Book Review: Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Leaving the Bellweathers by Kristin Clark Venuti
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: September 2009
ISBN: 9781606840061
Source: Library

Tristan Benway, butler to the Bellweathers, has decided it's time to find a new position.  He's put up with dangerous animals inhabiting the lighthouse, tricks and antics from the obnoxiously loud triplets, and good deeds gone awry from their sister.  After all, there is only so much a respectable man can handle from this zany and incorrigible family, right?

Things I Liked:
This was a sweet, quirky, awesomely crazy middle grade read.  I adore the Bellweather family, complete with evil up-to-no-good whispering triplets, saving humanity sister, and endangered-dangerous-animal-lover brother.  This book inspired much laughter and made me want to be a kid again so I could love it properly.  A delightful romp that will make you think your family is very normal, even if the butler doesn't think so.  I loved this

Wanted: One gentleman possessed of nerves of steel and impeccable  organizational skills.  Applicant must know how to set a formal dining table as well as the best method of large-animal sedation.  Lunatic-asylum experience is helpful.  Interested parties please reply to Tristan Benway c/o Lighthouse on the Hill. p 68-69

Things I Didn't Like:
You know, I'm just going to stick with I loved every minute.  Sometimes being an adult can really be a drawback when enjoying a nice wacky kids book.  Hand this to your middle graders who like a bit of silliness.

Read-alikes:
Reminded me of Savvy and Scumble by Ingrid Law
Also a bit like the Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none
(unless being snapped at by an endangered albino alligator counts...)

Overall rating: *****

What's your favorite quirky kid book?

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Posted in 5 stars , humorous , magical realism , middle grade , tween tuesday

Book Review: Okay for Now by Gary Schmidt

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
Publisher: Clarion Books
Publication date: April 2011
ISBN: 9780547152608
Source: Library

 

Doug Switeck has never had it easy.  But when his family moves to Marysville so his father can get a job, things become even worse.  Everyone soon accuses Doug's brother of some local burglaries and Doug becomes guilty by association.  His teachers at school, especially the gym teacher and principal, have it out for him and life is just as crummy as possible.  But, can discovering a new talent and some new friends make Doug's life a little more bearable?

Things I Liked:
Wow.  Mr. Schmidt is a master at the middle grade novel.  This book has everything from feeling like you stand in the shadow of your older siblings to thoughts on the Vietnam War and dealing with a crooked father.  Doug has more than his fair share of rotten days and rotten experiences, but the best thing about the book is how just one or two beautiful things that happen to him can change the way he thinks.  When one teacher decides to help Doug out, when one friends sticks by him, when one person praises him, you can really feel what an impact that has in his life.  Schmidt creates these pitch perfect voices for his characters.  Doug is the right mixture of vulnerable, punk, and sarcastic humor that he literally feels like your surly younger brother.  I laughed and then cried and then did more of the same through the entire book.  I cheered for his successes and mourned his sorrows.  One of the very best books I've read in a long time.  And if you liked The Wednesday Wars, you'll love Okay for Now.  Here are some favorite parts:

When she finished, she took the bottle away from her lips - she was still smiling - and she sighed, and then she squared her shoulders and kind of adjusted herself like she was in a batter's box, and then she let out a belch that even my brother couldn't match, not on his very best day.
It was amazing. It made birds fly out of the maples in front of the library.  Dogs asleep on porches a couple of blocks way probably woke up.  p 29

She came over and looked at the picture.  Then she took my hand.
You know what that feels like?
Like what the astronauts will feel when they step onto the moon for the very first time...
Like someone seeing what a chump you are and getting you a cold Coke anyway.
Like possibility.  p 226-227

In English, Miss Cowper was throwing us into the Introduction to Poetry Unit like it was as all-fired important as the moon shot.  You know, there are good reasons for learning how to read.  Poetry isn't one of them.  I mean, so what if two roads go two ways in a wood?  So what?  Who cares if it made all that big a difference?  What difference?  And why should I have to guess what the difference is?  Isn't that what he's supposed to say?  Why can't poets just say what they want to say and then shut up? p 235

And you know what I was going to do?  I was going to shriek like an insane woman who has been locked in an attic for a great many years.
In front of Joe Pepitone.
You know what that feels like?
You can't know what that feels like, because no one has ever had to shriek like an insane woman who has been locked in an attic for a great many years in front of Joe Pepitone.  
I couldn't do it.  
I wouldn't do it.  
Not in front of Joe Pepitone. p 313

Things I Didn't Like:
This is not an action book.  It is fairly slow moving and focuses definitely more on characters than action.  Also, I was a little surprised at the changes his dad made at the end.  They seemed a bit sudden.  Still, this is truly one of the best I've read.  Ever.

Read-alikes:
The Wednesday Wars by Gary Schmidt

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

I can't think of anyone who writes quite like Schmidt. Can you?

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Posted in 5 stars , highly recommended , humorous , middle grade , realistic fiction , tween tuesday

Book Review: The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH
Publication date: November 2010
ISBN: 9781423123729
Source: Library audiobook

 

Djinni extraordinaire Bartimaeus has spent thousands of years serving magician masters.  In this adventure, he serves a rather nasty master, one that is determined to break his spirit.  Throw in the ring of power that King Solomon wields and you have an interesting adventure for Bartimaeus to survive.  Will his wit and sheer cheek keep him from a nasty end?

Things I Liked:
Oh how I love Bartimeaus.  He makes these books completely enjoyable.  The snark, the sarcasm, the hilarity, all belong to him.  I'm so glad Stroud decided to write this book as a companion to the previous three books, because he deserves a book all to himself.  I reveled in everything he said and did.  The story was fairly interesting too, but I honestly kept listenening for Bartimaeus' humor.  And I was not disappointed.  I laughed so hard on multiple occasions that I honestly had to stop what I was doing (good thing I wasn't driving).  This is pure entertainment and so well-written, too.  If I'd read the book instead of listening, I'd probably have about 100 quotes from it.  Instead, I'll recommend either listening or reading, because the narrator, Simon Jones, does a fantastic job of reading this, with just the right combination of sarcasm and boredom that Bartimaeus would use.  I was worried I'd have a hard time distinguishing footnotes from the story, but he managed those perfectly as well.  Now if only they'd make a movie...

Things I Didn't Like:
I think I wish I had read it too, because I spent long periods of time away from the book and would then come back to it and not remember what had happened previously.  Still, I completely enjoyed listening, even if I did miss some of the finer points of plot.

Read-alikes:
Read the first three books in the Bartimaeus series by Stroud

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few mild ones here and there

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some violence, but mostly not described

Overall rating: *****

Have you read any of these? If not, why not?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 5 stars , audiobook , Fantasy , highly recommended , humorous , middle grade , tween tuesday

Book Review: A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

A Long Way From Chicago by Richard Peck
Publisher: Puffin
Publication date: September 1998
ISBN: 9780142401101
Source: Audiobook from the library

When Joey and his sister Mary Alice are sent every summer to visit Grandma Dowdel, they little expect to enjoy it so much.  Grandma manages to keep them on their toes and to defy the town with everything she does.  From a shotgun funeral to a plane ride in the sky, the kids' summers are anything but dull.

Things I Liked:
The book is told in a series of short stories and each story is just so hilarious!  Grandma Dowdel feels like a real character, she's so full of life.  She literally carries the stories on her shoulders, like the fiesty woman she is.  This one would make a fantastic read-aloud in a class.  The narration (we listened to it on a trip) was well done and had just the right amount of clever intonation to make the stories even funnier.  This is a personal favorite of mine and one to sell to reluctant readers.

Things I Didn't Like:
The episodic feel might turn some people off, since it doesn't technically have a progressive plot.  But, after one story of Grandma Dowdel, I think they will want more.

Read-alikes:
A Year Down Yonder and A Season of Gifts have more Grandma Dowdel and a bit more plot too

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe one or two

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

What's your go-to reluctant reader pick?

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Posted in audiobook , highly recommended , Historical Fiction , humorous , middle grade

Book Review: After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick

After Ever After by Jordan Sonnenblick
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication date: February 2010
ISBN: 9780439837088
Source: Library

 

Jeffrey is now in eighth grade and his cancer is in remission.  But, life doesn't just go one perfectly after having had chemotherapy and dozens of other treatments.  He still has to deal with the after effects, including some physical and mental problems.  When the cute new girl in school actually seems to like him, he is completely shocked.  What would she see in a guy with a limp and brain damage?  These turn out to be the least of Jeff's worries, when a new state-mandated test threatens his future and his best friend is keeping a huge secret from him.

Things I Liked:
This book was awesome!  I laughed.  I cried.  I laughed while I was crying.  Sonnenblick has a real talent for taking things that can make you miserable and unhappy and just plain depressed and putting spin on them.  There was real humor and perspective in the book.  The characters feel just like eighth grade boys who deal with some serious problems.  Yes, the cancer's gone, but it still makes itself felt in every day.  It is a fabulous combination of the usual and the unusual in a teen boy's life.  And I just loved Tad.  Here are some awesome parts:

Legend has it that Lindsey Abraham, despite her famous wit, was secretly a romantic at heart.  Perhaps that is why she decided to attend the Halloween festivities at East Village Middle School dressed as Cinderella.  Unfortunately, through some miscommunication that has been lost to the sands of time, Jeffrey was only told to dress as a Disney character - without any more specific directions that might have let him to choose a Prince Charming costume.  So, after many hours of consultation with his most trusted friend and sometimes math tutor, Thaddeus Ibsen, Jeffrey met Lindsey in the lobby of the school on the night of the dance in a hand-me-down Donald Duck outfit.  Try to imagine, through the mist of the intervening century, the horrifying tableau: She appears from behind a pillar, gorgeous in silk of the palest blue and purest white.  He limps in through the double doors, sporting a sailor suit, a jaunty beret, and a bright orange rubber beak.  p 86-87

Wow, it never occurred to me until just now that maybe I'm a bit more grown-up than my brother is.  He still thinks life is supposed to make sense.  I mean, I know it's not easy to be like Tad, who constantly thinks the whole planet is zooming toward some kind of gigantic cosmic toilet.  But skipping around being all jolly is just asking the world to smack you upside the head with a tennis racket.  p 99

"I still don't know whether I've found what I was looking for, but I do know I miss what I left behind" had to be the cheesiest sentence I'd ever read in my life.  It was a cheesy cheeseball, covered with Cheez Whiz and served on a bed of Cheez-Its.  With a side of queso. p 227

Kind of a wuss?  Kind of a wuss?  Dude, you are, like, the Duke of Wussendorf.  The Earl of Wussheim.  In fact, wherever wusses meet and mingle, your name is whispered in hushed, reverent tones.  p 257

Things I Didn't Like:
Some of the other characters, like his family members, seem a bit flat.  Also, I suppose it isn't necessary to read Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie first, but it would really help the other characters not to seem flat, since they are more developed in that one.  And for back story on Steven.

Read-alikes:
Start with Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe a few

mrg-factor: none
though a bit of implied kissing

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

Have you read these? What do you think?

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Posted in 5 stars , award winners , humorous , realistic fiction , Young Adult

Book Review: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan
Publisher: Hyperion Book
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9781423113393
Source: Library

When Jason wakes up on a bus with no memory, he's in for a wild ride.  His girlfriend, Piper, and best friend, Leo, try to figure out why he can't remember them.  But when all three are attacked by some rogue wind spirits, they end up at Camp Half-Blood where morale is low.  Percy Jackson is missing and a new prophecy just might link the three of them to a new threat trying to destroy them all.  Piper has a secret, with nightmares disrupting her sleep and her father missing, she has to make a dangerous choice.  Leo feels comfortable with all the new tools he finds around himself, even if he still can't feel comfortable with his past.  The three heroes set out on a seemingly hopeless quest; will they be able to find and destroy this new threat before it is too late?

Things I Liked:
Another fantastic, spanking good time, action-packed and humor-laden new story.  I love the new characters we meet, especially Leo, who always has something funny to say and yet has a side of himself that he doesn't want to share with anyone else.  Piper rocks the beautiful tough girl persona and won me over quickly.  Jason was an intriguing mystery and kept me reading to figure out where his memory went.  Great fun, as I've come to expect from Riordan.  Here are some favorite parts:

"So...giants who can throw mountains.  Friendly wolves that will eat us if we show weakness.  Evil espresso drinks.  Gotcha.  Maybe this isn't the time to bring up my psycho babysitter." p 194

If you asked most kids, "Hey, you want to summon fire or lightning or magical makeup?" they'd think it sounded pretty cool.  But those powers went along with hard stuff, like sitting in a sewer in the middle of winter, running from monsters, losing your memory, watching your friends almost get cooked, and having dreams that warned you of your own death. p 288

A thousand years from now, when this quest was being told around a campfire, he figured people would talk about brave Jason, beautiful Piper, and their sidekick Flaming Valdez, who accompanied them with a bag of magic screwdrivers and occasionally fixed tofu burgers. p 384

Six guys who never bathed, with six armpits each.  Leo decided if he survived this day, he'd have to take a three-hour shower just to forget the stench. p 454

Things I Didn't Like:
I think what bothered me the most was that it was just too long.  The story just seemed to keep going and going and had a lot of sidelined plots that felt like just filler.  And the story was a bit predictable in places.  But, it's got lots of tween appeal - boys and girls, I think will devour this new series.

Read-alikes:
Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a few

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some fighting and scary stuff, not bad

Overall rating: ****

What do you think of this kind of mythology story? Like them or dislike them?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 4 stars , Fantasy , heroes of olympus , humorous , middle grade , tween tuesday

Book Review: Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz Versus The Shattered Lens by Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: December 2010
ISBN: 9780439925570
Source: Library

Alcatraz and his friends face their worst enemies yet - a faction of evil librarians called the Shattered Lens.  They destroy any glass, including the prized special lenses Oculators use for power.  The capital city of Mokia is beseiged and Alcatraz must find a way to get help to the city in time to save it.  But, will he be able to save himself - from his own mother?

Things I Liked:
Once again, the humor in this series does not disappoint.  Alcatraz is filled with silliness and ridiculousity that rivals anything I've ever read.  He takes his diversions to the point of embarrassment, even while you have to laugh at the sometimes dreadful puns.  The story is also fun for sci-fi lovers and those invested in the Smedrys' stories.  Definitely a go-to book for reluctant tween boys who love a good laugh, tongue-in-cheek humor, and a bit of sci-fi action.  Here's just a taste of some of the fun stuff:

I won't lie.  It was shatteringly cool.  Instead of sitting around all day writing biology papers r listening to Mr. Layton from algebra class extol the virtues of complex factoring, I got to throw teddy bear grenades and jump off buildings.  It was really fun at the start.  Okay, it was really fun the WHOLE TIME. p 12

If you've ever thought that books are boring, it's because you don't know how to read them correctly.  From now on, when you read a book, I want you to scream the words of the novel out loud while reading them, then do exactly what the characters are doing in the story.  Turst me, it will make books way more exciting.  Even dictionaries.  Particularly dictionaries. p 37

People don't become Librarians because they wnat to force people to be quiet, or because they love books, or because they want to help people.  No, people become Librarians for only one reason: They like to put things in order.  Librarians are always organizing stuff.  They can't help it.  YOu'll see them for hours and hours sitting on little stools in libraries, going over each and every book on their shelf, trying to decide if it should be moved over one or two slots.  It drives them crazy when we normal people wander into their libraries and mess stuff up. p 199

Things I Didn't Like:
I have to admit, as an adult, I got terribly annoyed after a while at the story's silly tone and the completely over-the-top feel of the story.  I can really only handle one of these at a time before I get too annoyed.  Also, despite it being the last of the series (supposedly) it really had no ending that felt satisfying to me.  [Note: I heard Scholastic didn't sign on for another book, but Sanderson indicated there is a 5th book, so that's why it felt unfinished.]  Still, as I said, the right tween boy (and possibly girl) will devour these.

Read-alikes:
Read the first three Alcatraz books by Brandon Sanderson first
The Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch 
A little like the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ***

I believe this might be my last Utah author review for May's Utah authors celebration (yeah, I didn't get to some on my list). How do you celebrate your local authors?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 3 stars , alcatraz series , humorous , middle grade , sci-fi

Book Review: A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Publication date: October 2010
ISBN: 9780525423348
Source: Library

 

Hansel and Gretel you may have heard of, but there is a lot more to their story than a child-eating witch.  Born to a king and queen who treat them unspeakably poorly, they run away and find that there is a lot they don't know about the world and about parents. 

Things I Liked:
I liked the story, but I loved the side notes.  I think they made the whole book more enjoyable.  They were humorous and alleviated the sometimes repetitive and simplistic fairy tale story writing.  This felt like the perfect read-aloud and I almost wanted to close the book and find an audio version.  I read the first story to my husband and he liked it.  It would be a lot of fun to read to older classes, though I still don't know how young an age group I'd read it to.  (Hey, it does have some scary stuff and quite a lot of "awesome," ie: blood.)  So fun and different from most retellings.

You know how it is with stories.  Someone tells a story.  Then somebody repeats it and it changes.  Someone else repeats it, and it changes again.  Then someone's telling it to their kid and taking out all the scary, bloody scenes - in other words, the awesome parts - and the next thing you know the story's about an adorable little girl in a red cap, skipping through the forest to take cookies to her granny.  And you're so board you've passed out on the floor. [Prologue]

Oh no! he thought. Now I'm cooking for certain! He sniffed at the air.  And I smell delicious!  But he wasn't cooking.  It was three strips of bacon that he'd tucked into his socks at breakfast.  p 46

For a moment she stopped and considered following the rain's advice.  But then she shook her head.  "You're being foolish," Gretel told herself.  "Rain can't talk."
No, of course it can't.  The moon can eat children, and fingers can open doors, and people's heads can be put back on.  But rain?  Talk?  Don't be ridiculous.  Good thinking, Gretel dear.  Good thinking.  p 97

If you are gambled away to the Devil (and this is a matter of public record - I'm certainly not making it up), you are damned to excruciating pain for all eternity, and no matter what you do, no matter how good you are, or how many times yu ask, "Please pretty please with a cherry on top?," the Devil will never, ever, ever let you out.  It's excruciating pain from the moment you arrive in Hell until the moment after eternity.  p 125

Things I Didn't Like:
One thing I've always been annoyed by is the simplistic fairy tale writing style.  There is nothing descriptive or beautiful that goes with the stark writing to make it more enjoyable.  The parts where the author interjected made it fun, but when it went longer without those parts it was less fun.  Also, almost too gross and bloody for me in places :)

Read-alikes:
The Grimm Legacy by Polly Shulman
Reckless by Cornelia Funke
Plain Kate by Erin Bow

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
incidental when they visit Hell

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->->->
lots and lots of blood and gore and scary stuff

Overall rating: ****

Do you like quirky or do you avoid it?

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 4 stars , fairy tale , Fantasy , humorous , middle grade , tween tuesday

Book Review: The Magnificent 12: The Call by Michael Grant

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

The Magnificent 12: The Call by Michael Grant
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Publication date: September 2010
ISBN: 9780061833663
Source: Library (for Cybils)

Mack is not the kind of guy you would pick as a hero.  He has phobias for nearly everything and he gets picked on at school.  But when a visitor from the past identifies him as one of twelve Magnifica - a kind of super hero - he must find in himself a power and magic beyond what he expected.  And then he must find the other eleven Magnifica to help him defeat an ancient evil.

Things I Liked:
This book's greatest strength is its humor.  I literally laughed at every page.  At times, it seemed like a spoof of fantasy and comic book-like heroes, which just made it all the funnier.  The golem was my favorite source of laughs as well - his notes made some of the less interesting parts bearable.  Mack was an interesting character, definitely not your typical hero, but more like a typical wimp who gets picked on.  This is the start of an action-packed and humor-infused series that tween boys should devour.  Just a hint of the fun:

Some were rich, as evidenced by their numerous teeth, their excellent clothing - two of the Magnifica had actual buttons - and their superior education.  The others were poor and wore coarse grain sacks with holes for arms and neck.  Some were really poor and wore nothing but strategically placed tufts of grass attached with mud - uncomfortable at the best of times and rather disastrous in a heavy rain. p 127

Shut your vile, filthy, fruit-chewing mouth, you low, slow, soggy bag of water; you sweat-oozing, cheese-scented wad of pulp mounted on toothpicks; you barely animated mistake of nature. p 186

Things I Didn't Like:
Aside from the humor and action, not much really happens in the book.  It felt very much like an introduction to a story without getting past the introduction; only giving us get a glimpse of what is to come.  Also, as several folks on the Cybils panel with me noted, it felt very commercialized with all the website tie ins.  The plot just didn't hold together well and all the characters other than Mack were not developed enough.  The flashbacks to ancient times kind of distracted from the story, rather than pulling it along.  Still, it will provide entertainment, if nothing else.

Read-alikes:
The 39 Clues series by various authors
A bit like The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
some bullying and a few scary creatures

Overall rating: ***

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 3 stars , cybils , Fantasy , humorous , middle grade , tween tuesday

Book Review: Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell

Ten Miles Past Normal by Frances O'Roark Dowell
Publisher: Atheneum
Publication date: March 2011
ISBN: 9781416995852
Source: e-copy of ARC provided by Galley Grab

 

Janey used to love living on a farm, raising goats.  In middle school, everyone thought it was great.  But, in high school, smelling like a barn or wearing goat poop on your shoe and hay in your hair, is definitely not normal.  Janey spends her lunch in the library, hiding from her loneliness, since her best friend doesn't have the same lunch.  But, when she begins to find new friends and do new things, she might just become comfortable with being past normal.

Things I Liked:
I fell in love with Janey right from the start.  She has a sly sense of humor, simultaneously laughing at her family's situation and hating it.  I loved watching her change from the girl embarrassed by where she lived and her mother's farm mentality, to accepting things as they are and even embracing them.  The humor was just right, not too snarky, but clever enough to elicit some out-loud laughing.  I definitely remember entering high school, expecting things to be one way and finding out they were the opposite.  I also really liked the romantic element, despite it being pretty light.  Maybe it was because it was so light I enjoyed it - it was a nice break from the heavy eternal love paranormal I've read a lot of recently.  Fresh, fun, and real.  I definitely want more from this author!  Some favorite parts: 

We were sitting at the dinner table, eating a Stouffer's frozen lasagna that hadn't quite gotten heated all the way through ("Think of it as lasagna sorbet," my mother suggested, and I was so young and enthusiastic at the time that I actually tried to think of it that way), when I told my parents we should move to a farm and raise goats. I listed the many benefits of this plan (free goat cheese being number one on that list; I forget now what number two was) and sat back, waiting to be rejected yet again. p 6 of ARC

I'm in the process of pulling out my bass out from under a table, but I stop and peer up at Jeremy.  I've been stalking him for two months, and he doesn't even know my name?  Why do I suddenly feel humiliated beyond belief?  Maybe it's because I'm humiliated beyond belief.  p 119-120 of ARC

"I like a goat with personality." Monster tells me, rubbing Loretta Lynn on her big Roman nose.  "A goat that likes a good time.  A lot of goats you meet, they're way too serious."
"They've got a lot on their minds," I agree. p 192 of ARC

Things I Didn't Like:
It did seem at times not to be going anywhere.  That might have been because it isn't so much about story as it is about Janey and her character.  So, it's slow in parts and some elements of the story seem a little unconnected, but Janey's story was great.

Read-alikes:
Definitely felt like Dairy Queen by Catherine Gilbert Murdock
Maybe even a Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli vibe at times too

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
maybe a few, don't remember many though

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

If you buy through my Amazon linkage, I will get a very small percentage

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Posted in 4 stars , e-book , humorous , realistic fiction , review copy , Young Adult

Book Review: This Book is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

This Book Is Not Good For You by Pseudonymous Bosch
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date: September 2009
ISBN: 9780316040860
Source: Library

 

The secret to the most delicious tasting chocolate in the world?  What could be bad about that?  Unfortunately, this book is not good for you, and thus I can't tell you anything about it.  Oh, except Cass' mom has been kidnapped by an evil master chef who, for the ransom, wants a magical instrument with super powers that will allow the Midnight Sun access to the secret.  Read at your own risk.

Things I Liked:
Once again, this series delights and surprises me.  I love the wit and the dry humor and the positively extraordinary plot.  This book delves not only into the realm of the unbelievable, but it also manages to poignantly discuss the actions of people who are under stress and what we will do to save our families.  A romping, funny, good time of a book that will delight kids and adults of all ages.  And make you crave chocolate like you never have before.  Favorite parts:

You know, people always warn children about taking candy from strange adults.  But they never warn us adults about taking candy from strange children.  All those sweet-looking kids who sell boxes of candy bars on the street to help pay for their schooling - how do we know what's in those bars?  And don't get me started on that nefarious institution designed to lure unsuspecting customers into buying mysterious frosted goodies: the bake sale.  p 36

I'm not anti-vanilla, just pro-chocolate.  I wanted to make that clear for all the villains, oops!  I'm sorry, I mean vanillains, out there.  You know who you are. p 190

Things I Didn't Like:
I imagine the humor and side notes would get old if you read all the books at once (well, if your are an adult, maybe not a kid).  But one at a time, they are a delight!

Read-alikes:
Read the first two books in the Secret Series by Pseudonymous Bosch
The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Reminds me also of the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

Totally unrelated, but I posted my 400th book review last week! Crazy!

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Posted in 4 stars , Fantasy , humorous , middle grade , secret series

Book Review: The Adventures of Ook and Gluk by Dav Pilkey

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

The Adventures of Ook and Gluk, Kung-Fu Cavemen from the Future by Dav Pilkey
Publisher: Blue Sky Press (Scholastic)
Publication date: August 2010
ISBN: 9780545175302
Source: Review copy provided by publisher

Things I Liked:
This book is pure silliness.  The kung-fu cavemen are solely designed to bring out the laughs.  The illustrations match perfectly the style of the writing and story.  I loved the almost childlike drawings that tended to go along with the "caveman" talk.  I got the most entertainment out of the flip-o-rama action pages though.  It was loads of ridiculousness that will entertain all, reluctant readers especially.  I passed it right off to my 10-year old nephew who devoured it in a very short period of time.  Definitely a winner.  Here's a peak inside:

Things I Didn't Like:
While I tried to ignore the adult reader in me, I did find the spelling and grammar mistakes to be super annoying.  Yes, these are my own sensibilities projected onto the book.  Still, I must mention that I was bothered.  I don't think it will bother many kids, though.  It's sheer entertainment and silly humor and that's the way it should be.

Read-alikes:
Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey
It will probably also appeal to the Diary of a Wimpy Kid crowd

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none
potty humor doesn't count, right?

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
nothing but a bit of kung fu action 

Overall rating: ****

Don't forget to enter the Huge Scholastic Prize Pack giveaway to win a copy of Ook and Gluk, along with several other awesome books!

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Posted in 4 stars , childrens , graphic novel , humorous , middle grade , review copy , tween tuesday

Book Review: Spaceheadz Book 1 (SPHDZ) by Jon Scieszka and a GIVEAWAY!

SPHDZ Book #1! (Spaceheadz) by Jon Scieszka
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Publication date: June 2010
ISBN: 9781416979517
Source: ARC provided by publisher

 

Michael is just starting fifth grade at a new school and wants to make a good impression.  Unfortunately for him, there are two other new kids that are weird beyond belief, and he gets lumped in with them.  It turns out they are even weirder than he thought, coming from a planet called Spaceheadz and speaking almost exclusively in commercial slogans.  They think Michael can help them prevent Earth from being turned off, but he thinks they are just nuts.  With a secret agent on their trail, will Michael decide to help them or simply turn them in?

Things I Liked:
The book was just so fun to read!  It was short, simple, and full of humor and hilarious uses of commercials.  This is definitely not your typical book, being full of excellent drawings and coming with interactive websites that continue the experience.  The illustrations are fun and keep the story moving.  The aliens will draw in sci-fi fans, the humor should satisfy reluctant readers, and the technology to go with it ought to satisfy the other tweens.  An all around fun, fast, and hilarious start to a new series.

Things I Didn't Like:
The story is a little lacking, being most obviously an introduction to a series.  I am sure it will suck people in, but it doesn't leave you a lot to satisfy.  Kids will be clamoring for the sequel so they can know what happens next.  Definitely this will only be fun for kids below a certain age.  Once they get a little bit older, there will be eye rolling and a complete lack of interest.  But it should please the tween and younger crowds completely.  

Read-alikes:
Diary of a Wimpy Kids books by Jeff Kinney
Anything written by Dav Pilkey

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: ****

For the giveaway, there will be two winners who each receive (thanks to Simon and Schuster and Big Honcho Media):
A copy of Spaceheadz by Jon Scieszka!
A neon Spaceheadz pencil!

The perfect gift for your tween or to add to your school library collection. To enter, just fill out the form below {contest closed}. You must be 13 years or older to enter. Contest ends Friday, September 17th.


Additional info about the book:
Websites that go with the book:
At sphdz.com, you can sign up to be a SPHDZ and help stop the Earth from being turned off.
At antialienagency.com, you can see what the government is doing to protect the Earth from the alien menace.
At mrshalleyscomets.com, you can see Michael K.'s fifth-grade class website.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 
Jon Scieszka is the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, named by the Library of Congress. He is the author of some of the best known and funniest books written for children including The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, The Time Warp Trio series and the Caldecott Honor Book The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Fairy Tales.  He is the creator of the Trucktown series, of which Smash!Crash! was an NY Times bestseller for many weeks.  Jon is a former elementary school teacher, and a avid promoter of literacy—particularly for boys. His website www.guyssread.com focuses on his national campaign. Jon lives with his family in Brooklyn, NY.

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

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Posted in humorous , middle grade , review copy , sci-fi , tween tuesday

Book Review: Middleworld by J & P Voelkel

The Jaguar Stones, Book One: Middleworld by J&P Voelkel
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Publication date: April 2010
ISBN: 9781606840719
Source: Review copy from publicist
(Guest post and author interview with J&P Voelkel)

All Max Murphy wants is a fabulous vacation to Italy, where he can devour pizza and relax.  But, when his archeologist parents cancel the trip in order to go on a dig in Central America, his dreams are shattered.  They aren't even planning on bringing him there, but he gets sent down there shortly after.  Once there, he becomes embroiled in a battle for power centered around the mysterious Jaguar Stones.  Now he's in a race to save his parents, and his own life.  Not a very relaxing summer vacation.

Things I Liked:
This was an exciting and action-packed adventure that also managed to teach me about Mayan culture.  I love a good archeological tale - I used to adore Indiana Jones movies (and this felt like a middle grade friendly version of them).  At one point I even thought it would be awesome to be an archeological astronomer and study ancient cultures' astronomical beliefs.  So this had a definite appeal to me.  However, I think it will be perfect for kids who love action, adventure, and humor all wrapped up into a neat package.  The story is interesting and scary, exciting, or humorous things seem to happen on every page.  Some favorite quotes:

Among the tangle of mosquito netting and old socks, his fingers closed on something unnaturally hard and dense. 
The granola bars.
It had come to this.
Miserably, he unwrapped a bar.  He brought the compacted brown mass to his lips.  With a heavy heart, he opened his mouth and prepared his tongue to receive the foul-tasting grunge.
Then, in the nick of time, he recovered his fighting spirit.
Things were bad, but not that bad.
He still wasn't desperate enough to eat a granola bar. p 112

Once there was the terrible sound of rock scraping on rubber as they wedged under a particularly low overhang.  Then they had to try not to scream and calmly maneuver themselves to the left or the right, to find a place where the raft could squeeze through.  (By unspoken agreement, Max did the trying not to scream, while Lola did the calm maneuvering.) p 136

"It's just that some crazy girl made me shoot the rapids in an underground river and then she got me trapped like a hair ball in an underground sink.  Oh yes, and some cape-twirling psycho is trying to kill me."
"Don't take it too personally," said Lola.  "He's trying to kill me, too." p 144

Things I Didn't Like:
I think as an adult, I struggled to find the story at all plausible.  Some of it was rather impossible in my head, but didn't really stop me from enjoying the ride.  Some of the humor didn't quite tickle me either, but I assume that's also the adult in me.

Read-alikes:
The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
The 39 Clues series by various authors

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: !
a very few

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->->
some scary parts and some fighting, not gory though

Overall rating: ****

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.

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Posted in 4 stars , adventure , humorous , middle grade , review copy , tween tuesday

Book Review: Alcatraz Versus the Knights of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz Versus The Knights Of Crystallia by Brandon Sanderson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: October 2009
ISBN: 9780439925556
Source: Library

This book continues the adventures of Alcatraz Smedry.  Alcatraz is making his way to the Nalhalla, a free kingdom and his home city, with his father and grandfather when they run into a little bit of an accident.  They finally make it there, only to discover a plot by librarians to get the free kingdom of Mokia in exchange for peace.  But, do they really mean to keep that bargain?  Alcatraz must try to discover their true purpose in Nalhalla and protect the kingdoms from evil librarians.  Again.

Things I Liked:
I love the snarky, sarcastic, talking straight to the reader tone of the book.  I love also how Sanderson isn't afraid to make fun of himself and other tropes of literature today.  Each chapter seems to start with a very random bit of information, and yet is humorous enough that you keep reading anyway.  The story is funny and adventurous and you want to know what happens, even if he drops a hundred foreshadowing comments throughout the book.  And, of course, I love the evil librarian aspect.  I kept trying to limit myself from marking every page I thought was funny, so that I didn't have this whole post filled with a bunch of favorite quotes.  Here are a few I finally settled on.

Definition of "crapaflapnasti": "Adj. Used to describe an item that is as disgusting as fish sticks." (Note: This word can only be used to describe fish sticks themselves, as nothing has yet been found that is equally crapaflapnasti.  Though the unclean, moldy, cluttered space under Brandon Sanderson's bed comes close.) p 14

Of all the things in the world that come close to being crapaflapnastic, responsibility is the most terrible.  It makes people eat salads instead of candy bars, and makes them go to bed early of their own free choice.  When you're about to launch yourself into the air strapped to the back of a rocket-propelled penguin, it's that blasted responsibility that warns you that the flight might not be good for your insurance premiums. p 30-31

Fame is like a cheeseburger.  It might not be the best or most healthy thing to have, but it will still fill you up.  You don't really care how healthy something is when you've been without it for so long.  Like a cheeseburger, fame fills a need, and it tastes so good going down.  It isn't until years later that you realized what it has done to your heart. p 73-74

Summarizing is when you take a story that is complicated and interesting, then stick it in the microwave until it shrivels up into a tiny piece of black crunchy tarlike stuff.  A wise man once said, "Any story, no matter how good, will sound really, really dumb when you shorten it to a few sentences." p 107

Now, you may have gotten the impression that there are absolutely no uses for Librarians.  I'm sorry if I implied that.  Librarians are very useful.  For instance, they are useful if you are fishing for sharks and need some bait.  They're also useful for throwing out windows to test the effects of concrete impact on horn-rimmed glasses. p 187

Things I Didn't Like:
I think reading more than one of these books in a row might make the humor and the talking to the reader aspect get old.  I thought the book was just the right length to not make me annoyed, but others might disagree.  One at a time is best for full enjoyment, although I had forgotten what happened in the previous books.  Apparently it didn't matter too much. Tween boys (and girls) will love this series!

Read-alikes:
The Secret series by Pseudonymous Bosch 
A little like the Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Read the first two books in the Alcatraz series

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:  
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: ->
a little bit, very mild

Overall rating: ****

How do you like humor in books - subtle or snarky or outright funny?

Posted as part of Tween Tuesday, hosted by GreenBeanTeenQueen.
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Posted in 4 stars , alcatraz series , Fantasy , humorous , middle grade , sci-fi , tween tuesday

Book Review: Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn

Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn
Publisher: Anchor
Publication date: October 2001
ISBN: 9780385722438
Source: Library

 
On the island of Nollop, off the coast of North Carolina, lives a young girl named Ella Minnow Pea.  Her linguistically lovely nation prides themselves on their learning and especially on Nevin Nollop, creator of the beautiful pangram "the quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog."   But, when the letters of this sentence begin to fall off of Nollop's revered statue, the council officials believe it is Nollop, communicating from beyond the grave, that those letters should be excised from Nollopian use.  Things become progressively more difficult for Ella to communicate without reprimand and she sets off on a task to save the future of speaking and writing on Nollop.

Things I Liked:
The book is so clever in its conception and its execution.  It made me want to use big words and to be more aware of what I speak and write.  As the letters progressively disappear, the writing becomes more ingenious.  Until it suddenly is ludicrous.  What an interesting view of a government that thinks such ridiculous things about Nollop and how they enforce things on the people.  You almost expect them to start taking things left and right with the power they believe they hold.  The end was pretty surprising as well.  Here is some of the literary goodness (hey, I had a hard time whittling these quotes down):

"However, in the end, our assessments and opinions counted for (and continue to count for) precious little, and we have kept our public speculation to a minimum for fear of government reprisal, so charged with distrust and suspicion have the esteemed island elders (and elderess) become following last year's unfortunate visit by that predatory armada of land speculators from the States, harboring designs for turning our lovely, island Shangri-la into a denatured resort destination for American cruise ships." p 4

"Each member in deliberate provocation of the High Island Council had marched single file into last Tuesday's open session wearing cartoon masks and making loud duck sounds - sounds which any sentient Nollopian knows by now are forbidden - while holding aloft large cardboard containers of a certain recently outlawed brand of American oatmeal." p 48

"There is no such thing as accident or misspeak, only grossly underapplied discoursal perspicacity, with unguarded exposure to distractional digression." p 55-56

"Ours continues to be a free, open society.  There will be no censures or prosecutions for exercising one's free speech rights in service to the laws of this nation, even if those rights entail criticism of the High Council." p 78

"Now, Rory isn't a very religious man - at least I never thought so.  But he became at that moment positively apoplectic - moving to assault the representative with everything available to him in his verbal arsenal, utterly without restraint - letting loose with a veritable, vituperative salvo - nothing printable here." p 122

"Disorder to match the clutter and chaos of our marvelous language.  Words upon words, piled high, toppling over, thoughts popping, correspondence and conversation overflowing." p 206

Things I Didn't Like:
It's definitely not plot-driven.  Not much appears to actually happen to people, except the loss of letters.  But, that's not the purpose of the book and the writing and wit are what make the entire thing so much fun and also so interesting to read.  (It actually made me feel rather stupid writing this review after I read such awesome creative writing.)  I'd love to read this for a book group and get others' opinions on it.

Read-alikes:
Um, I guess it was a little like other dystopian books, though none of them quite had the linguistic factor 

BOOK CONTENT RATINGS:
s-factor: none

mrg-factor: none

v-factor: none

Overall rating: *****

If you've read this book, I'd love to know what you thought!

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Posted in 5 stars , adult , dystopian , highly recommended , humorous