Middle Grade Monday: The Curse Breaker

 

* Book 2 in the Isle of Ever trilogy*

Benny did manage to find the island - but the game isn't over. Evelyn shares there is much more to the game and it's more dangerous than ever. Benny has two weeks to break the curse or she will lose everything - her new house, her mom's job, and her new friends.

Can Benny and her friend manage to uncover the clues in time? Even with people working against them? Benny's struggling to put the pieces together, but she's not giving up.

My Thoughts: I read this book in one day because I didn't want it to end. I loved being back with Benny and her friends. I loved watching her put the pieces to the clues together and uncover the history of the past in order to save the future. This is such a clever story - filled of twists and turns, secrets, and danger. I can't wait for the last book to see how everything turns out! 

Cover Thoughts: Very similar to the first book, making it great

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: a must have trilogy for your middle grade school or public library collection

New Writing Snippet

A few weeks ago, I shared this:

Here's the start of my newest WIP and to be honest, I haven't written many words on it lately

Chapter One: 

“You’ll never believe what happened,” I said as soon as my best friend picked up the phone.

“What?” she asked.

“They hired Victoria Stevens as the new library director.”

“Shut Up! They did not.”

We both let the news sink in.

“What are you going to do?”

“What can I do? I gave them my two-week notice.”

“Already?”

“As soon as they told me. You know I can’t work for her. You know what happened when I worked with her. I can’t imagine working for her.

“I’m so sorry; you loved that job.”

“I know. It really sucks. I can’t believe that’s who they picked to replace Brenda. What a nightmare.”

“Are you looked at any other jobs?”

“Not yet, but I will tonight. I’ll see what’s out there. Maybe I’ll take some time off, I have a bit of savings. I’ll get things in order at work and leave before she starts.”

“What did they say?”

I remember the look on the town HR Director’s face. She was dumbfounded. “They were shocked.”

Picture Book Review: Spendin' Time

 

A boy and his grandfather take a trip to town to grab some items for Nan. But they make some stops along the way. They have a great day together - the kind of day that you'll remember fondly as an adult. A lovely picture book about the bonds of grandparents and grandchildren. 

Review: Checking You Out

 

Lizzie is the biggest booknerd you will ever meet. She volunteers at the shelter where she helps take care of abandoned kittens. There she meets Dylan, a very cute boy her age. 

She thinks she could have a crush on him - until he claims he's not a reader. That's a non-starter for Lizzie. Even her best friends are readers - even though they all claim different genres as their favorites.

But Dylan lied - he's a huge fantasy reader. Or at least he used to be. He was bullied for reading and enjoying fantasy novels. So, he stopped sharing him love of books and started working out. Now he's a tennis player who switched schools senior year. He keeps that fantasy nerd part of him locked away until he can go to college and finally be his true self.

My Thoughts: This was a great romance for booknerds. I loved all the bookish references. I loved the moments in the library - and the librarian. I loved how Lizzie and her friends had a book club where they all read what they liked. I loved their bookish moments. There were so many cute kitten moments here - it made me want to volunteer too. Although I confess, I'm more of a dog person. I loved the letters in the books too - and the fact that both brought in their friends for help. I hated the Dylan had to close off parts of himself because of all the bullying. I wanted to give him a giant hug. But I did love the message of this book. I also loved that most of this book is set during the summer before college. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A booknerd romance that's perfect for your teen romance collection 

Graphic Novel Review: The Knight and her Emperor

Pollyanna is the first-born daughter of a noble man, but she's the least loved. Her father sends her off to become a soldier. The family hopes that she dies, but instead she uses their betrayal to fuel her revenge. She works heard, gets stronger, and fights fierce. In a male world, there's a lot of me who don't believe in her. But she has a serious set of skills

Her country has been at war for a long time, but she hears rumblings about another country coming attacking them both. Her superiors dismiss her ideas and berate her for wasting their time. But she's proven to be right when the army walks into an ambush. She leads her team into the woods, but it's clear they're not going to survive. She gives herself up hoping that he men will escape.

She's almost killed, but the new King sees something in her. He offers her a knighthood instead and plans to conquer the continent. Sir Pollyanna agrees. 

My Thoughts: This is the first volume of the series. Sadly, I don't know when the next book will be available, but I'm already looking forward to it. I want more of the story - more of Sir Pollyanna's strategic plans. I'm also curious is she visits her family again - they are truly awful to her. I want to see what happens when she comes head-to-head with her old army. This was a great introduction to the story and it left me wanting more.

Cover Thoughts: Solid

Source: My library

Library Recommendation: A great graphic novel for your public library. 

Hand this to readers: Who like Game of Thrones.

Picture Book Review: Nature Books

Just a few new to me picture books about Nature:

I ordered this one for a music and movement storytime. It came in too late to use it, but it would have been perfect. Lots of playful moments in this book as the family enjoys the rainstorm in various ways. 

This nonfiction picture book highlights different animals and how they help their environment and how nature needs these animals. 

* Book sent for review, Book publication date is September 1

What do you do on the longest day of the year? There are so many possibilities: a picnic, gardening, gathering together, and spreading kindness. Love the message in this book and illustrations are delightful. 

What happens after a forest fire? The forest survives and, in most ways, thrives. There is an author's note at the end of the book that talks about fire facts, shares resources, and more. 

There's a storm coming and a mouse is scared of losing her house that rests close to the ocean. I LOVED the illustrations in this book. A lovely book to pour over. 

A family is headed on a road trip to grandma's house. The road is long and the car is cramped. Will they ever arrive? While this isn't strictly about nature - one of kids is looking for wide open spaces and freedom. The illustrations are lovely. 

Top Ten Tuesday: Libraries I want to visit

 This week's topic is all about bookish bucket list items. Recently I talked about author's houses I have visited and author's houses I would like to visit. So today I'm sharing libraries I would like to visit.

Whenever I travel, I try to hit up the local library, so I have seen a lot of libraries.

But here are a few I would love to visit:

Oxford Library:

Radcliff Camera (also Oxford)

Haskell Free Library and Opera House 

This is on the VT/Canada border which is really cool

Scoville Public Library: 

In CT - the first public library in the US - 1803

However, Franklin Public Library in MA was established in 1790 and claims it's the oldest public library in the country after a donation of books from Ben Franklin 

Kansas City Library - just look at those books for the parking garage

JP Morgan Library

To be honest, most places I vacation, I stop in at the library. 

Do you have a library to recommend?