Series Review: The Fairy Chronicles by J.H. Sweet

The Fairy Chronicles is a beautifully illustrated series of easy readers about a group of young girls who've discovered they have special gifts that enable them to make positive changes in the world around them. Each selection focuses on one girl and her fairy strengths.

The first book in the series, Marigold and the Feather of Hope, tells the story of Beth, a nine-year old girl who discovers her powers while spending two weeks with her eccentric Aunt Evelyn. With some new friends and her new found abilities, she'll try to track down the Feather of Hope before all hope is lost forever.

Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams is the second book in the series, and it focuses on Jennifer, a dragonfly fairy with amazing athletic abilities. When the Web of Dreams is destroyed, it is up to Dragonfly and her friends to find the Dream Spider and convince him to create a new one before peaceful sleep is lost forever.

In book three, Thistle and the Shell of Laughter, the fairy girls are back with Grace, a.k.a. Thistle, in the lead. The Shell of Laughter has been stolen, and Thistle, Dragonfly, and Marigold must help Staid, the shell's elf protector find it before sorrow overtakes the world and laughter is a thing of the past.

These are wonderful books that will help young girls learn to appreciate nature and their own special gifts. Each book has a section at the end that expands on some of the concepts and ideas touched on during the story. For instance, the appendix to Thistle and the Shell of Laughter answers the question of why people are ticklish among other things. At around 100 pages each, they are great for early readers wanting to break into chapter books. Though each book in the series builds on the others, it is not absolutely necessary to read them in order.

Buy Marigold and the Feather of Hope on Amazon.

Buy Dragonfly and the Web of Dreams on Amazon.

Buy Thistle and the Shell of Laughter on Amazon.

The Case of the Missing Marquess by Nancy Springer

ISBN-10: 0399243046
Publisher: Philomel
Hardcover: 208 pages
Reading Level: 9-12
Genre: Mystery
Author Website: http://www.nancyspringer.net/
First Line: I would very much like to know why my mother named me "Enola," which, backwards, spells alone.
One Word Review: Clever

On Enola Holmes' 14th birthday, her mother disappears without a trace, leaving her in the hands of her two older and absent brothers, Mycroft and Sherlock, who are intent on sending her to boarding school and turning her into a proper lady (corsets and all). Enola has other plans as she sets off to locate her mother and ends up following clues to solve the case of the missing marquess.

The Case of the Missing Marquess starts the Enola Holmes series off with a bang. Enola is a terrific heroine. She's smart, but underestimated by everyone (including herself). She's also daring, courageous, and self-reliant. Springer's use of coded ciphers allows the reader to participate in Enola's discoveries to some extent, and her depiction of 1880's London sets the tone nicely. Just the right amounts of history, mystery, suspense, and action come together to create a story children and adults will enjoy. I loved it. So much so in fact that because my library didn't carry the next two books in the series, I ended up ordering them on Amazon.

BUY THIS BOOK ON AMAZON

Next in the series:

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady (Book 2)

The Case of the Bizarre Bouquets (Book 3)

Book Review: Savvy by Ingrid Law

ISBN: 978-0803733060
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Hardcover: 342 pages
Reading Level: Ages 9-12
First Line: When my brother Fish turned thirteen, we moved to the deepest part of the inland because of the hurricane and, of course, the fact that he had caused it.
One Word Review: Empowering

Publisher's Description:

A vibrant new voice . . . a modern classic.

For generations, the Beaumont family has harbored a magical secret. They each possess a “savvy”—a special supernatural power that strikes when they turn thirteen. Grandpa Bomba moves mountains, her older brothers create hurricanes and spark electricity . . . and now it’s the eve of Mibs’s big day.

As if waiting weren’t hard enough, the family gets scary news two days before Mibs’s birthday: Poppa has been in a terrible accident. Mibs develops the singular mission to get to the hospital and prove that her new power can save her dad. So she sneaks onto a salesman’s bus . . . only to find the bus heading in the opposite direction. Suddenly Mibs finds herself on an unforgettable odyssey that will force her to make sense of growing up—and of other people, who might also have a few secrets hidden just beneath the skin.

At first glance, Savvy is a cute and entertaining yarn about a small band of misfits who overcome numerous obstacles in the journey to help Mibs' dad. But it's actually a great deal more than that. There are subtle moments throughout the story that reinforce how one should never doubt their own worth. It also sends a strong message that what we want and what is best for us are often different things. Middle grade and young adult readers will enjoy the story - it's fun and lighthearted, and Mibs is a great little heroine. The plot moves at a relatively quick pace, making it an easy read. I think this is a must read especially for young girls, who have a tendency to overlook their own special gifts and talents.

I have a tendency to select books because I am struck by their lovely cover art. Often, the substance of the book doesn't live up to the packaging, but Savvy definitely does.

Book Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Buy this book on Amazon.

Have You Seen This?

Read Kiddo Read

Readkiddoread.com is a really fantastic new site that is dedicated to getting children excited about reading. The site is well-organized with a wonderful book recommendation section that is broken down by age group. Just browsing through it, I found several books that I'd like to check out for my kids. While I believe the site was mostly intended to be an aid to reluctant readers, I think it'll also serve those parents (like me) who have avid readers that are constantly searching for what to read next.

Along with the book recommendations that are divided into Illustrated Books, Transitional Books, Pageturners, and Advanced Readers, there's also an interview section (there's a great interview with Jeff Kinney, author of Diary of a Wimpy Kid up now), and a forum where you can chat with other parents, teachers, and librarians. I think it'll be a great resource for anyone with an interest in getting children to love reading.

Audio Book Review: Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie

ISBN: 978-1419311116

Publisher: Listening Library (Audio)

Read By: Jim Dale (unabridged edition)

Reading Level: 9-12

First Line: All children, except one, grow up.

One Word Review: Enchanting

The story of Peter Pan is very well known, but I wonder just how many people have actually read the book. Well, I had never read Barrie's story, so I started this audiobook with the expectations that it would be a fun diversion but nothing really more special than the Disney adaptation. I could not have been more wrong.

First, as to the story, it really is quite magical. It's a sweet and imaginative tale that will delight children and adults with excitement and fun at every turn. Peter is not nearly as one dimensional as...well, the cartoon version of himself, and I even found myself feeling rather sorry for Captain Hook and Smee.

Moving on to the audio aspect of the book... I'm certain Barrie's wit and creativity would jump off the page if you were to read the written version, but I have to say that Jim Dale's rendition is brilliant. His pacing is perfect, and the voices he does are fantastic. I honestly think this is one of the best audiobooks, if not the best, I've ever experienced.

Rating on the book itself: 4 out of 5 stars

Rating on the audio aspect: 5 out of 5 stars

Buy the unabridged audiobook on Amazon.

Book Review: The Wooden Mile by Chris Mould

ISBN: 978-1596433830

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Hardcover: 176 pages

Genre: Juvenile Fiction

Age Range: 9-12

First Line: In a darkened industrial town, someone weaves unnoticed in and out of the alleyways until he finds the right doorway and forces a package through the letterbox.

One Word Review: Quirky

Eleven year old Stanley Buggles has just inherited a house from an uncle he never met. His visit to Crampton Rock, the odd village in which his new house is situated, becomes more and more strange as he encounters the people and secrets of this wickedly weird place.

The Wooden Mile is sure to be a hit among its target demographic of tween children. Reluctant readers will appreciate the fast paced easy read that is filled with enough action and wit to keep them interested. Frequent illustrations add visual interest as well. The writing style is reminiscent of Lemony Snicket, and fans of The Series of Unfortunate Events will find in these books a new series to love.

You can check out all the books in the series at the Something Wickedly Weird website, and you can buy the book here.

My Latest Contest: Win Eoin Colfer's The Time Paradox and a $10 gift card.

Book and Gift Card Giveaway

Having just finished and thoroughly enjoyed Eoin Colfer's latest Artemis Fowl novel, The Time Paradox, I thought I would host a contest and give away a new harcover copy of the book. Then, I decided to make it more interesting and also give the winner a $10 gift card to Barnes and Noble. In honor of BBAW, this giveaway is open to everyone - I will ship to wherever you are!

For this giveaway, I thought I'd do something a little different. I saw something similar on another blog, and it looked like fun, so I figured I'd give it a try here. To enter the contest, here's what you do:

• First, post a comment here. That'll get you one (1) entry.

• Second, guess the book covers (in EMAIL, please). I've taken snippets of eight different book covers (all fiction, and all published within the past 30 years - you didn't think I was going to make it too easy, did you?). What you have to do is figure out what book the snippet comes from and EMAIL ME your answers here (Please don't put any answers in your comments!). For each correct answer, you'll be awarded one (1) entry. If you get all eight correct, I'll give you two extra entries. If you don't know some or any of them, guess!

• Finally, if you blog about this contest, I'll give you four (4) entries. So, if you do everything, you'll get a total of fifteen entries!

And, again, this is open to everyone - I'll ship worldwide. Happy Book Blogger Appreciation Week, everyone!!

Here are the book snippets:

BOOK ONE

BOOK TWO

BOOK THREE

BOOK FOUR

BOOK FIVE

BOOK SIX

BOOK SEVEN

BOOK EIGHT

Contest will run through the Book Blogger Appreciation Week (for more info on BBAW, go here.) Comments and emails must be submitted by September 20 at 10:00 p.m. (EST). The winner will be announced on September 21. Good luck!!

Book Review: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer

ISBN: 978-1423108368
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children
Hardcover: 432 pages
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
Age Range: 9-12
First Line: "Barely an hour north of Dublin's fair city lies the Fowl estate, where the boundaries have changed little in the past five hundred years."
One Word Review: Rip-roaring

The Time Paradox follows Artemis Fowl through his sixth, and perhaps final, adventure. Artemis has grown along with the series, and this installment finds him 15 years old and dealing with his mother's grave illness. When he realizes he may be responsible for her sickness, he determines to go to the ends of the earth, or time, to find a cure.

By this point in many series novels, authors often seem to get a bit lazy, or at the very least to run out of fresh ideas. Eoin Colfer, though, is in top form with The Time Paradox. The plot is exciting and action packed. It speeds along from start to finish, brimming with Colfer's witty style.

Fans of the previous books will be delighted to see familiar characters with a few new additions. One of the things Colfer does best is developing his characters. Readers have seen Artemis grow from an awkward megalomaniacal child into a young adult with a conscience. His relationship with Holly Short has grown over the years, and The Time Paradox allows a glimpse at possible romantic feelings between the pair.

While there is a bit of an environmental moral to this story, it's mostly a fun and entertaining read that is sure to be a hit among young and old.

I'll be hosting a giveaway of this book (along with a gift card) starting tonight, so check back later, or buy it now on Amazon.

Booking Through Thursday: Stories

Today's Topic: If you’re anything like me, one of your favorite reasons to read is for the story. Not for the character development and interaction. Not because of the descriptive, emotive powers of the writer. Not because of deep, literary meaning hidden beneath layers of metaphor. (Even though those are all good things.) No … it’s because you want to know what happens next?
Or, um, is it just me?

Nope, it's not just you. When I write reviews, I am quick to mention if the author was particularly adept at developing her characters or evoking a strong emotional attachment, but for me, it's really all about the story. I think it's the main reason I relate so well to children's literature. Generally, you find that most books geared toward kids are going to be focused on the tale they have to tell. If they're really exceptional, they'll have all that other stuff, too (I'm thinking J.K. Rowling, Cornelia Funke, and Kate DiCamillo). But, what draws me in and holds me til the very end isn't how this character has grown or that imagery made me want to weep. It's the gotta finish, gotta know what's going to happen, dang, I'm on the last page and I don't want it to be over kind of feelings I get from really good storytellers.

So, what do you look for in the books you read?

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

The Lightning Thief is the first in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan. Percy is a dyslexic boy who never seems to be able to stay out of trouble. After his teacher turns into a monster and tries to kill him, he finds himself in deeper trouble than he's ever imagined. Not only does everyone else not believe him, but Percy begins to question his own sanity. Then he and his mom decide to take a little trip, and they're nearly killed by a minotaur. That's when Percy learns the truth - that he's a half-blood, half human, half god. Now he must go on a quest to find Zues' lightning bolt and save the world from a war of the gods.

I listened to the audio version of this book, and my review is based on that. I mention that it was the audio book specifically because I'm not sure if I'd have enjoyed the book more or less if I were actually reading it myself. The narrator was a tad on the annoying side, which made me feel as though I might prefer to read it myself. At times, he read things differently than I think I would've heard them in my head. For instance, in one scene, he mentions that one characters voice gets shrill, but then his voice remains the same in the dialogue (different from his reading voice, but the same as he'd been doing the character all along). In my head, his pacing would've sped up because the character in question was nervous, and I'd have read that into the story. That being said, much of the time spent listening was entertaining - it was much like theater without the visuals. So, I can't say really whether my review is helped or hindered by the version.

In general, I thought the story was pretty well thought out. There's a lot of history of Greek mythology explained, and I think it would be an excellent adjunct to the studying of the Greek myths. Overall, I think middle graders would probably enjoy this series. I'm not sure adults would be all that into it, though.

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven is a creative and fast paced story. The tale begins with two siblings, Kendra and Seth, who are unwillingly sent to spend 17 days with a grandmother and grandfather they barely know. They are clueless to the fact that their grandparents are actually caretakers of a refuge for all sorts of incredible and dangerous mystical creatures, including fairies, satyrs, naiads, and a particularly nasty witch. It's a thrilling adventure story as the kids struggle to save their family.

I found this book to be delightful. The plot is somewhat similar to Michael Buckley's Sisters Grimm series, but it's enjoyable in its own right. The world Brandon Mull has created is well thought out, and the characters are pretty well written - I particularly liked Seth. It has enough action to keep you interested, enough humor to keep it light (including a few moments that were laugh out loud funny), and an ending that, while it's perhaps a bit simplistic, is satisfying enough to have me thinking I'll look for book two on my next trip to the library.

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm by Nancy Farmer

The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm is an adventure fantasy novel about 3 over-protected children in futuristic Zimbabwe. When they decide to break the bonds of their sheltered existence for a day, they find themselves in a series of perilous situations which lead them further and further from home. The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm are the unusually gifted detectives who are sent out to find the children.

This is a wonderful story made even more rich with Nancy Farmers vivid descriptions. It's beautifully written, and the originallity of the story makes it a refreshing addition to any library. While it's apparently geared toward children (middle grade to teen), the complexity of the story coupled with Nancy Farmer's wonderful storytelling, will captivate adults as well.

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer tells the futuristic story of Cosmo Hill, a 14 year old boy living in the Clarissa Frayne Institute for Parentally Challenged Boys where he and the other the 'no-sponsors' are forced to undergo dangerous and painful product testing. Cosmo takes an opportunity and escapes from the orphanage joining up with the Supernaturalists, a band of young people trying to rid Satellite City of Parasites (creatures that feed on human life force).

I downloaded the audio version of this novel from audible.com onto my Ipod. I'm not sure if it was the audio aspect of the book, or what, but I had a hard time following some of the story. It wasn't difficult, it just didn't seem to flow that well. Still, I thought it was pretty entertaining - not captivating, but a good solid read.

As to the audiobook specifically, the narrator, Chiwetel Ejofor, was particularly good. He did all the voices flawlessly, which was really helpful in keeping up with who was talking and what was going on, and his narration was really pleasant.

Overall, I think it's worth a read, but I still prefer Colfer's Artemis Fowl books.

Into the Dark by Peter Abrahams

I love the Echo Falls books by Peter Abrahams. LOVE them. Into the Dark is the third installment in this series that started with Down the Rabbit Hole and was followed by Behind the Curtain. These novels, written presumably with teen and young adult readers in mind, center around Ingrid Levin-Hill, an intelligent young girl who is a Sherlock Holmes aficionado. When faced with a mystery, she asks herself how Holmes would handle the situation. In this newest book, Ingrid finds herself dealing with seemingly insurmountable family problems - not the least of which is that her beloved grandfather has been accused of murder.

Abrahams, who's written several well-known popular fiction titles, seems to have a talent for writing for younger people. His characters are believable and well-written. Ingrid is a fantastic heroine. She's smart and funny, compassionate and brave - everything a heroine should be. While I won't say I was totally shocked by the ending, the plot was well-conceived and there was enough action and suspense to keep me reading late into the night. We also see a lot of growth in not only Ingrid but in her family's situation as well in this book. There are numerous issues amongst her parents and brother that make her situation all the more realistic. All I can say is that I hope there's a fourth book on the horizon.

Magic and Other Misdemeanors by Michael Buckley

Magic and Other Misdemeanors is the fifth book in the Sisters Grimm series by Michael Buckley. The stories chronicle the adventures of Sabrina and Daphne Grimm, descendants of the Brothers Grimm. Sabrina and Daphne get into numerous scrapes as they struggle to solve mysteries involving fairy tale creatures. Each book could stand on its own, but I'd suggest starting with the first in the series, The Fairy Tale Detectives.

Magic and Other Misdemeanors was a fast and fun read, but it wasn't quite as good as the previous books. There was little character development, and I was left feeling like Buckley is dragging the story out as long as is possible, which is understandable from a financial standpoint, but could lead to boredom in the long run. I would like to see more resolution in book six. Overall, it was an OK addition to a more than OK series.