The Broken Pride (Bravelands #1) by Erin Hunter

Toay's review is brought to you by QuailMan, my 10 year old son.  Enjoy!

Today I will be reviewing Bravelands: The Broken Pride by Erin Hunter.  Here is the Goodreads blurb:

Heed the call of the wild with this brand-new, action-packed animal fantasy series from the #1 nationally bestselling author of Warriors. Enter the Bravelands…and discover the Erin Hunter series you’ve been waiting for.

A lion cast out from his tribe.

An elephant who can read the bones of the dead.

A baboon rebelling against his destiny.

For generations, the animals of the African plains have followed a single rule: only kill to survive. But when an unthinkable act of betrayal shatters the peace, the fragile balance between predators and prey will rest in the paws of three unlikely heroes.

Set in an epic new world and told from three different animals’ points of view, Bravelands will thrill readers who love Spirit Animals and Wings of Fire, as well as the legion of dedicated fans who’ve made Erin Hunter a bestselling phenomenon.

I was super excited when I first read the new book from the Erin Hunters.  I read the book in about 2 weeks. It was so good and it was hard stop reading.  I can't choose a favorite character because all three story arcs presented in the book captured my attention.  The story was very interesting so  I suggest that you read Bravelands!

You can find The Bravelands Series on Goodreads. Erin Hunter and their books can be found on their website. I give The Broken Pride 5 Fairies for a great book with interesting characters.

Arrgh! by Stacey R. Campbell Cover Reveal!

We're so excited to share the cover of ARRGH! by Stacey Campbell, a middle grade fantasy adventure. This book releases September 24th, 2014. 

Description:

Forced to remain silent after being kidnapped by pirates Christopher must find a way to save an innocent merchant ship’s captain and his daughter from the evil grasp of Captain Redblade proving that friendship and family are worth fighting for no matter the costs.

Amazon 

About the Author:

Stacey R. Campbell lives in the Pacific North West with her husband, three daughters, three dogs, and a pet

turtle named Todd. She is a graduate of the University of Washington. At the age of seven Stacey was told that she would never be the writer she dreamed of being because she is dyslexic. Finally Stacey found that she could not look her children in the eyes and tell them that they could be what ever they wanted to be if she did not do the same. Now Stacey can't stop writing and loves to help children pursue their own dreams. Stacey is the young adult author of Hush, A Lakeview Novel and Whisper, A Lakeview Novel. ARRGH! is Stacey’s first middle grade book.

For more books from this author, visiting information, and author events please visit Stacey at:

www.Staceyrcampbell.com

You can also learn more about Stacey R. Campbell on

Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest  | Goodreads

Live in the Seattle area? Meet Stacey Campbell, YA author Martha Brockenbrough and others at the UW bookstore, Mill Creek, on October 9th at 7:00! There will also be a book launch for ARRGH!, Dec. 3rd at 7:00 at the UW Bookstore in the U district. 

Giveaway:

Paperbacks of HUSH & WHISPER (Young Adult)- US only

ebook of ARRGH! (Middle Grade)- INT

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Middle Grades Spotlight Giveaway!

Today I have another great middle grades book giveaway from Egmont!  Today I have My Zombie Hamster by Havelock McCreely.  Check out the cover and the Goodreads blurb:

A laugh-out-loud funny middle-grade debut with a scary twist, "My Zombie Hamster" will appeal to readers who like their animal stories mixed with chills. Fans of R.L. Stine's Goosebumps Most Wanted series will grab this one right up.
Matt Hunter and his buddies are looking forward to Christmas--actually, they're looking forward to receiving the latest sword-and-fantasy video game. But Matt's parents have other thoughts--they give him a fluffy little mammal, a hamster called Snuffles, for the holiday. And his grandmother makes it worse by giving him a hamster cage and wheel. But the hamster isn't all that cute--at least not after part of its cheek and belly fall right off--without bothering it a bit! And why is it staring at Matt with black beady eyes and a lean and hungry look?
Say hello to Anti-Snuffles, the zombie hamster! Or better yet, run!
This series combines middle-school readers' passions: humor, animals, and scary stories, into one unbeatable package. You can find author Havelock McCreely on Twitter @H_Mccreely and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/McCreely.

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Middle Grades Spotlight Giveaway!

Today I have a spectacular giveaway from Egmont.  I have one copy of Guinea Dog 3 by Patrick Jennings.  Guinea Dog 3 is a great middle grades book about guinea pigs that act like other animals.  Check out the cover and Goodreads blurb:

An award-winning, hilariously funny middle-grade series about guinea pigs who act like other pets will move its author, Patrick Jennings, into the ranks of much-loved writers, such as Louis Sachar and Andrew Clements.

When Rufus, Murphy, Lurena, and their pets go camping, they meet Pedro, a shy boy who seems afraid of just about everything--especially the water. One thing leads to another and the kids go into a nearby town to buy him a pet to cheer him up--a guinea pig, naturally. Yet what they bring home may look like a guinea pig, but it can swim--like an otter!

Guinea Dog has appeared not only on many state lists, but on county and school district lists as well. Here are just some of its appearances: Hawaii NeNe Award Nominee, Washington State Sasquatch Award Nominee, Massachusetts Children's Book Award Honor, Florida Sunshine State Master List, Kansas Winner of the William Allen White Award, Colorado Children's Book Award Nominee, New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award Master List, and Texas's Cy-Fair Horned Toad Tales List.

Patrick's website is patrickjennings.com, or you may follow him on Twiitter @pjenningswrites.  You can add this book to your Goodreads to read list here.

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ParaNorman by Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

I got a copy of ParaNorman  from our local library for my son who is nine.  I am trying to get him to branch out if his comfort reading zone.  He is obsessed with the Rick Riordan series and their mythology.  I thought ParaNorman (we love the movie) might draw him in but so far no go.  I did take the time to read it just to see if the movie and book both stand on their own.

In a quaint New England town with a history of witches and pilgrims, misunderstood eleven-year-old Norman Babcock can see and talk to ghosts. No one believes him, of course-everyone just thinks he's weird (including his parents). But when a folktale of a witch who cursed her accusers turns out to be true, it's up to Norman to save the town from pilgrim zombies! In addition to the zombies, he'll have to take on a very angry witch, an annoying sidekick, his boy-crazy teenage sister, and dozens of moronic grown-ups who get in his way. This young ghoul whisperer finds his paranormal talents pushed to their otherworldly limits in this hilarious and spooky adventure!

Featuring gorgeous black-and-white interior illustrations and a story beyond what you'll see in the film, this novel is sure to delight!

This book is just as amazing as the movie. The movie follows the book very closely but there are some differences between the two. I love the idea of the boy who can see and talk to ghosts. Norman has found his own way through the weird life that he leads. He feels out of place in his family and at school but he has some friends. His mother loves him as he is but his dad struggles to do the same. I love the idea of his grandma coming back to watch over him. Plus the grandma is a sassy and sweet lady. I also liked that the story is really a subtle way of reminding us all of how bad bullying can really be and that people in a mob are something to be feared. The witch trials and witch hunts that plagued colonial times and even earlier in other countries were a way for citizens to single out for abuse and ridicule. It was extremely violent bullying. Aggie Prenderghast is a little girl with a great gift that people fear and it causes them to kill her. That's as sad a story as you can hear. I highly recommend ParaNorman to everyone!

You can add it to your Goodreads here.  You can find out more about author Elizabeth Coday Kimmel on her website.  I give ParaNorman 4 Fairies for a super fun book for any pre-teen to read.

EKHO Book Blast!

EKHO by Marie D. Jones

Ten-year-old Elvis Jones is tired of being picked on, taunted, and teased by the bullies at his elementary school, so he does what any smart, technologically brilliant kid his age would do: he creates EKHO, the Evil Kid Hunting Organization, a sophisticated network of kid spies and secret agents that utilize a variety of cool gadgets to stay one step ahead of the enemy – the bullies. They hire kids, make them swear allegiance to the organization, and train them as Commandos, Privates, and Elite Spies. As kids rise through the ranks, the missions, posted on an encrypted EKHO website, require more smarts and skill, especially when the bullies form their own counterspy group called DEKE (Destroy EKHO Kids Everywhere).

It’s all in good fun, until the kids of EKHO must put their pretend skills to use for far more serious, and dangerous, missions. As field agents come across evidence of more sinister forces, they now have to deal with the strange, weird, and the unknown as they look for the truth about the bizarre and creepy threats to their school, their families, and their own lives. They experience betrayal, intrigue, infiltration and counter-espionage as well as teachers and adults who act more mysterious with each passing day, which leaves Elvis and his EKHO team wondering: who can you trust when the person standing next to you might not be entirely human?

Coming February 4, 2014

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * The Book Depository

Tour Schedule

Author Marie D. Jones

Marie D. Jones is a best-selling author with an extensive background in unknown mysteries, metaphysics, science, and the paranormal. She has been featured multiple times on the History Channel in Ancient Aliens and Nostradamus Effect. Marie also served as a special UFO/abduction consultant for the 2009 Universal Pictures movie, The Fourth Kind. She is a staff writer for FATE Magazine and Intrepid Magazine and a regular contributor to Paranoia Magazine and New Dawn Magazine. Marie has been interviewed on hundreds of radio talk shows all over the world, including Coast to Coast AM, and has been featured in dozens of newspapers, magazines, and online publications, internationally. She has lectured widely at major paranormal, new science, and self-empowerment events, and is the screenwriter and co-producer of 19 Hz, a paranormal thriller in development with Bruce Lucas Films.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

BookBlast Giveaway

$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/28/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Time Trapped Blog Tour: Spotlight

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Time Trapped

The high-octane sequel to Time Snatchers.

Caleb thought he'd escaped Uncle's clutches and could have a normal life in 1968, but no such luck. After being forcibly returned to Timeless Treasures and his old job of stealing valuable objects from the past, he learns that things have gotten even more sinister. Training the new kidnapped recruits doesn't seem very important to Frank, Uncle's evil lackey, even though a few of these kids have amazing thieving skills and genius for new technology. But then Caleb figures out it's because Frank doesn't plan on keeping them around very long - or keeping them alive.

Stakes are high for all of the time snatchers. If only Caleb can convince the new ones to stop having fun with the technology and use it to save their own lives.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kobo

Praise for Time Trapped

"Ungar’s follow-up to Time Snatchers (2012) offers more exceptionally good world building and character development—along with heaps of suspense..." - Booklist Online

"In the exciting follow-up to Time Snatchers (Putnam, 2012), Caleb has been pulled back into Uncle’s band of time-travelling thieves—snatchers, as they call themselves. ...Readers of the first volume will certainly be interested in the continuing saga. Captivating characters, including a computer with human DNA convinced she is not a computer, and technological prodigies enhance the plot." - VOYA Magazine



EXCERPT

“Wait! What’s your name?” I call after her.

She’s going to disappear into the crowd. The beautiful girl with no name. And I’ll be left wondering . . . Or worse, she’ll say her name and I won’t hear it. Because the noise level in the hall is increasing and a hundred inane conversations are going on around me and despite strict orders from my brain, my ears are picking up random words like belch and freight train, and pumpkin, and I’m afraid that when she finally says her name, I’m going to hear mustard instead and then what will I do—

“It’s Abbie!” she calls out.

Abbie. I’ve got it. Abbie. Abbie. Abbie. Three times should do it. Just in case, I whip open my memory book to jot it down. A scrap of paper flutters out.

I pick it up and gaze at the big loopy letters. She gave me a note! I can’t believe it. I unfold the paper.

Meet me in the park at 4:00 P.M. We need to talk in private.

We do? A beautiful girl needs to talk to me. And not only does she want to talk to me, but in private too. My dreams are coming true. This is incredible. It can take years to get a note like this from a girl, and I’ve done it in just over thirty minutes. A school record. Heck, maybe even a state record. My picture is going to be in Sports Illustrated. Right next to the girl who shot three holes in one during her sophomore year.

I look up to see if I can spot her. But Abbie is gone.

Author Richard Ungar

I was born in Montreal, Quebec. When I was young I wanted to be either an artist or a lawyer when I grew up. Now that I am almost grown up I still can't decide between the two. So I do both.

I also like to write and began writing stories to have something to go with my pictures. But now I just write…even without pictures.

Three of my four picture books (the “Rachel” series) take place in the mythic village of Chelm. Once you have visited Chelm, it is very hard to leave. You see, the people there are very silly. And, when you spend half your day being a serious lawyer, silliness is welcome.

I’m very excited about my latest project. It’s a middle grade science fiction/time travel adventure series, published by G.P Putnam’s Sons. The first novel in the series, published in 2012, is called Time Snatchers and the sequel, published on September 26, 2013, is called Time Trapped.

I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of time travel and I wanted to write about it. In its earliest stages, Time Snatchers started as a writing exercise in one of Peter Carver’s writing classes. The exercise was to write a story based on one of the images in Chris Van Allsburg’s picture book, “The Mysteries of Harris Burdick”. I chose the picture called “Another Place, Another Time” showing children riding a sail-propelled handcar along a railway track that seemed to go on forever. For whatever reason, that picture screamed “Time Travel” to me.

I did quite a bit of historical research for both my middle grade books which was a lot of fun. In researching Time Snatchers I learned a lot about ancient China, including how to fire porcelain in a kiln. For Time Trapped, a trip to Scotland in 2012, taught me much about Scottish history, people and customs that I wove into my novel.

I’ve been asked which I like better – painting or writing. That is a tough question to answer. They are both important to me and I derive different but equal amounts of satisfaction from both. I have many ideas in my head for future picture books as well as novels.

The other thing I love to do is present my books to children, including doing storytellings. I’ve made author visits to most of the major cities in Canada and have also done readings in New York City, Tucson, Arizona and Shanghai, China. Connecting with my readers is one of the things I love most most about being a children’s author.

Website * Blog * Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads

Published Works

 Time Trapped, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2013)

Time Snatchers, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2012

Even Higher, Tundra Books, 2007

Rachel's Library, Tundra Books, 2004

Rachel's Gift, Tundra Books, 2003

Rachel Captures the Moon, Tundra Books, 2001



Honours and Awards
• 2013 One of the Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College, New York for Time Snatchers
• 2012 Year’s Best, Resource Links Magazine for Time Snatchers
• 2012 Booklist, Starred Review for Time Snatchers
• 2009 Storytellers World Resource Award for Even Higher
• 2007 National Jewish Book Award for Even Higher
• 2007 Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice Selection for Even Higher
• 2004 Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice Selection for Rachel's Library
• 2003 Notable Book for Younger Readers (Association of Jewish Libraries) for Rachel's Gift
• 2003 Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice Selection for Rachel's Gift
• 2002 Canadian Children's Book Centre Our Choice selection for Rachel Captures the Moon
• 2001 Notable Book for Younger Readers (Association of Jewish Libraries) for Rachel Captures the Moon
• 2001 One of the Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College, New York for Rachel Captures the Moon



Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 1/19/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.



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Doll Bones by Holly Black

I love Holly Black so when I found her new book on the shelf at the local library, I had to take it home with me.  Here is the creepy cover and the Goodreads blurb:

Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

This book was a quick and spooky read.  It tells the story of a group of friends as they enter that awfully confusing time of life called The Teenage Years.  They struggle to hold together their friendship in the face of changes in their bodies, their parents' expectations and society's expectations.  The journey to bury The Queen is the event that helps them move on from where they were stuck and helps them realize how they feel about each other.  This is an awesome read that has a ghost story and a coming of age tale all in one.  I highly recommend this one for teens and tweens but anyone can enjoy it!

You can also find out more about Holly Black and her other books on her website and you can follow her on Twitter!!  Click here to add Doll Bones to your Goodreads.  I give Doll Bones 4 Fairies for a creeptastic coming of age story.

The Trouble with Toads Blog Tour!

Tour Schedule

The Trouble with Toads

Once upon a time a young girl wanted revenge. But first, she wanted to be beautiful.

Twelve-year-old Bettony has read enough stories that begin with ‘Once upon a time’ to know what happens to the ugly stepsisters at the end, and she’s determined to escape that fate by any means necessary—even by magic.

Unfortunately, when it comes to magic, there is no place for regret, refunds, or exchanges. Even if you accidentally turn your older sister into a toad.

If Bettony wants her Happily Ever After to end well, she’s going to have to find a way to turn her sister back into a person before their mother finds out she’s been dabbling with magic and grounds her for life.

Tracking down the family magic turns out to be surprisingly easy. Now, if only it came with directions . . .

THE TROUBLE WITH TOADS (45,000 words) is the first book in a new upper MG series The Secret Stepsister Society. The second book will be released Summer 2013.

Amazon

Author Danyelle Leafty

Danyelle Leafty writes upper MG and YA fantasy, and is the author of THE FAIRY GODMOTHER DILEMMA series. Danyelle has always loved fairy tales, and prefers stories where someone gets eaten, or at the very least, transmogrified. Much of her inspiration has come from fairy tales, because as G.K. Chesterton so aptly states, "Fairy tales are more than true: not because they tell us that dragons exist, but because they tell us that dragons can be beaten."

In her spare time, she collects dragons, talking frogs, and fairy godmothers. She also collects books, and one day hopes to make a house out of them. She enjoys learning languages, fiddling with her harp, and perfecting the fine art of mothering. (It's a lot like trying to herd chickens during a lightning storm while a goat stampede is going on.)

One of her heroes is Albert Einstein, particularly for the following quote: "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The most important thing is not to stop questioning."

Website * Twitter * Facebook * Blog

My Review:
This story was cute and had a good moral but I felt that the tone of the writing might be a bit much for a middle grade reader.  I think that the moral is really the best part of the story.  The author has taken a twisted look at a fairytale and made it her own while sneaking in a moral about loving yourself and not seeing the forest for the trees.  I really think that preteen girls will see themselves in the stepsisters and that they might feel the moral on a personal level.  The story is funny and moves along without much filler.  I know this is one story that I will be sharing with my daughter when she is old enough to read it.  I highly recommend this one for girls 10-13 but it isn't really aimed at boys- although they may like it.  The fairytale world in this book has witches, princes, daring deeds, balls, and magic.  It's a fun and enchanting world!

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 6/28/13

 a Rafflecopter giveaway


Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $25 US.

Blog Tour: Finn Finnegan by Darby Karchut

Cead míle fáilte!  Today I am lucky enough to be taking part in the Blog Tour from Spencer Hill Press in celebration of Darby Karchut's release of middle grade gem Finn Finnegan yesterday.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  Here is the blurb and cover:

Finnegan MacCullen: a thirteen-year-old apprentice with the famous Irish temperament.

Gideon Lir: a legendary Celtic warrior with a bit of a temper of his own.

Secretly, these blue-collar warriors battle the hobgoblins infesting their suburban neighborhood...when they are not battling each other.

Finn (not bleedin' Finnegan) MacCullen is eager to begin his apprenticeship. He soon discovers the ups and downs of hunting monsters in a suburban neighborhood under the demanding tutelage of the Knight, Gideon Lir. Both master and apprentice are descendents of the Tuatha De Danaan, a magical race of warriors from Ireland. Scattered long ago to the four corners of the world, the De Danaan wage a two thousand year old clandestine battle with their ancient enemy, the Amandán, a breed of goblin-like creatures.

Now with the beasts concentrating their attacks on Finn, he and his master must race to locate the lost Spear of the Tuatha De Danaan, the only weapon that can destroy the Amandán, all the while hiding his true identity from his new friends, Rafe and Savannah, twins whose South African roots may hold a key to Finn's survival.

Armed with a bronze dagger, some ancient Celtic magic, and a hair-trigger temper, Finn is about to show his enemies the true meaning of "fighting Irish."

This book is a great middle grades adventure story that will attract boys and girls alike.  Readers young and old will be drawn into this lovely world that features fey living hidden among us while fighting hobgoblins.  Finn is a colorful narrator who makes reading a joy.  Darby Karchut's characters are all beautifully written.  Finn deals with Gideon, a fey knight who has lived 370 years and seen more battles that he cares to admit.  Finn also befriends twin neighbors Savannah and Rafe.  Their parents are a doctor and a science teacher.  They regularly visit South Africa where their grandfather lives.  They believe in the ancient ways of their Manchester and so does Finn so that is a cool thing.  I have to admit that I did not realize that they were meant to be characters of color until it was explicitly mentioned.  Even though they talk about tribal culture.  Most South Africans are white due to colonization of the area by the Dutch.  It is nice to have characters of color in the story as they are so often glossed over in books.  Rafe is nerdy but cool and Savannah is quirky and smart.  They make great friends for Finn who has had so little in the way of real friendship and companionship.  The story shows a new and interesting interpretation of the fey and uses a ton of great Gaelic.  I loved that the story had tons or action and adventure.  I think that it keeps the story moving at a great pace.  I love all things fey and all things Irish and this book has both.  I really enjoyed it and can not wait for the sequel!  I highly recommend this book!

At the bottom of this post you'll find my giveaway of two copies of Finn Finnegan to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.  I loved this book and I think you will too!  You can click here to add Finn Finnegan to your Goodreads.  Darby Karchut can be found on her website and her blog.  I give Finn Finnegan 4 Fairies for a great book that is a unique read for middle grades readers and adults alike.

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The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

I was lucky enough to pick up a copy of Lauren Oliver's The Spindlers while I was at BEA.  I love everything that Lauren Oliver writes so I had to get my hands on a copy.  Here is the Goodreads blurb:

One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different. When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul. She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him. To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever. From "New York Times" best-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope.

This story reminded me of some of the great adventure movies that we watched as kids like The Neverending Story and Goonies.  Liza goes on a magical journey to save her brother because she loves him, even if he's weird and annoying.  On her journey through the land Below, she makes a friend and learns about all of the strange creatures who live there.  Besides the Spindlers, there are a wealth of other unique creatures that inhabit the new and interesting world that Lauren Oliver builds in this book, such as: Troglods, Nids, and Hobgoblins.  Liza has to face her fears and find bravery that she didn't know she had to find Patrick.  I really enjoyed this adventure story that also touched on friendship, honesty, fairness and so many other things.  Liza is a great heroine who, I think, girls and boys alike will love.  I think parents, tweens and teens will all love this book.

You can find out more about Lauren Oliver and her books on her website, her blog and on Twitter.  The Spindlers will be released on October 2nd so be sure to add it to your Goodreads and pre-order your copy!    I give The Spindlers 3 Fairies for a great book to share with your children.

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

I was lucky enough to receive an Advanced Review Copy of The Peculiar at Book expo America this spring.  The cover is beautiful and whimsical.  I just HAD to read it.  Here is the Goodreads Blurb:

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged. In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them. One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed. First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong. Part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part steampunk adventure, "The Peculiar" is Stefan Bachmann's riveting, inventive, and unforgettable debut novel.

The Peculiar is a unique book with plenty of steampunk, adventure, and magic.  I have never read another book like this one and I'm willing to bet that you haven't either.  This is a middle grade book but anyone could read it and love it much on the order of Percy Jackson or Harry Potter (if you can read those and NOT like them... well, I don't think I want to know you).  The book focuses on Batholomew and his sister who are changelings or Peculiars.  I love faeries and the legends of changelings.  Bachmann has changed the world and thus the legend of changelings for his story.  In this world changelings are the children of a human and a faery.  They are vilified by both humans and many fae.  Bartholomew feels alone and worthless.  He loves his mother and sister but everyone wants to be somebody.  The other main character that we see is Arthur Jelliby.  Arthur is a great character because he's someone who lives a life of leisure and frivolity before he gets pulled into the awful plot against changelings.  He realizes that as easy as it would be for him to pawn this off on someone else, he is the one who must leave his comfort zone and stop the murders.  I love the idea of someone so unlikely having to become a hero.  This is definitely a story of unlikely heroes.  This book is set for release on September 18th according to Amazon so go pre-order it now!

You can find Stefan Bachmann on his blog and on Twitter.  There is also a great video of him introducing himself and his awesome book on Youtube.  I give The Peculiar 4 Fairies for a great book that my son will be reading SOON.