A Monster Like Me by Wendy S. Swore

There are trolls, goblins, and witches. Which kind of monster is Sophie?

Sophie is a monster expert. Thanks to her Big Book of Monstersand her vivid imagination, Sophie can identify the monsters in her school and neighborhood. Clearly, the bullies are trolls and goblins. Her nice neighbor must be a good witch, and Sophie’s new best friend is obviously a fairy. But what about Sophie? She’s convinced she is definitely a monster because of the “monster mark” on her face. At least that’s what she calls it. The doctors call it a blood tumor. Sophie tries to hide it but it covers almost half her face. And if she’s a monster on the outside, then she must be a monster on the inside, too.

Being the new kid at school is hard. Being called a monster is even harder. Sophie knows that it’s only a matter of time before the other kids, the doctors, and even her mom figure it out. And then her mom will probably leave — just like her dad did.

Because who would want to live with a real monster?

Inspired by real events in the author’s life, A Monster Like Me teaches the importance of believing in oneself, accepting change, and the power of friendship.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

This is a very cute book and one I think would be perfect for reading aloud to children.  It has humor and creativity that will entertain both young and old while also bringing out the tender topics of bullying and how to treat those who may look or act different than us.  This had a similar message and feel as the book, Wonder.  

Books like this always strike a deep chord within me as my daughter also has a malformation in her face/neck area that was quite obvious when she was younger.  It was so hard to be out in public where people were cruel- sometimes without really meaning to be, but thoughtless words hurt.  I've cried many tears over the years for my beautiful daughter who has suffered through looking different and feeling different.  Much like the author's parents, (see author's note below) we took a proactive role and tried to talk with my daughter's school classes each year to explain her condition and help kids understand.  It helped a bit because when someone stands in front of you, vulnerable, pleading for kindness by giving information with emotion usually people listen. 

That's why books like this matter because it's a great way to open avenues of conversation with children about kindness and acceptance.  Kids need to learn compassion.  Adults too.  This book also helps kids see that what you look like on the outside isn't who you are on the inside.  Greatness comes from within.  Beauty comes from within.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Author's Note:

Sophie’s story is dear to my heart because I know how it feels to be bullied because I looked different from everyone else. When I was a child, I had a hemangioma on my forehead that stuck out so far my bangs couldn’t cover it, no matter how hard my mother tried. Because the tumor was made up of blood vessels, I could feel my heart beating inside it when I was playing hard or really upset.

The incident at the grocery store where the hydra lady says,“Hey, look kids! That girl doesn’t need a Halloween costume. She’s already got one!” is an exact quote of what a woman once said to my mother and me. Another woman told a classroom full of kids that I had the mark of the devil. Kids asked if it was a goose bump, or hamburger, or if my brains had leaked out. My dad had to chase away some bullies who had followed me home, called me names, and pushed me into the street. Sometimes, after a bad day of bullying, I wished I could just rip the mark off my face and be like everyone else—but it was a part of me, and wishing didn’t change that.

My parents decided to take an active role in educating the people around me so they would know what a hemangioma was and understand that it wasn’t icky, or gross, or contagious. Whenever we moved to a new place, my dad would go with me to the elementary school and talk to the kids about my mark and let them ask questions. After those talks, kids befriended me and noticed when bullies came around. Like Autumn, my school friends would speak up when they saw someone being mean to me, and sometimes they would stand between me and the bullies until they left me alone. I didn’t let the bullies stop me from doing what I wanted to do. I climbed trees, went swimming, wrote poetry, brought my tarantula and snakes to show-and-tell, and played in the tide pools.

This is my message to anyone who experiences bullying: Don’t let the bullies define you! I’ve been there, I know it hurts to be teased, but don’t let it stop you from doing what you want. Find something you enjoy—a hobby, talent, or challenge—and practice that skill. Know that someone out there, maybe even someone in your same school, needs a friend as much as you do. Be that friend. Stand up for each other. And know that you are not alone.

You can always find me at WendySwore.com, and I would love to hear your stories and what you thought of the book.

Wrath of the Dragon King (Dragonwatch #2) by Brandon Mull

 

War has come to the dragon sanctuaries of the world and nowhere is the danger more intense than at Wyrmroost. After a humiliating defeat at the hands of Kendra and Seth, Celebrant, King of Dragons, prepares to unleash his fury and take control of his native preserve. Armed with information from a new ally Ronodin, the dark unicorn Celebrant seeks a legendary talisman the dominion stone.

However, the powerful stone is protected by a cursed castle. Upon entering the castle fortress, an unyielding power strips all magical beings of their power and forces Celebrant to take his human avatar form. Kendra and Seth must enter the cursed castle as well. The race is on. Will the two young caretakers rally enough support from the creatures of Wyrmroost against the greatest threat the magical community has faced in ages? Can they foil Celebrant's plan and beat him to the mighty dominion stone? Or will all hope be shattered by the wrath of the Dragon King?

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

 Review by Brandon (my husband):

 Many people have a place they love to go where imagination runs wild and reality is forgotten, the Fablehaven universe is that place for me, I’m so glad Dragowatch continues the adventure.  This is a middle grade fantasy adventure series.

Seth is back along with his humor; his interactions with other characters are pure entertainment. Kendra helps balance Seth with her thoughtful nature and if I had a journey through the Bewilderness I’d pick Kendra every time. Thank goodness for the somber knight and his trusty ride! Teamwork is on full display as a group of friends work together to solve mysteries and win a contest with the world at stake.

At this point I feel like I’m part of the family. As with the other Fablehaven adventures, Wrath of the Dragon King is well written and even though I’m not a “young” reader I thoroughly enjoyed it and recommend it to anyone that can read… lots of fun. 

 - I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own. 

From Aimee:  This reviewing gig is becoming a family affair!  I recently added my daughter, Jaalah, into my reviewing schedule and now I've added my husband, Brandon too.  He loves this series and when I was asked if I wanted to read and review this book, I had to say no because I am just completely booked up for reviews.  Brandon was not happy with me.  At all.  So, he offered to review it and the publisher agreed (after laughing a bit at our proposal).  This is his first review and I have to say that I'm pretty proud of him!  It only took him two tries to get enough in there to satisfy me.  haha

Mustaches for Maddie by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

Maddie is a normal twelve-year-old girl. Well, except for the fake mustaches she carries in her pocket. She likes to make people laugh and slapping on a mustache, especially a fuzzy pink or neon green one, always gets a smile. Maddie hopes that the class queen, Cassie, will find her mustaches as funny as she does and want to play with her at recess. She's been self-conscious lately because her right arm only feels normal when it's curled against her chest and she's constantly tripping over her feet. But that's probably just part of growing up and not something weird, right?

When Maddie's arm continues to bother her, her parents take her to a doctor who gives them a shocking diagnosis: the cause of the abnormal behavior of her limbs is a brain tumor and she must have surgery to remove it. She's understandably afraid as he describes the procedure, but knows she must find a way to be brave and must face her fears--all of them--at the hospital, at home and at school.

She will need all of her courage not only to face her illness, but also to face Cassie at school. Both Cassie and Maddie are auditioning for the same role in the school play, but when Cassie accuses Maddie of lying about her tumor in order to get attention, Cassie's bossiness turns into bullying.

And as Maddie's surgery approaches, she begins to worry more and more about the outcome. What if something goes wrong? What if the doctors don't get all the tumor out of her brain? What will happen to her family? What will happen to her?

It will take all of Maddie's vibrant imagination, a lot of kindness-both given and received-and of course, the perfect mustache to overcome the tough stuff ahead of her.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

It's been another tough week in the world.  There is so much loss and devastation swirling around.  So much hurt, injustice and evil.  It can sometimes feel so overwhelming.  That's why books like this are important, I think.  They serve as a reminder that while there are hard things, there are good things too.  We can be the good things for other people.  We can make a difference, however small, through kindness and compassion for other people.  I want to quote a small part of the afterwords in this book, written by Maddie herself.

"We don't always realize what trials other people are going through.  Sometimes it takes courage to be kind to some people.  But we need to always stick up for what's right.  You can do it.  Anytime, anywhere, you can have compassion.  Everybody needs a friend and that friend can be you."

If only everyone believed this and acted on it.

Compassion:  a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering.

This book is perfectly suited for middle grade readers.  It's also perfect to be read aloud to younger children.  It provides so many great opportunities to talk with your children, grandchildren, students, etc. about kindness and how to deal with situations and people that are hard to understand.  I think one of the most important lessons we can teach our children is how to be kind.  Compassion matters.

While this book is a work of fiction, it is based on a true story.  I LOVE the cover!!!  I love Maddie's love for mustaches and how infectious it became for those around her.  I loved that each chapter of this book had a different kind of mustache.  It made me smile.  This book brought back a bit of hope for me this week, renewed my belief that there is good in this world and that I need to work even harder to make sure I'm a part of that good.

My thanks to the publisher, Shadow Mountain, for providing a copy of this book for me.

 

Dragonwatch (Fablehaven Adventure #1) by Brandon Mull

In the long-awaited sequel to Fablehaven, the dragons who have been kept at the dragon sanctuaries no longer consider them safe havens, but prisons and they want their freedom. The dragons are no longer our allies....

In the hidden dragon sanctuary of Wyrmroost, Celebrant the Just, King of the Dragons, plots his revenge. He has long seen the sanctuaries as prisons, and he wants nothing more than to overthrow his captors and return the world to the Age of Dragons, when he and his kind ruled and reigned without borders. The time has come to break free and reclaim his power.

No one person is capable of stopping Celebrant and his dragon horde. It will take the ancient order of Dragonwatch to gather again if there is any chance of saving the world from destruction. In ancient times, Dragonwatch was a group of wizards, enchantresses, dragon slayers, and others who originally confined the majority of dragons into sanctuaries. But nearly all of the original Dragonwatch members are gone, and so the wizard Agad reaches out to Grandpa Sorenson for help.

As Kendra and Seth confront this new danger, they must draw upon all their skills, talents, and knowledge as only they have the ability to function together as a powerful dragon tamer. Together they must battle against forces with superior supernatural powers and breathtaking magical abilities.

How will the epic dragon showdown end? Will dragons overthrow humans and change the world as we know it?

 * Goodreads * Amazon * Deseret Book *

It's finally here!!  The long awaited sequel series to Fablehaven is FINALLY here.  Fablehaven fans rejoice!!  :)  ha.  That would be my family.  When I told them this book was coming out and I had been offered a chance to review it they were so excited.  I told them I wasn't sure I would review and they almost lynched me.  I was just teasing, of course, because why would I pass up a chance to get my hands on Dragonwatch?!  One of the best things about this series is that it appeals to all audiences- young and old.  It's a fabulous series to read aloud with your kids or grandkids, and it's great for younger readers and adults alike.  I love that.

If you haven't read the Fablehaven series, I would highly recommend you start there.  BUT, I don't think you HAVE to.  It would just help so, so much.  You will have a better understanding of the characters, the past events that have led up to this book, and why things are happening.

This book picks up just as the last book left off.  All your old favorite characters are here with Kendra and Seth leading the way.  You get to meet some new friends as well.  This book is a fantasy adventure so there are so many creatures with special abilities, magical lands and lots of amusing and dangerous situations.  (I would sure love to have a nipsie pledging allegiance to me!)

And while some things are resolved with this new conflict with the dragons, there are plenty of things left wide open for the next book.  And so the wait begins again. . . 

Content:  some mild peril

- I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  A positive review was not required and all opinions expressed are my own.

Fires of Invention (Mysteries of Cove # 1) by J. Scott Savage

Trenton Colman is a creative thirteen-year-old boy with a knack for all things mechanical. But his talents are viewed with suspicion in Cove, a steam-powered city built inside a mountain. In Cove, creativity is a crime and “invention” is a curse word.

Kallista Babbage is a repair technician and daughter of the notorious Leo Babbage, whose father died in an explosion—an event the leaders of Cove point to as an example of the danger of creativity.

Working together, Trenton and Kallista learn that Leo Babbage was developing a secret project before he perished. Following clues he left behind, they begin to assemble a strange machine that is unlike anything they’ve ever seen before. They soon discover that what they are building may threaten every truth their city is founded on—and quite possibly their very lives.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I would classify this book as middle grade steampunk dystopian which is such an intriguing combination!  I know younger readers are going to love this series.  It has that appeal to both boys and girls which is really hard to do.

Can you imagine a city, fully functional and built inside of a mountain?  Powered by steam, the city of Cove is multi leveled and self sustaining.  It's people are kept under tight control though and told exactly what to do at all times.  Talk about stifling.  

Trenton is a smart boy and unfortunately for him, creative.  Creativity is frowned upon in Cove and Trenton  is full of it.  Because of this, trouble follows Trenton everywhere.  Kallista and Trenton and two like minds and that means double trouble!  As they work together to piece together a puzzle left by Kallista's father, they run into all kinds of scrapes and adventures.

One thing I loved was the picture at the beginning of every chapter.  In the beginning it is just a faint drawing of a dragon, made up of mechanical parts.  As the chapters progress, so does the dragon.  The mechanical parts become well defined and darker.  It gave me the sense that something big was happening and coming together.  Maybe something that I knew that the characters didn't.

I enjoyed reading this book.  It wasn't silly or over the top as many middle grade books can be.  The world building was excellent as were the characters.  The cross appeal to both boys and girls makes this an excellent book to read aloud to younger children, I think.  Very fun!

Janitors: Heroes of the Dustbin by Tyler Whitesides

Spencer knew that from the moment the Founding Witches had returned, the Rebel Janitors had begun disappearing. So many schools were defenseless now, the students' minds rotting from Toxite breath while the janitors vanished without a trace. Then it became personal.

Although their enemies are powerful, their allies few, Spencer and his ream of Rebels are not giving up! But what chance do a handful of kids and one rescued janitor have against the combined evil of the Founding Witches and the Sweepers? Can the Rebels close the source of all Glop and stop the Toxites once and for all—or is the world doomed to fall under the control of the sinister Bureau of Educational Maintenance? This explosive series finale is a griping ride through conflicted loyalties and daring escapes, unexpected alliances and betrayals, and an ending you'll never forget!

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I'm going to start out by saying that I love this series.  If you are looking for a book with imagination oozing from it's pages, this is where you go.  This Janitors series is packed with fun, adventure and like I said, imagination.  You will never look at cleaning supplies the same way again.

I wish this series had been out when my son was young.  He would have loved this book being read aloud to him.  I would have loved that too.  This book is perfect for reading aloud to younger children and perfect for those tricky middle grade readers.

The cover of this book is fantastic.  You get a perfect glimpse of the Founding Witches, their love for pizza and the sink filled with bubbles which are actually cameras.  Those tricky witches watch everyone through those bubbles!  

In this final book of the series you will see the Rebels, while few in numbers, coming together in a final effort to stop the glop and toxites and the BEM.  This book has an excellent pace to it.  There will be no falling asleep during this book!  There are some big battles going on.  The fight between good and evil is strong in this book.  

As per most last books of the series, I am equally happy and sad.  It's always feels good to have a conclusion- an ending to wrap my heart around.  But, it's also sad to say goodbye to characters you've had so much fun with.  

This book isn't out today, but it is set to release on Tuesday, Sept. 8th.  That's just a few days from now!  If you have middle grade readers or younger children around you, I would so highly recommend this series for them.  It's simply fantastic.

My thanks to the publisher, Shadow Mountain, for allowing me to read and review this book for them.

Guardian's Nightmare by Darren Simon

Charlee Smelton is an average thirteen-year-old girl struggling to adapt after her family moves to San Francisco. She thinks her biggest obstacle is facing the bullies who brand her a nerd and a dweeb. She's wrong. Her life is about to change-for the worse. First, she receives a gift of the ugliest, most old fashioned bike she has ever seen. Try as she might to ditch it in the city, she just can't seem to escape that very mysterious two-wheeler. Then come the visions of a world across a dimensional divide, a princess in fear for her life and a dark knight pursuing her. Are they just dreams or something more? For Charlee, everything she ever thought she knew about herself soon crumbles as she starts down a path to discover her true self, and she will need that hunk-of-junk bike more than she could ever imagine. Without it, she might not be able to find the hero in herself-the hero she must become to save her friends, family, her city-the world-from an evil only she can defeat. An evil she allows into this world.

* Amazon * Barnes & Noble *

Some people have magical swords or amulets that give them special powers.  Some people have magic carpets or mystical creatures.  But Charlee Smelton has a magical, wonderous bike.  It is old and it is ugly but you better not judge this bike by it's cover.  "Bike" as it is so lovingly refered to, is something to behold.  It responds to Charlee's words and thoughts.  It even thinks for itself!  Ninja moves?  Yeah, this bike has them.  Wings that fly?  Yup, got those too.  Faster than a speeding bullet and able to save anyone in danger?  Yes, well, unless it gets knocked unconcious.  Bike has healing powers and can do just about anything.  That's some kind of bike, right?

This is a Middle Grade book with a main character who is thirteen years old.  There were times that Charlee sounded thirteen but most of the time I felt her thoughts and actions were inconsistent for a 13 year old.  I have a twelve year old so I guess that's what I compare it to.  The last third of the book was a bit much with things just happening and people appearing and surprise, something else.  After the fact, some of the things were explained but I think there were one too many surprise things happening at once.  The way it played out left me rolling my eyes and questioning the validity of the things that were going on.

Overall this is a innocent enough story.  The main character learns some good lessons and of course, there is Bike, who basically steals the show.  Everyone who reads this book will want a "Bike".  This was an okay read for me, I wish the ending would have been different.  There is some profanity (using God or Jesus as an exclamation) but otherwise this is a clean book with no swearing or sexual content.

Little Dead Riding Hood by Amie and Bethanie Borst + Book Giveaway

You know things are going to suck when you’re the new kid. But when you’re the new kid and a vampire . . . well, it bites!

Unlike most kids, Scarlet Small’s problems go far beyond just trying to fit in. She would settle for a normal life, but being twelve years old for an entire century is a real pain in the neck. Plus, her appetite for security guards, house pets, and bloody toms (tomato juice) is out of control. So in order to keep their vampire-secret, her parents, Mort and Drac, resort to moving for the hundredth time, despite Scarlet being dead-set against it. Things couldn’t be worse at her new school, either. Not only does she have a strange skeleton-girl as a classmate, but a smelly werewolf is intent on revealing her secret. When she meets Granny—who fills her with cookies, goodies, and treats, and seems to understand her more than anyone—she’s sure things will be different. But with a fork-stabbing incident, a cherry pie massacre, and a town full of crazy people, Scarlet’s O-positive she’ll never live to see another undead day.

* Amazon * Goodreads * B&N *

Happy Halloween everyone!  I've saved a very special and holiday appropriate review for today.  It is "Little Dead Riding Hood", part of the Scarily Ever Laughter series.  The first book, "Cinderskella", I reviewed a year ago today.  These books are Middle Grade books, with the main character being in 6th grade.

Scarlett Small is a vampire.  She is sarcastic and has more of the glass is half empty sort of attitude.  It's not easy being a vampire and the daughter of Drac and Mort!

There are several things I love about this book.  First, I love the illustrations throughout the whole story.  Pictures make everything more fun.  Two thumbs up for the illustrator!

Second, I love the continuous play on words.  You can get a sense of what I mean just from the blurb above.  It's that sort of creativity that makes this book so fun to read.

Third, it was so nice see Cindy from the previous book.  As a reader, I always like to know that previous characters I've gotten to know haven't gone away.  They are still around for me to enjoy.  :)  Here is what Scarlett says about Cindy.  "Somehow I thought I would really like this earthy-smelling girl.  Maybe because, for starters, I had no desire to eat her."  Yup, that's a good start alright!

Young readers will love this book and this series.  (Adults too) It's light and it's fun.  It hits on some common themes for middle graders (peer pressure, my parents don't know anything, making friends) and provides for a great, humorous distraction.

My thanks to Jolly Fish Press and the authors for allowing me to read and review this book for them.  It's been my pleasure.

AMIE BORST, a long-time writer and self-proclaimed graduate from ULE (University of Life Experience), is a native New Yorker, now residing in Northern Virginia. Originally, she aspired to be on Broadway, but her teen years were filled with too many "angsty" poems and short stories to let them fall to the wayside. She enjoys eating chocolate while writing and keeps a well-stocked stash hidden away from her family.

BETHANIE BORST is an all-rounder. She is a spunky 13-year-old who is an avid archer with Olympic dreams, enjoys the outdoors, loves reading, and is quick to make lasting friendships.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AmieAndBethanieBorst
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AmieBorst
Website: http://www.amieborst.com

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Janitors: Strike of the Sweepers by Tyler Whitesides

The stakes have never been higher, and you've never seen squeegees do this before! It is a wild and slightly unsanitary ride as Spencer, Daisy, and the rebels find themselves chased by Mr Clean's new and terrifying breed of toxite—the Sweepers. Time is short. With the fable Manualis Custodem in hand, Spencer must figure out how to summon the founding witches if they ever hope to mop up and save education.

I am always excited to see a new Janitors book come out.  This is the fourth book in the series and it isn't over yet!   Tyler Whitesides writes with imagination and creativity.  Every book I say to myself, "how does he come up with this stuff?!"

These are middle grade books and some of the best I've ever come across.  If you have a reluctant reader, this might be a good series to perk their interest.  I actually think this series would be awesome read aloud.  If my kids were younger, this is the one I'd be reading them.

In this book, my favorite things were the squeegees that when rubbed on glass create a portal to get from one place to another.  I can think of a lot of people I would love to squeegee with!  To be able to travel home to see my parents with the swipe of a squeegee would be awesome!!  The other thing I loved was the Thingamajunk.  I think I want one of those.

My favorite quote is found on page 92.  "Because victory will come to those who fight for what is right.  It won't come without its fair share of pain and suffering.  No victory comes without sacrifice.  But it will come.  We just have to stay the course."

* Amazon * Goodreads *

On Tour with True Colors by Krysten Hager + a $25 Giveaway

True Colors Landry Albright enters a modeling competition with her two best friends, but runs into jealousy when she advances to the next level without them. Enter the gorgeous Devon, who also makes the first cut of the modeling contest. Devon seems like the perfect new best friend, but can their friendship survive the competition? Throw in a new boy, jealousy and loyalty issues, and insults from hair stylists. How’s a girl to deal?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Smashwords

This book felt just like a soap opera to me.  Only geared to 13 year olds.  As an adult, it was really hard to stay focused and invested but I think this book might appeal to a lot of young 13 year old girls who are in to these sort of things.

The story is all about Landry who feels all the typical insecurities of this age group, and they are many.  It's a tough age and most early teen girls will be able to relate.  Throw in those boy crushes, the friend drama and some family issues and you have this book in a nutshell.  

Landry has self esteem issues.  She never feels pretty or good enough.  Friends come and go in a love-hate sort of way as many friends do at that age.  Landry is always trying to figure out where she fits in while trying to please everyone.  The mean girls were nailed in this book.  They reminded me of a couple girls I knew at this age.

Landry and friends go to the mall a LOT.  And the movies and basketball games.  They have sleep over's and gossip about everyone.  To me, if felt very repetative (oh, they are at the mall.  Again. ) but I realize I'm not the target audience for this book.  I guess for me, the book didn't really go anywhere.  It just kept spinning in the same place.  I didn't see much growth in Landry.  I really wanted it to move forward and progress and it just didn't.

Content:  It was clean.  No swearing or sexual situations to report.

Enjoy the following excerpt:

A lot of girls at school were talking about trying out, but most of the girls at Hillcrest were jocks. Yasmin McCarty, the most popular girl in our class with one thousand-three people on her social media friends list, could win a modeling competition, but she would never enter because it would be beneath her to stand in line and wait to be judged on her looks. She was always saying modeling and stuff was so superficial, but she was also the same girl who walked around school pretending she was freezing so the teachers would let her wear her designer hoodie over her uniform.

I dunno, maybe some girls just knew they were hot and didn’t need some TV show to confirm it. I loved watching the show, but the thought of going up there to be judged on how I looked scared me. I was afraid of the judges but even more afraid of Ericka. I knew she’d get mad at me if I didn’t try out. So while some girls were secure enough not to need strangers to tell them they were pretty, I spent the whole day trying to figure out the right outfit for my audition (and my dad wondered why my math grades sucked). I mentally went through my closet, and nothing seemed right. My clothes said American Couch Potato, not American Ingénue.

  

Author Biography Krysten Lindsay Hager is an author and book addict who has never met a bookstore she didn’t like. She’s worked as a journalist and also writes middle grade, YA, humor essays, and adult fiction. Her debut novel, TRUE COLORS, will be out June 17th from Astraea Press. She is originally from Michigan and has lived in South Dakota, Portugal, and currently resides in Southern Ohio where you can find her reading and writing when she’s not catching up on her favorite shows.

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      Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 8/15/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the publisher. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  
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Luminescence by Braden Bell

by Braden Bell

Paperback, 320 pages

Expected publication: March 11th 2014

by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media

ISBN 1462114059

“He’s alive!” she yelled. “He’s alive!”
As Lexa spoke the words, she knew they were true. She knew with total certainty.
“Dr. Timberi’s alive!”

When Lady Nightwing kidnapped Dr. Timberi, everyone assumed their teacher had been killed. So when Lexa discovers that he isn’t dead, Conner can’t believe his ears.

Determined to rescue their favorite teacher, Conner, Lexa, and Melanie confront their worst fears and use their powers in unexpected ways to defeat Lady Nightshade, the treacherous Darkhand leader. But when the trio makes a terrible choice to save Dr. Timberi, their powers may not be enough to keep everyone alive. A thrilling conclusion to the Middle School Magic series!

Your favorite characters return in this satisfying conclusion of the Middle School Magic series! Filled with plenty of twists, humor, and adventure, Luminescence will keep you guessing until the last page.

Study hall? Definitely. Substitute Teachers? Absolutely. Rescuing people from brutal villains? Bring it on!

I have to admit that this is one of my top three middle grade series.  I have really, really loved the journey I've taken with Lexa, Conner and Melanie and friends and now that it is over, I'm kind of sad.

Sometimes it is hard in middle grade fiction to get the voices right.  I often find that the characters seem too old or too young and therefore not realistic.  That is definitely not the case in this series.  The characters were always believable and the choices they made consistent with the age group.  I liked that.

When you combine great characters with a magical storyline it creates a book too good to pass up.  These three young people really are on an adventure.  Along the way they learn important lessons about life, themselves and other.  They learn to work together, to show respect and what courage really is.  There are lessons to be learned for all of us in this book.  Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book-

"Being mad at each other was like holding on to Darkness and it meant the light couldn't help us."  (pg. 45)

Lexa, Conner and Melanie learn that when they work together they are so much stronger and that each of them makes up a great whole.

"Our gifts and personalities each represent a dimension of a human being:  mind, spirit and body."  (pg. 46)

The ending was fantastic.  It defines the word "hero" in many different ways.  This is a book and book series I would recommend to anyone and not just those with middle grade readers.  My middle grade daughter loves these books and that makes me happy!

Goodreads*Amazon

During his middle school years, Braden Bell was the least-stable, lowest-achieving student in the history of the world. He shocked every former teacher by graduating from high school and college, and then going on to earn both a Master’s degree as well as a Ph.D. A teacher by day and a parent by night, he is around teenagers 24/7. He teaches music and directs plays at a private school, much like Marion Academy in The Middle School Magic series. Whether he fights evil after hours is something he cannot disclose.

Braden Bell holds degrees in theatre from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. from NYU. A committed educator, he has been directing plays and teaching school now for over twenty years. Braden lives with his family on a quiet, tree-lined lot outside of Nashville, TN, where he teaches theatre and choir at a middle school. The author of The Road Show, The Kindling, and Penumbras.

Lean More on his website* twitter* facebook* goodreads* publisher

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Death's Academy by Michael Bast

Midnight Smith has a problem.  He's a hoodie.  Well, almost.  He has to go through Death's Academy so he can learn how to snuff out shorties (humans, like you and your friends) and outsmart those pesky halos.  Then he'll get his shroud and calling and become a full-fledged Grim Reaper.  But to get into Death's Academy, there's a real killer exam . . . and Midnight stinks at exams.

What he doesn't know is that the exam is the least of his worries.  When the hoodies and halos go on their yearly retreat, the time is ripe for an old enemy - the diabolical unicorns- to strike.  That leaves Midnight and his friends as the only ones to stop the attack- and this is something he just can't fail at.

If you are looking for a middle grade fantasy sort of book for boys and girls alike, this just might be your book.  The main character is a boy named Midnight and his best friend is a genius girl named Mal.  Everyone ought to have a best friend like Mal.  She invents way cool stuff and she does animal speak.  I really liked Mal.

I'm not so sure I'm the biggest fan of Midnight.  He breaks rules without remorse, he is disrespectful to his parents and other authority figures, he lies and he sneaks out of his house.  As a mother I'm not a fan of any of these things.  He pulls off a good thing in the end but I wonder at the lack of consequences for his continued bad behavior.  He is young though and I think he learns some valuable lessons by the end so it's not all bad.  I just prefer to see a main character (especially in books where young kids may be reading) have a bit more respect.

This book is filled with fun and adventure.  The secondary characters are engaging and the story flows well.  The few pictures throughout the book were fun and I liked how it enhanced my mental pictures.  I kind of wish there had been more of them.  :)

This is a clean book, well, mostly.  There is no swearing or sexual content but there is quite a bit of potty humor.  There are several references to the character swearing, but no actual words.  

You can find Death's Academy at Amazon.  This book will be officially released Jan. 14th.

See the book’s official trailer here.

The Janitors Series by Tyler Whitesides

The magical, secretive society of JANITORS will sweep the country in the fall of 2011. Have you ever fallen asleep during math class? Are you easily distracted while listening to your English teacher? Do you find yourself completely uninterested in geography? Well, it may not be your fault. The janitors at Welcher Elementary know a secret, and it s draining all the smarts out of the kids. Twelve year- old Spencer Zumbro, with the help of his classmate Daisy Gullible Gates, must fight with and against a secret, janitorial society that wields wizard-like powers. Who can Spencer and Daisy trust and how will they protect their school and possibly the world? Janitors is book 1 in a new children s fantasy series by debut novelist Tyler Whitesides. You ll never look at a mop the same way again.

Now, more than ever, Spencer, Daisy, and even Dez must fight to save schools everywhere. The Bureau of Educational Maintenance (BEM) is after Spencer, and the only place he is safe is within the walls of the New Forest Academy. Or so he thinks. In this fast-paced adventure, the kids must figure out where their loyalties lie and who they can trust as they fight to discover the true secret of the New Forest Academy and what it means to the future of education.

Today I'm reviewing the first couple books in the Janitors series by Tyler Whitesides.  These are middle grade fantasy books, and I just cannot say enough good about them.  

I am a mom of kids that love to read.  Sometimes it's hard to find books that are clean (no swearing, profanity or sex) but that are still good enough to hold my kid's attention.  This is a series that has all the good things I'm looking for.  I only have one middle grade reader left in my house, but I'm super excited to pass these books off to her because I know she is going to enjoy them.  My 18 year old son actually picked these books up and read them through before I had a chance to read them.  They were far below his reading level but he said that as a middle grade reader he would have loved them.  Even as a young adult he kept reading them because he thought the whole premise and idea of the book was original.  He said he hadn't read another book quite like them before.

I loved the pictures and diagrams that went along with this book.  That's one thing I love about middle grade books~ the added bonus of pictures!  I too thought the idea for these books were original and interesting.  Kids will love all the little creatures roaming the schools and they will love the creative use of school janitor supplies to catch them.

Spencer is a great kid.  I love his little OCD tendencies about germs and cleanliness.  It is the little things that endear me to Spencer.  Daisy and Spencer together make a great team.  These books are full of things that all kids will relate to from teachers to family and school dynamics.  There is humor and action.

I am looking forward to reading the third book in this series.  My review for that will be coming in September.  By then I'm hoping to include a report of how my middle grade reader loved them.  :)

You can pick Janitors 1 and Janitors II up at Amazon.  (titles are linked)

My thanks to Shadow Mountain for allowing me to read and review these titles.  Shadow Mountain is an awesome publisher putting out some fantastic and clean books for adults and kids!

Review: Promises by Carloyn Twede Frank

From Goodreads:  Hattie is barely twelve when her pa’s “business adventures” disrupt her family and move them to the new town of Tropic, nestled in the shadows of old Ebenezer Bryce’s Canyon. Her pa views the town as opportunity. Hattie is hopelessly shy and views it with apprehension; she dreads the task of making new friends. More than anything else, Hattie wants to be like her father—not afraid of meeting new people, talking to strangers, and standing up for herself. So it is with trepidation that she accepts her pa’s challenge and promises to make new friends.

Hattie forms more promises as she struggles to make friends, finding companionship in places she wouldn’t have expected and learning that there is a difference between complaining and standing up for oneself.

Promises is a heartwarming story of friendship with a touch of mystery and adventure set in the days before Bryce Canyon became a national park. Drawn from the memoirs of Hattie Adair Jolley and her children, it is a realistic glimpse into the past and a delightful story for readers ages eight to eighty.

I think the summary really gives you the whole run down of this story.  "Promises is a heartwarming story of friendship...and adventure."  That is exactly how I would sum up this story.


I spent quite a few of my early years, up until I was about 8 years old, living in Southern Utah very near Zion's Park.  The setting of this book was around the area of Bryce Canyon.  If you've never experienced the beauties of Southern Utah, you really should.  The red rocks of the area are so beautiful to me.  Even now, after decades of being away, when I happen to drive through that area, or see pictures even, I feel like I am coming home.  


I also had a dry wash running right behind my house.  My mother beat into my head the dangers of that wash because you never knew when it was going to fill with water from a rainstorm up in the mountains.  This was another part of Hattie's story that I related to.


 The scenery along with the daily life of the early pioneers to the southwest were interesting and so easy to picture in my mind.  I really enjoyed following Hattie through her life.  She had many experiences that tugged at my heartstrings.   Watching her grow up and find her voice was very sweet.


What a great middle grade historical fiction book.  I'm so glad I had the chance to read it.  My thanks to Carolyn for thinking of me.


You can find out more about Promises and Carolyn Frank by clicking here.
You can purchase Promises in paperback or on the Kindle by clicking here.

Review: Rip Tide by Kat Falls

(from Goodreads)
Return to the subsea frontier with Ty and Gemma! The mysteries of the deep are deadlier than ever when Ty, with time running out for his parents, leads the two teenagers to the underwater underworld...and into an alliance with the outlaws of the Seablite Gang. But one mystery soon leads to another. How has an entire township disappeared? Why is the local sealife suddenly so aggressive? And can the Seablite Gang be trusted...or are Ty and Gemma in deeper water than they realize?

After recently reading Dark Life, the first book in this series by Kat Falls, I was really looking forward to reading Rip Tide.  I love the whole concept of these dypstopian books, set under the water as people are forced to pioneer a new life when the land begins disappearing and water rises.  

Honestly, I'd be scared to death to live underwater!  Maybe that's what makes these books so fascinating to me.  A lot more of this book takes place on land though and deals with the rough and shady characters at the water's edge.  

Ty is desperate to find his parents who have been abducted.  I guess that sort of desperation leads you to do all kinds of crazy things because I'm telling you, that kid is nuts.  The situations he jumps into are made up of your worst nightmares.  Shark attacks, wild salt water crocodile attacks, freezing to death underwater, drowning, being stung and eaten by Diablo Rojo (the red devil), bare hand fighting until someone falls in the water full of blood sucking eels...  I'm telling you- EEEWWW!!!

One of the things I really appreciate is that this book is free of the swearing that appears in so many books.  It is also low on the romance, with only a couple sweet kisses near the end of the book making this book more appropriate for the younger tween readers.

I really enjoyed this book!  

Review: Cinder and Ella by Melissa Lemon

When their father disappears, Cinder and Ella find themselves left to care for the welfare of their mother and two younger sisters.  Their mother becomes increasingly unaware and distant as she works at her loom all day and all night long.  Soon the money is gone and Cinder is forced to find work elsewhere.  She heads to the castle in search of employment leaving Ella to care for the family.

Ella is frustrated by the home situation.  She feels underappreciated and alone.  Her own mother doesn’t even remember she exists.  Ella remembers the legend of the trees and decides to find her father, who she believes, is still alive because his tree is still alive.  Ella’s quest becomes dangerous and at times frightening but Ella is determined and strong and finds help in the most unlikely places.

There were so many things to like in this middle grade read by Melissa Lemon.  The similarities between this and the commonly known tale of Cinderella are not frequent or obvious.  One would really have to work at finding the deeper connections between the two, which I really liked. 

I enjoyed the personalities of both Cinder and Ella and could easily related the traits of both to people I know, and even myself.  Cinder is more compassionate and kind, soft spoken and willing to believe what people tell her.  Ella is more head strong, outwardly chafing at injustice and wrong doings.  She is more down to earth yet still has hope.

The discussion questions at the end of the book really helped me think about deeply about family connections between parents and children, siblings and how those connections influence how we act and react with other people.

I loved the multi-layered feel to this seemingly simple fairy tale.  It was an enjoyable read from start to finish. 

There is some mild peril and violence, one use of the word damn.

Cinder and Ella will be released in November of 2011.

I received this book courtesy of Net Galley for review.

Review: The Limit by Kristen Landon

Can you imagine a world where adults are given a spending limit and if they go over the limit, the government takes their children away to a workhouse to work off the debt?  Well, Matt can.  This is exactly what happened to him.  His parents were irresponsible with their spending and now he is paying for it.  Fortunately for Matt, his mathematical and problem solving abilities helped him test very high and he ended up working on the top floor with a posh room to himself, an indoor pool and even an arcade!  Matt starts to realize that things are not what they appear to be and is determined to unlock the secrets behind the workhouse but not everyone is happy with his snooping and escape attempts.  When Matt’s younger sister appears at the workhouse as well, he knows he has to do something to stop the madness.

I picked this book up at a book festival where Kristen Landon happened to be selling and signing books.  I thought her book sounded interesting and I’m always looking for new, great middle grade books to recommend to my kids and others so I picked it up.  I’m so glad I did.

Kristen Landon has done a great job at writing a middle grade novel that introduces kids to the dystopian genre.  The story moves along quickly.  I found Matt to be a very believable thirteen year old character, displaying traits typical to that age.  Booklist and School Library Journal give a recommended reading level of 6^th-10^th grade, and the book says ages 9-12.  I thought this was spot on.  The story is easy to follow and understand.  If you have a reluctant boy reader in this age group, this might be just the book for him.

Knowing and understanding that this is a middle grade book, the adult in me, in the end, still wished for more development and in-depth exploration into this idea.  What happened in society that people accepted the idea of limited spending enforced by the government?  And a consequence of having your children taken away if you go over your limit by even one cent?  Wow.  How did government gain such control?  Why did people just allow this to happen?  I almost wish Kristen Landon would re-write this book as a YA fiction and give me some more meat and potatoes!  J

The book wraps up nicely without leaving you hanging or wondering like so many YA or adult series.  That was kind of nice.  I especially appreciated that this book is squeaky clean and I can happily pass it on to any of my kids.

Here is a book trailer for The Limit

You can find out more about Kristen Landon here.