Texting Through Time

Texting Through Time: Trek With Brigham Young

Written by Christy Monson

Publisher's Note: When 12-year-old Micah “borrows” his father's experimental time-travel phone, his hopes for seeing the future are dashed as he and his sister, Alicia, end up trapped in the past at Brigham Young’s boyhood home. This book is a fun way to discover Church history and learn that no matter what time period you are in, God is still aware of you.

Mandi's Review: I LoVe this book! What a fun concept. Texting Through Time: Trek With Brigham Young by author Christy Monson is the perfect book for middle-grade readers. When Micah and his sister Alicia borrow their father's experimental phone they hope to see the future. But when things go wrong, they quickly find themselves trapped in the past. Stuck in the early 1800's they meet Brigham Young on his 11th birthday. Thus begins an adventure that will lead them through Brigham Young's life as they try to get home. Both Micah and Alicia learn they must rely on each other and especially the Lord as they progress through time. This book brings history to life and will enlighten readers at any age. The author does a wonderful job bringing the audience right into the heart of the story. This quick read is written in a way that is both fun and unique and will leave you with a greater understanding of early church history. I congratulate the author on a job well done!

To purchase a copy of Texting Through Time visit Amazon Today!

Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

I realize it's not Wednesday, but because Wednesday was a holiday (Happy Independence Day!) and Friday's post isn't up yet, and I just finished the book this morning (it was a long book!) I thought I would post my review today.

I am in love with this book.  (I know, I saw that just about every time I review a book...I guess I only review books that I like!)  But this one has a special place in my heart and I'm not sure exactly why.  It could be because Cornelia Funke has created a wonderful world of interesting characters and places.  It really could, because she has done an amazing job of making her characters lifelike and engaging. It could be because who hasn't ever become lost in a book and wanted more than anything for that book to come alive - to live in the story.  I've read many stories over the years that I've longed to get lost in!  But I think it's actually her writing, as much as the story, that I'm in love with.  Her words roll around like a piece of the sweetest chocolate dissolving slowly on my tongue.  They are mesmerizing.



I love this quote from Meggie's father, Mo.  "If you take a book with you on a journey, an odd thing happens: The book begins collecting your memories.  And forever after  you have only to open that book to be back where you first read it.  It will all come into your mind with the very first words: the sights you saw in the place, what it smelled like, the ice cream you ate while you were reading it...yes, books are like flypaper - memories cling to the printed page better than anything else."  Or this one, "Every book should begin with attractive endpapers.  Preferably in a dark color: dark red or dark blue, depending on the binding.  When you open the book it's like going to the theater.  First you see the curtain.  Then it's pulled aside and the show begins."  I love Mo!  And I love the way he loves his books.

There are so many, many things that I love about this book.  But you will just have to read it and experience the magic for yourselves!

(The suggested ages for this book are 4th-7th grade and it's a long one...534 wonderful pages!)

The Wide-Awake Princess by E.D. Baker

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

In this new stand-alone fairy tale, Princess Annie is the younger sister to Gwen, the princess destined to be Sleeping Beauty. When Gwennie pricks her finger and the whole castle falls asleep, only Annie is awake, and only Annie—blessed (or cursed?) with being impervious to magic—can venture out beyond the rose-covered hedge for help. She must find Gwen's true love to kiss her awake.

But who is her true love? The irritating Digby? The happy-go-lucky Prince Andreas, who is holding a contest to find his bride? The conniving Clarence, whose sinister motives couldn't possibly spell true love? Joined by one of her father's guards, Liam, who happened to be out of the castle when the sleeping spell struck, Annie travels through a fairy tale land populated with characters both familiar and new as she tries to fix her sister and her family . . . and perhaps even find a true love of her own.

Jillian’s Review:

Cute but predictable. Annie is a fun, energetic, and determined main character and was enjoyable to read about. I wasn’t a fan of what a negative image Baker gave Princess Gwennie (AKA Princess Aurora from Disney’s Sleeping Beauty), but I understand this isn’t Disney and Baker wanted to put a little twist to the storyline.

There were lots of little adventures that Annie encountered with her trusty Knight. Unfortunately everything was so predictable that it became almost mundane to read. If you have to choose between reading this or Tuesday at the Castle pick the Castle, it’s much better written and not nearly as predictable. Plus, the romance isn’t mushy and out of place like in Wide-Awake Princess.

I think this book is perfect for the younger reader, probably age 8-12.

 

The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

I have read books by Rick Riordan before and really liked them.  (Remember Percy Jackson and the Olympians?)  Well, Rick Riordan has started another series of books called The 39 Clues, and it has been so much fun to read!  I've read the first three books in the last three days and I'm really enjoying them.  It has helped to read them all together (so I can remember what is happening!) 

From the 39 Clues website:  The 39 Clues series centers around the Cahills—the most powerful family the world has ever known. But the source of the family's power has been lost. Grace Cahill, the last matriarch of the Cahills, changed her will minutes before she died, leaving her descendants an impossible decision: receive a million dollars or a clue. The first Cahill to assemble all 39 clues hidden around the world will discover what makes the family so powerful—a reward beyond measure. It's Cahill versus Cahill in a race to the finish, with readers hot on the heels of the main characters, fourteen-year-old Amy Cahill and her eleven-year-old brother, Dan.

From Heather:  The characters are really fun in these books.  I really like Dan and Amy, although it's a little hard to believe they are 11 and 14 and jetting around the world.  But it works!  :)  Their parents died when they were younger and they have been raised by Aunt Beatrice, who is stingy and grumpy.  Their only rays of sunshine come from their grandmother, Grace Cahill.  Right before Grace dies (at the beginning of the book!) she changes her will.  Her family members each have the option to take 1 million dollars or a clue that will lead them to one of the 39 clues.

The rest of the story is a non-stop adventure, as the other members of the Cahill family are out for blood and have no reservations about taking what they want - whatever the cost.  They race from place to place with their au pair (NOT nanny!) Nellie, who is a little crazy (but you would have to be to join the hunt for clues!)

These books are written for kids 8-12.  And the interesting thing about the series is that each book is written by a different author.  Rick Riordan, Gordon Korman (2), Peter Lerangis (2), Jude Watson (2), Patrick Carman, Linda Sue Park and Margaret Peterson Haddix.  The last book is written by four authors, Riordan, Korman, Lerangis and Watson.

I am really enjoying this series and I can't wait to finish all 11 books.

Mysterious Messages: A History of Codes and Ciphers by Gary Blackwood

I realize that it almost isn't Wednesday anymore.  I'll be quick!  :)

This week I read Mysterious Messages: A History of Codes and Ciphers by Gary Blackwood.

From  the back of the book:  Spies, intrigue, and mysterious messages: they have changed the course of history.  Now there is a manual to hone the skills of tomorrow's agents.  Uncover the encrypted notes of Spartan warriors, ciphers of Italian princes, ruthless code-crackers of Elizabeth I, communiques from the American Revolution, and spy books of the Civil War. Here are the devilish Enigma machine, the honored Navajo Code Talkers, and many more.

Packed with history's most dangerous secrets and ciphers that readers can use themselves, this journey through the past's best - and most disastrous - codes and ciphers is a young spy's essential training in espionage.

From Heather:  I've gotta admit - I've always loved secret codes!  I'm still not very good at cracking them, but I love the challenge!  This book, while fun to read, is so much fun to look at.  The format and style is probably my favorite part of the book.  It feels like a notebook.  Notes look like they are stuck on each page with paperclips and staples and the pages look worn .  Even the cover of the book is soft and worn.  As much as I loved the content of this book (which I loved!  I mean, who DOESN'T love a good code puzzle now and again!) and I loved reading the history of the codes and ciphers, I really, really loved the look and feel of this book!  Go grab a copy!  It makes great bathroom reading.  (Not that I know that from experience!)

Hailey Twitch and the Wedding Glitch by Lauren Barnholdt

From the back of the book:  Hailey Twitch wants to have fun, fun, FUN!

Hailey has a secret.  She has a friend named Maybelle that no one else can see.

Hailey has the most fab, fab, fabulous news!  She will be the flower girl in her cousin's wedding - and wear sparkly shoes.  Hailey is sure to need help from Maybelle.  But now that Maybelle has finally gotten control of her magic, she might be leaving!  Will Hailey and Maybelle make it through the wedding without a big disaster?  Or will the two friends have to say good-bye forever?

From Heather:  I really, really REALLY wanted to like this book!  I love when books come in a series so that if my girls like it, I know what to get next. And the front of the book had a quote from the School Library Journal that said, "Youngsters who enjoy Ramona, Judy Moody, and Clementine will get a kick out of Hailey Twitch."  And they are probably right. Although parts of it remind me of Junie B. Jones, which isn't my favorite series.

Hailey is always getting into trouble, which at times can be hilarious.  And she has a sprite named Maybelle who is not very helpful with her magic.  In fact, she often makes things worse!  The stories are fun to read from Hailey's quirky perspective.  That part I liked.  Mostly.

The part I had a hard time with was Hailey's voice.  "When I get to school I am causing quite a spectacle.  A spectacle is when you cause a big scene and people pay a lot of very good attention to you.  Being a spectacle is fun.  It is like being famous."  It's fun for a while, but reading a whole book in seven-year-old talk drives me up a wall.  My girls don't seem to mind - maybe it's just me!  :)

The book is charming, the story is funny and it's kind of fun to watch Hailey get into trouble.  The back of the book has it labeled from 7-10 years old, which seems about right.  The illustrations are adorable.  Maybe I'll have to try some of the other books in the series and see if I like them any better.  I give it 3 1/2 stars.

Thomas and the Dragon Queen by Shutta Crum

From the book: A kingdom is at war.
A princess has been kidnapped by a dragon queen.
A brave squire volunteers to set out on a quest to rescue her.
 
But there's just one small problem. He's Thomas, the shortest of all the squires. With little more than a donkey, a vest, and a sword, Thomas will have to use all of his courage and determination to battle a beast with many heads, reach a forbidden island, and rescue the princess from a most fearsome dragon-and an even more fearsome fate!
 
Part thrilling adventure and part enchanting fantasy, sprinkled with charming black-and-white illustrations, Thomas and the Dragon Queen will delight young readers from start to finish.



From Heather:  Thomas and the Dragon Queen is a charming book!  It's about a little boy named Thomas (obviously!) who is very short for his age.  As the story begins, Thomas rescues his little sister from being trampled by a knight who had fallen asleep on his horse.  The knight takes a liking to young Thomas and offers to take him to the castle to be trained as a knight.  The kingdom is at war and all of the available knights are out protecting the borders.  So younger and younger boys are training to become knights.


Which is great for Thomas.  He grew up hearing his father's stories about training to be a knight, although his Da, as he calls him, never actually became a knight.  So Thomas travels to the castle, makes friends with the princess and learns how to be a knight.  When the princess is kidnapped, he finds the king distraught and asks the king to make him a knight, promising to find the princess and bring her back.  So the king makes young Thomas a knight.


The rest of the story tells of Thomas' adventures in bringing back the princess.  When he finally meets the Dragon Queen, who had kidnapped the princess, he has nothing but himself to offer.  He lost his sword, his donkey (he's too small for a horse!) and his leather jerkin his father had given him.  He had nothing but his own skills and talents.  And he learned that he was enough.


I really liked this book.  I think it's always nice to be reminded that who we are doesn't depend on what we have.  Thomas was a charming young boy who was kind and thoughtful and brave.  And those are the things he needed to save the princess.  Five stars for this charming book!

The Red Pyramid (Kane Chronicles Book 1) by Rick Riordan

From rickriordan.com:  Since their mother’s death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane.


One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives.


Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them--Set--has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe--a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family, and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

I have had a fascination lately with Rick Riordan lately!  :)  I must, because I've read all of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the first two Heroes of Olympus books and now the first book of the Kane Chronicles.  I've liked them all.  I'm not sure which series I like better out of the three, but of the three, the Kane Chronicles is probably my least favorite.

I liked Carter and Sadie, although I have a hard time picturing Carter as black.  Strange, I know.  But that's not how I see him in my head.   (And Sadie is NOT black, which kind of plays with my head!)  I liked Sadie's character too, but I wish she didn't cuss quite so much.  I know, I know...kids hear it all the time, but I don't picture Sadie as that kind of person, so it seems really out of character.  I don't know...it was hard to pin their characters down.  Maybe as I read more of the series, it will get better.

The narration jumps between Carter and Sadie, and I think that really works.  It's fun to see each of them from their sibling's perspective.  And to get a different view on events in the book.

Overall it's a great book.  I'd give this one 4 stars.

The Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan

From the publisher:  Seven half-bloods shall answer the call,
To storm or fire the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.

Percy is confused. When he awoke from his long sleep, he didn't know much more than his name. His brain fuzz is lingering, even after the wolf Lupa told him he is a demigod and trained him to fight with the pen/sword in his pocket. Somehow Percy manages to make it to a camp for half-bloods, despite the fact that he has to keep killing monsters along the way. But the camp doesn't ring and bells with him. The only thing he can recall from his past is another name: Annabeth

Hazel is supposed to be dead. When she lived before, she didn't do a very good job of it. Sure, she was an obedient daughter, even when her mother was possessed by greed. But that was the problem - when the Voice took over he mother and commanded Hazel to use her "gift" for and evil purpose, Hazel couldn't say no. Now because of her mistake, the future of the world is at risk. Hazel wished she could ride away from it all on the stallion that appears in her dreams.

Frank is a klutz. His grandmother says he is descended from heroes and can be anything he wants to be, but he doesn't see it. He doesn't even know who his father is. He keeps hoping Apollo will claim him, because the only thing he is good at is archery - although not good enough to win camp war games. His bulky physique makes him feel like an ox, especially in front of Hazel, his closest friend at camp. He trusts her completely - enough to share the secret he holds close to his heart.

Beginning at the "other" camp for half-bloods and extending as far as the land beyond the gods, this breathtaking second installment of the Heroes of Olympus series introduces new demigods, revives fearsome monsters, and features other remarkable creatures, all destined to play a part in the Prophesy of Seven.

From Heather:  A couple weeks ago I reviewed The Lost Hero (You can read it here...I'm sure it was fascinating!)  Anyway, THIS book is the second in the series.  AND it was fabulous!  Just as wonderful, or better, than the first.  (Because it has Percy Jackson!)


I love the new characters.  In the first book, we were introduced to Jason, Piper and Leo.  In THIS book, we are introduced to Percy (who, if you have read the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series (that I reviewed HERE) you will remember, as he was the main character...obviously...) Hazel and Frank.  


This book picks up where the first one left off, but on the other side of the continent and at a different camp.  Percy and Jason were both leaders in their respective camps, and they have, against their will and without remembering anything about their past, been pulled out of their own camps and placed in the rival one.  The goal is to have both camps work together.  (One camp is for children of the Greek version of the particular Gods and one is for the Roman version)  Can they earn the trust of the enemy?


A wonderful book.  I can't wait until the next one comes out (not until this fall...ugh!  THAT is why I like reading things after they have been out a while...so I don't have to wait to finish the story!)  I give this one 5 stars.  

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan

A few months back, I reviewed a series by Rick Riordan called Percy Jackson and the Olympians.  (You can read my review of that series HERE!)  I really liked the series and was kind of sad when it ended.  But then I find ANOTHER series that kind of picks up where that one left off.  Kind of!

From the publisher:  Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up on a school bus holding hands with a girl. Apparently she’s his girlfriend Piper, his best friend is a kid named Leo, and they’re all students in the Wilderness School, a boarding school for “bad kids.” What he did to end up here, Jason has no idea—except that everything seems very wrong.

Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, and her vivid nightmares reveal that he’s in terrible danger. Now her boyfriend doesn’t recognize her, and when a freak storm and strange creatures attack during a school field trip, she, Jason, and Leo are whisked away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood. What is going on?

Leo has a way with tools. His new cabin at Camp Half-Blood is filled with them. Seriously, the place beats Wilderness School hands down, with its weapons training, monsters, and fine-looking girls. What’s troubling is the curse everyone keeps talking about, and that a camper’s gone missing. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist they are all—including Leo—related to a god. 

This series introduces three other main characters that we haven't seen before: Jason, Piper and Leo.  In the beginning (and through most of the book!) Jason doesn't know who he is.  Strange things start to happen and Jason, Piper and Leo end up at Camp Half-Blood (the same camp as Percy Jackson in the last series!) and learn that they are demigods.  Only Percy Jackson is missing and the camp is kind of in an uproar.  The Lost Hero is the first book in a series of four.  (I picked up the second book at the library last night and can't WAIT to read it!)  The third book will be coming out in the fall of this year and the last one in the fall of 2013. Apparently we pick back up with Percy Jackson in the next book.  Yay!

Apparently Rick Riordan (his website is HERE!) has written another series for kids, The Kane Chronicles, that is the same type of book, but with Egyptian gods instead of Greek and Roman.  He has written some of the 39 Clues books (which are fabulous too!)  And he has written an adult series, Tres Navarre.  I've never read any of those, but I just might have to try one, just for fun.

The Lost Hero was given to my daughter by her grandma for Christmas (thanks Mom!) and she devoured it in two days.  She absolutely loved it (and she hasn't even read the Percy Jackson ones yet either!)  I give it 5 stars.  It was great!

Body of Evidence by Jeremy Brown

It's Wednesday and it's not even midnight and I'm writing my review!  And the week before Christmas at that!  The way things have been going lately, it's quite an accomplishment, I assure you.  =]  I have read (or started!) lots of books in the last couple weeks that I intended to review.  But I just couldn't make myself finish them for whatever reason.  I started (and read most of!) The Tanglewood Terror by Kurtis Scaletta.  It was ok, but not my favorite book.  I read about half of Saltwater Taffy by Eric Delabarre.  I liked this one ok, too, but I really disliked the bickering that went on between the group of friends.  I'm sure it's just a boy thing, but it sort of got old after a while. 

I also started Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Numbers by Pendred Noyce and I actually liked this one, I just haven't had time to finish.  =]  But it's clever...probably more clever than me!  There are so many parts I want to go back and reread, just to catch the subtle humor that I missed the first time around.  One I plan to finish for sure...just as soon as Christmas is finished! 

So today I'm reviewing Body of Evidence.  My eleven-year-old daughter brought this one home from her library at school and asked if I wanted to read it. Four-Minute Forensic Mysteries?  Absolutely!  It was a very quick read (even quicker because each story is only four minutes long!) and that was a good thing because things tend to get busy this time of the year! 

From the back of the book:  Do you have the forensic tools to solve these mysteries?  A man claims his wife died in a car accident.  But could she still be alive?  A woman's body is found in a lake.  But where was she really drowned?  A safecracker wears gloves and doesn't leave a fingerprint.  But what other body part is unique enough to leave a print?

Fifty-one baffling crime scenes need to be solved.  Can you crack the case before CSI Wes Burton?  You'll need to use all forensic evidence at your disposal, and Burton is the best.  He can tell when a witness is lying by the flick of their wrist.  His Crime Files contain the solution at the end of each mystery, but keep in mind, not every crime scene is as it appears.  The mysteries may be short, but they can be tricky.  You'll need to use all of your wits to weigh the evidence...

From Heather:  I really liked this book.  It's kind of like Encyclopedia Brown in that they have a short mystery and then the solution.  But the content is more grown up.  My only complaint, if I had one, is it took about half the book before I could remember who all the characters were and what they did and if they were male or female (because they only use last names)  It was kind of confusing, and it must have been confusing for other people too because they have a Personnel File at the beginning that introduces each character (maybe if I had read that first, I wouldn't have been so confused!)

I give it three and a half stars.

Tuesdays at the Castle, book 1 by Jessica Day George

Synopsis (from goodreads.com):

Tuesdays at Castle Glower are Princess Celie's favorite days. That's because on Tuesdays the castle adds a new room, a turret, or sometimes even an entire wing. No one ever knows what the castle will do next, and no one-other than Celie, that is-takes the time to map out the new additions. But when King and Queen Glower are ambushed and their fate is unknown, it's up to Celie, with her secret knowledge of the castle's never-ending twists and turns, to protect their home and save their kingdom. This delightful book from a fan- and bookseller-favorite kicks off a brand-new series sure to become a modern classic.

Jillian’s Review:

As with all of George's books (Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow; Dragon Slippers series; etc.), this was wonderfully written, cute, fun, and just a great read.

The characters were loveable and realistic right from the beginning. I love it when the kids are smart and strong, and Princess Celie and her siblings are in every way.

The plot was great, told in a fun way that younger readers will love. And the Castle! It’s wonderful how George gave a building a personality and a role to play. I loved the relationship between Celie and the Castle and how it helps Celie get through the toughest challenges.

This book is perfect for young girls (and us girls young at heart). I have high hopes for the next in the series which Jessica Day George told me herself will be forthcoming.

The Talented Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

I'll admit it right now...it's been a tough reading week.  Between getting my house back to normal after the holiday (and the ten pies I baked last week!) and all the time I've spent Christmas shopping, I haven't had much time to read.  SO...!  I've decided to review one of my favorite books...The Talented Clementine.

From the back of the book:  When it comes to tackling third grade, Clementine is at the top of her game - ok, so maybe not ALL the time.  After her teacher announces that the third and fourth graders will be putting on a talent show, Clementine panics.  She doesn't sing or dance or play an instrument.  She can't even HOP with finesse.  And as if she didn't feel bad enough, her perfect best friend, Margaret, has so many talents, she has to alphabetize them to keep them straight.


As the night of the big "Talent-palooza" draws closer, Clementine is desperate for an act, ANY act.  But the unexpected talent she demonstrates at the show surprises everyone - most of all herself.

From Heather:  I love Clementine books!  They are absolutely adorable.  They are kind of like the Junie B. Jones books, only not so annoying.  She is charming and funny and her books are so fun to read.  Clementine's voice makes me laugh out loud. "Do you need me to spy on the sitter?  Make sure she doesn't smoke cigars? Or order things from the Shopping Channel? Do you think she's making phone calls to Australia?" or  "'I tried on all of the Popsicle sneakers.  The salesman asked me if I really had to test out each color by running across the store, climbing onto a chair, and then jumping off.  I guess he was new." 

As funny as she is, though, some of the things she says are pretty genius.  "My parents think I have a hard time choosing things, but that's not it.  I can choose things just fine.  The problem is, whenever you have to choose something, that means you have to not-choose about a hundred other things.  Which is not so easy."  Genius I say!  (So THAT'S why I have such a hard time choosing!)

The Clementine books also have a wonderful "supporting cast" too.  I love her principal, Mrs Rice.  She knows just the right way to work with Clementine...I wish all kids could be so lucky!  And her parents are not quite as crazy as some book parents.  (a huge pet peeve of mine, now that I'M the parent!)

I LOVE Clementine! Five Stars!

Where The Mountain Meets The Moon by Grace Lin

Summary:  In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man of the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man of the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.

As I was wandering through the library, my lovely daughter handed me this book and said, "Here Mom, read this.  You might like it!"  I wasn't entirely sure I would, but I took the book anyway...you know, just to be nice.  I got home and tried reading a couple other books that I got at the same time and just couldn't get into them.  So I started Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and fell in love with it!

Lots of times when I was reading, I remembered watching Sagwa with my oldest daughter years ago.  It was about a family of cats who lived in China and they lived in the Emperor's palace.  Ring any bells?  Anyway, a lot of the stories and even the names of things reminded me of Sagwa!

The story starts out with a little girl named Minli.  She lives in a poor family.  They work hard in the rice fields every day and have little to show for it.  Her father tries to make the best of it and tells Minli stories at night after their meager dinner.  Her mother is sad and discouraged at their circumstances, and Minli picks up on her discontent.  (It makes me wonder how many times my own children pick up on my feelings, even when I think I'm hiding them so well!  Better be more careful!) 

After hearing one of her father's stories, Minli decides she will try to find the Old Man of the Moon and see if he will change their fortune.  She meets lots of friends along the way, but the friends I loved the most were the stories scattered throughout the narrative.  Minli will hear about a story, and then the story is written into the book.  It's quite clever the way it was done.  I love old Chinese folktales!

I really, really liked this book.  I really, really didn't want to, but my daughter was right...I really did like it!  I'd give the book 5 stars.

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Carnival Crime by Donald J. Sobol

I have always loved Encyclopedia Brown.  Ever since I was young, I've been fascinated by the short 5-page-long stories that tested my wit and powers of observation.  Back then I was always fascinated by the solution to the mystery...I rarely came up with it on my own.  (Even now as an adult I don't always get it!)

I read the latest Encyclopedia Brown book, Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Carnival Crime, this week and I loved it every bit as much as I did when I was nine years old!  I had no idea that Donald J. Sobol had written so many of the Encyclopedia Brown books...nearly thirty!  And they have never been out of print since they were first published in 1963.

I read the first mystery in the book with my nine year old daughter.  She loved trying to figure out who did it and laughed delightedly when she read the answer in the back of the book.  This book was a fun journey back to my childhood and I loved reading about Encyclopedia as much now as I did then!   4 stars!

Shades of Simon Gray

Written by: Joyce McDonald

Publisher's Note: Simon Gray is the ideal teenager — smart, reliable, hardworking, trustworthy. Or is he? After Simon crashes his car into The Liberty Tree, another portrait starts to emerge. Soon an investigation has begun into computer hacking at Simon’s high school, for it seems tests are being printed out before they are given. Could Simon be involved?

Simon, meanwhile, is in a coma — but is this another appearance that may be deceiving? For inside his own head, Simon can walk around and talk to some people. He even seems to be having a curious conversation with a man who was hung for murder 200 years ago, in the branches of the same tree Simon crashed into. What can a 200-year-old murder have to do with Simon’s accident? And how do we know who is really innocent and who is really guilty?

Mandi's Review:  Stories filled with mystery, intrigue and a bit of the paranormal are right up my alley. The story-line is suspenseful and the author does a wonderful job building a complex plot, but I felt the story moved too slow. The characters weren't flesh-out enough for my liking and I thought the conflict resolution should have wrapped up better. There were a lot of loose ends. However, the author is a wonderful writer. Her use of omniscient third person kept me turning the pages long into the night. I enjoy getting other character's perspectives. I think this book is great for advance middle-school or early high school readers and I would read more by this author in the future.  I give Shades of Simon Gray 3 out of 5 stars!

Funny Little Dog by Kyle Mewburn

It's not midnight yet.  Yay!  =]

This week (ok, this afternoon...it's been a loooong week!) I read an adorable book called Funny Little Dog by Kyle Mewburn.  It's part of the Pop Hooper's Perfect Pets series and it was a wonderfully fun, quick read.

From the back of the book:  Flyn's idea of a perfect pet is a fierce guard dog.  He would call the dog Chomper, and use him to scare off the bullies.  But all Pop Hopper has to offer is a silly, round lapdog called Pumpkin.  There's no way Pumpkin could protect Flyn...is there?

From Kyle Mewburn's website  When I was growing up, my favourite pet was a dragon. Nobody would annoy me if I had a dragon! It could toast my bread in the morning, and roast marshmallows, too. Unfortunately, I never got a dragon. But in my new series - Pop Hooper's Perfect Pets, kids always get their perfect pet ... in the end. I haven't written a story with a dragon yet, but so far there's a cat, a dog, a turtle and a pony. 

From Heather  I've gotta say this was a charming book!  Flyn is getting bullied by Toby Downer and his gang.  He wishes he had a big, mean dog named Chomper to scare the bullies away and make him feel brave.  As he is running away from Toby, he meets Pop Hooper, who guarantees a Perfect Pet.  He doesn't have a dog like Flyn imagines, but suggests Flyn take Pumpkin home for the night to see if he can be responsible and take care of a dog.

It's one adventure after another all night, each reinforcing that Flyn is brave enough on his own.  As he takes care of Pumpkin, he does things that are hard for him, but he is so focused on helping Pumpkin that he forgets that it's hard.

I love stories like this.  I can tell my kids over and over and over that they are good and brave and that they can do hard things.  But it's different when they read about other kids doing hard things and surviving.  It was a wonderful, easy read, a little younger than middle grade.  

Heath McKenzie's illustrations are absolutely adorable, and liberally scattered throughout the book.  I think I will try to find some of Kyle Mewburn's other books...this one was great!

I give it 4 1/2 stars.  

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

It's still Wednesday, right?  :)  For a few more minutes!

Ah, this week I read The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman.  I love Dan Gutman's books as a rule.  My Weird School books make me laugh out loud.  (I love AJ!)  They are kind of like the Junie B. Jones books, only better and not so whiney!  My girls, even now, will call people "Neil, the nude kid" when there is a new kid in their class.  Hysterical!

So I had really high hopes when I saw the Genius Files.  He didn't disappoint!

From www.dangutman.com:  Coke and Pepsi McDonald are a perfectly ordinary twin brother and sister on a cross-country RV trip with their parents. Except for one thing--they are also being chased by a bunch of psychos who are trying to kill them as they stop along the way at The National Yo Yo Museum, The Spam Museum, and various other offbeat tourist attractions. Who is trying to kill the McDonald twins, and why? You'll have to read The Genius Files to find out. This will be way more exciting than any summer vacation you've ever taken.

From Heather:  This book was great!  Really, who names their kids Coke and Pepsi?  Really?  But it worked for them (although I kind of had a hard time remembering if the boy or the girl was Coke or Pepsi?  Or Pep for short)  Dan Gutman uses the same kind of sarcastic humor that he does in his My Weird School books, which makes this a fun read (and if you haven't read those, they are fantastic!  Especially if you have a second or third grade boy that hates to read!).  But The Genius Files is geared more towards older children.  (My first grader loves My Weird School, but I don't think she would appreciate this one as much!)

Coke and Pepsi have some really odd parents (my biggest gripe with juvenile literature, now that I'M the parent!)  The neatest thing about this book was that you can follow their cross-country journey online.  Each time they stop in a town, you can put the town name in Google Maps and it will show you where they are on their journey.  And they focus on out-of-the-way tourist attractions that you have never EVER heard of.  (Except I HAD heard of the Biggest Ball of Twine in Minnesota...only because I can't read that phrase without singing the song!)  

As an adult, I wish things had been fleshed out a little bit more.  The story seemed rushed and didn't flow as well as I would have liked.  As a kid I would have loved it!  Especially the part where Coke uses the RV potty tank as a weapon.  Who doesn't like good potty humor, no?  The end of the book leaves open the possibility of another book (they were headed to the East Coast, and they aren't there yet!)  So it will be fun to see what happens next! 


Overall, I'd give it three and a half stars.  It was funny and a good read, but I would have liked it a little less choppy.  The tourist destination information was awesome though!

Elliot and the Goblin War (Underworld Chronicles #1) by Jennifer A. Nielsen

While I realize that it is no longer Wednesday, and therefore not my turn to review a book, I just had to jump in here (since I missed yesterday!)  Yesterday I was planning on reviewing  Fortune's Folly by Deva Fagen.  It's a good book.  I really liked it.  It's not fabulous or perfect, but it was a good book.

But I'm glad I waited until this morning because Oh. My. Goodness.  I loved this book!  I finished it up about three o'clock this morning and it was worth being up that late!


This is what the back cover has to say:

Warning!  As of today, there are only 7 children who have ever read this book and lived to tell about it.  95 children successfully read the first chapter, but upon beginning chapter 2, they started blabbering in some language known only as "Flibberish".  38 children made it halfway through this wretched book before they began sucking their thumbs through their noses.

If you're very brave, perhaps you are willing to take your chances.  Be sure that you have told your family who gets your favorite toys if you do not survive this book.  Read it now, if you dare.  But don't say you haven't been warned, for this is the story that unfolds the mysteries of the Underworld.

This is what I have to say!

I loved this book!  The whole thing was written just like the back cover.  A little funny, a little sarcastic, a whole lot of fun!  The cover of this book is amazing.  Beautiful (if goblins can be beautiful!)    (I know, I know...I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover.  I don't.  Always.  Well, maybe...more than I should!)  And the illustrations throughout the book are so nice!

Elliot comes from an odd family.  He has an older brother Reed that is 16 and works at the Quack Shack (selling duck burgers...and he supplements his family's meager food supply by bringing home leftover pickle relish)  Elliot has an older sister named Wendy who is 15.  She is a terrible cook, but she tricks people into coming in for dinner by making yummy-smelling desserts.  And Elliot has six-year-old twin brothers named Kyle and Cole.  They are hilarious!  Always getting into trouble (they were suspended from kindergarten  in their first week for putting a water snake in the boys' bathroom toilet)  So fun to read!

The story starts when Elliot (unknowingly) saves a Brownie named Patches from three goblins on Halloween.  But, because it was Halloween, he didn't realize that they were real.  Three years later, when the Queen of the Brownies dies, Patches' dad remembers how brave Elliot was and names him as her successor.

What happens next was charming!  With the help of the Brownies they try to figure out a way to defeat the Goblins.  It is infused with humor, literally dripping with it.  I wanted to find a passage to put here for an example, but it was too hard to choose.  Every page is delightful!  It would be a great read-aloud book I think!  I plan to introduce it to my girls as soon as they get home from school.  THEN I'm going to the library to pick up the next book in the series, Elliot and the Pixie Plot!


I gave it an enthusiastic 5 stars!  Yes, it's that good!

Palace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord Williams

From Goodreads: When sisters Sadie and Zuzu Brooks move to Salt Lake City, they discover a secret room in the attic of their new house, with a sign that reads "Palace Beautiful" and containing an old journal. Along with their neighbor, dramatic Belladonna Desolation (real name: Kristin Smith), they take turns reading the story of a girl named Helen living during the flu epidemic of 1918. The journal ends with a tragedy that has a scary parallel to Sadie and Zuzu's lives, and the girls become obsessed with finding out what happened to Helen after the journal ends. Did she survive the flu? Is she still alive somewhere? Or could her ghost be lurking in the nearby graveyard?

Sarah DeFord Williams has created a gripping read that covers two time periods, many fantastic characters, and a can't-put-it-down ending, all with delightful, extraordinary prose.

From Heather:  I love stories like this!  History fascinates me and I love thinking about the lives of people that have gone on before.  This story was so much fun to read.  

I loved Sadie.  She is very artistic and many of her descriptions are very colorful.  I love the way she invents new names for colors: skinned-elbow red, roll-in-the-dirt brown, used-to-be-white, bridesmaid-mauve or grandma's-talcum-powder-blue.  


I loved Belladonna Desolation.  What a funny, funky character.  I worried about her through the book, though, and was glad to see a change in her circumstance by the end of the book.


And I really loved Helen.  Helen was the girl that left the journal in the crawl space in 1918.  She talks about her family and what happened to them during the flu epidemic.  She comes alive in the pages of the book and it's so much fun to think about her life and compare it to Sadie's. 


The book does explore some pretty deep emotions, but in a good way.  Sadie's mom died when her little sister Zuzu was born and Sadie is still working through those feelings; Bella has her own troubles and sad feelings to deal with; even Zuzu has her struggles.  And then you get Helen's troubles which would be hard for anyone to deal with.  Even with all the sadness, the book is positive and uplifting and a wonderful read.

I gave it 4 1/2 stars.  I really, really liked it!