• 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.

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover:32 pages
• Publisher:HarperCollins (July 26, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 0061767980
• Source: Publisher

Last year, my boys & I reviewed Pamela Jane’s A Vampire is Coming to Dinner.  Here’s a synopsis from Publisher’s Weekly: Read along as the narrator of this story comes up with some practical rules for dealing with a vampire. But rules are meant to be broken, aren’t they? From feeding the vampire garlic to filling the house with mirrors, the narrator is doing just that! With ten full-page gatefolds and a pop at the end of the book, kids will love seeing which rules are being followed and which aren’t! If you’re expecting a vampire (invited or not) this is your chance to get ready for a night of pranks and surprises. It is best to be prepared. “…a ghoulishly good time.”

When I learned she recently released another Halloween picture book, I couldn’t resist!

Little Goblins Ten is an adorable take on the popular Over in the Meadow story:

Over in the forest
Where the trees hide the sun
Lived a big mommy monster
And her little monster one

The story continues with visits to other monster families including ghosts:
 

Mummies:

Werewolves:

And more!  At the end, all of the creatures come together for a wonderful Halloween treat:

The rhyming text and rich illustrations (by Jane Manning) really add to the overall experience of reading this picture book. My youngest son is six; this has become his favorite Halloween book this year. We’ve read it at least a dozen times.  He’s so familiar with the text he can read it on his own.  After we read this one, I introduced him to the original “Over in the Meadow.” His response: “Mom! That’s a book for spring. This is fall…it’s all about Halloween!”  That’s my boy!

 Little Goblins Ten is destined to be a favorite of many this Halloween! I highly recommend that libraries add it to their permanent collection! While there is clearly a Halloween theme, I believe this is a book that can be appreciated year-round! Highly recommended!

Thanks to TLC Book Tours for providing me the opportunity to participate in this tour! Be sure to check out the official tour page for all of the tour stops.

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of Little Goblins Ten to give away to one lucky reader! To enter, please fill out the form below. The winner will be contacted by email on Friday, October 21st.  Good luck to all who enter!

Mx3 Review: Little Goblins Ten by Pamela Jane 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.

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!

Since my twelve-year-old son John & I are doing a joint review of this book, this is a very special Frightful Friday!  As many of you know, John has his own feature on my blog, Tales of A (Formerly) Reluctant Reader! So today you are getting two memes for the price of one! This week’s featured book is Guys Read: Thriller!

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback:288 pages
• Publisher:Walden Pond Press (September 20, 2011)
• Source: Publisher

In the second installment of John Scieszka’s Guy’s Read Library, a host of writers delight readers with a series of pulse-pounding stories.  John & I fought over shared a copy of this book & today we’re going to share with your our favorites & why!

The Double Eagle Has Landed by Anthony Horowitz

John: I liked this one because it was pretty silly. This kid, Nick, decides he doesn’t want to go off to Australia with his parents so he sneaks off the plane & ends up staying with his big brother who claims to be a private detective, Ted Diamond. What’s funny is that Ted Diamond is a complete idiot! He’s so clueless I doubt he’ll ever solve a case!  They get called in to investigate a case only to learn they’ve been tricked. I liked it not because it was particularly thrilling or anything, but pretty hilarious! Also, when I saw this story was written by Anthony Horowitz, author of the Alex Rider series, I knew I had to read it!

Jenn: A fan of Horowitz’s writing myself, I knew going in we’d love this short story. It’s witty; it’s funny. Perfect level of engagement for a young male reader. Horowitz is clearly a kid at heart; he “gets” his readers & never fails to capture their attention.

Thad, the Ghost, and Me by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Two boys think they are going to a haunted house hosted by the local 4-H club. Turns out they had the address wrong; they are at a real haunted house, with the spirit of a young boy trying to save his family home and put it in hands of the rightful owner.

John: Ok. I’ll admit it. I don’t like ghosts. Or anything spooky. Not at all. My mother, the queen of Halloween, tries to get me to read scary stories this year and usually I turn her down. For some reason, I liked this one. It wasn’t too spooky, the ghost seemed like he was a pretty normal kid, other than the fact he was dead. I’ve never read any of Haddix’s books before but think I’ll give them a try now!

Jenn:  I’ve been trying to get John to read some of Haddix’s writing for some time now; I’ve read a few myself and I’m impressed how she turns a piece of fiction into a learning experience, providing historical detail, etc. This short story, this tiny taste of her writing, opened his eyes to something he’d never been willing to experience.  I’m hoping he really will go on to read more of her writing; I find it to be particularly fascinating.

Nate Macavoy, Monster Hunter  by Bruce Hale

Nate’s friend Jeremy goes missing. Nate’s not concerned that Jeremy has been kidnapped or anything like that. He knows, without a doubt, that something happened to Jeremy while hunting for a cryptid (creatures like Big Foot, Loch Ness monster) or something similar.  So Nate does a bit of investigating and learned of a type of cryptid native to their state: Pukwudgies.

Pukwudgies are troll-like creatures that can appear & disappear, turn themselves into whatever shape they like. It becomes Nate’s mission to track down the Pukwudgies & save his best friend, no matter what the consequences.

John: Ok, this was another one I wasn’t too sure about at first. As I said already, I’m not a fan of anything spooky. Luckily this one was just a tiny bit scary. I’m not familiar with this author’s other books but I hope to check out more of his stuff!

Jenn: How can one not like a story about two monster-hunting little boys? It’s suspenseful, leaves you hanging at the end. What more can you ask for!?

And our favorite!!

Ghost Vision Glasses by Patrick Carman

Kyle is a typical ten-year old little boy. He’s fond of weird stuff, collects things like magic tricks, fart putty, etc.  He’s taunted by the meanest kid in the neighborhood, Scotty Vincent. For some reason Kyle’s parents think they are friends, inviting Scotty & his parents to trips to their family cabin.

It is on one such trip that Kyle discovers an old set of comic books in a dusty old box. If that wasn’t cool enough, inside the comic books are offers for some pretty weird stuff, like a handshake shocker, Vulcan ears, crime detection lab, and…the ultimate….Ghost Vision Glasses. Since the comics were from the 1970s the prices for all these items were ridiculously cheap; Kyle ordered a whole list of items for just under $30.

Most of the orders he mails in are returned as undeliverable, except the order for the Ghost Vision glasses. Eventually, he receives an envelope telling him where to pick up the glasses.  They just happen to be hidden in his family’s cabin.

When he finds them they are more than he could have ever imagined. Put them on and you can see and talk to ghosts. Take them off…nada. When he puts them on for the first time, he is greeted by a particularly friendly ghost. He’s warned to only wear the glasses in the cabin. One look outside & he sees why: dozens of not-so-nice ghosts are roaming around.  As long as Kyle is willing to follow the rules, the ghost is willing to hang out in the attic with him, answering all his questions.  But then Scotty Vincent gets his hands on the glasses and does the worst thing possible: puts them on outside. He sees ghosts everywhere and begins to go crazy. Jumping in the lake is the only way to rid himself of the ghostly visions, and unfortunately the glasses themselves.

John: I know, I know. This sounds like another spooky story. It’s really not though.  Why did I like it? Because the bully gets what he deserves at the end! And hello!? Patrick Carman! I HAVE to read everything this guy writes!

Jenn: I have to admit; I did a little cheer when mean Scotty Vincent got what was due to him!  Patrick Carman is an author John has always loved, always been willing to take risks for!

Bottom line, Guys Read: Thriller is a book perfect for reluctant readers! Written by authors recognizable by young readers, they get a small tidbit of the author’s style and writing. Hopefully, as it did in John’s case, they will be inspired to read more by that author.  Highly, highly recommended. John & I can’t wait to read the next installment of Guys Read!

Frightful Friday-Guys Read: Thriller, Edited by John Scieszka is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

• Reading level: Ages 4-8
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (April 1, 2011)
• ISBN-10: 9781561455638
• Source: Publisher

In Planting the Wild Garden, young readers learn how humans, plants, & animals all help great the lavish wild garden known as the planet Earth.    Starting with a gardener and a boy, readers follow the path of plants from seed to full grown plant through vivid, colorful illustrations (by Wendy Anderson Halperin) and light, lyrical prose.  Young children learn the many ways seeds are spread and plants grow.

My five year old son loved to read this book aloud with me.  The text was easy enough that he could read most of it himself, requiring minimal assistance.

As with A Place for Fish, which I reviewed earlier this week, Planting the Wild Garden is the perfect book to add to your Earth Day reading list. Highly recommended!

Thank you once again to Peachtree Publishers for providing me the opportunity to participate in this tour!

Review: Planting the Wild Garden by Kathryn O. Galbraith is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

Fish make our world a better place.

But sometimes people do things that make it hard for them to live and grow.

In A Place for Fish, Melissa Stewart explains to young children how certain acts of humans can affect the fish population.  For example, scientists discovered the migrating paths of hammerhead sharks.  They notified fishing crews to avoid this paths during the sharks’ migration time and now the sharks have a better chance of surviving.

If farmers find new ways, other than dangerous chemicals, to improve crops, fish can thrive.  In the Chesapeake Bay,  chemicals the farmers used to increase their crops seeped into the bay, causing algae growth to increase, taking away valuable oxygen from the seahorses & fish that lived there.   In 2003, the farmers started reducing the amounts of fertilizer used.  It’s still too early to see how this has affected the creatures living in the bay, but scientists are hopeful.

 A Place for Fish is the perfect book to read during Earth Day celebrations. Not only does it introduce children to fish life around the country, it shows the impact that humans have on their survival. As with her Stewart’s previous books, the colorful & detailed illustrations (by Higgins Bond) really add to the book.

The book concludes with some fascinating fish facts, a few of which my eleven-year-old science genius was unaware of.  Here are a few:

• Most brands of lipstick contain ground-up fish scales (ew!)
• Most young fish are caled fingerlings, but young shark and sawfish are called pups.
• The smallest fish on Earth is the stout infantfish.  It is so small it could sit on top of a pencil eraser.  The largest fish is the great whale shark, larger than a school bus.

A Place for Fish is the perfect addition to your home, school & public library!  My boys & I enjoyed this book so much we plan on donating a copy to their school library.

Thank you to Peachtree Publishers for providing me a copy of this book.  To celebrate Earth Day, Peachtree has organized a two week tour entitled “Fins, Wings and Other Things!”  Following are the stops on this week’s portion of the tour:

Thanks to the publisher, I have one copy of the book to give away! To enter, please fill out the form below.  As this is a publisher-sponsored giveaway, entries are only open to US residents.  The winner will be announced on Earth Day, Friday, April 22nd.  Good luck to all who enter!

Review & Giveaway: A Place for Fish by Melissa Stewart is a post from: Jenn's Bookshelves. Reproduction of this content is forbidden unless approved through prior written consent.

As a student of Psychology, I’m familiar with the use of inkblots to study an individual’s personality characteristics and emotional functioning using the Rorschach test.  But did you know that inblots are also a form of artwork?

In Inkblot, Peot details how to turn your average inblot into a piece of art.  The size of the inblot, the media used, all determine the final product.  She details how, by using plant life or a few strokes of a pencil how to transform your inblot into an animal, a landscape, etc.

My boys (11 & 5) were extremely excited to review this book.  Art projects are really big in our house and the boys won’t pass up a chance to play with ink!  Just a warning: this project calls for india ink.  Be sure to lay down plastic (or in our case newspaper!) because you will, without a doubt, have a small mess on your hands.

Following are our creations:

This is my favorite of the bunch.  I asked my boys to interpret what they saw (again, the psychology student in me) and my oldest stated that the bottom of the blue portion is a steamboat, the top part is steam, and the grey/silver are clouds in the sky.

My youngest referred to this one as a “scary monster.” The blood red ink probably didn’t help.  I can sort envision a butterfly or moth (I know, quite generic).

This was a favorite of my youngest.  He said it looks like a koala or panda bear.

Bottom line, I highly recommend this book really children (and adults!) of all ages.  If you are more creative than we are, you can really transform your inkblot into an impressive piece of artwork!

To watch a short video on how to create your own inblot, please visit the Inkblot youtube page. To learn more about the book and author, visit the author’s web page.

Check back later today to enter to win a copy of Inkblot!

Review: Inkblot by Margaret Peot 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 geared toward reluctant readers. 

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap (August 12, 2010)
• ISBN-10: 0448453592
• Source: Publisher

Cody Mack is used to getting into trouble.  The principal’s office is his second home. This time it’s different, however.  Sitting outside the principles office while his parents are inside, Cody realizes this visit isn’t like the others.  First, this meeting is lasting much longer than most.  Second, he’s overhearing words like “remedial neuro-therapies.”

When he is finally called into the office, he notices a tall strange man in the room.  The man, Dr. Farley, runs a special school for naughty kids.  His parents quite readily sign the forms & Cody leaves with Dr. Farley that afternoon.  When he arrives, he realizes that the Splurch Academy for Disruptive Boys isn’t your typical boarding school.  It’s hidden away in a dark & dangerous forest.  The teachers are all monsters: vampires, werewolves, and mummies.

His first day at Splurch Academy, Cody is thrown into the the dungeon, surrounded by rats.  He soon learns of Dr. Farley’s evil plan: to swap the brains of these rats with the boys at Splurch Academy using a horrendous device called the “Rebellio-rodent Recipronator!” The “rat-boys” are then controlled using a remote control device worn by Dr. Farley.  Parents will see their “behaved” boys & Dr. Farley will be famous!  Unfortunately, Farley has met his match with Cody!

John’s review:

Don’t even think about misbehaving at school ever again or your principal might send you away to the Splurch Academy!  You’ll wear prison outfits, eat disgusting food and you won’t have TV or video games!

I’m not a disruptive boy, but this book made me want to behave better so I don’t have to even worry about a punishment like this.  I think Cody deserved his punishment, but I was happy to see that he wouldn’t let Dr. Farley take control of his brain!

One of my favorite things about this book was that it is a combination chapter book/comic book.  The comics break up the chapters, making them seem shorter.  The graphics were both funny & scary at the same time.  I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the third book, which my mom says comes out next month.  Kids who like to read about monsters, but not get too scared, would really love this book.

Jenn’s review:

I truly enjoyed reading this series with John!  As he mentioned, the breaking up of chapters by comic panels really add to the story.  In addition, they helped keep John’s attention; not once did he ask to stop reading or complain. In addition, the chapters are quite short, just 2-3 pages long.  This helped with the pacing of the book; the short chapters kept things exciting.

This series is the perfect one for reluctant readers, specifically boys. John & I are quite hooked on this series;we read both books in one weekend!  We’re both counting down to the release to the third book in the series, The Colossal Fossil Freakout!

Tales of a (Formerly) Reluctant Reader: Splurch Academy for Disruptive Boys: The Rat Brain Fiasco by Julie Gardner Berry 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.