Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Notorious Spinks Talk Books this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
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I definitely haven't been doing this every week but I haven't needed to. I tried to have a lighter load for summer and spend as much time as possible outside. These are some of the goodies that came in the last two months. I hope you've had plenty of great reads at your house!

The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg
For review from Goodreads First Reads (arc)

Mister Max: The Book of Lost Things by Cynthia Voight
For review from NetGalley (ebook arc)

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner
From Paperback Swap

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
Free with coupon from Kobo (ebook)

The Troop by Nick Cutter
For review from Goodreads First Readers (arc)

The Angel Stone by Juliet Dark
For review from LibraryThing (arc)

Sky Jumpers by Peggy Eddleman
For review from NetGalley (arc)

Rude Bitches Make Me Tired by Celia Rivenbark
For review and giveaway from St. Martin's

Review: Far Far Away by Tom McNeal

 

A dark contemporary fairy tale

It says quite a lot about Jeremy Johnson Johnson that the strangest thing about him isn't even the fact his mother and father both had the same last name. Jeremy once admitted he's able to hear voices, and the townspeople of Never Better have treated him like an outsider since. After his mother left, his father became a recluse, and it's been up to Jeremy to support the family. But it hasn't been up to Jeremy alone. The truth is, Jeremy can hear voices. Or, specificially, one voice: the voice of the ghost of Jacob Grimm, one half of the infamous writing duo, The Brothers Grimm. Jacob watches over Jeremy, protecting him from an unknown dark evil whispered about in the space between this world and the next. But when the provocative local girl Ginger Boultinghouse takes an interest in Jeremy (and his unique abilities), a grim chain of events is put into motion. And as anyone familiar with the Grimm Brothers know, not all fairy tales have happy endings. . .

Young adult veteran Tom McNeal (one half of the writing duo known as Laura & Tom McNeal) has crafted a novel at once warmhearted, compulsively readable, and altogether thrilling--and McNeal fans of their tautly told stories will not be disappointed.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review
This book was very different from what I have been reading lately. It was described as a "dark, contemporary fairy tale" and I thought that was an accurate description. It was an interesting mix of all of those. As I was reading it the story felt very much like an old fashioned fairy tale. It had a bit of a slow build up but it kept my attention and as I became more engrossed in it I sometimes forgot this was a contemporary setting. 

The little town of Never Better includes an odd assortment of residents. Jeremy is a lonely teen boy who has become an outcast because he admitted to hearing voices of ghosts. He lives alone with his odd father, in an odd bookstore in an odd town. Jacob Grimm (of the famous Grimm Brothers) is an old ghost, companion and protector of the boy from an unknown threat. He is also the narrator who weaves his past and Jeremy's present together through alternating chapters. It is his voice That Jeremy hears although he now keeps it a secret. When Ginger, an adventurous teen, becomes interested in Jeremy, they set in motion a change of events that changes everyone's lives.

I wasn't sure how this would all come together but the author did it well. The suspense built into a dramatic ending. This was my first book by Tom McNeal but it won't be my last.  I would especially recommend this for those who enjoy the style of classic fairy tales. 
  
Author
Publisher  
Thank you to NetGalley for an arc ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 6/11/13
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 384 (hardcover)
Type: YA fantasy

Review: Special Dead by Patrick Freivald

Surviving high school has never been so hard.

Shackled to her desk, Ani Romero has a hard time concentrating on her studies. One of eight zombie survivors of the Prompocalypse, she's back at school, but this time it's no secret. Locked in their room, flamethrower-toting soldiers watching their every move, they're tasked with homework and classes during the week, and macabre experiments on the weekend.

When the courts rule they're not human, only an appeal keeps them alive long enough to discover a cure. College applications and SATs pale under the threat of incineration, and desperation turns them into lab rats... ...but the scientists helping them have ulterior motives, and the promised cure destroys more than the virus.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review
Wow! I didn't know where this book could go after the ending of the first book but great job! I'm so curious if there could be more. I really liked the direction of the story. It gave a different take on the traditional zombie story. The scientific explanation and legal issues were interesting but not too complicated for the reader. The writing is very well done and I found it hard to believe this was a male author. The protagonist was female and very believable.

I liked the characters and empathized with them. The people that were infected weren't "monsters" or hopeless cases but had a horrible medical condition. The different relationships was also complicated and interesting. Some people were torn between how they felt about those who were infected and how they are told to feel. Obviously there is extreme danger but the undead maintained their personalities, feelings and ambitions. How can they just written off so easily by those who love them? I was very impressed by the relationship between Ani and her mother Sarah. They had a fierce, unconditional love and would do anything to protect each other.  As the leading authority on ZV (Zombie Virus), Sarah has made it her life's work to cure and save her daughter and holds many secrets.  There are authorities happy to exploit them and their very life hangs in the balance.

As in the first book I loved recognizing real places near where I live. It was creepy but exciting! This story also had plenty of action that led to another great cliff-hanger ending. Freivald has a talent for leaving the reader hungry for more. :D (Get it? I HAD to do it!)

Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for an arc ebook in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 7/12/13
Publisher: JournalStone
Pages: 260 (paperback)
Type: YA

Review: The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Keep your friends close 
and your enemies closer. 

Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?
 The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.
Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.
But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review
I've been enjoying the dystopian genre for awhile but I wasn't sure what could be different about this story. I was pleasantly surprised. There were many parallels to other YA titles that are popular now (The Hunger Games, Maze Runner, Divergent) but I liked those books and that's what interested me in this one. The idea of young people competing through a variety of tests is a common element but this still had twists that kept it interesting. There was plenty of action and suspense that helped the story flow and made it easy to read.

The characters were diverse although a bit predictable. Some of them appear to be "bad" people but is it their true nature or just their circumstances? Most of them are desperate to succeed, some at any expense, but failure could cost them their life. My feelings about many of the characters shifted throughout the story but I liked their mysterious nature and I'm curious to see what will happen to them throughout the series. 

Cia is the main character, a strong and mature young woman who learns from others but doesn't depend on them for everything. She loves her family and friends, has developed good morals, but everything she's always believed in is suddenly turned upside down. She has quickly learned she must keep an open mind and doubt everything and everyone. Her very life depends on it. Although at times she is almost too perfect she is still very likable. Of course there is potential romance thrown in and huge conflicts they must overcome as well. 

 I enjoyed the writer's style and look forward to the rest of the trilogy. These Testing candidates have the potential to change their world and face enormous obstacles. This won't be an easy fix! 

Independent Study (book 2) coming 1/14
Graduation Day (book 3) coming 6/14
Author
The Testing Trilogy

Thank you to Houghton Mifflin Books for Children and NetGalley (ebook) for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 6/4/13
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Pages: 336 (hardcover)
Type: YA dystopian

Review: I'll Take What She Has by Samantha Wilde

Perfect for fans of Marisa de los Santos and Allison Winn Scotch, Samantha Wilde’s new novel is a funny and heartfelt look at friendship, marriage, and the dynamics of modern motherhood.

Nora and Annie have been best friends since kindergarten. Nora, a shy English teacher at a quaint New England boarding school, longs to have a baby. Annie, an outspoken stay-at-home mother of two, longs for one day of peace and quiet (not to mention more money and some free time). Despite their very different lives, nothing can come between them—until Cynthia Cypress arrives on campus.
Cynthia has it all: brains, beauty, impeccable style, and a gorgeous husband (who happens to be Nora’s ex). When Cynthia eagerly befriends Nora, Annie’s oldest friendship is tested. Now, each woman must wrestle the green-eyed demon of envy and, in the process, confront imperfect, mixed-up family histories they don’t want to repeat. Amid the hilarious and harried straits of friendship, marriage, and parenthood, the women may discover that the greenest grass is right beneath their feet.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review
This was an interesting take on two women's complicated lives. Nora and Annie have been life-long friends with a relationship they seem to take for granted. When another women threatens their friendship, loyalties are tested. Nora and Annie must confront their true feelings and take responsibility for their actions.

The overall story was enjoyable and an easy read. The characters made some unusual and interesting life choices but they became quite annoying and whiny. That did lend well though to the theme and the complexity of friendships, especially among women. Jealousy and envy were huge stumbling blocks for Nora and Annie which was understandable. What was frustrating was that these characters didn't talk to each other about their problems. They could have saved so much time and energy if they had been honest with each other. Of course real life isn't that simple and that would have led to a much shorter book.

I did like the writing and sense of humor even when I didn't like the characters and their often dumb decisions. I look forward to trying future books from this author.

Author
Publisher  
Thank you to LibraryThing Early Reviewers for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 2/26/13
Publisher: Bantam/Random House
Pages: 416 (paperback)
Type: Contemporary fiction, Chick Lit

Review: Twerp by Mark Goldblatt

It's not like I meant for Danley to get hurt. . . .

 




Julian Twerski isn't a bully. He's just made a big mistake. So when he returns to school after a weeklong suspension, his English teacher offers him a deal: if he keeps a journal and writes about the terrible incident that got him and his friends suspended, he can get out of writing a report on Shakespeare. Julian jumps at the chance. And so begins his account of life in sixth grade--blowing up homemade fireworks, writing a love letter for his best friend (with disastrous results), and worrying whether he's still the fastest kid in school. Lurking in the background, though, is the one story he can't bring himself to tell, the one story his teacher most wants to hear.

Inspired by Mark Goldblatt's own childhood growing up in 1960s Queens, Twerp shines with humor and heart. This remarkably powerful story will have readers laughing and crying right along with these flawed but unforgettable characters.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review
I don't know if I would have chosen this book on my own but I'm glad I did. The story is told in journal style by twelve year-old Julian, the main character who is growing up in the 1960s. This is an assignment in response to an incident he was involved in that's not revealed until much later. Although he's not happy, he takes to it and the events slowly unfold that led up to the suspension. That may have been the teacher's main intention but I found the rest of his life more interesting. Details of  friendships, budding romance, school and home were well done and it took me back to my own middle school days, the good and the bad. The characters were interesting and quirky (I do  love quirky), and more mischievous than malicious. Peer pressure is definitely a factor when the boys get together. The struggle to make the right decision but still fit in weighs heavy on young minds.

I enjoyed following Julian's growth and introspection throughout the school year. I really liked reading the journal entries, I just didn't find them very believable coming from a boy that age. It was too well written. I still found it to be a good story and would recommend it to others. 

Author
Publisher  
Thank you to NetGalley for an ebook arc in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 5/28/13
Publisher: Random House for Young Readers
Pages: 288 (hardcover)
Type: middle grade fiction

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Dolce Bellezza this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
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I'm trying to get to some of the books I already have but I still pick up some new ones from time to time. I have a really weird mix this week. I hope sunshine (we need some!) and good books have found their way to you!

365 Golf Tips & Tricks by Jay Morelli
For review and giveaway from Sterling

The Space Book by Jim Bell
For review from Sterling

The New York Times Book of Mathematics edited by Gina Kolata
For review from Sterling

Special Dead by Patrick Freivald
For review from NetGalley (ebook)

The Lost Code by Kevin Emerson
Free from Barnes & Noble Free Friday (ebook)

A Blood Seduction by Pamela Palmer
Free from B&N Free Friday (ebook)

Review: Nighty-Night, Sleep Tight by Jennifer Berne

Follow the setting sun and say good night to sleepy animals all over the world.

Say “nighty-night”—it's animal bedtime all over the world! From the moose in Maine to a Bahama iguana, from the kangaroos in Australia to the pandas in China, sleepy creatures everywhere are ready to rest under blankets of stars. But before they drift into dreams, they send a special kiss to an adorable child—“YOU”—curling up in bed, too. Written in lyrical, soothing rhyme, this endearing bedtime story will lull youngsters to sweet dreamland.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review
Journey around the world with this colorful and cute, rhyming book for children. It's time for sleep and a little tot and her puppy are tucking in other animals. From the moose in Maine to the tigers in Malaysia, the soft pastel colors and the whimsical characters on the pages will appeal to all. 
Stars shine above us,
we're cuddled and curled.
And it's animal bedtime
all over the world.
 The soothing cadence is a sweet addition to bedtime reads. I know the little ones in my family enjoyed it!
  Author
Illustrator

Thank you to Sterling Children's Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 3/5/13
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 24 (hardcover)
Type: children

Review: Jinx by Sage Blackwood

 In the Urwald you grow 

up fast or not at all...

In the Urwald, you don’t step off the path. Trolls, werewolves, and butter-churn riding witches lurk amid the clawing branches, eager to swoop up the unwary. Jinx has always feared leaving the path—then he meets the wizard Simon Magnus.

Jinx knows that wizards are evil. But Simon’s kitchen is cozy, and he seems cranky rather than wicked. Staying with him appears to be Jinx’s safest, and perhaps only, option. As Jinx’s curiosity about magic grows, he learns to listen to the trees as closely as he does to Simon’s unusual visitors. The more Jinx discovers, the more determined he becomes to explore beyond the security of well-trod paths. But in the Urwald, a little healthy fear is never out of place, for magic—and magicians—can be as dangerous as the forest, and soon Jinx must decide which is the greater threat.

Sage Blackwood introduces a daring new hero for an innovative new world as Jinx is joined by friends, battles enemies, and discovers life beyond—and even within—the forest is more complex than he can imagine, and that the Urwald itself needs him more than he could ever guess.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review
I've always loved this type of book and this one didn't disappoint. The cover said for fans of Septimus Heap, Fablehaven and the Sisters Grimm. I have enjoyed the Septimus Heap and Harry Potter series so I was drawn to this. Who doesn't love a wizard? It has a similar theme of a young boy who develops a connection to magic but it has it's own unique twists. The lines between good & evil are blurry as he discovers more about himself and where he truly belongs.

The writing is well done and the lore and mystery kept my attention. I was transported to another place and time. The characters are well developed and their back stories are suspenseful and gradually built upon with secrets revealed later. The forest itself is even an important character.

I hope there will be more to this story. I want to know what happens next and I would be happy to follow Jinx into more adventures.

Thank you to HarperCollins for an arc in exchange for my honest review.

Release date: 1/8/13
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 368 (hardcover)
Type: middle grade fantasy

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at 4 the LOVE of BOOKS this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
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I've been trying really hard to stay away from too many new books so I can catch up on what I have. I did pick up a few (of course) and only a couple from the library. I can't resist! Hope some great reads found their way to your house too!

Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky
For review and giveaway from Wunderkind (paperback)

Substitute Creature by Charles Gilman
For review from LibraryThing Early Reviewers (arc)

Sanctus by Simon Toyne
Free from Barnes & Noble Free Friday (ebook)

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
For review from NetGalley (ebook)

Review: The Big Bad Wolf Goes On Vacation by Delphine Perret

The BIG BAD WOLF is back—and funnier (but not scarier) than ever!
 




Doesn't a wolf deserve a vacation, too? Bernard, the clever, cookie-munching hero of Delphine Perret's award-winning book, certainly thinks so. So when he learns that his pal Louis is vacationing by the sea with his grandpa, Bernard wants to go too. Soon they're off on a wacky road trip that ends with the perfect day on the beach. This much-anticipated sequel to the award-winning The Big Bad Wolf and Me is every bit as delightful as the first…and well worth the wait.
(Goodreads.com)
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Review

This story is just in time for warm weather and vacation season. Told in short chapters by a little boy who is taking a trip with his secret best friend (a wolf) and his grandfather. The Big Bad Wolf isn't quite so scary when he's going to the beach! In fact, in this book he's full of all kinds of surprises. Almost every page has multiple illustrations - line drawings in comic book style.  The text is fairly simple and silly describing their adventurous day. Somewhat long by children's book standards (64 pages) this book is enjoyable for the young and young at heart. It made my granddaughter and I both giggle!

Author Delphine Perret has numerous books published in France. Her first book in the U.S. was published seven years ago. I'm happy she decided to do a sequel!

The Big Bad Wolf and Me
 




Author-illustrator
Thank you to Sterling Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.

Release date: 3/5/13
Publisher: Sterling Children's Books
Pages: 64 (hardcover)
Type: children

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Mari Reads this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
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During this last week I've finally been able to sit outside in the sunshine and enjoy a book. Finally! I haven't dared put up the hammock yet but I did sweep off the porches and get most of the outdoor furniture set up. It feels so good to feel the sun and breath the fresh air while I read. I can't wait for the trees and hills to turn green! I hope you are having a terrific Spring and plenty of good books have found their way to your home!

Dad is Fat by Jim Gaffigan
For review from Crown Publishing (arc excerpt)

Arclight by Josin L. McQuein
For review from HarperCollins (arc)

The Breath of God by Jeffrey Small
Free from Barnes & Noble Free Friday (ebook)

Big Girl Panties by Stephanie Evanovich
For review from William Morrow (arc)

The Lost Husband by Katherine Center
For review from LibraryThing Early Reviewers (paperback)

The Ghost and the Graveyard by Genevieve Jack
Bought from B&N (ebook)

The Emperor's Knife By Marzarkis Williams
Free from B&N Free Friday (ebook)

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
For review from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (arc)

Mailbox Monday

Mailbox Monday (started at The Printed Page and now a traveling meme) is at Mari Reads this month and is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week (checked out library books don’t count, eBooks & audio books do). Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles and humongous wish lists.
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We are having a rainy April but that's an improvement. It's time for muddy boots, muddy dogs, muddy everything. April showers bring May flowers! (If they don't get washed away first.) But any weather is good for reading and I have lots of goodies. I hope you have beautiful weather and great books to keep you happy too!

 Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer
Won from Just Another New Blog (ebook)

My Half of the Sky by Jana McBurney - Lin
Won from Just Another New Blog (ebook)

Eolyn by Karen Rita Gastreich
Won from Just Another New Blog (ebook)

Storybound by Marissa Burt
Free from Barnes & Noble Free Friday (ebook)

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
For review from NetGalley (ebook)

Angel's Ink by Jocelynn Drake
Free from B&N Free Friday (ebook)

Blog Tour: Lisa Loeb's Songs for Movin' and Shakin'

The air band song
 and other 
toe-tapping tunes

This spectacularly fun songbook will get kids off the sofa—guaranteed!

Singer Lisa Loeb will have kids movin' and groovin' with her sparkling second collection of songs and activities—plus a CD with five all-time children's favorites and another five original tunes. It's sure to stir up some fun, as budding musicians discover the joys of playing in an air band (“Turn it Down”); see how to face down scary creatures (“Monster Stomp”); and practice relaxing yoga poses (“Hello, Today”). Ryan O'Rourke's whimsical illustrations light up Lisa's lyrics—and will delight young readers, movers, and shakers.

Songs include:
Turn it Down (The Air Band Song)* •  Father Abraham  •  Miss Mary Mack • Monster Stomp*  • Going Away* •  Do Your Ears Hang Low? •  Everybody Wake Up* • Hello, Today* •  Peanut Butter and Jelly  •  Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.
(*original song)

(Goodreads.com)

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Review

This book and CD have plenty of "toe-tapping tunes", some I was familiar with and some were new to me. All of them get you moving! The book has the lyrics and whimsical, colorful illustrations to go with each song. They can be enjoyed together or apart. My five year-old granddaughter recognized some songs from preschool and sang along. My one year-old grandson loved to dance to all of them and their little cousins joined in too! 

Doesn't it look like fun? This is enjoyable for all ages and will get everyone moving! We look forward to reading and dancing to these for years to come. We'll also be looking for more from this artist. Join the party and get this set for your family!

Excerpt - Monster Stomp

Lisa Loeb

Author

Illustrator

Publisher

Purchase from Barnes & Noble

Release date: 4/2/13

Publisher: Sterling Children's Books

Pages: 24 (hardcover)

Type: Children (ages 4-7)