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Blossom and the Beast:
By: Rachel McCoy
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Stars: 5
Summary: Blossom Frane is only weeks away from her transformation. On her eighteenth birthday, she'll find out her future branch of society and her totem, the animal form she'll be able to take at will for the rest of her life. Like her brothers, she's expected to be a brown bear of the religious branch known as Terra.
In the Alderwood forests, Blossom's bear blood is a valuable asset. Any day now, a rival clan leader will step forward and offer her father a hefty bounty in exchange for her hand in marriage. Blossom can do nothing more than sit back and wait to be traded to the highest bidder.
Determined to spend her last weeks exploring the Alderwood, Blossom sneaks away and manages to find Kaide Landel, a rising political star of the Pyro branch. Known for his violence and disregard for the religious teachings of the Terra branch, he's all wrong for the bear clan's prized daughter. But when the politician uses his wealth and influence to secure her hand,
Review: Blossom and the Beast, where do I begin on this story? The author truly did an amazing job on this book. From start to finish the author had my attention. Between the love story that evolved and the adventure you couldn’t go wrong. I would highly recommend this book. Blossom and the Beast is a fast read, but it is also a story that was also easy to follow.
-Victoria
Add to GoodreadsAbout the Book: Felicity Pickle is tired of moving around is hoping that Midnight Gulch will finally be the place where her momma's wandering heart will settle down. Felicity is a word collector and she sees words floating all around the people and places of Midnight Gulch. It used to be a magical place, but the magic is long gone. But Felicity and her newfound friend Jonah just might be able to stir some of that magic back into Midnight Gulch-and into everyone who lives there.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Sometimes a narrator and a book were just made for each other and I think that's the case of Cassandra Morris and
A Snicker of Magic. I mean, there's a reason that this book is an Odyssey Honor Book!
Just listen to the preview from Audible!
Natalie Lloyd's debut novel oozes charm in such a good way that you want to curl up with Snicker, a bowl of delicious ice cream and read (or listen) all night long. This book has magic in it and it's the kind of magic that makes your heart sing and you just have to smile after you put the book down.
Felicity is the type of person who I want to be friends with. She smart and has some spunk, but she's also a bit shy, as being moved around has made her grow more into herself. She's nervous to get close to those around her because she knows her family may just up and leave again so it's hard to make friends. But she can't resist Jonah-and really, who could? If I want Felicity to be my friend, then I want Jonah there with us leading the way. Jonah is wonderful and funny and is the perfect pull to Felicity's shyness and they compliment each other beautifully. It's a fantastic friendship and I loved every moment of it.
The rest of the cast of characters are eccentric and delightful and the town of Midnight Gulch is a character all its own. I wish Midnight Gulch was a real place because I would love to visit-especially for that ice cream! (Did I mention there was ice cream that sounds so good it will make you so mad that it's fictional in this book?) Felicity and Midnight Gulch are a wonderful next step for readers who are looking for something after
Anne of Green Gables or
The Penderwicks. I think if they could, Anne and Felicity would be great literary kindred spirits. Reading A Snicker of Magic brought me back to those books I grew up on with the characters I wanted to be and I can see a young reader out there hoping she can grow up and become just like Felicity.
Cassandra Morris has a sweet voice with the perfect southern accent to really bring Midnight Gulch to life and her slow deliberate narration and drawl add to the atmosphere of the book. I loved this one on audio! If you have families looking for a great listen on a car ride, I would give this one a try.
If you read it or listen to it,
A Snicker of Magic is an adorable and a splindiddly turn of words and phrases. Felicity is a word collector and Natalie Lloyd is a master of words herself. I can't wait to get lost in her book.
Book Pairings:
The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall,
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo,
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from audiobook sent by publisher for review
By: GreenBeanTeenQueen,
on 7/22/2014
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Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: 9/17/2013
Add to GoodreadsAbout the Book: Billy Miller is about to enter second grade-and that means a lot of new things are on the horizon. Billy is growing up and he's not quite sure what to think about it or how to navigate elementary school. He wants to be a responsible member of the family, help his younger sister and his working mom and stay at home dad. Second grade is going to be quite the year for Billy Miller.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Every summer it seems like the early chapter books fly off the library shelves. As young beginning readers are starting to branch out and read chapter books on their own, books like Junie B Jones and Magic Tree House can't stay on the shelf. Yet every once in awhile I get a young reader who isn't interested in reading about girls-and there are oh-so-many titles about spunky, creative, engaging girls. So when I first read
The Year of Billy Miller, I knew this was going to become my go-to book suggestion for those readers.
Billy Miller deserves a spot next to Ramona, Junie B, Clementine, and Judy Moody. He navigates his second grade year with the excitement and trepidation that comes with that age. Kevin Henkes masterfully draws on Billy's emotions to make him a relateable and realistic character. Billy wants to help out at home and enjoy "kid-ish" activities, but is also wondering if maybe it's time to grow up. He's always called his dad Papa, but isn't sure if that's really okay anymore and thinks he should try calling him Dad. He has a nemesis at school that he's just not sure what to think of. He doesn't know if his teacher really likes him or not and he's nervous about it.
Billy's little sister Sal is the perfect foil for Billy and they have the type of sibling relationship you would expect. Billy alternates between finding Sal cute and annoying and getting along and fighting with each other. Their relationship reminded me of my own siblings and Billy is your usual first born-he wants to be responsible, wants Sal to listen to him, but he always realizes that Sal is a good ally and friend.
I recently gave this book to one of my avid readers who has flown through all of the other early chapter books I've given him and he was excited to pick up a book that looked like a bigger chapter book. While the text is still simple, the length of this one is longer than your typical beginning chapter book, so it's sure to please those readers who want a longer book.
I was so excited to see
The Year of Billy Miller chosen as a Newbery Honor. It's a wonderfully charming, heartfelt, funny beginning chapter book that is perfect to read aloud or read on your own. It's destined to be a classic.
Book Pairings: Henry Huggins by Beverly Cleary,
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from copy I checked out from my local library
Lookie what I received on May 17! Pawn by Aimee Carter. I love all of the Aimee Carter books I've read so far! She's an amazing author. Although I've already read it. I am so happy to own it! This book was soo good I couldn't put it down till I finished it! Has anyone else read this book yet?
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Biography
Release Date: 3/4/2014
Add to GoodreadsAbout the Book: Award winning illustrator Lois Ehlert always knew she was meant to be an artist. She explains her artistic and creative process through her famous collage illustrations.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I love biographies that I can give to the youngest of readers and
The Scraps Book is my new perfect go to suggestion. Part biography, part instruction, and part inspiration, Lois Ehlert uses her art to tell readers why she became an artist and how she completes her work.
The first part of the book is about Ms. Ehlert's childhood and growing up in a creative home with a family that encouraged her artistic ability. She includes photos and talks about where she first created her art.
The second half of the book, and what takes up most of this short collection, is all about Ms. Ehlert's inspiration for her books. Where does she get her ideas for her stories? How did she create the pictures for her various books? Each page shows examples of her work and gives readers information on how the illustrations were created and how the stories came to be.
The entire book is organized like a scrap book and it's obviously very lovingly put together. It feels as though you're getting an intimate peek into Ms. Ehlert's life and it's absolutely enchanting. There's the main text on each page that is simple and honest. Each page is a collage of thoughts, ideas, and comments that come together in a creative way to create a unique biography that is in encouraging. After reading
The Scraps Book, I wanted to pull out a bunch of paper and create my own beautiful collage!
I would love to use this as a jumping point for an art program at my library and I can see this book being used in many classrooms to discuss art styles. It's an excellent biography and art book combined and I can't wait to share it with readers at my library.
By: GreenBeanTeenQueen,
on 3/31/2014
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Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: 4/1/2014
Add to GodreadsAbout the Book: A. J. Fikry is the curmudgeonly owner of a small bookstore on Alice Island. Since his wife died, A. J. has been isolating himself from everyone on the island, his bookstore isn't making much money, and now his prized book of rare Poe poems has been stolen. But things take an unexpected turn when a special package arrives at the bookstore. It's a mysterious package that gives A. J. a new outlook and second chances.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Every once in awhile a book comes along that is so special and delightful and wonderful that you just want to hold it close and sigh with happiness as you read it. And
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry is one of those books for me-and I think it will be that type of special book for book lovers, avid readers, librarians, and storytellers. At the center of the novel is books-how they can change our lives, how they connect people who might not otherwise come together, and how sharing them can give us insight to those around us.
I read
The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry during middle of the night feedings with my newborn son. You know you've found a very special and wonderful book when you find yourself wanting to stay up a little bit more just so you can read a few more pages-even when you're very sleep deprived! I was already a fan of Gabrielle Zevin before this novel, but this book solidified my fandom even more. She's not just a writer, but a reader and that comes across in her understanding of the book world and how she writes about A. J. and those around him. This book made me wish I could own an island bookstore someday-and made me glad that I work with books and that part of my job as a librarian is helping people discover books to read.
It's hard to talk about this book without saying too much about the plot because it's best to leave the plot as a surprise. I think it makes the story more of a treat for the reader if you don't know much about the story other than it's an utter delight. If you are a book lover, this book is for you. The inner workings of a bookstore will resonate with those who work in the book world on a daily basis and the commentary of how much loving books and reading can impact your life will be sure to have readers nodding their heads in agreement.
The way the characters talk about reading, books, and life is spot on. This book gave me one of my new favorite questions to ponder-"if you had to eat at a restaurant themed after a work of fiction, what would you choose?"
A delightful book that you should pick up immediately-but make sure you've cleared your day first because you want to stop reading.
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from egalley sent by publisher on Netgalley
Rating: 5/5
Genre: Adventure
Release Date: 9/10/2013
Add to GoodreadsAbout the Book: Hilary Westfield has always dreamed of being a pirate. But when her application to The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates is rejected because she's a girl and Hilary discovers that her parents will be sending her off to Miss Pimm's Finishing School to become a proper lady, Hilary knows she must do something! When she sees an ad for a pirate crew, Hilary knows she must apply! Hilary and her talking gargoyle set out on an adventure on the high seas looking for treasure and encounter a terrible villain of the high seas!
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I love a good rollicking fun filled adventure and
The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates is the start to an adventurous series that is sure to delight middle grade readers.
Hilary is a spunky main character-just the sort of girl you would expect to sneak her way out of finishing school and join up with pirates. She's joined by a talking gargoyle who is very witty and has a soft spot for romance. The banter between the two characters is charming and hilarious and I loved the uniqueness of Hilary's sidekick being a talking magical object. Hilary has a delightful cast of characters around her-her governess who might just be up for some for adventure, her school roommate who aspires to be an actress, Jasper the pirate captain and his crew, her admiral father who wants to get rid or pirates and even the proper Miss Pimm. All the characters are well fleshed out and have a distinct personality.
The plot is fast paced and full of adventure. There are some great surprises and twists along the way and I loved how the author was able to weave the characters and storylines together. The ultimate bad guy is an interesting twist and I think it opens a lot for future volumes in the series. The writing is wonderfully funny and charming and Augusta is a very well drawn world in which magic is special-but currently being stolen-and pirates are determined by a Very Nearly Honorable League. It's a little bit historical and a little bit fantasy and a lot of action and adventure and fun.
What I especially loved about this one was Hilary herself. She wants to be a pirate and she won't give up on this dream. And she doesn't pose as a boy to make this dream come true. I feel like the girl-disguised-as-a-boy theme is often overdone and I was pleased that that didn't happen in this book but instead Hilary decides she won't take no for an answer and she'll be honest about who she is.
I first learned about this book thanks to the delightful Katherine Kellgren who narrates the audiobook, so I knew I had to listen to this one. I'm so glad I did! Kellgren is once again excellent and gives a rousing narration and you can tell she's having a blast telling this story. The writing is witty and the jokes come across wonderfully on audio. At the end of each chapter, the story is interspersed with letters and newspaper articles and Kellgren is given a chance to flex her narration skills by adding a breadth of voices to these sections. I especially loved her Miss Pimm voice and thought it had a great nod to Maggie Smith's Dowager Countess on
Downton Abbey (I'm not sure if this was the intent but I loved it and thought it was perfect!) Kellgren gives Hilary a high energy and it balances well with Jasper's gruff pirate voice, Miss Greyson's (Hilary's governess) quiet sensibility, and her best friend from finishing school Claire, who is overly excitable and dramatic. This audiobook Katherine Kellgren doing what she does best-bringing a delightful cast of characters to an engaging story to make an excellent treat for the ears. I can't wait for the next book in the series.
Book Pairings: Bloody Jack by L.A. Meyer,
Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from audiobook I purchased at Audible.com
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By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 9/4/2013
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Thanks to Claudia Mills and FSG for inviting me to kick off the Zero Tolerance blog tour!
Category: Middle Grade Realistic Fiction
Keywords: School controversy, friendship, family, values, morality
Format: Hardcover, eBook
Source: Library; Netgalley
Synopsis:
Seventh-grader Sierra Shepard has always been the perfect student, so when she sees that she accidentally brought her mother's lunch bag to school, including a paring knife, she immediately turns in the knife at the school office. Much to her surprise, her beloved principal places her in in-school suspension and sets a hearing for her expulsion, citing the school's ironclad no weapons policy. While there, Sierra spends time with Luke, a boy who's known as a troublemaker, and discovers that he's not the person she assumed he would be--and that the lines between good and bad aren't as clear as she once thought. Claudia Mills brings another compelling school story to life with Zero Tolerance.
Review:
I was initially drawn to read this by the great cover art by
Vera Brosgol (author-illustrator of
Anya's Ghost -- note, not all her artwork is SFW ;) Sierra's worried brows striking just the right gesture of uncertainty towards the green apple on top of her head, William Tell-style, with the subtle background behind her forming a target. The symbolism of the apple is so clever--not just its part in setting off the events in the book, but also the reference to
apples for teachers, that iconic fruit for teacher's pets. I started this late one night and finished around 3 am, earning it the
Stay up all night rating!
Careful plotting and great characters are what make this middle grade novel by Claudia Mills so compelling to read. The book centers not necessarily around the zero tolerance policy that Sierra unwittingly breaks, but around the idea that right and wrong aren't always clearly defined. For a goody-two-shoes like Sierra and the other good girls she hangs around with, everything seems black-and-white... until she gets suspended and put on a track towards expulsion.
Her perspective shaken off its axis, Sierra starts to see people differently: Mr. Besser, the school principal she had previously viewed with an almost worshipful eye; her lawyer dad, who might not be handling the situation in a completely above-board way; and her friends, especially a cute boy named Colin who sticks up for her, but maybe not for the reasons she wishes he would. Then there's the hyperactive Luke, perennially suspended but not exactly bad-to-the-bone. Sierra starts to make impulsive, spiteful decisions she will later regret. As the consequences start to pile up, she needs to re-balance her views of good and bad if she is ever going to be able to make things right again.
There are a couple of words used that might make this objectionable for parents (assuming it's assigned for school reading), however I think Sierra's attitude towards swearing and how it changes throughout the book is a great way to broach the topic with tweens and younger teens (who, lets face it, probably swear a lot more than their parents think they do). Counterbalance that analysis with the school's creed: RULES - RESPECT - RESPONSIBILITY - RELIABILITY, and you've got quite a lot to talk about. The author provides
a discussion guide with activity ideas on her website.
I think this would make a great family tv-movie. Nick Offerman would make a great Mr. Besser; Joel McHale and Alison Brie could play Sierra's dad and mom. I don't know of any young actresses that could really pull off the various emotions and attitudes that Sierra goes through, do you?
Lastly, Sierra's mom keeps trying to keep her spirits up. She's affectionate and loving, but most noticeably (as most good moms do) she keeps feeding Sierra comfort foods. As the book goes on and Sierra becomes more and more disgusted by her own actions, she develops aversions to particular foods. I can't say I blame her! If only she hadn't brought that knife to school by accident... So below, I've included some ideas for apple nachos--if you're a kid, have an adult help you with the chopping and heating parts. You can vary the amounts as you wish, but for a lot of the toppings just a tablespoon of each will do. Recipes for the sauces follow. I'll try to update this post with more photos when I can make the other variations. And please, remember to leave the knife at home!
Enjoy!
Apple Nachos
.JPG) |
| "The Sweet Sierra" |
Ingredients:
An apple, any variety
A lemon
Assorted toppings
Equipment:
A knife
A cutting board
A mixing bowl
A serving plate (or a container with an air-tight lid if you're taking it to school)
Makes 1-2 servings
- Wash and dry an apple. You can peel the skin off if you want to, but I like to keep it on unless it's a variety that has a bitter or waxy skin.
- With an adult's help, chop the apple into quarters. Carefully cut out the core with the stem and seeds, then slice each quarter into thinner slices. These are your "chips".
- Cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a bowl.
- Toss the apple chips in the lemon juice and let them soak for a minute. This will stop them from turning brown right away. Drain and pat the apple chips dry with a paper towel.
- Arrange the slices on a plate and add your choice of toppings. You can drizzle the sauces on or put them on the side for dipping.
- Eat it right away, or take it to school with you.
Suggested Toppings:
The Sweet Sierra (pictured above)
the sweet and sour variation
Dulce de leche or caramel sauce + raisins + mini chocolate chips + shredded coconut
Media Circus
the nutty variation
Peanut butter sauce + raisins + chopped pecans + banana slices
The Principal Besser
the school lunch variation
Nacho cheese (yes, apples taste great with cheese!)
+ diced tomatoes, olives, and jalapeños (optional)
The Gerald Edward Shepard, Esquire
the fine dining variation
Extra-virgin olive oil + balsamic glaze or vinegar
+ pine nuts + crushed dried basil or oregano + parmesan cheese
(You can toss a little crushed garlic in there if you're really feeling brave)
The Cornflake
the French toast variation
Maple syrup + crumbled shredded wheat or other cereal +
cinnamon sugarThe Angie Shepard
the tough cookie variation
Cookie butter sauce + slivered almonds + dried cranberries
The Comfort of Friends
the hot chocolate variation
Chocolate syrup + mini marshmallows + whipped cream*
*You're going to want to eat this right away, unless you for some reason have access to a refrigerator at school. You can also toast this combo after adding marshmallows but before adding the chocolate syrup and whipped cream!
***
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 Tbsp half and half, heavy whipping cream, or milk
1/2 Tbsp butter
Tiny pinch of salt
A few drops of vanilla extract
In a small saucepan over low heat, stir together all the ingredients except the vanilla. When the sauce has melted and blended together (about 1 minute), stir in the vanilla. Turn off the heat and keep stirring all the while to help it cool down. When it is no longer very hot, pour over apple nachos.
***
Peanut butter sauce
2 Tbsp peanut butter, smooth or crunchy
1 Tbsp half and half, heavy whipping cream, or milk
1 Tbsp white or brown sugar
Tiny pinch of salt
1 tsp maple syrup or light corn syrup
In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together all the ingredients until well blended. Turn off the heat and keep stirring all the while to help it cool down. When it is no longer very hot, pour over apple nachos.
***
Cookie butter sauce
1 Tbsp half and half, heavy whipping cream, or milk
1 Tbsp white or brown sugar
Tiny pinch of salt
In a small saucepan over medium heat, stir together all the ingredients until well blended. Turn off the heat and keep stirring all the while to help it cool down. When it is no longer very hot, pour over apple nachos.
***
I used a Granny Smith apple for The Sweet Sierra variation since it's a little tart -- it balances out all the sweet stuff and I thought this represented Sierra's character changes throughout the book. I used Gala apples for all the rest but you can use any kind you like or have available. I also used Mallow Bits for the hot chocolate variation, but use regular mini-marshmallows if you're going to toast it.
Tween Tuesday is a meme hosted here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens!
Check out Annette LeBlanc Cate's Guest Post!!Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: 3/12/2013
Add to GoodreadsAbout the Book: Anybody can bird watch! All you need is to go outside and look up! This fun quirky book will teach the basics of bird watching, what to look for, and how to get started with a new hobby.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Look Up! is a great nonfiction addition to any collection. While the book is short (just over 50 pages), the pages are full of information that will get readers excited about bird-watching. I will admit, I've always thought of bird-watchers as a bit odd-they're those people who have notebooks and binoculars, spend a lot of time outside being very quiet and really love birds. But Annette LeBlanc Cate has managed to make me rethink my ideas of bird-watching and make me, someone who would much rather stay inside with a book than go outside, actually want to venture outdoors and look for birds!
The style of book is part picture book, part comic book, part nonfiction text. There are illustrations on each page and the banter between the birds is hilarious. The illustrations and text also address the reader directly and answer questions they might have about bird-watching as well as giving steps readers can take to learn more about birds in their own backyard. There are lots of details about bird-watching and various types of birds, but not so scientific that the text will turn off readers.The facts about bird-watching are easy to follow, engaging and perfect for budding ornithologists. Really, I can't express how much fun this book is. It's not often that I get this excited about a nonfiction title (nonfiction isn't always my favorite area to read in) but
Look Up! was so fun to read I forgot I was reading nonfiction. I think this would be the perfect book to hand a reader who needs to read a nonfiction book but aren't sure what they want to read about or turned off from the idea of trying nonfiction.
You might have to start your own bird-watching club at your library after readers get this one!
Book Pairings: Pair this with
Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt and
Moonbird by Phillip M. Hoose for a great fiction/nonfiction selection about birds and bird-watching
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from ARC sent by publisher for review
By: GreenBeanTeenQueen,
on 3/4/2013
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Check Out the Going Vintage Trailer Reveal!!!
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: 3/26/2013
Add to GoodreadsAbout the Book: After Mallory discovers that her boyfriend has cheated on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides she's had enough of technology. She finds a list her grandmother made in the 1960s of five goals to accomplish in high school and Mallory decides she's going to try her hand at the list-and hopes it will help her get back to a simpler time and get over her ex. With a list made up of things like sew a homecoming dress (Mallory can't sew!) and run for pep club secretary (what exactly is pep club?) Mallory finds that being a teenager can be complicated, no matter what decade you're in.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Five Things I Loved About Going Vintage1. Mallory makes list-I love lists-we're so totally kindred spirits! :)2. Ginnie, Mallory's sister, is awesome and hilarious.3. Mallory's quest to go vintage and find herself is inspiring and heartwarming and very funny.4. Family secrets always make for a great read.5. Oliver Kimball-he's just so hipster cute and totally crushworthy
Don't be fooled by the cover of
Going Vintage (as great as it is!) This is much more than a fluffy read. It's a heartwarming and hilarious read about one girl's search to figure out who she really is. Lindsey Leavitt has a great way of mixing the cute fluff story with something deeper and it makes for a great read.
Mallory is trying to discover who she is after spending the past year with her boyfriend Jeremy. When Oliver poses the question about what Mallory's things are, she realizes she's become one of those girls-the girls that give up any interests they might have only to throw themselves into everything their boyfriend loves. Without Jeremy around, Mallory must discover who she is on her own-and it's not going to be easy. Mallory thinks life in the 60s had to much simpler-I mean, no technology, right? Mallory's quest to complete her list is encouraging and I liked following along with her as she tried to complete her various tasks. This is not just the story of Mallory and her lists. It's also a story about family secrets and learning other people's stories.
As fun as the whole book is, there were a couple of things though that made the book really stand out to me. The first was the subject of emotional cheating. Jeremy emotionally cheats on Mallory with his "wife" in a Second Life type alternate universe game. I love the exploration of emotional cheating in this novel and the look at the fact that there are various types of cheating-and emotional cheating hurts. The other thing that stood out to me was Mallory's thoughts on giving up technology. At first she has a hard time with it, but she makes observations about how talking on the phone becomes more special than just sending a short message online or a text. Instead of spending time goofing around online, she has to seek out things to do. It was an interesting look at how our social relationships are so very determined by technology and sometimes we take a step back and have a face to face conversation.
There's a bit of a romance, but it's also wonderfully well done and I love that it's also a story about Mallory learning to be on her own. I can't wait to recommend this one to my teens. Great for readers looking for a touch of romance and lots of humor.
Book Pairings: Just Listen by Sarah Dessen (Oliver reminded me a bit of Owen),
Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald (for finding your independence and getting over your first love),
Unbreak My Heart by Melissa Walker (for the romance)
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from ARC on Netgalley
By: GreenBeanTeenQueen,
on 2/25/2013
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Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Nonfiction
Release Date: 1/22/2013
Add to GoodreadsAbout the Book: During World War Two, soldiers are fighting against discrimination and injustice. Yet prejudice was happening on the home front in America as black soldiers were not being integrated into the army and many were given service jobs. A group of soldiers fought back against this injustice and formed the 555th-an all black soldier unit that trained to become paratroopers.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I really like Tanya Lee Stone's nonfiction. It's easy to read, accessible for a wide range of readers (this could easily be given to fifth grade students and high school students) and the detail is obvious. I'm not an avid reader of nonfiction. In fact, it's one area I struggle with as a librarian because it's so out of my reading comfort zone. But
Courage Has No Color is an incredible story that pulled me in. This is a book that I think readers of nonfiction will enjoy, but is a great gateway into nonfiction for those who are reluctant to try something other than fiction. The text is written in a nice narrative format with lots of quotes and details, yet I never felt as though it got bogged down in dates and facts that I got lost.
I love when I learn something new about a history and this is a story that needs to be told. The story of Triple Nickles, the name the 555th unit gave themselves, is inspiring. This group of brave men stood up for what they believed and decided to show the Army that they deserved equality and could do the work of a soldier. In the author's note, Ms. Stone mentions how this book was her hardest to write because the history of the Triple Nickles was scattered. Her extensive research shows throughout the writing and I think the book is especially strong because of the many first person accounts Ms. Stone is able to pull from. There are many black and white photographs throughout the book that compliment the text and add to the overall story.
This is an excellent addition to nonfiction collections and a story that needs to be told. These brave men paved the way for equality in the military and their story is exciting and engaging.
Book Pairings: Bomb by Steve Sheinkin (for a great pairing of World War Two history),
Almost Astronauts by Tanya Lee Stone (for a pairing of untold inspiring stories)
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from final copy sent to me by the publisher
By: GreenBeanTeenQueen,
on 12/24/2012
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I try to repost my review of this book every year because I love it so much! Also, I think the cover changes are interesting. Here's the original cover, published in 2008:
And then the next cover:
And yet another cover:
I think all three covers are good but I like 1 and 3 the best.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Romance
Release Date: October 2008
About the Book: Let It Snow is a new holiday offering from three popular teen authors. Each author contributed a holiday romance short story to add to the collection. Maureen Johnson starts things off with The Jubilee Express, in which Jubilee (no, not a stripper, but named for a piece in her mother’s collection of the Flobie Santa Village) finds herself stranded on a train in Gracetown in a huge snowstorm. A trip to the Waffle House introduces her to Stuart and friendship, or maybe something more, starts to form. In A Cheertastic Christmas Miracle, author John Green hilariously describes the mission of three friends to get to the Waffle House where a group of cheerleaders are stranded and wanting to play Twister. And Lauren Myracle’s The Patron Saint of Pigs shows that lost love can be found again with the help of Starbucks, angels, and even a pig.GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I’m a sucker for romance any time of the year, but something about the holiday season makes me want to curl up in a nice blanket, drink hot chocolate, and read love stories. Let It Snow is the perfect holiday read.
Each story stands well on its own, but it was nice to have a common thread throughout. I loved how the authors found ways to connect all three stories. Characters you meet in the beginning show up later on, and places like Starbucks and the Waffle House are important to all three tales. The only thing I didn’t like was that they were all short stories - I could have kept reading about each of the characters!
Let It Snow is a great, warm, fuzzy read for the holidays, so grab some hot chocolate and curl up because you won’t want to stop reading until you’re finished and happily sighing.Full Disclosure: Reviewed from personal library copy purchased from Borders. First reviewed in 2008.
By: Shelbie, Amanda and Jenni,
on 10/1/2012
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Release Date: Febuary 14th, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Flirt Factor: Chaste
Overall: 5/5 stars
Once, I put a curse on a beastly and arrogant high school boy. That one turned out all right. Others didn't.
I go to a new school now--one where no one knows that I should have graduated long ago. I'm not still here because I'm stupid; I just don't age.
You see, I'm immortal. And I pretty much know everything after hundreds of years--except for when to take my powers and butt out.
I want to help, but things just go awry in ways I could never predict. Like when I tried to free some children from a gingerbread house and ended up being hanged. After I came back from the dead (immortal, remember?), I tried to play matchmaker for a French prince and ended up banished from France forever. And that little mermaid I found in the "Titanic" lifeboat? I don't even want to think about it.
Now a girl named Emma needs me. I probably shouldn't get involved, but her gorgeous stepsister is conniving to the core. I think I have just the thing to fix that girl--and it isn't an enchanted pumpkin. Although you never know what will happen when I start . . . bewitching.
Alex Flinn is probably one of my favorite authors. I love retellings of fairy tales and she does the perfect job at them. Bewitching contained a retelling of Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, The Princess and the Pea, and The Little Mermaid all wrapped up into one story and it was perfection.
The story is focused on a witch named Kendra, who was the enchantress in Beastly for those of you who read that one, who enjoys helping people find their happy ending. Sometimes it works out and sometimes it goes terribly wrong. While the story is focused on her, there are three different speakers all in first person. There is Kendra, Emma who is the second main character and has a life based on Cinderella, and Doria who is this story's Little Mermaid. One of my favorite parts of the book was the Doria interlude because of the way Flinn combines The Little Mermaid and Titanic is magical.
The worst thing for me that a book can be is predictable, I am a huge unexpected twists and turns. Flinn did an amazing job doing this in Bewitching through the complex characters she created. The most complex characters were Lisette and Emma. The two girls suddenly become step sisters and throughout the book you see how their feelings change towards the situation. Emma is this average girl who most girls can relate to. She doesn't have many friends and she thinks of herself as ugly and weird, constantly comparing herself to her new gorgeous step sister Lisette. Most teenage girls are constantly comparing themselves, and to see Emma go through the journey of learning to love who she is, is incredibly relatable. Lisette on the other hand is a girl you feel bad to hate because everything she does is filled with wickedness yet she had a terrible life and you can see where she is coming from. My feelings towards her were conflicted the entire book.
You also can't have a fairy tale without a love story, and this love story was one that I believe could actually happen. I don't want to talk too much about the love story because I don't want to ruin it for you.
The only thing I would change about this was the ending seemed a little too abrupt because a new plotline was started and ended in the last two chapters. I was really enjoying the new plot line and wanted to learn more about it but there wasn't any time. I'm crossing my fingers for a sequel.
XOXO,Jenni
By: Shelbie, Amanda and Jenni,
on 9/19/2012
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Release Date: 2/28/2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 375
Flirt Factor: Playful
Overall: 5/5 Stars
I'm pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex, pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame.
Lauren Oliver delivers an electrifying follow-up to her acclaimed New York Times bestseller, Delirium. This riveting, brilliant novel crackles with the fire of fierce defiance, forbidden romance, and the sparks of a revolution about to ignite.
Just when I thought the series couldn't get any better, Lauren Oliver writes Pandemonium.
HOW DOES SHE PLAY WITH MY EMOTIONS SO MUCH I DON'T UNDERSTAND
I'll try and keep this review as cohesive and spoiler free but my mind is sort of a jumble of love for Lauren Oliver this review might just be like me drooling.
Once again Lauren Oliver has created a horrible world full of believable characters. Almost all of the characters introduced are brand new and I love and feel for them all so much. I think that part of what makes this story amazing is how well each and every character is developed, even if they're minor. I'm trying not to spoil it but THAT ONE CHARACTER THAT GETS INTRODUCED NOW RUNS MY WHOLE LIFE and the ending had me so depressed.
This story features Lena after she has escaped into The Wilds and flashes between her time there and her time in New York with a group of invalids with whom she's created a new family. The flashing between what is titled as "then" and "now" was a really interesting way to tell two stories at once without overly confusing the reader. Gah it's so hard to type this without spoilers! I really enjoyed this plot line, I think that the way the story was presented was very interesting and different. The story had just enough emotional scenes to get me teary, scenes that showcased the invalid's love for each other that made me sigh, and nail biting moments that kept me turning the page.
If Lauren Oliver ever stops writing I think that Earth might just stop spinning, I touched on this a little bit before but you can spell perfection with her writing. I loved how she wrote
Pandemonium really rough and short while Lena was in The Wilds, and then contrasted that while she was in New York. I think that that particularly showed the roughness of the world outside the city. Every scene was written so well I just wanted to weep while reading. Lauren Oliver stop being so perfect.
Finally, If you thought the ending of Delirium was bad, just wait. Oliver really knows how to how to take my heart and crush it into a million tiny pieces.
Well, I hope you could sort of follow that; and, if you are looking for line for Requiem it starts right here. Ugh, I can't wait another minute for it, let alone a couple months.
xoxo,
Shelbie
By: Shelbie, Amanda and Jenni,
on 9/12/2012
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Release Date: 2/1/2011
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: HarperTeen
Pages: 480
Flirt Factor: Playful
Overall: 5/5 Stars
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.
But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love
I don't really remember how I used to set up these reviews so I'm just going to babble.
Oh my freaking god this book is so good. It's a mix of an amazingly horrifying dystopian world and awesome characters and adventure and a great plot line and ugh literally this book has no flaws.
Because I can't put into words the awesomeness that oozes from this book's pages I will put in some quotes that, if you have read this book, will make you weep.
"I'd rather die my way than live yours." The story follows 17 year old Lena, who lives in fear of the disease and cannot wait to have her procedure administered so that she may be cured. She can feel the disease in her blood, and for her it is unbearable. She is counting down the days until she can be cleansed and free from the worry of ever contracting the deliria.
Then she meets Alex.
"As soon as I look up, his eyes click onto my face. The breath whooshes out of my body and everything freezes for a second, as though I am looking at him through my camera lens, zoomed in all the way, the world pausing for that tiny span of time between the opening and closing of the shutter." Alex is a beautiful soul with an intriguing and heartbreaking story. Not only is he strong, confident, and brave, but he is gentle and tender. While this is a wonderful, tumultuous, and exciting love story, for me this book was about sacrifice - Ultimate sacrifice. Lena’s relationship with her mother and her mother’s story was poignant, at times heart wrenching, and enormously gripping.
"I love you. Remember. They cannot take it".And the ending? A cliffhanger of epic proportions. It will definitely be a book to treasure and savor for quite some time. Delirium is easily one of my top five favorites. Literally the only books that this is topped by is like Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, and the sequel which I will review next week!
Until then,
“Love. It kills you both when you have it, and when you don’t.”Loving being back! xoxo,
Shelbie
Tween Tuesday is a meme started here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens! Join the fun and add your link below!
Rating: 5/5 Stars Genre: Picture Book/Activity Book Release Date: 2/1/2011Add to GoodreadsAbout the Book: It's a book-but there's a hole in it! Sometimes it's an eye, sometimes a face, sometimes a place-use your imagination to discover what's inside!
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I'm in love with Herve Tullet's
Press Here which I constantly sing the praises of to my library patrons. So when a co-worker first showed me
The Book With a Hole, I was excited to find a picture book that would work great with tweens.
On each page is a different scene-a swimming pool, an animal, a basketball hoop. Sometimes you have to draw things to go behind the hole to complete the scenes. Sometimes you can hold the book up to your face and complete the picture. It's interactive all with imagination which makes it stand out. You get to be part of the story. I can see tweens having a blast with this book and it would be great to share with a group of all ages. I think you could also use this as a fantastic story starter for tweens in English class. Who knew a book with a hole could be so much fun?
I love to listen to audiobooks (I'm seriously addicted to Audible!). So when I realized I had listened to a ton of audiobooks but never reviewed them, I thought I'd do some audiobook flash reviews. Have any audiobooks I should check out? I'd love suggestions!!
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta Rating: 5/5 Stars About the Book: Taylor was abandoned by her mother years ago on the Jellicoe Road. Now at seventeen, the one adult Taylor could trust, Hannah, has disappeared. Taylor searches for answers about who she is and her story is interwoven with a group of teens who lived on the Jellicoe Road years before.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: I remember when this book won the Printz-I didn't know much about it. And I'm embarrassed that it took me so long to read it!
Jellicoe Road is one of my new favorite YA novels-it's emotional and beautifully written and everything I want a book to be. The audiobook narrator does a fantastic job keeping the reader engaged-even when things start to get a bit tricky with the stories going back and forth. (The audiobook uses a very cool musical sound to designate the change). It's a book I highly recommend and one I'll listen to again.
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater Rating: 5/5 StarsAbout the Book: On the island of Thisby, November means The Scorpio Races-a race of water horses where not everyone comes out alive. Sean Kendrick is a returning champion and one of the best racers. He is competing this year in the hopes of winning his horse as his own. Puck Connolly didn't mean to enter the races, especially with the only non-water horse to compete, but she needs the money. The races are dangerous and often deadly and neither one is prepared for what will come.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: If you want a fantastically rich story that takes place on a made up island that you are so sure has to be real, than read
The Scorpio Races. And if you want magical narrators that transport you from your listening to Thisby and right into the story, Steve West and Fiona Hardingham are perfect. While this would be a great book to read, it made an excellent audiobook. The narrators added to the richness to the story. The book itself is full of adventure and romance and incredible details about a world that is so imaginative and amazing, it's a bit sad to know it's all fictional. Also, without the audiobook, I never would have pronounced "capill uisce" correctly! (It's pronounced 'kapal-ishka')
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 6/21/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 0007442912 | 9780007442911
Category: Young Adult Dystopian Fiction
Format: Hardcover, ebook
Keywords: Series, Dystopian, Uprising
Source: Library
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One choice can transform you--or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Kimberly's Review:
All right, so let's get some things straight here.
I really liked Divergent, book one of the Divergent series. I thought it was well written, fast paced, fun and creative.
2 Comments on Insurgent - Review, last added: 6/22/2012
Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens! Join the fun, share your links below and discover a new tween read!
Rating: 5/5 Stars Genre: Contemporary Release Date: 5/10/2012 Add To GoodreadsAbout the Book: After her stepfather hurts Carley and her mother in a fight, tweleve-year-old Carley has just been told that she is being placed in a foster home until her mother gets better. Carley doesn't belong in the Murphy's foster home-it's too good, too nice, and too affectionate-not for Carley at all. But the Murphy's, especially the kind and caring Mrs. Murphy, slowly are able to break down Carley's walls and Carley is able to help the Murphy family more than she thought.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: If you're looking for a touching and heartwarming read, add this to your summer reading pile now!! I was captivated from the first page and absolutely fell in love with Carley and the Murphy family. The Murphy's are now one of my fictional families that I would love to live with-they're funny, they're caring, and you can't help but want to be part of them.
One for the Murphys is a tender story about foster care and the brief times that foster children have in a foster parents life. There's no easy path for Carley as she still has a mom to go back to-her time in foster care is not indefinite.. I think readers will especially relate to Carley as she keeps questioning if the life she had before was bad because it's different than the one she comes to know with the Murphys and if her mom really loves her.
Instead of coming off as sappy and cheesy and Hallmark perfect, the Murphys come across as real and down to earth. They show Carley another kind of family-not better or worse, but different. I liked that the book never puts one home life above the other-Carley has good and bad in both situations she's known and I think this makes the story even more powerful.
Give this one to readers looking for a great family story that will stick with them. This is one family you won't forget!
Book Pairings:
Pictures of Hollis Woods by Patricia Reilly Giff,
Freaky Fast Frankie Joe by Lutricia Clifton,
Hound Dog True by Linda Urban
Tween Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted here at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens. Add your link below and discover a new read!
Rating: 5/5 Stars Genre: Mystery/Humor Release Date: 2/14/2012 Add to Goodreads About the Book: Poor Madeline. All she wants is some new white shoes to attend her school graduation ceremony and accept an award from Prince Charles. It's a very big deal, except her hippie parents don't seem to agree. They're too busy celebrating Luminara. When some foxes need the help of Madeline's code-decoder relative Uncle Runyon, they kidnap Madeline's parents instead, hoping they can lead them to Uncle Runyon's address. Good thing Mrs. and Mrs. have just taken up detective work-all for the fedora, of course. The bunnies are on the case!
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: It's rare that I find a book that appeals to my inner 9-year-old self and my adult self all in one. But that's just what
Mr. and Mrs. Bunny-Dectectives Extraordinaire has done.
The satire is hilarious-from mystery novels, to hippie parents, to the long-married Mr. and Mrs. Bunny who have a wonderful banter, there is so much here that will leave adults laughing. But it's not just the adults who will get a kick out of this book. There are plenty of hijinks, silly animals, and twists and turns to delight younger readers. This is a book that made me wish I had a classroom of 4th or 5th graders to read this book aloud to-it's a book that begs to be read by adult and child together.
Mr. and Mrs. Bunny cracked me up. Mrs. Bunny is always changing her hobbies and she decides that Mr. and Mrs. Bunny should become detectives, because detectives get to wear fedoras-perfectly reasonable, right? I loved the banter back and forth between Mr. and Mrs. Bunny-it reminded me a lot of myself and Mr. GreenBeanSexyMan, if we were bunnies, of course. And Madeline is smart (she's read
Pride and Prejudice!) and she's the one who ends up telling the adults-human and bunny-what to do. Not in a bossy way, but she just ends up being the logical one. With Madeline leading the quest to find her parents, tween readers will be cheering her on and laughing about the silliness the bunnies find themselves in. Then there's the foxes who are trying to learn English, Madeline's hippie parents, and a marmot who loves garlic bread and really, why aren't you reading this book already??
This one has a nice mix of classic storytelling and satire and it's great for readers of all ages. Add in Sophie Blackall's beautiful illustrations, and you've got a book that you'll want to put on your library shelf right now. Be sure to booktalk this one to your tween readers-and your adult readers!
Book Pairings:
The Willoughby's by Lois Lowry,
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood
Full Disclosure: Reviewed from copy I checked out from my local library
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 4/15/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 1442439513 | 9781442439511
Category: Young Adult Realistic Fiction
Keyword: Thriller, Death, Loss, Missing persons
Format: Hardcover, ebook
From Goodreads:
"Don't even think of leaving...I will find you," he whispered. "Guaranteed."
Sara and her mom have a plan to finally escape Sara's abusive father. But when her mom doesn't show up as expected, Sara's terrified. Her father says that she's on a business trip, but Sara knows he's lying. Her mom is missing--and her dad had something to do with it. Each day that passes, Sara's more on edge. Her friends know that something's wrong, but she won't endanger anyone else with her secret. And with her dad growing increasingly violent, Sara must figure out what happened to her mom before it's too late...for them both.
Kimberly's review:
I have a confession. I cheated.
So, I'm always giving my one friend a hard time be
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 4/9/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 0802722849 | 9780802722843
Category: Young Adult Paranormal Romance
Keywords: Vampires, Politics, Romance, Fiction
Format: ebook, Hardcover, Paperback
Kimberly's review:
Well, hell. Another fantastic installment in the Drake Chronicles series. In this story, we follow young Christabel, Lucy's cousin that has come to live with her. Christabel is a girl after my own heart. She reads, reads, reads. She's fun, strong and mostly a loner. Don't get her wrong, she likes Connor Drake. He's nice, and sweet and an overall good guy. But she's not interested in him. She likes the bad boys, you know? And Connor isn't a bad boy. Is he?
Once she's kidnapped, accidentally mistaken for her cousin Lucy, she is thrown into the Drake vampire politics and find out why the mysterious Drake brothers are the way they are. And why her cousin Lucy acts so weird...
I loved how Christabel was thrown into this world. Circumstances beyond her control wheeled her in and now she's playing catch up! I really liked her sense of humor and fearlessness. I enjoyed her murmuring poetry when she was nervous. She's a wonderful character. And of course the
Tween Tuesday is a meme hosted at GreenBeanTeenQueen to highlight great reads for tweens! Join the fun and add your link below! (And yes, Tween Tuesday posts have been scarce-I'm deep in YA reading now, but I promise I'll post more tween posts in the coming weeks!)
Rating: 5/5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: 4/1/2012
About the Book: Oona is worried about her cat Zook-he's not doing so well and Oona wants to figure out a way to break him out of the vet's office and bring him home. As Oona tries to take care of everything, she tells Fred that cats have nine lives, so they don't need to worry about Zook. Oona decides to make up the stories of Zook's previous lives. Oona always worries about her brother, Fred, who hasn't had the best appetite since their father died two years ago. And on top of that, Oona's mom has started to date The Villain...well, really Dylan-but Oona's sure he's a villain! Oona's determined to find out the truth about Zook's illness, and discover the truth about why her mom shouldn't be interested in The Villain and along the way she may just discover some truths about herself.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Alright fellow readers. Do you ever find yourself in the mood for a charming middle grade novel? One that hits all the right notes when it comes to family and growing up? And that maybe evens has the feel of some of the classics you read as a tween yourself? Add The Five Lives of our Cat Zook into your secret pile when you're looking for that special book.
Oona was a narrator that I liked and she made me laugh a lot. Her observations are smart and funny which made me like her. I also liked how much she took care of brother and taught him to read. She has many different theories about things-a name theory, a whopper theory-and each time Oona revealed a new theory, I liked her even more. She felt like a mix of Claudia (From the Mixed Up Files...) and Anne (Anne of Green Gables). She has some crazy ideas, but that's part of what I liked about her. She was loyal to her friends and family, even if meant coming up with a crazy idea of how to help them. Sure her plans didn't always work, but she had to try!
This is a very sweet book about a cat, siblings, and parents. Oona isn't quite ready for her mom to move on and Oona herself won't stop wearing her Dad's Raiders sweatshirt. While the book is about Zook and Oona's stories about Zook, it's also about grief and learning to live after a loss. Oona's story isn't obvious-we're not hit over the head with lessons that she's learned. Instead, she comes to an understanding slowly and we go through the process with her, which adds to the books charm.
I would recommend this one to readers who like family stories and animal stories and anyone looking for a good old fashioned book. You'll be glad you got to know Oona and Zook!
Book Pairings: Because of Winn-Dixie
By: alethea aka frootjoos,
on 3/5/2012
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ISBN 10/13: 0802720749 | 9780802720740
Category: Young Adult Paranormal
Keywords: Vampire, Romance, Fiction
Format: ebook, Hardcover, Paperback, Audio CD
From Goodreads:
On Solange’s sixteenth birthday, she is going to wake up dead. As if that’s not bad enough, she also has to outwit her seven overprotective older brothers, avoid the politics involved with being the only daughter born to an ancient vampire dynasty, and elude Kieran Black—agent of an anti-vampire league who is searching for his father’s killer and is intent on staking Solange and her entire family.
Luckily she has her own secret weapon—her human best friend Lucy—who is willing to defend Solange’s right to a normal life, whether she’s being smothered by her well-intentioned brothers or abducted by a power-hungry queen. Two unlikely alliances are formed in a race to save Solange’s eternal life—Lucy and Solange’s brother Nicholas, and Solange and Kieran Black—in a dual romance that
Release date: 10/4/2011
Publisher: HarperCollins
Age Group: Middle Grade (Ages 8-12)
Pages: 320
Flirt Factor: Chaste/None
Overall: 5/5 stars
Summary from Amazon:
Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice—until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.
That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable
Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.
Going into Liesl and Po I had high expectations. After reading Before I Fall and Delirium, both of which I loved, I knew Lauren Oliver's writing would be beautiful and that I'd instantly fall in love with the characters. However, neither of those books could prepare me for Liesl and Po. Liesl and Po was entirely different from Oliver's first two novels, and not just because it's a middle grade novel. In the beginning of my copy of Liesl and Po (I have an ARC so the finished copies may be different) Lauren Oliver talks about how much more personal for her Liesl and Po was compared to her other books, and it definitely shows through her writing.
Liesl and Po is a beautiful children's story with an excellent set of characters. You'll fall in love instantly with Po, the ghost who's forgotten what it's like to be human; Bundle, the cat-dog-ghost that brings a little bit of happiness to the dreariest of moments; Liesl, the determined little girl who loves her father; and Will, the alchemist's apprentice who seems to always be missing a hat.
Liesl and Po is both fast paced and mysterious, filled with twists and turns that intertwine the many characters lives. Lauren Oliver did a wonderful job with her world building, making you feel as if you were in that dark and dreary place or in the chaos of the Otherside. She writes a deeply personal and enchanting story about grief, adventure, and hope for new life.
Liesl and Po is so entirely different from Lauren Oliver's other works that it's almost impossible to put into words how I feel about this book. Liesl and Po is a mix of the haunting sadness of Coraline and the bravery and adventure of The Tale of Desperaux. I definitely recommend this book if you're looking for an exciting cast of characters, a little bit of adventure, and an emotional
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I woke up this morning, visited here to see what the first stop on my blog tour looked like, and was BLOWN AWAY by the amazing, brilliant, mega-creative recipes. You are a genius! I adore these! I can't wait to make all of them, in honor of each character, and eat them all. Thank you so much for launching my tour in such an inspired way.
Hi Claudia! You're so welcome. Let me know which is your favorite. I'm partial to the Angie Shepard (mmm cookie butter) but the Principal Besser is fun, too. Classic cafeteria combo, haha :)
I'd dip mine in that caramel sauce. Yum!