• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (September 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0545290147
• Source: Big Honcho Media

Some time in the past, the United States went to war with China and its allies, using militarized weapons like nuclear bombs.  China responded with P11H3, a strengthened version of the flu.  It was referred to as the Eleventh Plague, spreading through the nation like wildfire. The last aired reports indicated that the death tolls were in the hundreds of millions in the United States alone.

The Collapse took place shortly after P11 hit.  Everything shut down, including the government, factories, hospitals. The lights on the United States were literally turned off, citizens burned out of major cities to prevent spread of the virus.

It’s now years later. Fifteen-year-old Stephen Quinn and his small family, consisting of his father and grandfather, are now scavengers.  They travel back and forth along the East Coast, searching for items they can then sell for the items they need to survive: clothing, food & ammunition.  They aren’t the only ones roaming the wreckage of our former country, slavers also roam the roads, looking for individuals to enslave.

It’s not long before Stephen’s world is upended: his grandfather dies & his father is severely injured within twenty-four hours of one another.  Stephen is able to get his father to a encampment referred to as Settler’s Landing, a town created by a wealthy family, now existing almost as if nothing had changed.  They still celebrate Thanksgiving, say the Pledge of Allegiance, the children attend school.  To them, Stephen is an outsider, the bottom of the totem pole.

Stephen soon realizes that life after the war isn’t much different than it was before: the wealthy hold power, have control of which individuals are allowed to reside in their encampment. When the actions of Stephen and a rebellious girl cause the citizens of Settler’s Landing to take action against a neighboring encampment, Stephen questions his position in life, is he really a scavenger? Or should he stay put and make a difference in the future of his world? His mind, his memories, battle with the feelings he has now.  Is there a future worth fighting for or, is the world really over?

The Eleventh Plague is a pretty thought-provoking book about how the actions of our nation, our culture, can impact the future.  Aptly suited for the middle-school age group, I think had the author developed the characters and the back story a little more, this would be a compelling reader for teens as well. That’s not to say it isn’t an enjoyable read, it certainly is an engaging story.  However, as an adult reading this, I felt I only new the characters at face value, I wanted to learn more about Stephen and Jenny, the young Chinese girl, uncertain about her identity in the “new” world.

I read this with my twelve-year-old son, John.  The discussion this book generated was the biggest benefit gained from reading this book. We talked about a whole host of issues, including war, relations with other countries, perceived feelings about members of other cultures, and more.  As mentioned above, I think this book is correct in it’s age level for twelve and above. There is no foul language but there is a considerable amount of violence, not shocking for a book about a post-war nation.  Young fans of the Hunger Games trilogy as well as John Marsden’s Tomorrow series would appreciate the similar storylines: young characters forced to find a means to survive in a war-ridden world. Recommended.

I have one copy of The Eleventh Plague to give away to one lucky reader. To enter, please fill out the form below. Open to US & Canadian residents only, please. The winner will be contacted via email on Monday, November 28th. Good luck!

Review: The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

Frightful Friday is a weekly meme in which I feature a particularly scary or chilling book that I’ve read that week. Feel free to grab the button & join in!

This week’s featured book is: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

• Reading level: Young Adult
• Hardcover:224 pages
• Publisher:Candlewick (September 15, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0763655597
• Source:  Personal copy

At 12:07 AM, thirteen-year-old Conor wakes up to find a monster outside his window. He’s not frightened, for this is not the monster he expected to see. He thought he’d open his eyes to see the monster from his nightmares, the one that has been haunting his dreams since his mother’s cancer treatments began.

The monster is an ancient one, existing for centuries. It wants something from Conor, it wants to tell him stories, in return to hear the truth from Conor. Conor, obviously, is perplexed by the monster’s requests. However, it continues to return nearly every night, at exactly 12:07 AM.

The stories the monster tells aren’t your average, typical stories. Of course, what would one expect from a monster? The stories the monsters tell are unique, each ultimately providing a valuable lesson. The monster attempts to impart to Conor the power of stories:

“Stories are wild creatures, the monster said. When you let them loose, who knows what havoc they might reveal?”

“Stories are important, the monster said. They can be more important than anything.  If they carry the truth.”

The illustrations, combined with the text, portray a truly haunting story. Not haunting as in ghosts (or yes, monsters), but haunting due to how real, how honest they are. Conor, despite himself, is afraid to admit the truth the monster seeks.  He’s a young boy, living with his mother after his parents divorce. To him, his mother is everything he knows. A lot of weight has been placed on his shoulders.  To make matters worse, he told his one true friend about his mother’s illness, and the news quickly spread throughout his school. His teachers now coddle him, refusing to punish him. The class bullies now have yet another reason to pick on him. It’s not suprising that Conor feels the way he does. Admitting the truth is oftentimes difficult than living a lie.

Reluctantly, Conor follows the monster on this journey through stories. When it’s up to him to tell the story, to tell the truth, it provides him with a sense of relief, not dread. He had a punishment pictured in his mind, a punishment so severe it was difficult for Conor to accept. While honesty is sometimes more difficult than lies, the truth is certainly freeing. Through the monster, Conor learned that it is an individuals actions that truly portrays the integrity of that individual.

I cannot begin to describe how this book affected me, emotionally.  Perhaps it’s because I have a son Conor’s age. Nothing could prepare me for the emotions I felt as I read this book.  I can admit it; I sobbed. No, I take that back, I bawled. Not the quiet kind of crying, but the gasping for air, shuddering chest, sort of bawling.  At first, I cursed Ness for toying with my emotions this way. However now I commend Ness for this; the story he portrays is honest, not flinching. No light & fluffy stories, but pure, brutal, honesty.  While it did break my heart, it touched and warmed my soul as well.  And while it is heartbreaking, it is a book that should be read by all, a lesson that should be passed on to others. A truly powerful gift. Perhaps the most rewarding part of this book, a testimony to its greatness, is how each and every individual will get something completely different out of it.

One may ask why I decided to feature this as part of Frightful Friday? Well, the illustrations, first off, are pretty haunting:

Perhaps, even moreso, I chose to feature this book because it continues to haunt me, days upon days after reading it.

I implore you: GO OUT AND BUY THIS BOOK.  This is not a book you borrow, or check out of the library. It is one you must own, you must savor, and must never forget. HIGHLY Recommended.

Frightful Friday: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Walden Pond Press (September 27, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0062015052
• Source: Publisher

Hazel is having a difficult time adjusting to a new school, her parents’ divorce, and life in general. Her neighbor, Jack, is the only real friend she has. He understands her, sticks up for her when school bullies pick on her. Her mother would prefer that she have female friends but to Hazel, Jack is all she needs. Nothing can separate this duo.

Then one day a shard of glass falls into Jack’s eye. He becomes a completely different person: coldhearted, no interest in hanging out with Hazel.  He blows her off as if she means nothing to him. Hazel is the only one who seems to see this change in Jack; her mother dismisses the  change in Jack’s behavior, stating that things like this happen. Hazel is unwilling to accept this; nothing would tear their friendship apart.

When Jack disappears, Hazel knows something must be amiss.  His parents behave oddly, stating he’s gone off to stay with a relative Hazel’s never heard of. It isn’t until one of his friends confesses to Hazel something he’s seen that she begins to grasp what has happened. Jack was seen talking to a woman in white, made of ice and coldness.

Hazel has heard of this woman, the Ice Queen, but assumed the stories were all made-up.  So she begins a trek into the cold, cold woods, desperate to find and rescue her closest and dearest friend. Along the way she comes across several unique creatures and individuals.  When she finds Jack, she must remind him of the warmth that their friendship brings, to rescue him from the frigid grasp of the Ice Queen’s reign.

Inspired by Hans Christian Anderson’s Snow Queen, Breadcrumbs is a beautifully written modern fairy tale, with prose so lyrical it would be a sin not to read it aloud.  Here is but one sampling:

“For the snow was not snow anymore, but a woman–tall and lithe like a sketch, in a white fur cape and a white shimmering gown that looked so thin it would melt if you touched it.  Hair like spun crystal framed cream-colored skin.  The woman stepped closer, revealing eyes as bright as the sun reflecting off snow.  But they were cold things, and it was like looking for solace in frost.”

 

More than anything, Breadcrumbs is a story about two children, bonded together by the loneliness they share.  For Jack, his loneliness comes the state his mother is in, a shell of the woman she used to be. For Hazel, her loneliness comes from her parents’ divorce, from starting a new school, from being different than those around her.

This is a book that is ageless, it can be appreciated by adults as well as children. As stated above, I highly recommend reading it aloud.  Now that I’ve finished reading it myself that’s what I plan to do: read it aloud to my children. Highly recommended.

Review: Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

Tales of a (Formerly) Reluctant Reader is a feature in which my eleven-year-old son, John, reviews books as a formerly reluctant reader. He gives his opinion of the book, detailing why he thinks this book would be good for reluctant readers.

In this edition of Tales of A (Formerly) Reluctant Reader, John reviews several of his favorite books published by his favorite publisher, Capstone!

As a mother, I love Capstone for many reasons but mainly because they helped my son develop an appreciation for reading through some pretty impressive graphic novels and a line of books specifically geared toward reluctant readers. So without further ado, I’ll let John take the reins!

Hello everyone! I originally planned to do several posts about the books I’ve been reading lately, but when my mom noticed that many of them were Capstone books, she suggested I do one post with many little reviews instead. Ok, here it goes!

Can You Survive Antarctica?: An Interactive Survival Adventure by Rachel Hanel

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback:112 pages
• Publisher:Capstone Press (August 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1429673451
• Source: Netgalley

This is one of those “Choose Your Own Adventure” books I love! Obviously, it’s set in Antarctica. I chose the path of an explorer in 1911, on a team trying to reach the South Pole first! Unfortunately, the path I chose lead to eventual death, but I didn’t let that get me down! The book shared great tips for surviving extreme cold temperatures, how to deal with hypothermia, and more. It even mentioned several people who survived treks to Antarctica.  I think maybe my favorite part was the survival quiz.  Since I’m a Boy Scout I had the advantage! I learned about treating hypothermia months ago so I passed the quiz with flying colors!  This is a great book for kids looking for a little adventure and don’t mind learning something along the way! For example, did you know that Antarctica is considered a desert even though it is covered in ice!?

Can You Survive the Titanic?: An Interactive Survival Adventure by Allison Lassieur

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback:112 pages
• Publisher:Capstone Press (August 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1429673516
• Source: Netgalley

You guessed it! Another “Choose your own Adventure!” This one, surprise, surprise, takes place on the Titanic.  You are a passenger on the Titanic. It’s a pretty awesome ship, nearly 4 city blocks long. You notice, though, that there are only 16 life boats, not enough for the 2200 people on board.  You don’t freak out though because there are enough life vests for everyone. Plus, what are the odds you are going to need to use them?  But bad things do happen and the ship crashes into an iceberg.  At this point you get three options on which character you will play in the story. I, of course, chose the 12-year-old boy traveling with his father to New York.  I know this probably isn’t the best decision since the others include a surgeon’s assistant or the governess to a wealthy family, but it’s the closest to who I actually am.  It was quite perfect because it turns out this little boy (me!) is a Boy Scout! This time I have better luck and my father & I survive!

After the “adventure” the book explains why only 705 of the 2200 people survived. Most of them were third-class passengers.  This is the part of the boat that hit the iceberg, flooding first. Also, this part of the ship was separated from the rest. The rich believed third-class carried diseases so they were kept away.  But since they were separated, the third-class passengers couldn’t reach the life boats.

Another reason was that many people didn’t want to leave the ship to get on the life boats. I don’t think they understood how serious the situation was. When they did realize, it was too late and the life boats were gone.

The end of the book lists several of the real survivors of the Titanic, including the youngest passenger on the Titanic, a little girl who was only two months old!  She lived to be 97 years old and was the last living survivor of the Titanic sinking.

I didn’t do as well on this survival quiz because I haven’t quite learned what to do if a ship begins to sink, but you better believe I know now!

Like the Antarctica book, I liked this book because I got to take part in an adventure but also learned a lot!

Obama: The Historic Election of America’s 44th President: The Historic Election of America’s 44th President by Agnieszka Biskup

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback:32 pages
• Publisher:Capstone Press (August 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 1429673397
• Source: Netgalley

In the last election, voters came out in record numbers, over 130 million Americans voted.  The first African American man was sworn in as President of the United States

This is our time…to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth, that, out of many, we are one…and those who tell us we can’t…that while we breathe we hope.  We will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

 

The election of Barack Obama will always be an election I remember. Like President Obama, I come from a mixed family. His election gave me hope that even I could be president! This book was nice and short, only about 34 pages. It was a great summary of President Obama’s election, starting from the very beginning. I think it would make the perfect addition to a classroom, too. While there are some people who aren’t happy with the President right now (at least that’s what I get from the few minutes of news I watch at night) Barack Obama’s election was still a historical one. Nothing will ever change that, or my appreciation and admiration of this man.

Thank you again to John for stopping by with these reviews. Thank you to Capstone Publishers for producing such quality books!

Tales of a (Formerly) Reluctant Reader: The Capstone Edition! is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

Tales of a (Formerly) Reluctant Reader is a feature in which my eleven-year-old son, John, reviews books as a formerly reluctant reader. He gives his opinion of the book, detailing why he thinks this book would be good for reluctant readers.

In the third book in the Red Blazer Girls series, Catholic school girls Sophie, Margaret, Becca, and Leigh Ann are on an investigation of another mystery.

The book starts off with a swim practice.  Sophie is sharing a lane with her arch-nemesis, Livvy. When Livvvy “accidentally” hits Sophie in the nose, breaking it, Sophie can’t get over the idea she did it on purpose.  As if that isn’t bad enough, Sophie & the other girls are supposed to meet Nate Ethan, their movie star crush, actor in a vampire movie called No Reflections.

The meeting goes over well, Nate is so impressed by Sophie that he asks her to watch his dog, Tillie, while he travels. Sophie has always wanted a dog…plus how could she say no to Nate? Meanwhile, Father Julian has asked them to help authenticate a painting that has been in his family for years. Problem is, the painting in his possession might be a fake; it is up to the Red Blazer Girls to determine if it is real.

So, while trying to keep under control a dog that has a sudden change in behavior, a jealous not-really boyfriend, oh, and a broken nose, the girls must find a way to proof the painting is real. Oh, and let’s not forget the secret odd packages Sophie begins to receive. Who is sending these random packages and what do they represent?

John’s Review: Ok, I admit, when my mom asked me to read and review this book with her I wasn’t too thrilled about it.  Really? A book about a bunch of school girls who solve mysteries?  I wasn’t convinced…at first.  But then they started talking about baseball, and other things I found pretty interesting and I was won over! I started to forget that the characters were girls. Ok, not really forget but it wasn’t that big a deal.  Oh, and the vampire movie actor? That almost turned me off to this book, too.  However, in the end, I became very excited about the mystery the girls were investigating and decided the other things didn’t matter.  In my opinion, this book would be perfect for both boys & girls in 4-6th grade. I enjoyed it!  My mom got copies of the two previous books on CD and I can’t wait to listen to them! These girls get in a lot of messes, but seem to be able to find their way out of them!

Jenn’s Review: Yes, I too was skeptical when I asked John to review this book with me.  As a child, I grew up reading Nancy Drew and other female-led mystery books.  I can confess to wanting to relive my childhood, right? In any case, I was really impressed with this book & it’s ability to keep John’s attention, despite the female characters.  He really enjoyed the main character, Sophie, a no-nonsense girl.

The pacing was spot-on, the storyline kept John’s attention throughout.  We had some great discussions about art, baseball history, etc. I’m happy he wants to continue the series becaus I do as well!

While this is the third book in the series, in our opinion it is possible to pick up the series with this book, without reading the prior two.  The author gives substantial character history and back story so the reader becomes familiar with the characters right away.

If you are looking for a middle-grade book with strong female lead characters, this is the book for you! Highly recommended.

Check back tomorrow for a guest post (and giveaway) by the author, Michael Beil!

Tales of a (Formerly) Reluctant Reader: The Mistaken Masterpiece by Michael D. Beil is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

Hi everyone! John here!  I know it’s been a while (Mom says months!) since I’ve posted anything.  The thing is, I’ve been enjoying so many books lately that I don’t have the time to review them.  Plus, now that I’m in the 5th grade, just months away from middle-school, I’m really working hard on my school work.

Instead of writing a bunch of reviews, I decided to list a few of the books I’ve been reading over the last few months & explain why I enjoyed them. So…here we go:

Fablehaven by Brandon Mull-My mom brought this book home after one of her many trips to One More Page books.  I didn’t think I would like it at first but boy was I wrong!  Two kids go off to stay with their grandparents. They soon learn that Fablehaven is really a sort of “reserve” for mythical creatures who are all at risk for extinction. How cool is that!? I’m still reading this one so I don’t know how it ends yet but I’m really liking it so far! Plus, mom tells me it’s a series and I LOVE SERIES!

Emerald Atlas by John Stephens-ALL the kids at school were talking about this one.  There’s this girl in my class who reads super fast and read this one in one day.  She said it’s pretty awesome and sort of reminds her of Harry Potter.  So, when Mom said she was going to the bookstore I asked her to pick up a copy for me (Mom edit: Actually, he said “Don’t come home without that book!”).  Mom also heard great things about this book from my Ma-Ma so she couldn’t say no. Plus, really…who can say no to me?  Anyway, I started reading this on Saturday and all the good things I heard about it are true.  This book is EPIC! This might very well be my favorite book of the year!  Plus, it’s the first of a series. So.Awesome.

The Ranger’s Apprentice Book 1: The Ruins of Gorlan-I think this was another book that Mom brought home for me from the bookstore. Will is a 15 year old kid who gets assigned to a Ranger for training.  Will wanted to be a knight, so he’s not very happy about this.  But what he learns is Rangers are pretty cool, using all kinds of stealth to protect the kingdom.  Yes, this is the first book in another series. The awesome thing is that this series is  really long so I don’t have to worry about waiting for the newest book!

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz-This is the first book in the most awesome Alex Rider series. I actually discovered the graphic novel version of this book first and once I read that I had to read the original one.  Alex Rider’s uncle, Ian, gets killed.  Alex thought he worked at a bank but that wasn’t true; he was actually a spy for the British government! Now the government wants Alex to take over his uncle’s job. This entire series is so exciting; I’m on the 5th book now and love it.  It’s full of action and excitement, plus the gadgets Alex gets to use are pretty cool!

This Book Made Me Do It: Cool things to make, do and explore by DK Publishing-Ok I actually picked out this book myself!  I really liked The Dangerous Book for Boys so when I saw this one I had to have it.  It tells you how to do all sorts of things, like how to make hot chocolate from scratch, how to do oragami, how to become a sports pro, and more.  I like all the books this publisher makes; they are full of great pictures and details.  This is one of those books I will hold on to for a while!

Ok, I think that’s it for now.  I’ll try not to go so long without posting something.  With summer just around the corner I will hopefully have more time to read!

Tales of a (Formerly) Reluctant Reader: What I’ve Been Reading Lately is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Collins Design (October 19, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0061997811
• Source: Publisher

Looking for the perfect book for a Harry Potter fan? Harry Potter Film Wizardry is without a doubt the perfect gift! Get a glimpse inside the world of Harry Potter, one never seen before!

The book opens up with statements by Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, detailing what it was like to grow up on a movie set.  See a timeline of Daniel Radcliff throughout the movie series.  One of the best parts of the book? Removable facsimile reproductions of items from the movie, including Harry’s acceptance letter to Hogwarts, a Quidditch World Cup program and a program for the Yule Ball.

You’ll spend hours paging through the glossy photos.  This book is truly a work of art!  I’ve “read” the book four times now and each time I’ve discovered something new and unique.

I honestly can’t put into words how amazing this book is!  I quite literally turn into a kid again when I open the cover.  Check out this book trailer and see for yourself!

Pretty awesome, right? I planned on giving my copy of this book to my sister as a Christmas gift, but now I can’t bear to part with it!

The author, Brian Sibley, is known for his “behind the scene books” including The Lord of the Rings: The Making of the Movie Trilogy and The Land of Narnia.

Guaranteed to be the perfect gift for any Harry Potter fan!  Want to receive brownie points from your kids or nieces/nephews?  Pick up a copy! You won’t regret it!

Review: Harry Potter-Film Wizardry by Brian Sibley is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

You and your family are on a camping trip, one that is meant to be relaxing and fun.  However, when you & your sister get caught out in a thunderstorm, the situation shifts dramatically. You are forced to rely on skills for surviving the outdoors you learned about in a book your father gave you.  Every little decision you make can cause a completely different outcome.  Will you be able to survive!?

My son John & I read this book together.  I was always a fan of “Choose Your Own” adventures as a child. When I was pitched this book by Winsome Media, I thought it would be the perfect book for John.  He’s a cub scout and loves adventures. 

The first time we read the book, it didn’t have the best outcome.  However, we learned from our decisions and made better ones.  I think this is an important lesson for children, to realize how important the outcomes of your decisions can be.   Finally, we were able to get out of the dangerous woods & back safely to our family!

Lost in the Wild is an incredibly exciting, as well as educational, book to read!  While both John & I thought we were well-versed in survival skills, we learned soon we could have used a bit more knowledge.  The author does a great job of providing helpful hints along the way to help you make your decision.  He weighs all the options for you, usually making it pretty easy to make your decision.  That said, John has never been good about making a decision and sometimes it took up to ten minutes of debating to chose our next move!

The book also provides some simple, yet incredibly important camping safety tips, outdoor survival skills, and references at the back of the book.

A bit of warning: all of the outcomes are realistic, but can be quite devastating.  Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend this for anyone under the age of 10.  John is 11, and we had to have a long talk about one of the outcomes we had. As with reading any book, it’s a good idea to have a discussion about it afterward.

John & I highly recommend this book to all fans of adventure!  While the main character is a boy, I think girls would enjoy this as well.

Come back tomorrow for a guest post by the author, Ryan Jacobson.

Review: Lost in the Wild, a Choose Your Path Book by Ryan Jacobson is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

Ook & Gluk are two cavemen who live in a town called Caveland, OH. It is the year 500,0001 BC.  They are normal boys who get in trouble, especially with Big Chief Goppernopper.  One day, an evil corporation lead by J.P. Goppernopper (the Chief’s relative from the future) is discovered trying to steal Caveland’s important resources.  J.P. Goppernopper comes from the year 2222.  All of the natural resources including trees, oil & water are either used up or polluted. Goppernopper Enterprises is going back to the past to steal all the trees & water & oil from the cavemen. The two Goppernopper’s join forces, turning the citizens of Caveland into slaves for their evil mission.

Ook & Gluk are transported into the future through a portal and race to escape from the two Goppernoppers. Master Wong, owner of a Kung-Fu school, lets the two cave boys hide in his school. He agrees to train them to help them defeat the evil Goppernoppers.  He won’t give the boys their black belts, though, until they can tell him who the greatest man is.  It takes the boys seven years to pass this test and finally they are able to battle the evil Goppernopper Enterprises & save their cave town.

But when they return to Caveland, it no longer looks like it did before.  The people are still slaves and all of the beautiful trees are gone. Eventually Ook & Gluk remember what Master Wong taught them and Caveland is returned to normal.

John’s Review: I liked this book because it has a lot of great action, it’s very funny & because of the kung fu!  I’m a black belt so this really interests me!  I also liked it because it talked about how important our natural resources are and how we should protect & preserve them. The drawings were great & pretty hilarious!

Jenn’s (Mom’s) review: I, too, liked the lesson learned about preserving one’s natural resources and the book overall.  However, one think that I didn’t particularly enjoy were the intentional misspellings in the book. Granted, the book is about two cave boys who speak what the book calls “Cavemonics.” However, I think this could have been relayed without the misspellings, like “surfice” instead of “surface” and “dedicashen” instead of “dedication.”

I think misspellings like this are detrimental to young readers. John, in particular, has difficulty with spelling.  When he started reading this book, he was thrown off a bit by the errors in spelling.  We had a long talk about why the words were spelled incorrectly and that he should still picture the word correctly spelled in his head.   We even made an activity of it; going through the book and correcting all the misspellings.

That said, John did enjoy the book and it got him excited about reading.  He read this book in no time because the story was interesting to him. Therefore, I would recommend this book, but would highly encourage parents to discuss the grammar & misspellings with their child at some point in the reading of the book.

Thanks to Scholastic, I have a pretty phenomenal giveaway package!

Give the gift of reading to your child this holiday season! Scholastic books make the perfect stocking stuffer for any child on your list.  I have a HUGE prize pack filled with the most popular children’s books in the marketplace to offer one lucky reader! Titles include CAPTAIN SKY BLUE, IT’S CHRISTMAS DAVID, OOK and GLUK as well as TONY BALONEY, ODIOUS OGRE and I SPY CHRISTMAS A CHRISTMAS TREE!

Pretty exciting, right? To enter, please fill out the form below.  Open to US mailing addresses only. Winner will announced on Friday, November 26th.  Good luck to all who enter!

Tales of a (Formerly) Reluctant Reader: The Adventures of Ook and Gluk by Dav Pilkey is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Hardcover: 368 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1st edition (September 7, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0061961086
• Source: Publisher

Aldwyn is a rough & tough alley cat on the run from a bounty hunter.  He’s able to sneak into a shop and avoids capture.  Aldwyn finds himself surrounded by animals of all shapes, sizes, & colors.  They aren’t your standard pet store animals, however.  They are familiars-animal companions of witches & wizards-and within moments Aldwyn is mistaken for one and adopted by a young boy

When he arrives at his new home, Aldwyn is introduced to the other familiars in the home: Skylar, a blue jay, a bit arrogant about her abilities and Gilbert, a red-eye tree frog who spends most of his time obsessing about when he’s going to eat next.  Fearful for blowing his cover, Aldwyn tells the others that he has telekinetic & mind-reading powers.

Just as he starts to get settled into his new home, Aldwyn’s “loyal” Jack, his sister, and another student are kidnapped. Aldwyn, Skylar, & Gilbert are the only ones who can save them. Throughout the journey, Aldwyn learns a great deal about the others, and himself. It turns out he might be a little more than the “average” alley cat!

I read THE FAMILIARS aloud to both of my boys.  Despite their six-year age difference, both boys thoroughly enjoyed this book. We’re a house full of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, etc. so it wasn’t a surprise.  We all fell in love with the familiars (it doesn’t hurt that our cat, Sylvester, is the spitting image of Aldwyn).  They enjoyed the fast-paced excitement; there really is never a dull moment in this book. The art by Peter Chan & Kei Acedera really enhanced the reading experience as well.  My youngest is 5, so sometimes it takes a few pictures to keep him engaged. Here are just a few samples of the art:

Considering this is a book written jointly by two authors, I assumed the writing would be disjointed or unorganized.  Far from it!  It’s seamless, impossible to tell the difference in the writers’ voices.  I’m excited to see that Adam & Andrew plan to continue this series and a move is in the works as well.  Highly recommended!

Don’t forget to check out yesterday’s post about the Familiars Halloween Scavenger Hunt!

Review: The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.