THREE KEYS

Posted on October 25, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

A sequel to the touching FRONT DESK, this novel continues the tale of an immigrant family from China who operate a motel in Anaheim, California. THREE KEYS takes off right where the first one ends and you’ll have no problem starting here if you haven’t read FRONT DESK. Mia (front and center on the cover) is now in 6th grade.

The year is 1994 and California is about to vote on Proposition 187, a ballot initiative that would deny undocumented immigrants from accessing public education and non-emergency health care along with other services we take for granted. Mia worries about her Latino friend, Lupe, and other kids who might be classified as illegals. Would they really just kick her these children out of school?

Short chapters, 62 in all, move the story along at a swift pace. The struggles for immigrants are brought forth and parallels to the present demonstrate answers have not been found. The first person narration by Mia is heartfelt and emotional. She’s not afraid to speak up for others who came across the borders even though she has the proper paperwork to be in the U.S.

The true meaning of the two words—Three Keys—is saved for the end and it had me nodding and smiling at the same time. Great as a read-aloud, Mia’s tale should elicit rich discussion about how we treat others and how true friendship comes about.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: September 15, 2020 PAGE COUNT: 288

OFFICIAL SYNOPSIS

Mia Tang thinks she’s going to have the best year ever.

She and her parents are the proud owners of the Calivista Motel, Mia gets to run the front desk with her best friend, Lupe, and she’s finally getting somewhere with her writing! But as it turns out, sixth grade is no picnic…

  1. Mia’s new teacher doesn’t think her writing is all that great. And her entire class finds out she lives and works in a motel!
  2. The motel is struggling, and Mia has to answer to the Calivista’s many, many worried investors.
  3. A new anti-immigration law is looming and if it passes, it will threaten everything—and everyone—in Mia’s life.

It’s a roller coaster of challenges, and Mia needs all of her determination to hang on tight. But if anyone can find the key to getting through turbulent times, it’s Mia Tang!

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT THREE KEYS by Kelly Yang

  1. You often only experience a solid character arc for the main character. Here though, you’ll find many including Mia’s two friends and her teacher. They just might help form new opinions for readers about prejudice and racism.
  2. Mia’s friend Jason likes to cook, but that type of career is not what his parents expect. It takes most of the story for him to realize he doesn’t have to be exactly like his parents. Nicely done all the way.
  3. Your family is not just who you are related to in this story. Bravo for Hank, one of the residents, whose kindly nature and willingness to listen show this over and over again. Hank is a true mentor who cares deeply about people and does it with a smile. I’d vote for him!
  4. Mia’s first person narration displays a personality we are much in need of right now. Her passion for injustices no matter your color is a bright piece throughout.
  5. The author’s update at the end about her own life and the present situation in our country was a welcome bonus to the story. The book also became my CYBILS MG FICTION nominee this year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kelly Yang is the author of Front Desk, which won the 2019 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature and was chosen a Best Book of the Year by multiple publications, including NPR, the Washington Post, and the New York Public Library. Kelly’s family immigrated to the United States from China when she was a young girl, and she grew up in California managing the front desks of three different motels when she was 8-12 years old while her parents cleaned the room. She eventually left the motels and went to college at the age of 13, and is a graduate of UC Berkeley and Harvard Law School.

She is the founder of The Kelly Yang Project, a leading writing and debating program for children in Asia and the United States. Her writing has been published in the South China Morning Post, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Atlantic. She is also the author of the young adult novel Parachutes. To learn more about her and the Front Desk books, visit frontdeskthebook.com.

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I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. If you have the time, please leave a comment below.

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 10 Comments

THE PUFFIN PLAN

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

The Puffin Plan is a timely story for this year and the future. It begins with a boy’s (Co-author Stephen W. Kress) passion for the outdoors, which then leads to a successful 7th grade science fair project. It very well could have ended there but thankfully Mr. Kress has spent his life researching seabirds, specifically the unique looking puffin.

Here’s the Synopsis from TUMBLEHOME books:

Fifty years ago, a young ornithologist named Steve Kress fell in love with puffins. After learning that hunting had eradicated their colonies on small, rocky islands off the coast of Maine, he resolved to bring them back. So began a decades-long quest that involved collecting chicks in Canada, flying them to Maine, raising them in coffee-can nests, transporting them to their new island home, watching over them as they grew, and then waiting—for years—to see if they would come back. This is the story of how the Puffin Project reclaimed a piece of our rich biological heritage, and how it inspired other groups around the world to help other species re-root in their native lands.

Back when he began this journey there were still large colonies of the puffins in places like Ireland. One might ask why bother when these birds weren’t extinct? The answers are a compelling read that not only prove you could reestablish homes for the puffin, but also led to other animals being saved using the same techniques.

What is even more forthcoming and bold, is the clear description of how the ecosystem works. When humans destroy a habitat or specie the effects are damaging and long ranging. Yes, we are making a mess of our planet, but it’s not tool late to turn things around. Our young people are taking charge.

The book ends with reflections from teen visitors to the puffin site. If the world has any chance of sustaining life in the future we are in pretty good hands.

The 12 chapters are filled with photos and maps. Perfect for ages 12 and up, THE PUFFIN PLAN is my favorite non-fiction read so far this year and my Cybils nominee.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Stephen W. Kress is a world renowned ornithologist. He is the founder of Project Puffin and retired Vice President of Bird Conservation for the National Audubon Society. He is a Visiting Fellow of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Derrick Z. Jackson is an award-winning former columnist of the Boston Globe. An accomplished photographer, his column was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and his UCS blog won a 2018 prize from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

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Blogging about middle grade books or authors next week? Join the celebration:

All you have to do is blog about a middle grade book on a Monday (contests, author interviews, or anything middle grade related also count). Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book or author you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews, non fiction | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

WEIRD BUT TRUE! HALLOWEEN

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

Plus you could win your very own copy (U.S. Addresses only) thanks to National Geographic Kids and Media Masters Publicity. Here are the not so scary details…

The giveaway will only run for two days (So the winner can enjoy this new book before the big day). To enter either make a comment below or send me an email (gpcolo -at- gmail-dot-com) with your desire to enter. I’ll draw a winner at 6pm EST tomorrow (October 22, 2020).

Official Synopsis:

Calling all boys and ghouls: You’re in for a treat of freaky facts, stats, tidbits, and trivia about one of the most popular holidays! Did you know that there is an underwater pumpkin carving contest? Or that the U.S. Defense Department has a zombie apocalypse plan? Maybe you’d be amazed to discover that there are more Halloween emojis than there are U.S. states? It’s all weird–and it’s all true–in this latest and greatest edition, packed with hilarious and terrifying tidbits on Halloween!

Filled with Halloween facts about places, people, and animals, I finished this book in one sitting. Certain pages had me smiling while others had my eyes wide open at the amazing photos and facts. The 200 plus pages are a lot of fun as this sample shows:

The compact size is perfect for the middle grade reader to take in the car. It will instantly rid them of that kid sized problem of “I’m bored!” They most likely will entertain you with a few favorite pages. I’m still shaking my head at the haunted house attraction that is a mile long!

It could be a trickier Halloween than normal this year, so be sure to enter for a chance to get your own copy of this soon to be spooky classic.

Posted in Giveaways, Middle Grade Book Reviews, non fiction | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

MMGM for October 19, 2020

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

                 Library Clipart 11359

It’s NATIONAL FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES WEEK!

Click  a book to reach a blogger’s site

happy bookAt ALWAYS in the MIDDLE I have a review of THE LAST MIRROR ON THE LEFT by Lamar Giles.

happy bookNatalie Aguirre at LIterary Rambles has a guest post by debut author G.Z. Schmidt and her agent Adria Goetz with a giveaway of G.Z.’s MG time travel No Ordinary Thing and a query critique by Adria.

happy bookJune McCrary Jacobs at Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic hosts the blog tour stop for a new MG adventure, The Firefly Warriors Club, by Susan Count. There’s also a great giveaway!

happy bookSue Heavenrich at Sally’s Bookshelf is in the spirit of Halloween with Rise of ZomBert, by Kara LaReau

happy bookCompletely Full Bookshelf recommends a truly stunning new book, The Magic Fish by Trung Le Nguyen. Be sure to check out the giveaway where three winners will receive a copy of the book!

happy bookPatricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal reviews Zora & Me: The Summoner by Victoria Bond, the final sequel in the fictionalized trilogy of the life of Zora Neale Hurston.

happy bookRosi Hollinbeck has a review of YOU CAN CHANGE THE WORLD Rosi also shares three helpful links for her writing friends.

happy bookAuthor K.A. Cummins shares a behind-the-scenes interview with M.L. Tarpley’s new middle-grade release “Maylie and the Maze.”

happy bookMaria Antonia at OF BOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND TEA features Chloe in India by Kate Darnton.

happy bookAndrea Mack joins us again this week with The Benefits of Being an Octopus by Ann Braden.

happy bookFaith Hough at Blythe & Bold has a review of Alice’s Farm: A Rabbit’s Tale, by Maryrose Wood

happy bookKaren Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads always has a great MMGM review. Check it out along with her other features this past week including a look at STORM DOG.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own spot in the parade, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring and a link to your blog at gpcolo (at) gmail (dot) com
(Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book you’re featuring)
You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Posted in MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

THE LAST MIRROR ON THE LEFT

Posted on October 18, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

Unlike the majority of Logan County’s residents, Missus Nedraw of the Rorrim Mirror Emporium remembers the time freeze from The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, and how Otto and Sheed took her mirrors without permission to fix their mess. Usually, that’s an unforgivable offense, punishable by a million-year sentence. However, she’s willing to overlook the cousins’ misdeeds if they help her with a problem of her own. One of her worst prisoners has escaped, and only the Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County can help bring the fugitive to justice. (From lamargiles.com)

The Alston boys are back with a new adventure that you can read without having read Book One (although you’ll for sure be wanting to spend more time with these characters). In the first story they helped get their entire town unstuck from a time freeze in THE LAST LAST-DAY-OF-SUMMER, which I reviewed here. Readers also learned one of the boys will get sick in the near future and not survive.

Let’s hope this turns out well for both in THE LAST MIRROR ON THE LEFT. Here they get caught in one mirror after another, sending them to an alternate Warped World that sort of looks like home but with some major differences, and now they’re stuck.

Crazy looking animal-human like characters greet them at every turn. Most are versions of people they know from the real world. Otto and Sheed also change depending on what mirror they go through. It’s a wildly inventive story line sure to please and these two cousins will win your heart.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: October 20, 2020 PAGE COUNT: 272

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: THE LAST MIRROR ON THE LEFT by Lamar Giles

  1. You’ll be rooting for Otto and Sheed as they mend their relationship and find a new way to bring justice to wrongdoers.
  2. Many of the comeback lines from the the Alston boys were laugh out loud. Young readers will be laughing, too.
  3. Even if you don’t like spiders you may grow to like the ArchnaBRObia gang. They aren’t left out from having an engaging character arc.
  4. Despite the magical fantasy backdrop, many themes relate to our lives in the present world.
  5. Will there be a third adventure? It sure seems so with the bright reveal in the closing chapter. Crossing my fingers for one!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lamar is a two-time Edgar Award finalist in the YA category, for his debut YA thriller FAKE ID (HarperCollins, 2014), and his second YA thriller, ENDANGERED (HarperCollins, 2015). His third and fourth YA thrillers, OVERTURNED (Scholastic, 2017) and SPIN (Scholastic, 2019), as well as his middle-grade debut THE LAST LAST-DAY-OF-SUMMER received glowing New York Times reviews, and was named to multiple Best Of lists, including Time Magazine, Kirkus Reviews, and Amazon. FAKE ID has been optioned by Sony Pictures.

Lamar is the editor of the We Need Diverse Books YA short story anthology FRESH INK (Random House, 2018), and a contributor to many YA and middle-grade anthologies including THREE SIDES OF A HEART (HarperCollins, 2017), BLACK ENOUGH: STORIES OF BEING YOUNG & BLACK IN AMERICA (HarperCollins / Balzer & Bray, 2019), THE HERO NEXT DOOR (Random House, 2019), HIS HIDEOUS HEART (Flatiron Books, 2019) and SUPER PUZZLETASTIC MYSTERIES (HarperCollins, 2020). He has published several short stories for adults.  You can see tv interviews with Lamar here, and here, and here, and in a truly fun “Fun Facts” short interview, created by HarperCollins.

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I received an ARC from NETGALLEY in return for my honest review.

Be sure to come back for the rest of my posts this week: On Wednesday I’ll have a Giveaway of:

And on Friday you get to hear about my CYBILS nomination for best Non-Fiction:

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Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

THE ENDANGEREDS

Posted on October 16, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

Innocent animals are in trouble: temperatures are climbing, tides are rising, and nature is suffering. Someone needs to step in to rescue animals from extinction. Someone needs to turn this mess around, before it’s too late.

And that someone is . . . the Endangereds, the unlikeliest heroes you’ll ever meet—a superstrong polar bear, a pangolin with a genius for engineering, an extremely sarcastic narwhal, and an orangutan with a big dream.

Together, these four daredevils are determined to save endangered species across the globe, no matter what the risk. Rappelling into an underground cavern to save the day?

No problem. Looping video footage to sneak through buildings unnoticed? Got it covered. Opening a doorknob? Okay, pretty hard without thumbs. But don’t worry. No matter what it takes, the Endangereds will get the job done.

But when two of their friends get kidnapped by a villain with a dastardly agenda, the team finds themselves up to their snouts in trouble. Can the Endangereds save the day? Or will this villain put humans and animals alike on the extinction list? (From Harper Collins)

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MY THOUGHTS

This fun story with a group of talkative animals is a great way to put forth many of the issues facing us now and in the future. Species are heading toward extinction and sentencing the remaining animals to shelters and zoos isn’t working. The Endangereds believe we humans really messed this up.

Although environmental issues are the core, they never overwhelm the story. Told from the animal’s viewpoints, you will grow to have a favorite. Mine was Arief, the smart and hopeful Orangutan. The adventure is fast paced with doses of humor throughout the 41 chapters. Several full page illustrations are also included and balance well with the text.

The plot wraps up nicely by the end, but an epilogue hints at what is to come next. Middle graders who enjoy animal stories and those with a passion for saving our precious resources will be a perfect fit for THE ENDANGEREDS.

MEET THE AUTHORS

Inspired by the legacy of his grandfather Jacques Cousteau, Philippe Cousteau is a multi-Emmy-nominated TV host, author, speaker, and social entrepreneur.  He has hosted numerous TV programs for Discovery, BBC, CNN, Travel Channel and more.  Currently he is the host of the syndicated television show Xploration Awesome Planet and producer/narrator of a new Virtual Reality experience Drop in the Ocean. Philippe is the author of several award-winning books and is a sought-after speaker having keynoted events for the United Nations, Harvard University, and more. In 2004 he founded EarthEcho International; the leading environmental education organization dedicated to inspiring youth to take action for a sustainable planet. Philippe and his wife, fellow explorer and TV host Ashlan Gorse-Cousteau, reside in Los Angeles. 
Austin Aslan is the author of the TURBO Racers series and the Islands at the End of the World series. A National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow, he can often be found camping in a tent on a punctured air mattress. In other lives, Austin drove ambulances way too fast, served as an ecotourism Peace Corps volunteer in a Honduran cloud forest, and managed a variety of campaigns. He lives in Flagstaff, Arizona.  

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I received an ARC for my honest review.

Blogging about middle grade books or authors next week? Join the celebration:

All you have to do is blog about a middle grade book on a Monday (contests, author interviews, or anything middle grade related also count). Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book or author you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments

SOPHIE WASHINGTON — MY BFF

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

The Sophie Washington series keeps going strong with book #10. If you’re new to the series, check out the covers here. It’s quite an impressive accomplishment to keep Sophie and the diverse cast of characters interesting and fresh with each new story.

In MY BFF, Sophie is a sixth grader. She lives with her parents and an annoying little brother (at least in her eyes). The story centers on her deteriorating relationship with best friend Chloe. They seem more like former best friends. Full of hurt feelings and misunderstandings, young readers will likely see themselves in one of the characters.

Here’s the official Synopsis:

Sophie and Chloe have been best friends since they met in kindergarten. They get along like chips and salsa and do everything together from playing tennis to cheering on the school cheer squad. Lately, Chloe’s been leaving Sophie out, and she doesn’t know why. Sophie does everything she can to make her best friend happy, but it’s not working. Then Chloe asks Sophie to fib to a teacher to help her out and she learns the true meaning of friendship.

The 21 chapters are short and at just 94 pages—perfect for a read-aloud. MY BFF isn’t dependent on reading the others first, but it’s a pretty good bet you’ll be hooked and not want to miss a single chapter. Engaging and spot on in the depiction of this age group, kids might also earn a thing or two about being a good friend.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tonya Duncan Ellis loves to travel and has visited 49 American states, 20 countries, and three continents, but some of her best journeys have been between the pages of a novel. As a girl she could always be found with a book in her hand, and reading is still one of her favorite hobbies. When she’s not reading or writing, the author likes to ride her bike, swim, and spend time with her husband and three children. She lives in Houston, TX.

Posted in Middle Grade Book Reviews | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

MMGM for October 12, 2020

Posted on October 12, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

                 animated-leaves-7

Click  a happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiE to reach a blogger’s site

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEAt ALWAYS in the MIDDLE I have a timely review of WITCH WARS by Alane Adams.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiENatalie Aguirre at LIterary Rambles has an interview with Sherry Ellis as part of her blog tour for the release of Bubba and Squirt’s Mayan Adventure. There’s also a GIVEAWAY!

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEAuthor S.W. Lothian shares his thoughts on Tommy Black and the Coat of Invincibility.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiESue Heavenrich is over at Sally’s Bookshelf with a review of Weird But True Halloween: 300 Spooky Facts to Scare You Silly.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEAnd…Sue Heavenrich is also at her own blog, Archimedes Notebook, with the non-fiction— Biomes: Discover the Earth’s Ecosystems with Environmental Science Activities for Kids.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEJune McCrary Jacobs at Reading, Writing, & Stitch-Metic hosts the blog tour stop for an MG adventure book, Simply West of Heaven. Included is an excerpt and an amazing giveaway!

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiECompletely Full Bookshelf recommends The Deep & Dark Blue by Niki Smith.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEJenni Enzor features the critically acclaimed Roll With It by Jamie Sumner.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEAuthor K.A. Cummins is back with us again this week. She shares her thoughts on a christian fantasy featuring an autistic character—The Edge of Everywhen.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEMaria Antonia at OF BOOKS, PHOTOGRAPHY, AND TEA features Ten Rules for Living with my Sister by Ann M. Martin

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEPatricia Tilton at Children’s Books Heal reviews Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiERosi Hollinbeck has a double review and GIVEAWAY of Star Friends Secret Spell & The Story of the Wright Brothers. Rosi also shares three helpful links for her writing friends.

happy-face-clipart-y4T9gyjiEKaren Yingling at Ms. Yingling Reads always has a great MMGM review. Check it out along with her other features this past week including a look at THE BOYS IN THE BACK ROW.
If you would like to join in the MMGM fun and get your own spot in the parade, all you have to do is blog about a middle grade book you love on a Monday (contests, author interviews and whatnot also count–but are most definitely not required) and email me the title of the book you’re featuring and a link to your blog at gpcolo (at) gmail (dot) com
(Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book you’re featuring)
You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.
Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)
*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.
Posted in MMGM Links | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

WITCH WARS

Posted on October 11, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

Abigail’s second year at the Tarkana Academy has been an all-out disaster. She’s just unwittingly helped Vertulious, an ancient he-witch and powerful alchemist, destroy Odin’s Stone and restore his powers, and now all of Orkney is caught up in the threat of war as the witches prepare to destroy the helpless Orkadians. Determined to set things right, Abigail and Hugo set off for Jotunheim, the land of the giants, to find a weapon to restore the balance. All they have to do is track down the God of Thunder and convince Thor to turn his hammer over to them.

When their former-friend-now-foe Robert Barconian arrives with a band of dwarves, intent on stopping them, Abigail and friends must unite to prevent a war that will destroy them all. But has Abigail made the biggest mistake of all by trusting in the wrong ally?

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WITCH WARS is the third installment in the Witches of Orkney series. Previous books include THE BLUE WITCH and THE RUBICUS PROPHECY.

All three are a prequel to Red Sun: Legends of Orkney where Abigail’s son is the featured character.

In WITCH WARS former friends are now enemies. Abigail is a good witch who wants to stop the war. The journey to visit Thor is a dangerous one with plenty of action and terror (thankfully the scenes with the scary sand snakes didn’t last long—one bite and you’re dead!). The 30 chapters will leave you wanting more, especially given the ending in this one. It hints at more trouble.

The question always becomes do you dare jump into a book 3 when you have no knowledge of what occurred before or after? You’ll probably be fine, although a little confused at times keeping straight the connections each of the other characters has with Abigail.

At just 200 pages, this is a nice length when many MG fantasies approach 400 pages. Perfect for fantasy lovers and anyone else who likes a fast paced story with a large dose of magic and mystery.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: October 13, 2020

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT WITCH WARS by Alane Adams

  1. It’s impossible not to like the science loving Hugo. He’s Abigail’s trusted companion, and even when he doesn’t understand her actions he’s always at Abigail’s side.
  2. The well done cover art extends to the illustrations inside. They always add to the danger and mystery that lie ahead.
  3. World building is a tough task to take on for writers, but Alane Adams does it with ease. You’ll feel right in the middle of each scene.
  4. Chapters almost always end with a warning of trouble. It’s a sure fire way to keep readers turning the pages. This includes the epilogue where the setup for more conflict is revealed.
  5. A flight on the winged Omera beast or to create balls of fire in your hand are just a few of the fantasies that will have young readers enthralled.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alane Adams is the author of award-winning titles that include the Legends of Orkney™ Norse mythology series for middle grade readers, the Witches of Orkney prequel series, and a series of historical picture books set in the 1920s including The Coal Thief. Alane’s newest Greek mythology series, The Legends of Olympus debuted Spring 2020 with The Eye of Zeus. Alane Adams and her books have been featured on BBC, Fox, the CW, Parade, Bustle, Today, People, and many more! When Alane is not writing or talking to kids in schools about Reading Is A Superpower, she’s out hiking somewhere in the world or hanging out with her three boys in Southern California. For more information, visit https://alaneadams.com or follow Alane on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: @AlaneAdamsBooks.

About Rise Up Foundation

Rise Up Foundation strives to improve the lives of children and families living in poverty and difficult circumstances, as well as teachers and educators of young children. Rise Up supports literacy projects as a path toward improving the future prospects of children in underserved communities by making book donations, providing classroom support, and grant-making. In addition to literacy efforts, Rise Up works with organizations committed to defining and solving the problems that chronic poverty brings to children and their communities.

In just the last two years, Rise Up has partnered with organizations such as First Book, Donors Choose, Teach Your Heart Out, and Reading is Fundamental to provide nearly $500,000 in funding, classroom supplies, and donated books, with an additional $170,000 in grants awarded to individual teachers. To date, Alane Adams and Rise Up Foundation has:

  • visited 300+ schools so far, 
  • donated over 42,500 books,
  • reached over 100,000 kids in her efforts to create real and lasting change for children, schools, and families in need.

For more information, visit https://riseupfoundation.org or follow on Facebook @Rise.Up.Foundation and on Twitter @RiseUpFdn.

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I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. Feel free to comment below!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

Escape From A Video Game—The Secret of Phantom Island

Posted on October 9, 2020 by Greg Pattridge

Cooper Hawke and the Secret of Phantom Island is the greatest video game nobody has ever played. The treasure-hunting adventure was supposed to set a new standard for gaming. Then, just one month before its release date, it fell off the face of the earth. 

Now, for the first time, you get a chance to play the mysterious game – from the inside. As you outsmart enemies, solve puzzles, and explore the island’s hidden areas, you’ll discover that there’s more to this game than the world realized. (From Andrews McMeels Publishing)

MY TAKE

The first reviews I ever published were for an educational magazine and focused on video games and computer software for kids. Fast forward to present day and what fun it was to dive into this choose your plot adventure. I was even able to beat the video game within the book. It happened too quick, but thankfully there was more. Readers are encouraged to seek out a special added bonus and find every possible ending. Doing so reveals a code you enter online that unlocks a secret story.

Author, Dustin Brady, writes books for kids who hate reading. This new series will have them jumping forward and back through the pages, sometimes having to turn the book upside down or solving the many mind boggling and eyeball moving puzzles. You are encouraged to write in the book unless it’s a library copy. No worries if it is. Go to the book’s webpage and download the puzzling worksheets.

It’s all in good fun and the winners are kids who hate the traditional reading experience. Perfect for the third or fourth grader in your life, or anyone else who loves a good game. Power up and read on.

BOOK BIRTHDAY: September 1, 2020 PAGE COUNT: 176

ABOUT THE AUTHOR (From Dustin’s web site)

Dustin Brady writes funny, action-packed books for kids. Although he regularly gets locked out of his own accounts for forgetting passwords, Dustin still remembers the Super Mario Bros. 3 Game Genie code for infinite lives. It’s SLXPLOVS. Dustin lives in Cleveland, Ohio, with his wife, kids, and a small dog named Nugget.

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I received a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.

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All you have to do is blog about a middle grade book on a Monday (contests, author interviews, or anything middle grade related also count). Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com
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