Sunday 31 July 2011

Guest Blog Post by Curtis Jobling & Competition (EVENT NOW CLOSED) to win a set of Wereworld books! (UK only ends 13th August)



As part of my review of Wereworld: Rage of the Lions I'm proud to present not only some questions answered by Curtis, but also a competition for one winner to win both books! Before I start I would like to thank Curtis for including me and all the other bloggers who helped out with promoting his debut novel Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf. It was a wonderful surprise to see the mention, and it continues to be a pleasure helping promote his books. Right, on with the Q & A! My questions are in bold and Curtis's replies are in italics

1) Who was your favourite character to write about in Rage of Lions and why? 

Can I go with the cop-out answer and say all of them?  To be quite honest, I’ve especially enjoyed writing Hector’s storyline. Each of the characters heads in very different directions in Rage of Lions compared to the more linear tale of Rise of the Wolf. Hector and Drew, the greatest of friends, are separated from one another early on and have to deal with all that they encounter without their ‘moral compass’ at their side.

2) Is there any scene which didn't make the final book which you enjoyed writing? 


There’s a VERY big reveal scene that I wrote for the end of the novel, which would have had a massive impact in the storyline for Book Three, Shadow of the Hawk. Instead, I’ve banked that, put it to one side, and that’ll be making an appearance in Book Four, which I’m about to start writing.

3)  Whitley goes through a fair amount in this book - what was the inspiration for her, and will she play a main role in the next book?

I was very aware that, although my target audience might be perceived as being male teens, there are a lot of girls reading – and loving – their fantasy and horror. I was determined with the second book to give a female character more to do, and hopefully avoid her being a simpering stereotype. Both Whitley and Gretchen get to kick a little ass in this book, which is great fun to write. As for her role in Book Three, that’s spoiler territory, my lips are sealed

4) Are you able to give any hints about the next book?

Well, if you’ve read Rage of Lions you’ll already know that there was quite a cataclysmic ending for our heroes. Inevitably we’ll be concentrating on Drew’s story principally, with Hector coming a close second, as they encounter fantastic new therianthropes in the most unlikely places. With each novel in the series the stakes have to be dramatically heightened, but I also want some big pay-offs and revelations for the fans. Hopefully Rage and Shadow both have that! 

5) What's your favourite snack and drink while writing?

It’s got to be a nice tall mug of tea and chocolate biscuits. The tea has to be Yorkshire Tea (which grieves me as a Lancastrian) and the biscuits can be Jaffa Cakes, chocolate covered Hobnobs and the like. Ooh, I didn’t even mention the naughtiest writerly nibbles of all, the dreaded Chocolate Orange and the terrible Toblerone!

Mmm chocolate orange! Few can resist its allure. I'm afraid I haven't got a chocolate orange as a prize (even if I did it wouldn't actually make it to the post office), but I do have a set of Curtis's two books for a prize! 




This event is now closed.

The prize: One winner will receive a copy of Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf and Wereworld: Rage of the Lions from Penguin. 

Thank you to both Penguin for providing the prize, and to Curtis for answering the questions. 

Wereworld: Rage of the Lions by Curtis Jobling (11 years +)


July 2011, Puffin 
pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Children's, 11 years + 

War, intrigue, treachery, adventure, lots of peril and danger, bravery, growing friendships, tough decisions, humour, violence, a tissue or two needed, 

Summary from Puffin
YOUNG WEREWOLF DREW FERRAN IS THE FUTURE KING OF WESTLAND.
He has the makings of a great warrior - but first he must master the blade and the beast.
When Lady Gretchen is abducted by the Werelion Prince Lucas, Drew and his friends embark on a perilous chase to stop the prince fleeing to his homeland of Bast. As Drew encounters terrifying new Werelords along the way, he is led to the exotic city of Cape Gala, where the forces of Onyx, the Beast of Bast, await.
Now Drew must summon all of his courage and strength - because the Catlords are ready to attack 


Nayuleska's reasons for loving Whitley....I know she isn't the main character, but she's my favourite. She's adventurous, determined to have as much action as she can. Even when injured she's quick thinking and always looks to escape and help her friends. She provides a lot of support for Drew, who is rebelling against the role people want to put him in, as well as fighting against all the security measures placed around him. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Let me put it this way, I thought Drew's enemies were brutal in book one. That was almost nothing compared to what happens here! I'm dreading what's in store for Drew in book three. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? It felt like something new was happening on virtually every page. It was a joy to read with so many exciting events happening. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Whitley was in a seriously bad state, she decides to creep around, looking for a way out while the enemy is snoring away on the floor, never far from where she treads. She never gives up, and is stronger than some of the soldiers in the army. 

This series is a highly enjoyable one, and I give this book 10/10 

Be sure to check out more on the Wereworld website.

Suggested read
Be sure to read book one, Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf

Saturday 30 July 2011

Fetlocks Hall 4: The Enchanted Pony by Babbette Cole (7 years +)

                                                                 (Funky purple cover!)

June 2011, Bloomsbury
144 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Children's, 7 years + 

life at boarding school, pony mad children, school mad centaureen, making new friendships, ghostly fun, lots of humour, tissues are definitely needed

Summary from Bloomsbury
Penny Simms and her best friend Pip are both pony mad. Luckily they attend the equestrian boarding school Fetlocks Hall, but there is a mystery surrounding the disappearance of Pip’s parents, and Penny and Pip are determined to solve it.

With the help of Princess Sophie, a Centaureen, Penny and Pip encounter a magical world of mythical horses, where they struggle to release Pip’s parents from an enchanted spell and reunite the family

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Penny....she goes to great lengths to help the Centaureen learn to read - although she surprises Penny with her skill. In turn the Centaureen helps Penny overcome a few problems. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? The Centaureen is really funny, I wished so hard that she could fit in at Fetlocks, but she does eventually fit in at home with her family, thanks to Penny. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? I liked how once again the problem in the story was magical in nature, but centred around Pip's parents (who are mortal). The creatures at the heart of the kidnapping are sneaky in how they trap people and I was scared for Penny even with all her abilities as the Unicorn Princess. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? There are shedloads of surprises in this book - I looked stunned for most of it. I laughed a lot, and the end made me well up with tears. 

My favourite part was...when the Centaureen was true to herself, and used skills which were incredibly awesome. Also the end, because several characters had a happy resolution to their problems. I like crying happy tears over a book. 

This series keeps on getting better - book 4 gets 10/10 from me. 

You can find out more about Fetlocks Hall and Babbette on her website.

Suggested read
Check out the other books in the series (all reviewed here on NRC), which start with The Unicorn Princess


Friday 29 July 2011

Fetlocks Hall 3: The Curse of the Vampire Ponies by Babbette Cole (7 years +)


June 2011, Bloomsbury
128 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Children's, 7 years + 

life at boarding school, pony mad children, friendships, strange acquaintances, more ghoulish help, pony vampires, school inspection 

Summary from Bloomsbury

Penny Simms is pony mad and is more than a little upset when a flock of foul-smelling pony vampires are found at the equestrian boarding school that she attends. They have been sent by the wicked Devlipeds to disrupt an official health and safety inspection, which the school must pass or risk being closed down.

With the help of her intrepid friends, Penny does her best to rid the school of the unwelcome guests with hilarious and unexpected results.

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Penny...she's the only one who can save ponies from the pony vampire bites. She is also the only one to liaise between feuding ghosts/friends. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? You'd think that having a school inspection is bad enough, but the real enemy is the one who brought Fetlocks Hall to the inspectors' attention - they want it to be closed, so have highlighted parts of school life which aren't up to standard of 'normal' schools. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? I as read the book there were lots of cheers and boos as the story unfolded. Plenty to keep a reader interested, especially if they've read the previous books. They can be read out of order - I managed to read the books in the wrong order after book 1 by accident. Still made perfect sense. 

My favourite part was...when Penny had to overcome obstacles to help save her own pony, Patch. It was touch and go in a lot of places. 

This third book in the series gains 10/10 from me. 

Check out more about Fetlocks Hall on Babbette's website

Suggested read
Make sure you've read the previous books, which start with book one, The Unicorn Princess (book two is The Ghostly Blinkers


Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones (Children's, 5 years, 10/10E)


June 2011, Harper Collins Children's
142 pages, Hardback
Review copy 

Children's, 5 years + 

Life as an orphan, magic, cruel witch, strange beings, talking cat, solving problems, independent learning, making life easier, lots of humour, contains plenty of worms (including pictures so you may wish to cover them up like I did)

Summary from Harper Collins

Everyone knows that orphanages are horrible places. But Earwig has a surprising amount of power over everyone else at St Morwald’s Home for Children, and loves it there. So the last thing she wants is to be sent to live with the very strange Bella Yaga…

Earwig was left at St Morwald's as a baby. Unlike the other children, she loves it there, mostly because she has the run of the place and seems to be able to persuade people to do as she wants. Then one day Earwig is chosen to live with a very strange couple: Bella Yaga, her new 'mother', is actually a horrible witch. Earwig will need all her ingenuity (and some help from a talking cat) to survive… With terrific line drawings that perfectly complement Diana’s witty, magical story, this is sure to appeal to a new generation of fans.

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Earwig...she is extremely determined to live life the way she wants, she perseveres to change her situation, and takes everything in her stride. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? With a witch ready to punish Earwig and the talking cat with worms, I don't think you can get worse than that! 

Are there lots of plot twists and surprises? I couldn't really guess what would happen, so it was all a nice surprise. A lot of the time I laughed, although the worms made me queasy (I really don't like them or anything else that wiggles). 

One of my favourite parts was...when Earwig discovered the cat could talk - it was sweet because it meant she had a friend when she thought she was all alone. 

Diana Wynne Jones was an awesome writer, who died in March this year (2011). I haven't read many of her books - I first learnt about her when I saw the anime Howl's Moving Castle (which is very awesome). I've read the first Howl book by her, and it's really funny, the spirit of her writing is interpreted well in the film. There's a website for her here. It's quite incredible that she had written another book before she died - I think this would have made a brilliant series. 
          
Suggested reads
For hilarious witch antics check out Pongwiffy and the Holiday of Doom by Kaye Umansky


Thursday 28 July 2011

Fetlocks Hall 2: The Ghostly Blinkers by Babbette Cole (7 years +)


May 2010, Bloomsbury
126 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Children's, school series, 7 years + 

life at boarding school, friendships, very friendly ghosts, fundraising, a bit of magic, stubborn horse, lots of humour, 

Summary from Bloomsbury
Fetlocks Hall is in trouble! The school is desperately short of funds and, unless some money can be found, it may have to close! The Headmistress is not sure what to do. Penny is determined to help and draws on her magical powers in a nail-biting bid to solve the problem. Soon Penny and the ghosts, as well as many of the school’s ponies, are involved in an exciting race to the finish!

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Penny...even with her special talents as the Unicorn Princess, she still has to work hard to come up with solutions to problems. Being friends with the ghosts means she's able to explore all avenues to help her mortal friends. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? The threat of being closed down for any institution is a great motivator. Without Fetlocks Penny wouldn't have as much fun, and the would would be at risk from Devilpeds. Ponies with attitude are a force to be reckoned with. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? This book in particular took the story in directions I hadn't thought of. 

My favourite part was...when the truth of the ghostly blinkers is revealed - it is very funny. 

This second book in the series gets 10/10 from me. 

Be sure to check out Babbette's website for more information on Fetlocks Hall. 

Suggested read

Be sure you've read book one, The Unicorn Princess 


Arrow by R J Anderson (9 years +)


2011, Orchard Books 
pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Children's, 9 years + 

Fairies (the good, the evil, and the adventurous), friendships strengthened, lots of danger, adventure, peril (varying from mild to moderately extreme), some humour, tissues are needed, 

Summary from Orchard Books

Rhosmari trembled as the Empress walked over to her. 'Oh, do not struggle. There is nowhere for you to escape,' the Empress said, her voice silken and sweet. Then she unsheathed a small dagger from her waist. 'This will only hurt a little...'

Rhosmari has lived her whole life on a sheltered chain of faery islands. But with the Empress's power growing, and her desire to enslave the entire faery race becoming a reality, Rhosmari knows she must fight back...

Nayuleska's reason for loving Rhosmari....she might not get that name until the end, but she is one fierce fairy. She has to go against her family in order to do what she feels is right. She learns a lot on the way - and eventually has to use a skill which she would rather not use. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? Knife! Also known as Peri, she is naturally one of the main characters in this tale - no crow messes with her! A lot of fairies look up to her - Rhosmari does a little. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? I think the Empress is vile - she twists everything she does so it seems reasonable, and she appears nice and kind when really she is the total oppoiste. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? There was plenty of danger for Rhosmari to fight through, both physical and emotional. I really enjoyed watching plot threads from earlier books be explored further. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Rhosmari gets her name changed to Arrow. There's something special whenever the fairies in this series get their proper name, because it signifies all the hurdles and hardships they've faced and overcome. 

Be sure to check out R J Anderson's website

Suggested read
Make sure you've read the first book, Knife where this fun tale begins! There's one more book coming out next year - yay! 

Wednesday 27 July 2011

Three Little Mermaids by Mana Van Fleet (2 years +)


February 2011, Simon and Schuster
16 pages, Hardback
Review copy 

Children's, 

Textures, counting, parts that move, life under the sea, mermaids, super cute, 

Summary from Simon and Schuster.com (it had vanished from the UK site at the time of posting this) 
Have a tea party undersea and practice counting with Three Little Mermaids, this sparkling touch and feel and pull tab novelty book by bestselling creator Mara Van Fleet!

Nayuleska's reason for liking the mermaids...They are extremely cheerful girls, they enjoy interacting with their sea-swimming friends, and making counting fun. 

What style are the illustrations? Brightly coloured, could look like felt tips. Some parts are shiny, others are sparkly - there's something different on each page. 

Is the book interactive or are the illustrations engaging? The illustrations encourage counting with various sea creatures performing tricks with the mermaids close by. There are bits to pull, push, twist and touch (sticky parts!) Definitely a book that will provide enjoyment with each read. 

Are there any messages put forward to the reader? That counting can be fun! And there's a diverse range of life under the sea. 

One of my favourite parts was...when the girls first send the invitations because they look so happy about having guests. 

This colourful, enchanting book gets 10/10 from me. 

Suggested read
The first book which comes to mind is Abie Longstaff's cute and funny  The Fairytale Hairdresser: Or How Rapunzel Got her Prince!


Tuesday 26 July 2011

Fetlocks Hall #1: The Unicorn Princess by Babbette Cole


(This is such an inviting cover!) 
May 2010, Bloomsbury
160 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Children's, 

riding school series, magic, unicorns, friendly ghosts, boarding school, pony mad children, competition, friendships, adventure, mild peril, lots of humour, 

Summary from Bloomsbury
Penny Simms is pony-mad and is thrilled when she wins a scholarship to Fetlocks Hall, an equestrian boarding school. But Fetlocks Hall is no ordinary school – besides schoolwork and riding lessons, Penny has the opportunity to acquire secret knowledge about horses as well as find out about the magical unicorn world of Equitopia. Soon she is caught up in a desperate struggle to help the unicorns combat a terrible plot by the evil Devlipeds, who are plotting to overthrow them. Is Penny the Unicorn Princess whose arrival is predicted by the King of the Unicorns? Can she defeat the Devlipeds and save the unicorns and the pony world?

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Penny...she's a sweet, enthusiastic girl who always wants to help put things right. She takes the extraordinary parts of her new life in good stride, is very courageous and easily makes friends. 

Is there another character who deserves a mention? The ponies at the school! They are funny characters, especially when Penny understands what they are saying. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? People wanting to take over the world is never a good ambition. Penny has her work cut out, especially when potential Devilpeds helpers plot against her. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? A few parts were predictable, but the way of reaching the end goal was full of surprises, especially with the ghosts being around. 

One of my favourite parts was...chapter 3, The Rainbow of Stars. I adore the illustration and the scene of Penny going between the two unicorns. (All illustrations are by Babbette, and really suit the feel of the book). 

I give this fun first book in the series 10/10! 

Be sure to check out more about Fetlocks Hall and Babbette on her website

Suggested read
If you like school stories, try Skate School 1: Ice Princess by Kay Woodward - no magic, but  friends are made by Frankie and she encounters the competitive nature of ice skating. 

The Reckoning by Kate Cary (Young Adult)


February 2011, Egmont
320 pages, Paperback
Review copy

Young Adult, paranormal

Dracula, stalker mentality, lots of gore, lots of suspense, some violence, tissues will be needed, don't read this at night or on your own, not for the faint hearted,

Summary from Egmont

The original vampire romance: go back to where the bloodlust began!
Mary Seward thought she had escaped the darkness of Transylvania. But now, back in England, she has terrible nightmares, fears the darkness, and sees vampires everywhere. When a strange virus weakens her father, Mary suspects that there's a far more sinister force at work.
Then Mary's worst nightmare comes true: Quincey Harker, heir to Dracula's bloodline, appears in England. He declares his eternal love for her and claims he has renounced his evil heritage.
But is he telling the truth? Can his lust for blood be so easily forsaken?
The first temptation is never the strongest...

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Mary....to say she's brave is an understatement. Although I really didn't get her compassion towards Quincey - he's evil! She needs her head seeing to...but it is in keeping with her compassionate nature.

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Um, hello - evil vampire acting as a stalker = supremely evil. As are the hidden vampires - didn't see them coming at all! 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? Oh yes, I really didn't see most of the twists coming. There were lots of 'What????' and 'You're kidding!' from me. (Mary is such an idiot!!! She's mostly highly intelligent but I really wanted to bop her on the head and get her to see straight, especially at the end).

One of my favourite parts was...Mary's time with her father - their father-daughter bond was really strong. Equally fun was when Mary prepared her arsenal - she's very keyed up on protection from vampires. 

This second book was a fun read, and I wasn't as scared by it as the first. Some parts were rather gory and had me looking green, but I was more prepared for it, which helped lessen the blow. I happily give it 10/10, even with Mary not thinking straight some of the time. 

Suggested read
Definitely check out the chilling first book (which was so scary I nearly didn't finish it), Bloodline


Monday 25 July 2011

What are you reading? #76


What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've read this week
 
 
 
Wereworld: Rage of the Lions by Curtis Jobling
Children's 11 years +
Puffin
(I was hooked on Whitley's character, who so should defenitely have a book of her own!)
10/10








Arrow by R J Anderson
Children's, Fantasy 9 years +
Orchard Books
(Every fairy has attitude in this series, and Arrow is no exception. So glad there will be a fourth next year!  Review coming soon....)
10/10








 
Fetlocks Hall:
The Ghostly Blinkers - #2
The Enchanted Pony - #4
 by Babette Cole
Children's
Bloombsury
(More magical mayhem for this special pony school, where the ghosts interact with the Unicorn Princess Penny!  Oh, and I promise there is no grade fixing - these are all fab books!)
10/10





Earwig and the Witch by Diana Wynne Jones
Children's
Harper Collins
(This was the last book Diana wrote [she died March this year], so it's extra special. Not good if you don't like worms though! I had to cover up some of the pictures as I read them...) 9.9/10
(- 0.1 for the worms!)
 
 
 
 
 
 
So that's what I've been reading this week, how about you?
 

Traction Man Meets Turbodog by Mini Grey (5 years +)


June 2011, Red Fox
pages, Paperback plus audio CD
Review copy

Children's, Picture Book, 5 years + 

Lots of action, humour, new friends, mild peril, adventure

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Traction Man is back! And so is Scrubbing Brush, his brave pet. But one night Scrubbing Brush myseriously vanishes and in his place is the utterly hygenic Turbodog, in indestructible Purple Plastic with Flashing Eyes, Electronic Bark and three AA batteries. But it's not the same without Scrubbing Brush. Where can he be? 

Traction Man sets out on his greatest rescue mission yet. Can he find Scrubbing Brush? And is there room in his life for two pets?

Nayuleska's reason for loving Traction Man...he is such a curious character who is up for anything, and has a bizarre sidekick in the animate Scrubbing Brush! Every time I see Scrubbing Brush I smile.as it's an interest concept.

What style are the illustrations? Slightly comic book style, colourful and lots to look at.

Are the illustrations engaging/interactive? I havent listened to it but the CD is a great extra for readers to listen to.

Are there plent of plot twists/ surprises? I never knew what was happening next!

My favourite part was....when Traction Man goes camping with everyone taking all sorts of equipment with them.

I give this funny, creative book 9/10

Suggested read
There are more adventures to be had with these explorers in Traction Man and the Beach Odyssey (also by Mini Grey) 


Sunday 24 July 2011

Octonauts and the Whale Shark


2011, Simon and Schuster
pages, Paperback
Review copy

Children's, picture book

Facts about the ocean, lots of humour, team work, very mild peril,

Summary from Simon and Schuster

The Octonauts follows a team of adventure heroes who dive right into action whenever there is trouble under the sea. In a fleet of amazing aquatic vehicles, the Octonauts explore incredible new underwater worlds, rescue wonderful sea creatures, and often save the day before returning safely home to the Octopod. Under the leadership of Captain Barnacles Bear, closely flanked by Lieutenant Kwazii Cat and Medic Peso Penguin, the Octonauts are always ready to embark on an exciting new mission!



The Octonauts and the Whale Shark
The Octoalert is sounded when Dashi gets accidentally swallowed by a whale shark! It's up to Barnacles, Peso and Kwazii to venture inside the huge fish to rescue her. Octonauts, to your stations!


Nayuleska's reasons for loving the Octonauts...they are very cute explorers and rescuers, who never have a dull moment.

What style are the illustrations? Brightly coloured, matches exactly with the TV show animation style.

Are the illustrations engaging/interactive? I think they are very engaging especially if the reader has watched the TV show (which can be viewed online), because it's easier to imagine the story (even if the show hasn't been watched it's a fun read).

Is there a message for the reader to take away? Readers will learn a fair amount about basking sharks and the sea.

My favourite part was...when the Octonauts were summoned into action because it showed four of them relaxing, each doing a different activity. It's good to show that people do different activities in their free time.

Be sure to check out the Octonaut website.

I have watched part of a show which is even cuter than the book (which gets 10/10 from me) 

Suggested reads
For more sea based adventures try Shark in the Dark by Nick Sharratt

Saturday 23 July 2011

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison (Young Adult)



June 2011 Mira Ink, 
233 pages, Paperback
Review copy 

Young Adult

Life of a mean girl, growing up, being nice to people, realising everything has an impact on everyone, changing your life direction, some humour, repentance, forgiveness, teen romance, (can't quite remember if there was any language), you will need a tissue. 

Book blurb
They say that before you die your life flashes before your eyes. 
You think it's going to be about the good stuff - every kiss, every party

Don't count on it. 

I was Bridget Duke - the uncontested ruler of the school. If keeping the wannabes in their place meant being a mean girl, then so be it! 
I never thought there'd be a price to pay. 

Until the accident. 

Now, trapped between life and death, I'm seeing my world in a new light: through the eyes of five people whose existence I've made hell. 

And I've got one chance to make things right. 
If I don't, I may never wake up again...

Nayuleska's reasons for liking Bridget...I don't like her! She's a mean girl who doesn't care much for others. I loved seeing her realise how hurtful she was, and start to turn her life around, even though it seems too late. Her voice made it a fun read. 

How evil/nasty is the enemy? Mean girls are nasty work. Girls can be very cruel when they are mean and selfish. So Bridget is her own worst enemy. 

Are there plenty of plot twists and surprises? There were a lot of revelations about Bridget. I loved the way the story was handled, especially when she had to learn what others thought of her, and her reflections afterwards. 

One of my favourite parts was...when Bridget started to realise she'd been nasty to people. That marked a huge turning point for her. 


I give this 8/10 

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison, published by Mira Ink £6.99 www.miraink.co.uk

Suggested reading
To read about another mean girl who doesn't care for others, check out Rockaholic by C J Skuse


Friday 22 July 2011

Winners of Elixir by Hilary Duff


This is a shorter winning post than normal as I want to announce the winners before I head to bed. 

The 5 UK winners, picked from random out of a staggering 213 entries, who will receive a copy of the book are....

JODAW84!

Bulldog! 

CazApr1! 

donna2307!

PINKTEEGAN!

And the 1 international winner who will receive my copy of Elixir, picked by random from 54 entries, is.....

Margaret! 


Many congratulations to all the winners, I will send you an email this weekend confirming you win, before passing your details on to the publicity team so they can send out the prize to you. Margaret, I'll let you know when I'll post the book out to you. 

Thank you all for taking part - so many of you wanted to read this book! There are more competitions coming soon, so come back soon! 

Update on Magic of Books competition prizes

I'm shortly going to announce the winners of the Elixir competition, but this is in reference to the Magic of Books competition.

I've sent half the prizes off. I think the email gremlims may be at work because I haven't heard from everyone yet. Please could you contact me if you see this. If I don't hear anything by Tuesday 26th July, I'll post the books out on the Wednesday 27th. It's only to check if you have already got the book. You're still getting the prize!

Thursday 21 July 2011

Norman the Slug with the Silly Shell by Sue Hendra (Children's, Picture book, 10E/10E)


2011, Simon and Schuster
pages, Paperback
Review copy

Children's, Picture book

Summary from Simon and Schuster

Norman is a slug who longs to be a snail - if only he could find a shell!

Kids will laugh out loud at Norman's crazy antics as he goes to hilarious lengths to find a shell of his own. But will he be satisfied once he finds one, or will his dreams get bigger and bigger and bigger?


Nayuleska's reasons for loving Norman...he is one extremely determined slug, with great ambition which makes a hilarious read.

What is the style of illustration? Bright, bold and funky colours, a variety of techniques used.

Is there a message for the reader? No matter how insane they seem to others, follow your dreams as you never know where they will take you. (Although I do advise against trying to copy exactly what Norman does!)

My favourite part was...Norman's last experiment which had me in fits of laughter.

This uplifting book gets 10E/10E.

Suggested read
For another funny read  try Ernest by Catherine Rayner


Wednesday 20 July 2011

Quick, Slow, Mango! By Anik McGrory (Children's, Picture book, 10/10E)


April 2011, Bloomsbury
pages, Paperback
Review copy

Children's, Picture book

Summary from Bloomsbury
Baby elephant Kidogo is off with his mama to find breakfast. She’s always telling him to hurry, but Kidogo loves to take his time and wants to do everything slowly. Meanwhile, up in the trees, a mischievous monkey named PolePole is always in a rush, trying to grab all the mangoes he can! Fast and slow, these two adorable critters meet up in the luckiest way – and it’s mangoes for breakfast for everyone!

Nayuleska's reasons for loving Kidogo...He likes taking in the world which is a great mindset to have, although he learnt he can't do that all the time.

What style are the illustrations? Bright, Spring like colours which have a  watercolour effect, focusing only on the items used in the story as opposed to having heaps of detail in the background (this isn't a negative comment, just an observation).

Is there a message for the reader to take away? There is a time and place for being speedy and taking your time in life. It's necessary to learn the appropriate times for each.

My favourite part was.. when Kidogo and PolePole combined their different approaches to gain a tasty reward.

This is a contemporary version of the tortoise and the hare fable. As a child I was most like PolePole, and if I'd read this I might have understood the need to slow down a little better.

Suggested reads
For a book with another valuable message try The Beasties by Jenny Nimmo and Gwen Milward

Tuesday 19 July 2011

Another reading day

(copyright goes to whoever this belongs to)

I've watched some anime & now I'm doing the above picture. Fully intend to post a review tomorrow when I don't feel like I've been squashed by an elephant. If you want more details of what I've been up to lately, you can find out on my writing blog Nayu's Realm.

Hope you all have at least one thing that makes you happy today.

Monday 18 July 2011

What are you reading? #75

What are you reading on Monday? is a weekly meme hosted by Rachel at Home Girl's Book Blog where you post books completed last week and plans for upcoming books. Jump over to her blog and see who else is participating.

Books I've read this week
 
 
 
The Reckoning by Kate Cary
Young Adult Horror
(This one was rather gory, but as I was used to the characters it wasn't quite as scary...which was nice.)







Desires of the Dead by Kimberley Derting
Young Adult Paranormal
(This is some how more awesome-er than the first book!)





 
 
 
 
Fetlocks Hall:
The Unicorn Princess (book 1)
The Enchanted Pony (book 2)
by Babette Cole
(A really awesome new school story, full of magic, mayhem, and adventure. I may have a strong aversion to horses in real life, but I adore books with them.)