowing these details made it hard to get into. I could not wait for this book to be finished. Had I not been reviewing it, I probably would not have finished. But then something happened. I kept reading and I got picked up by The Parade. I found a softer side of Oliver and Sophie, and really came to like them. I even found myself liking some of the puppets. The puppets' language got a little better, and I found myself immersed in The Parade. Yep, I got sucked in. The different towns in The Parade fascinated me, and I wanted to know how it all worked. I wanted to know what was in the Fog and who was in charge. And, the ending did not disappoint. It wasn't what I expected, but I thought it fit well and it all came together. I liked how the two worlds came together. I didn't understand, really, but, I am not a magician. If I could pick, you'd find me with Sophie in the library and the college.

This book does have quite a bit of language in it. Like I said, the puppets have "potty" mouths. It gets better as the story goes on, but the beginning is full of it. There is some violence, especially in the Violence Town. That part was quite graphic and awful. Thankfully, it was a short stay in that town, because it was shocking. Sophie and Oliver fight others (sorry....can't give it away), and that isn't too bad. There is some light kissing and some hints at intimacy, but it never happens. There are a few spelling and grammatical errors as well.

I ended up enjoying this book. It has some fun twists and surprises, and is very creative. I haven't ever read anything like it. I would recommend it, with the previous warnings.

Rating: PG-13+ (Language, violence--including graphic murders)

Recommendation: 16 years and up. As always, I recommend parents read it first to see if it is appropriate for their child.

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back

 

 

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

 

(Summary taken from an email the author sent me)

Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

I loved this book! It caught me off guard and just drew me in. I liked Ms. Wilson's writing style a lot. It is witty, well written, and fun. I really liked the characters, especially Mattie, Ella, and Jake. I loved Tilly's wit and candor, and that she was normal, just like I was in high school: not especially pretty and definitely not popular. Nerdy, yes; talented, yes; unnoticed, yes; but fine with it, yes. Ella is the girl everyone wants to be in high school, but, unfortunately, there aren't very many Ellas around. It's hard to be perfect. And Jake sounds dreamy. If I didn't already have my prince charming, I'd probably want to steal Jake. I also enjoyed the storyline. This book has almost everything you could want. It has high school drama (which I would never want to do again, thank you very much........I hate girl drama, and high school drama is even worse), romance, revenge, sister bonding, and so much more. There are a few surprises, and some fun twists.  There are also some good "Ahhhhhhhh" moments. You know, where every girl in the room says, "Ahhhhhhh." So cute! There are a few spelling and grammatical errors, but not enough to distract you from the story.  

 

Also, this book is clean! I can't remember any language, there's no "physical intimacy," besides some kissing, and no violence, except some mean high school pranks. Yay! I love a true young adult book.

 

Rating: PG+ (High school drama, some mean pranks, some kissing)

 

Recommendation: 13 years and up.

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Turn of Mind

Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante

(Summary taken from the inside book jacket) "Alice LaPlante's Turn of Mind is a spellbinding novel about the disintegration of a strong woman's mind and the unhinging of her family. Dr. Jennifer White, recently widowed and a newly retired orthopedic surgeon, is entering the beginning stages of dementia--where the impossibility of recognizing reality can be both a blessing and a curse. As the story opens, Jennifer's life-long friend and neighbor, Amanda, has been killed, and four fingers surgically removed. Dr. White is the prime suspect in the murder and she herself doesn't know if she did it or not. Narrated in her voice, fractured and eloquent, a picture emerges of the surprisingly intimate, complex alliance between this pair--two proud, forceful women who were at times each other's most formidable adversaries. The women's thirty-year friendship deeply entangled their families, and as the narrative unfolds we see that things were not always as the seemed. Jennifer's deceased husband, James, is clearly not the scion he was thought to be. Her two grown children--Mark, a lawyer, and Fiona, a professor, who now have power over their mother's medical and financial decisions respectively--have agendas of their own. And Magdalena, her brusque live-in caretaker, has a past she hides. As the investigation intensifies, a chilling question persists: is Dr. Jennifer White's shattered memory preventing her from revealing the truth or helping to hide it?"

Although some people may find this book a little slow, I found it intriguing and couldn't put it down. My grandpa had dementia, and I found this book to be true-to-life from a loved one's viewpoint. It brought back many memories of times I spent with my grandpa towards the end of his life. I loved Ms. LaPlante's writing style. It was a little difficult to understand at points, but that was because it was written from Jennifer's point of view. The story does not progress chronologically. It progresses as you see flashes of Jennifer's memory, and then you put the events together. People also confess things to Jennifer, because they don't think she will remember, and you are able to piece things together that way as well. The question of "Did she really do it?" nagged at me constantly and bothered me when I wasn't reading. Ms. LaPlante did a very good job crafting this story.

I will definitely treat people with dementia a little differently because of this book. It would be so hard to see only strangers where others see family and life-long friends. This is not a happy book. It is a bit of a downer, but worth the read. There is a bit of language, and a couple of "f" words at the very end of the book. There is a murder scene along with affairs, drug dealing, and fraud, among other things. I didn't love the ending, because I was really disappointed in someone, but it worked with the storyline. This is not a book I'll read again, but I'm glad I read it.

Rating: PG-13+ (Murder, language, affairs, drug dealing, fraud)

Recommendation: 18 years and up

Shifted Perspective

Shifted Perspective: Book One of The Tails of Change series by J. Bridger

(Summary taken from an email the author sent me)

"Caleb Byrne is a bright high school senior who has enough to deal with between college choices, taking care of his single dad, and dealing with his headstrong girlfriend Joanna and an eccentric set of cousins in California. He was managing to get by until the day he woke up a Cocker Spaniel. Even if it only happens monthly and is more embarrassing than painful, the so-called ability is something that he's anxious to be rid of.

He didn't realize his transformations would drag him into a hidden society of canine and lupine shape shifters as well as a family legacy he hates. To make matters worse, after moving to Los Angeles to learn more about his heritage from his Aunt Moira and his cousin Kalista, Caleb now struggles through life-and-death matters. He keeps angering the werewolves in charge of the shifter world, especially Kalista's boyfriend Peter, the Southern California alpha's son, who also happens to be grade-A sociopath. Worse, Caleb's floundering to keep his secret from Joanna.
While his family offers him some support, they may not be enough as Caleb realizes that the rules in shifter society---number one is supposed to be don't kill humans---are not so ironclad. Some werewolf out there is leaving a blood-soaked trail across the Midwest and it might just be with the alpha's blessing..."

This book surprised me. It's not really a spoof on other paranormal books, but it kind of is. Caleb's ability is not "cool" like a werewolf or anything, so you kind of need to read it with that in mind. I think it's supposed to be a little humorous, just because the situation he finds himself in is a little humorous. There is a more serious side to it, though, with people all over the country being killed by a rogue shifter. Caleb, Joanna, and Penny find themselves in a dangerous position, and it could have been fatal.

The book is written well, with the exception of a few spelling and grammatical errors. It flows well and is a fast, easy read. The characters are well developed and interesting. Even though Caleb's ability may be a bit corny, it is a nice change of pace, and I like that. I like Joanna, Penny, and Kalista as well. I felt for Caleb's dad, and can only imagine what went through his mind when he found out. I think he took it very well. The plot has a twist at the end that surprised me and definitely made me want to read the next book.

There is some language in this book, which makes it inappropriate for younger readers. There is also some violence associated with a rogue shifter murdering people. There are some innuendos about "physical intimacy" but it never happens. I liked the book and would recommend the book with the previous warnings.

Rating: PG-13 (Language, violence, and innuendos)

Recommendation: 14 and up

Disclosure: I did receive a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.