Nayu's Reading Corner

Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk (Urban Fantasy)

2012-01-27T00:30:00.000Z

5th January 2012, Penguin

368 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: magical glyphs, dark magic, seriously evil villains who deserve to be eternally dunked in a volcano, amnesia, lots of pain and hurt, constant surprises, lots of humours, occasional moderate adult content, some swearing, heaps of action, tissues needed.

NB: Spoiler warning to those who haven't read book 1

Summary from Penguin

Allie Beckstrom knows that there's a price to pay for using magic...

She's suffered her fair share of migraines and gaps in her memory during her time working as a Hound, tracing spells back to their casters. But now Allie's been visibly marked by it with a mysterious iridescent tattoo. She's not only lost all memory of how she got it, but also of the man she's supposedly fallen in love with. Oh, and as usual, she's completely broke.

So when the criminal magic enforcement division of the police asks her to consult a missing persons case, things start to look up. At first, it seems to be a fairly straightforward way of earning some money but like most things in Allie's life it soon turns into a dangerous mix of underworld criminals, ghosts and blood magic. This time Allie is going to discover it takes more than magic to survive...

Nayuleska's thoughts

Wow! This is fast becoming one of my favourite urban fantasy series. I love how there isn't too much romance, that much of the book is Allie trying to sort out her muddled life....using a bright yellow umbrella with ducks on! She's so cute with that. I'm amazed at how sharply the plot twisted and was quite frankly horrified by the last sentence. I want book 3 now!

You can find out more about Allie's adventures on Devon's website.

Suggested reading

I recommend reading the fast paced book 1: Magic to the Bone

I Don't Believe It, Archie! by Andrew Norris

2012-01-26T00:30:00.000Z

August 2011, David Fickling books

124 pages, hardback

Review copy

Themes: bizarre events, feline frolics, thieves, vehicles moving at great speed, huge misunderstandings, constant hilarity, very mild romance

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Odd things happen to Archie every day. Some very odd things.

On Monday, a piano rolls down the hill and traps his new friend Cyd in her mum's car. And then a lorry tips a load of gravel on top of it.

At least Cyd finds it exciting. Though of course she doesn't believe that this sort of thing happens to Archie every day.

Until Tuesday, when Archie finds a dead dog in his pocket.

Poor Archie. But as he soon discovers, if odd things have to happen to him, it's a lot better if they happen when Cyd's around.

Nayuleska's thoughts

I thought I was accident prone - I'm happy being clumsy and not coping with the seriously weird events Archie deals with! At least by meeting so many people during said events he finds people to help him out of the next incident. 10/10 for this fun read, made more exciting with the hilarious illustrations.

You can find out more about Andrew and his books on his website.

Suggested read

For a slightly more serious, yet equally odd boy, check out Too Small to Fall by Morris Gleitzman

Puss in Boots: The novel (Children's, 7 years +)

2012-01-25T00:30:00.000Z

November 2011, Bantam Children

142 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: famous fairy tale characters, betrayal, deception, greed, boots, fugitive, cuteness, satisfaction, a few laughs and tears

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Way before Puss ever met Shrek, our suave and furry feline hero goes on a swashbuckling ride, as he teams with mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty to steal the famed Goose that lays the Golden Eggs.

Includes 8 pages of colour photos.

Nayuleska's thoughts

It took half the book before I got into the story, but I loved Puss's new feline friend. I wish she'd been around in the other stories I'd read when I was little. Puss's loyalty costs him dearly, he is always a gentleman to the end. Long live Puss! This story gets 7/10 - Humpty Dumpty is seriously evil and scares me. I will not be watching the movie.

Suggested read

For more stories with familiar fairy tale characters, check out Abie Longstaff's The Fairytale Hairdresser: Or How Rapunzel Got Her Prince. (No Humpty Dumpty!)

The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka (Fiction)

2012-01-24T00:30:00.000Z

26th January 2012, Fig Tree

144 pages, Hardback

Review copy

Themes: lies, deceit, fear, travel by sea, death, disease, children, remaining steadfast, not making a fuss, inner strength, resilience, rape (brief mention), loveless marriage, overworked, understanding little English, deportation, culture lost, World War 2, prejudice, persecution, moderate peril, lots of tissues needed.

Summary from Penguin

In eight incantatory sections, The Buddha in the Attic traces the women's extraordinary lives from their arduous journey by boat, where they exchange photographs of their husbands, imagining uncertain futures in an unknown land; to their arrival in San Francisco and their tremulous first nights as new wives; to their backbreaking work picking fruit in the fields and scrubbing the floors of white women in their homes; to their struggles to master a new language and anew culture; to their experiences in childbirth, and then as mothers, raising children who will ultimately reject their heritage and their history; to the deracinating arrival of war.

Nayuleska's thoughts

This may be a small read but it has had a large impact on me. I needed a tissue from the start - what these women endure for the most part by drawing on their Japanese cultural heritage is phenomenal. Once their dreams are dashed they soon learn how to survive. The way each chapter was written made it sound as if all the women had gathered together and were telling their stories directly to me. This 10/10 book will make you realise just how fortunate you are not to fear going to sleep or worry about disappearing family.

Find out more about Julie on her website.

Suggested read

For another heart wrenching tale about a young girl put in a life which was built on illusion, try The Calligrapher's Daughter by Eugenia Kim

What are you reading? #99

2012-01-23T04:26:00.001Z

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

I Don't Believe it, Archie by Andrew Norris

Children's

(I thought I was clumsy/had strange things happen - Archie has extraordinary events 24/7!)

10/10

Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk

Urban Fantasy

(I can't stress how awesome this book is, so much magic and Allie is rather stubborn minded...just like me.)

10/10

Rereads

These are the reading adventures I'm undertaking in addition to my weekly reads at that most perfect hour of the day....right before lights out. What better time to settle in with an old (or not so old) favorite....and so the "re-reads" category was born. Currently going through.....

I'm finally past the first page of New Moon by Stephanie Meyer. Slightly bored while Edward does his disappearing act.....

Current Reads

Striker Boy Kicks Out by Jonny Zucker

Children's

(You don't need to like football to like this book filled with suspense.)

Shugo Chara 2

This series is awesome! Such a shame the anime is so expensive - will have to use my imagination to make the characters move on the page. ...

Pink Tiara Book Blog Tour: Review & International competition (ends Monday 6th February) for Maria Dismondy's Pink Tiara Cookies for Three (Children's, picture book)

2012-01-23T00:30:00.000Z

This blog post is part of Maria's book tour. First I'll give my review, then I'll provide the link enabling you to enter a competition to win a copy of the book (International!)

5th January 2012, 32 pages, paperback

Review copy

Themes: school life, friendships (making friends and improving friendships) , learning to include others, jealousy, sharing, good manners, a few laughs, a happy ending

Book blurb

Sami's perfect life falls apart when the new girl moves in next door. Three can be a tricky number with friends because most of the time someone gets left out. Follow Sam as she discovers how to keep her best friend and find room for one more in Pink Tiara Cookies for Three.

Nayuleska's thoughts

Learning how to widen the boundaries of friendship to include more than just one other person is a valuable lesson learnt at school by Sami. Like so many girls she wants just one best friend all to herself, and is more than a little put out with new girl Jasmine on the scene. She reminds me of myself when I was little. Jasmine is sweet, and doesn't actually do anything 'wrong', which Sami eventually realises with the help of her mother. The vibrant colours of the illustrations give the story a warm, glowing kind of feeling - my heart was very happy by the end. I'm giving this 9/10 - I wasn't fond of one of the phrases in Sami's song, but that could be a cultural difference between UK and USA.

Suggested read

For more school related friendship dramas, see how friendships are tried in Princess Poppy: Playground Princess by Janey Louise Jones

You can find out more about Maria over at her website

You can purchase the book on Amazon, as well as get a signed copy here

(Note I do not get anything in return for placing this link, it is part of the tour)

Here's the book trailer, which gives a peek at the detailed, warm feeling inspiring illustrations.

Maria is offering one reader the opportunity to win both the book and a tiara cookie cutter! She may be based in America, but she is generously making this an international competition, so everyone can enter (including polar bears although finding their post box might be a little difficult).

The prize: the winner will receive a copy of the book and a tiara cookie cutter.

The rules: one entry per person, winner will be chosen by a random number generator, please make sure you read my privacy policy.

The deadline: 12pm GMT Monday 6th February 2012

How to enter: Fill in your details on this form

Check back on Tuesday 7th Feburary to see if you've won a copy of the book.

New Beginnings by Rebecca Emin (children's, 7 years +)

2012-01-22T00:30:00.000Z

23rd January 2012, Grimoire books

168 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: bullying, school life, fitting in, being isolated, fear, trust, friendship and families, seeking help, gaining confidence, some humour, lots of feel good sections.

Summary from Grimoire books

Sam Hendry is not looking forward to starting at her new school. Things go from bad to worse as the day of truth arrives and all of her fears come true...and then some. When Sam meets a different group of people who immediately accept her as a friend, she begins to feel more positive. With her new friends and interests, will Sam finally feel able to face the bully who taunts her, and to summon up the courage to perform on stage?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Anyone who has suffered the slightest bit of teasing at school, or worse, will find Sam's story true to life, one full of hope and the knowledge that there really is always someone you can talk to. I was smiling heaps at the end of this 9/10 read.

You can find out more about Rebecca and her books on her website.

Suggested read

Another touching story which deals with bullying is Eight Keys by Suzanne Lafleur

A Knowing Look and Other Stories by Rebecca Emin (Short story anthology)

2012-01-21T00:30:00.000Z

(I like the strong colours here)

Out now, Available as eBook and paperback

Review copy

Themes: meaningful messages, reflection, human failings and strengths, life's twists and turns, unfaithfulness, bereavement, birth, occasional bad language, mild romance

Book blurb

From the heat of the African plain to the chilled winter air in rural England, this book will take you on a journey via a collection of emotive short stories.

Nayuleska's thoughts

I rarely read short stories, and was happy to find that I enjoyed them all. There were underlying meanings in each story, which often only became clear once the end was reached. I enjoyed having topics to ponder on and see the sheer diverse nature of life unravel. This gets a solid 8/10 from me.

You can find out more about this anthology over at Rebecca's website, including reasons why she self-published this while having a publisher for other work.

Suggested read

Another book which made me think about contemporary issues is Words in the Dust by Trent Reedy (Young Adult)

Poppy's Hero by Rachel Billington (children's, 9 years +)

2012-01-20T00:30:00.000Z

5th January 2012, Frances Lincoln

288 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: criminal in the family, prison, school life, bullying at school, acting up, pushing friends away, resisting changes, growing up, innocence, love for a parent, hospital, being sick, operations, prison, musicals, dogs, lots of sweet moments, tissues needed.

Summary from Frances Lincoln

When Poppy discovers that her father Frank is in prison, she is angry and bewildered. Seeing her wonderful, heroic father in a London prison looking pale, subdued and in prison clothes, she suddenly has a brilliant idea: to free her father. She and her friend Will invent all kinds of escape ideas for him - until she hears that he has been removed to a prison far away on an island, with five years to serve. But, when the prison decides to stage a musical using professionals and prisoners, Frank is picked for th lead role. It is then that the question begin...

Nayuleska's thoughts

Poppy had me nearly sobbing, so strong is her faith that her father is innocent. She does all she can to see him, but when the plans go awry she doesn't fall too far into despair - her inner resilience sees her through, as do her true friends. It may be hard with her dad away, but she learns a lot from the experience. Definitely a 10/10 read.

Find out more about Poppy on Rachel's website.

Suggested read

For a boy's view of a parent in the wrong, try Morris Gleitzman's Too Small To Fall,

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price (Urban Fantasy)

2012-01-19T00:30:00.000Z

December 2011, Berkley UK

344 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: magic, charms, wards, human suspicion on other humans, open use of magic, pursuit, family discord/secrets/ties, erratic income affecting daily life, mysteries, landing in trouble a lot, investigations, true friendships, lots of action, occasional gore, occasional strong language, a little adult romance (one very strong scene) tissues needed

Summary from Penguin

Just because Grave Witch Alex Craft can speak to the dead, doesn't mean she has to like what they have to say...

As a private investigator and consultant for the police, Alex has seen a lot of dark magic. But even though she's on good terms with Death himself, nothing has prepared her for her latest case. Alex is investigating a high-profile murder when she's attacked by the ghost she is raising which should be impossible. Then, someone makes a serious attempt on her life, thwarted only by Death's intervention. You know you're having a bad day when Death is saving your life...

To solve this case, Alex will have to team up with tough homicide detective Faith Andrews. Andrews seems to be hiding something, although it's certainly not his dislike of Alex. Despite all that, Alex is going to need his help to navigate the tangled webs of real-world and paranormal politics, and to track down a killer wielding a magic so malevolent, it may cost Alex not just her life, but also her soul...

Nayuleska's thoughts

Alex had me laughing even when she was in deeeep trouble, which was all of the novel. I loved how her talents as a grave witch were used and how they connected her to death, who (death is a person) helps her deal with the maelstrom of magical mojo that trips her at every step. She is far from invincible but her unique powers save others and occasionally herself. This is one of several awesome books I'll keep reading, getting 9.9/10 because two pages had me rather confused, even re-reading them I couldn't make sense of what happened (I have to note the I'm constantly tired so sometimes don't plot threads out if they are subtle messages).

Suggested reading

Definitely check out Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk which is equally awesome.

Blog tour: Lolly Luck by Ellie Daines, (Children's, 9 years +) book review & blog post

2012-01-18T00:30:00.000Z

5th January 2012, Andersen

192 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: school life, family ups and downs, parental separation, unemployment, mean girls, huge life changing secrets, bonds of sisterhood, some humour, a lot of tissues needed

Summary from Andersen

Lolly is Lolly Luck by name, lucky by nature. She always wins magazine competitions, on scratch cards and any game you can think of. But when Lolly's dad loses his job and then the family home, Lolly's luck starts to change. And when she overhears her parents arguing, she learns a secret that will change her life forever.

Nayuleska's thoughts

Lolly is a real sweetheart, who understandably doesn't find it easy to deal with the challenges life throws at her. The bond she has with her sister helps her, even if they do sometimes bicker - and then some. This is a realistic story, with emotion rising up from each page at so many points that I can't list. Definitely 10/10 material!

You can find more about Ellie (and Lolly) on her website

Suggested reading

A girl juggling a similar amount of life issues is Polly in Star Makers Club: Polly Plays Her Part by Anne-Marie Conway

Guest Blog Post

After enjoying Lolly's story so much, I was delighted to be invited to host a day on Ellie's blog tour. I'd like to thank Ellie for writing such an engaging book, and for an equally fun insight into her writing life.

Turning real-life into fiction by Ellie Daines

Three years ago I accidentally scared an Italian woman in London’s Borough Market when I explained to her that the venison a butcher was selling was the same as Bambi. She gasped in horror and I thought to myself, ‘I can use this in my book’. As soon as I got home I wrote a scene for Lolly Luck involving a character who too is overcome with shock when they find out what venison is. As a writer I’ve found it useful to draw on personal experiences and weave them into my work. Also, when I was developing the character of Lolly I referred back to my own childhood, my likes and dislikes and my own lucky streak. Like Lolly, I often won competitions and I even dreamed winning lottery numbers a few times. Unfortunately it wasn’t the jackpot but I think dreaming three numbers out of six is still pretty good.

I like to think of myself as being an observational writer – I like writing about the small details in everyday life that we may not always notice straight away. For example, the fact that so many people push buggies around which don’t actually have small children in them but shopping bags or laundry. This is something I actually mention in a scene from Lolly Luck. In general though, I think children are far more observant than adults and tend to notice a lot more than an adult will see. For me it’s important that my writing is able to show how a child makes sense of the complex and bizarre world we live in and that is something my protagonist Lolly is trying to do throughout the novel. Being an observational writer also means I never go anywhere without a pen and a notepad in case I see something which I think would create an interesting scene or spark an idea for a new character or sub-plot. When I’m writing I don’t normally write in chronological order; I like writing the key scenes first. I try to do a bit of writing every day, mostly in the evenings. However there have been times where I’ve found myself writing into the early hours of the morning and not going to bed until about 3am!

You can check out the rest of Ellie's tour stops with this tour schedule

Blog tour: Maria V Snyder's A Touch of Power (Fantasy) review plus guest post from Maria

2012-01-17T00:30:00.000Z

(funky animated cover!)

6th January, 2012, Mira Ink

398 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: healing, mad kings, magic, persecution, fugitive, nature, plague, good attitude, taking risks, children, protecting dear ones, family ties, deception, secrets abound, silence, friendship, occasionally moderate romance, lots of high peril and humour, tissues needed.

Summary received in a press related email

Avry's power to heal the sick should earn her respect in the plague-torn land of Kazan. Instead she is feared. Her kind are blamed for the horrifying disease that has taken hold of the nation.

When Avry uses her forbidden magic to save a dying child, she faces the guillotine. Until a dark, mysterious man rescues her from her prison cell. His people need Avry's magic to save their dying Prince. The very Prince who unleashed the plague on Kazan.

Saving the Prince is certain to kill Avry - yet she already faces a violent death. Now she must choose - use her healing touch to show the ultimate mercy or die a martyr to a lost cause?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Wow. Wow. WOW! I'd be tempted to leave the review of that, but that wouldn't be helpful. I adore Maria's previous series, and I felt like I was at home with this book. I prefer Avry to Yelana, who is a tough character to beat. I think this is because Avry has similar desires to survive, but she heals people which is a quality I admire. Elements such as overhanging death threats, inprisonment/poison, hidden love, enemies having an insane amount of surprises up their sleeves are common to all of Maria's books, and yet each series - especially this book - has that edge. There isn't quite so much in the romance side of things which I quite like. I will be rereading this a lot, and I'm eager to see how Avry's power will grow. This 10/10 book will have it's sequel in 2013.

Be sure to check out Maria's website which has recently had a make over. A Touch of Power has it's own microsite.

Suggested read

Start where I first learnt about Maria's work, in Poison Study.

Guest blog post: Maria has very kindly answered 5 questions. I'll leave you with them, but I'd like to say thank you to Maria for the answers, and for continuing to write such awesome books which I wish to hand to everyone I meet (okay, so she is definitely on the top shelf of my favourite books....I'm such a fan girl)

1. Was there any particular reason for giving Avry a healing career, instead of a fighting based one? (She can still fight though!)

Maria: I've dabbled with healing powers before in my Study books, and I wanted to explore the power and its consequences in more depth. Plus I've seen so many friends and family suffer with various health problems, that I wish I could just...heal them. All the money in the world is nothing compared to good health. Also as a mother - healing would be wonderful. I hate to see my kids sick or hurt.

2. Avry can use her powers both to heal and to fight - is this something we will see develop over the next two books? Was it a skill you thought of from the outset, or did it develop over time as you wrote the book?

Maria: The healing skill was in place from the get-go, but her ability to defend herself came as I worked on the story. I didn't want Avry to be a warrior or to learn how to fight because I didn't want her to be too similar to Yelena. So having her be able to use her power to knock someone unconscious or to give them pain seemed like a good compromise.

3. Is there a reason why you set this in a different world than to the Study series? Why not have Avry the healer appear in Yelena's world? Or did you wish to explore other magical properties which wouldn't fit in the Study series world?

Maria: It is set in a new world. I wanted to write something new and different from the Study/Glass books, but still be a fantasy novel. And I couldn't kill off two thirds of the population in Ixia and Sitia - I've too many friends there! I really don't know how other authors can write about the same characters and settings for more than three books. I need a change of scenery to keep me interested. Plus there's more of a creative challenge with a new world.

4. I realise it's early stages, but will there be a spin off series to Avry's tales, like the Glass was for the Study books?

Maria: I've no idea. I hadn't planned for the Glass books at all. My editor suggested I write about Opal after I completed Fire Study, and I was in the middle of telling her why it wouldn't work when an idea popped into my head. Time will tell :)

5. What is your favourite and negative character aspect about Avry and why?

Maria: My favourite aspect about Avry is her nurturing instinct and how she puts the welfare of others before herself, but that is also a negative because sometimes she needs to be selfish by taking care of herself, and allow herself to relax.

Chocolate SOS by Sue Limb (Young Adult)

2012-01-16T18:04:00.002Z

(Who doesn't want to eat a cupcake after seeing this cover?)

5th January 2012, Bloomsbury

304 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: lying, school life, being misunderstood, insecurity, self-esteem, end of the world view point, teen romance, a lot of laughs

Summary from Bloomsbury

Jess has broken up with Fred, though really she is waiting for him to come to her door and beg to get back together again. But is that the sort of thing Fred would do? He has said himself that he has no backbone... Meanwhile, a gorgeous boy has moved in next door and, to Jess's mingled horror and delight, is making it very, very obvious that he would like to be a lot closer than next door... Surely, now, Fred will be driven, in a fit of jealousy, to sweep Jess back off her feet? Won't he?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Jess is truly a character - a moping, love-obsessed girl. Following her life was entertaining, and she dug herself fairly big holes when she should have stuck with the truth. For me it felt that there wasn't a big enough continuity in the chocolate theme for the title phrase, and at times Jess's Fred obsession was annoying, but overal I love the cupcake cover and how the reader experiences a lot of contemporary life issues indirectly through Jess's friends, so this gets 8/10.

You can find out more about Sue and her books on her website.

Suggested read

Another fun teen to follow who learns a lot is Viola in Viola in Reel Life by Adriana Trigiani

What are you reading? #98

2012-01-16T09:25:00.002Z

Books I've read this week

Poppy's Hero by Rachel Billington

Children's

(Poppy's view of her father as he is in prison evolves, helping her gain confidence and self-esteem once she gets over the bumpy parts of life...)

10/10

Stunt Bunny Medal Mayhem by Tamsyn Murray

Children's, 5 years +

(Harriet is back and just as determined as ever to get into the animal version of the Olympics! A topical themed read for 2012...)

10/10

Puss in Boots: The Novel (no author per se)

Children's

(It took me a fair way of the book to get truly interested, but once I did it was great fun. The photos of Humpty Dumpty scared me!)

7/10

Mockingbird by Kathryn Eskine

Young Adult

(Reading life through the view of Caitlin has made me look at understanding people and their emotions in a whole new light...)

10/10

Re-reads

New Moon by Stephanie Meyer

(Just working my way through this one again....)

Shugo Chara vol 2

(Still very awesome, with transformations that resemble the ones I'm seeing in Cardcaptor Sakura...)

The Cupcake Diaires #2: Mia in the Mix by Coco Simon

2012-01-15T18:19:00.001Z

(Yet another awesome cover that I try to admire regularly)

5th January 2012, Simon and Schuster

156 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: clubs, small business, learning curves, misjudgement, divorce, getting to know people better, mean girls, social concept of being a sheep, difficult choices, fashion, shopping, trying to please everyone, justice, family ties, lots of drama, some tension, lots of laughter

Summary from Simon and Schuster

When Mia arrives at her new school, her motto is to be open to and friendly with everyone, but everyone at Park Street School fits into a clique. When the Popular Girls Club takes interest in Mia's awesome fashion style and wants to recruit her. Mia has to decide between them and her great new Cupcake Club friends. It's like choosing between the divorced mom and dad and her old house and new house. Is it always going to be Mia in the middle, or can she mix it up?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Mia is so different from Katie (protagonist in the first book) which shows in the story - I like this. Mia's family life has a big impact on her place in the Cupcake Club. I really felt for her while she was faced with tough friendship choices, as it is faithful to real life scenarios. Another 10/10 read from Coco!

Suggested read

Definitely check out where the girls first met in Katie and the Cupcake Cure

The Cupcake Diaries 1: Katie and the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon (Children's, 7 years +)

2012-01-13T18:27:00.002Z

5th January 2012, Simon and Schuster

160 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Before I get to the review, I have to discuss this awesome cover. I adore all things cute, have an odd passion for cherries (it's how they look which is fun, plus they taste great) and I adore cupcakes. It's not hard to see why I love the cover so much that I prop it up on my dresser so I can see it every day and smile.

Themes: life at middle school, losing friends, mean girls who tease a person for being themselves, finding new friends and figuring out life, lots of humour and a few sad parts.

Summary from Simon and Schuster

Sometimes starting from scratch turns out to be the icing on the cupcake.

It's Katie Brown's first day at her new school and she's already feeling miserable. Her best friend Callie has been invited to join the Popular Girls Club and Katie's been left out in the cold. Is there an Unpopular Girls Club she can join? The only thing that makes Katie feel better is the special cupcake her mum packed her for lunch, just biting into the sweet treat stops her feeling so sad. And even better, the delicious looking cupcake attracts three other girls who are also feeling a bit lost at the new school. And as the girls' friendship grows they decide to start their very own cupcake club - sharing and making their own special recipes!

Nayuleska's thoughts

I relate to Katie on every issue she deals with. I love how unicorns feature in her wardrobe. At school I changed who I was because of mean girls, which isn't a wise idea. Katie's thoughts are hilarious, especially when she's with Callie in chapter 7. Slowly she builds her self-esteem up, making her a more confident person. It was especially nice to see her mother playing a big part in her life, giving suggestions on how Katie can solve the problems. The actual cupcake cure concept is a sweet idea too (pun not intentional)Sadly it's not served with a cupcake but this gets 10/10 from me.

Suggested read

For another friends filled read, check out The Mayfair Mysteries 1: The Case of the Ruby Necklace by Alex Carter

Saving Daisy by Phil Earle (Young Adult)

2012-01-12T00:30:00.000Z

5th January, Puffin

352 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: sudden death, self-guilt, upheaval, tough emotions, getting much needed help, rebuilding a life, taking life a day at a time, content: self harm, inappropriate adult behaviour to children, lots of tissues needed

Summary from Puffin

Daisy's mum is gone. Her dad refuses to talk about it. As far as Daisy's concerned, it's all her fault. As her life starts to get out of control, panic leads to tragedy and Daisy's left alone.

But sometimes the kindness of a stranger can turn things around. A stranger who desperately wants to save Daisy - if she'll only let herself be saved....

Nayuleska's thoughts

I enjoyed the first book, Being Billy, but I adore this one because I always click more with female protagonists. Daisy is a pro at blaming herself. I suspected where one plot thread was going, and was sorry to see it come true. Most pages I was in tears for what Daisy has to do to get to grips with life. All her emotions and actions related with self-harm and depression are scarily accurate, and will help any involved with someone in that situation understand it all a little bit more. Definitely a 10/10 read. I really want a sequel!

Suggested read

Another book where a girl needs help in a place like Daisy did, is Zelah Green: Who Says I'm a Freak? by Vanessa Curtis

The Babysitters Club Collection 1: Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M Martin (Children's, 9 years +)

2012-01-11T18:19:00.000Z

1994, Hippo (Scholastic)

458 pages, Paperback

Personal copy

Themes: teen jobs, babysitting, pet sitting, dealing with the unexpected, living as a divorced family, school work, sweets addict, falling out with friends, having fun with friends, life changes, being different, getting into trouble, lots of laughs.

Book blurb (for the collection)

Trust Kristy Thomas and her big ideas!

Kristy and her friends love babysitting and one day she has a great idea. Why doesn't she set up a babysitting club? So together with her friends, Claudia, Mary Anne and Stacey, Kristy starts THE BABYSITTERS CLUB. And although things don't always go to plan, they have a lot of fun on the way!

Nayuleska's thoughts

I'm reviewing the first book in this collection, Kristy's Big Idea which tells the story of how the club came into existence. It's been over 10 years since I last read it, and I'm happy to say I love it just as much now as I did then.

Confession time. I don't read Kristy's name as Kristy. I see it as Kirsty. I always have done - I don't know why! I read the others just fine. But Kristy is Kirsty to me :)

I love getting to know Kristy and her friends, they all have family issues which the reader can relate to. They also end up doing the right thing eventually, even if it takes them a while to get their. I love these books because the girls did things I always wanted to do (but couldn't). My favourite books are the specials when they go away (either as a family or to camp). My plan is to collect them all! This book is 10/10 (the first one. I think they all are, but I haven't read it yet). Oh, don't tell my family that plan. I already have a book space problem.

Suggested read

For another fun friend focused series,. which has just come out, check out The Cupcake Diaries: Katie and the Cupcake Cure.

(I'm in love with the cover so much I keep this book propped up on my dresser)

Wereworld 7 Realms, 7 Beasts Blog Tour: Wereworld: Shadow of the Hawk by Curtis Jobling review (Children's, 9 years +) plus guest blog post from Curtis

2012-01-10T00:30:00.000Z

5th January 2012, Puffin

448 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: slavery, war, friends separated, family ties, feudal system, injustice, perseverance, justice, extremely scary villains, dark forces, treachery, murder, unexpected allies, lots of violence and gore, a little bit of tragedy

Summary from Puffin Books

Drew Ferran, the rightful king of westland, is trapped.

Enslaved by the Goatlord Kesslar, young werewolf Drew finds himself on the volcanic isle of Scoria, forced to fight in the arena for the Lizardlords. With the help of an unlikely ally, he must find a way to break free - but who has ever managed to escape?

Meanwhile, Hector the Wereboar flees the forces of the Catlords. Now on board the pirate ship Maelstrom, the enemy's net is closing in. Haunted by the spirits of the dead, Hector is soon left wondering who the true enemy is...

Nayuleska's thoughts

As per usual, Drew was constantly in or close to trouble, bearing more than a few bruises and stepping up to his true purpose by the end. Hector was a prize numpty - he isn't simply being 'misunderstood'. I love the resilience of Drew's mother Amelie, and Bethwyn's caring nature. Having only the briefest of mentions about Gretchen & Whitley has lowered this read to from full marks to 8/10. This is a personal choice as they are my favourite characters, but I have been reassured they will feature in book 4, which should be out this July.

Suggested read

Don't miss any of this exciting series, which starts in book 1 Wereworld: The Rise of the Wolf

Guest blog post from Curtis

BARON BOSA, THE WHALE OF MOGA

The Isle of Moga lies off the north-western point of Lyssia, a relatively safe haven for sea traders and the more salubrious characters of the White Sea, far away from the prying eyes of the more civil folk of the Seven Realms. An inhospitable island, Moga is the home of Baron Bosa, the Werewhale, a once formidable pirate prince who terrorised the ocean. With his life at sea long behind him, Bosa has turned his hand to trade to earn his fortune, remaining neutral in all the bickering of his fellow Werelords and keeping Moga out of any fights. This has left him free to trade with anyone, be they Lion, Bear, Walrus or, more often than not, privateers, buying and selling goods without fear of interference from the laws of Westland.

Bosa is a colossal figure, a great pile of flesh and blubber, always dressed in the gaudiest gems and finest attire his money – and pirate ships – can acquire. Flamboyant and not a little outspoken, the Whale’s charming manner has ensured he has friends in high – and low – places, ensuring that he has a great many favours he can call in should the need ever arise. While for many years he has been free to conduct his business without a whisper from Highcliff, the arrival of the Catlords in Lyssia and the wave of unrest that follows will hit every corner of the Seven Realms, not even the Isle of Moga avoiding the Bastians’ long reach. With his neighbour in Tuskun, Queen Slotha, taking greater power in Moga all the while, how long the Baron can remain removed from the impending war remains uncertain. What might it take to shift him off his enormous chaise-longue and winch him back into a ship?

Author’s note: Bosa is a great big fruity fellow to write, full of fun and frivolity. At first glance, the reader hopefully reads him as a bumbling, comical character, a charming fool who seems harmless enough. Like Vega, nothing is as simple as black and white with Bosa – there are all the shades of grey in his character as he plays his suitors off against one another, rather enjoying his distance from the drama. Equal parts the Baby-Eating-Bishop of Bath and Wells (Blackadder) and Uncle Monty (Withnail & I), he’s an indulgent, larger-than-life Werelord who has turned his back on his past life as a pirate... for the most part. Seeing how a once-great man can stagnate over years, getting fat off the hard work of others around him, is a key element to Bosa; Count Vega knows the man well enough from his own dark past, and he knows what the Whale is capable of. Bosa has a fondness for the Sharklord that might ensure Vega safety while in his company. Whether he’s able to persuade him to join the fight against the Bastians and their allies is another matter. Can he even trust him?

Thank you Curtis for an awesome blog post.

Take time to check out the Curtis's website, the Wereworld website, and the competition website for this tour. Follow Curtis on Twitter @CurtisJobling

Be sure to check out the other stops in the tour - yesterday's was at A Dream of Books, and tomorrow's will be at The Book Addicted Girl

I'll leave you with a teaser trailer.

Heart of Stone blog tour: review plus guest post by M L Welsh

2012-01-09T16:18:00.001Z

5th January 2012,

Hardback & eBook

Review copy

Themes: friendships, family, getting on with people, arguments, school life, scary powers, sea, boats, knitting, baby sibling, tears, despair, finding hope where there is none, lots of danger, beware falling rock, generous grandfather

Summary from Random House Children's Books

After a wonderful summer sailing, Verity Gallant just wants life to stay the same forever. But as she should know by now, not everything in life turns out as we would like.

The land is shifting beneath the ancient harbour town of Wellow, causing mysterious caves to appear in cliff faces, terrifying rock falls and dangerous landslides. And the earth isn't the only thing crumbling...Verity is thrilled that Jeb has returned, but their feelings for each other threaten her friendship with Henry and Martha.

Once again Verity and her friends are embroiled in a tale of evil, intrigue and lost love, as a powerful force works its way towards Wellow, hell-bent on putting an end to all happiness. The Heart of Stone is the key, and the race is on to find it.

Nayuleska's thoughts

I love this more than book 1, Mistress of the Storm. It's seriously creepy how the earth witch affects the world. I'm glad it's not real! Verity struggles with life bombarding her at all angles, but at the end of the day friendship saves her and everyone else. This is most definitely a 10/10 - roll on book 3!

Guest blog post from M. L. Welah

Howdid your knowledge of sailing the sea inspire or play a role in your writing?

This month sees the publication of mysecond children’s novel, Heart of Stone,the follow-up to Mistress of the Storm.Both books are adventure-mysteries featuring a young girl called Verity Gallantand both feature the sea, and sailing, prominently.

So I think it’s only fair to point out nowthat I am not actually any good at sailing: it’s just something I love to do.

Perhaps it was my amateur passion for theexperience that made me so determined to put the sea and sailing at the heartof the Verity stories. But I think on a more subconscious level I wanted thesebooks to be the kind of old-fashioned tale I read when I was a girl – andlooking back on it now I realize that sailing has been a fantastic mechanismfor introducing some of the elements I loved the most:

1. An escapefrom the adults

I read a lot ofbooks from the forties and fifties when I was growing up. And what I particularlyliked about them was how the adults would – with a lack of parental concernthat seems quite hilarious now – disappear, leaving the children to sort thingsout. When my sister and I played dolls houses, all adult dolls were banished tothe attic: quite right too. From a storytelling point of view, sailing does thesame thing. It gets my characters away from interfering grown ups and leavesthem free to talk on their own.

2. An elementof danger

I’m not at alladvocating a return to the gung-ho 1970s approach to health and safety buy I dothink there’s an argument for helping children to learn about taking risks,accepting responsibility for their own actions and managing danger. Plus, ofcourse, these are supposed to beadventure stories.

3. A sourceof solace

When you live ina coastal town the sea is constantly making its presence felt: it’s the firstthing you see in the morning, its movement is a permanent soundtrack to yourlife and it changes by the minute. If you’ve grown up with that, then justsitting and watching the the ocean can be very soothing. So that’s why, whenVerity or Henry are feeling upset, they tend to sit by the sea. I always usedto find that kind of thing quite comforting in stories: it’s nice to rememberyou’re not the only person who sometimes feels completely useless.

But probably the most important reason, forme, to have sailing, as part of Verity’s story is that there’s nothing like thesense of freedom you get from it. In a dinghy in particular, you’re so close tothe water, your face is covered in salt spray and the wind is blasting yourcheeks. It’s freezing, exhausting, terrifying and exhilarating all at the sametime. It really reminds you that you’re alive. Trying to make those things realthrough Verity and Henry’s experience of the world has made writing the booksbrilliant fun to write. I hope it’s made them more enjoyable to read too, or atthe very least, that it inspires people to try sailing for themselves. Thatwould be a nice thing to have introduced to someone’s life.

If you’d like to find out more please go towww.veritygallant.co.uk for samplechapters and trailers.

Thank you for such an interest post - I hate boats and have a slightly more than health fear of water, and yet I absolutely love stories which involve sailing!

What are you reading? #97

2012-01-09T07:43:00.003Z

Books I've read this week

The Other Life by Susanne Winnacker

February 2012

Young Adult, Dystopian

(This is a dystopian with a smattering of hope which can be missing from other dystopians...exactly why I read it!)

10/10

A Knowing Look and Other Stories by Rebecca Enim

Short Story Collection

(You need tissues from the first story on; they are very moving and make you think about life....)

8/10

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

Urban Fantasy

(I can't stress how amazing this book is - it's funny, clever, has magic and I love it so much I'd read it again right now (but I have other books to read!)!)

10/10

The Donut Diaries of Dermot Milligan: Revenge is Sweet by Anthony McGowan

Children's

(This sequel to 'The Donut Diaries of Dermot Milligan' is hilarious, with an obvious plot but it's how the gang reaches the satisfying finale which makes it a fun read...)

10/10

Re-reads

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Young Adult

I'm pretty sure this doesn't need much of an explanation - I do confess I'm enjoying it more the second time round (as in I enjoyed it 4/5s before the baseball match).

Currently reading

Shugo Chara vol 2

Manga

(It's interesting having Shugo not enjoy her transformations, and hanging back until she beleives in herself to use them....)

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

(I've only just started this re-read. ...)

Seizure by Kathy Reichs (Young Adult)

2012-01-07T18:20:00.000Z

5th January 2012, Young Arrow

492 pages, Hardback (& ebook)

Review copy

Themes: chases, mystery powers, wolves, treasure hunting, clue solving, law breaking, breaking rules, commiting crimes, dangerous men, islands, boats, deception, high peril, high thrills, some humour, lots of mystery, a little violence.

Summary from Random House Children's Books

The Virals' home on Loggerhead Island is under threat, and only one thing can save it: a lot of money.

A 300-year-old legend.

Rumour has it that notorious pirate Anne Bonny hid her treasure somewhere in Charleston in 1720. No-one knows where, but Tory Brennan - great-niece of famous forensic anthropologist Dr Tempe Brennan - is certain that the Virals can work out Bonny's cryptic clues.

A deadly path.

It isn't long before the Virals are on the right track. But they aren't the only ones searching for the treasure. Someone is following them, and will stop at nothing to get their hands on it.

Dead bodies litter the trail. Time is running out before the island will be sold.

Will the Virals' special powers be enough to save them?

Nayuleska's thoughts

I felt right at home reading this, straight after having reread virals. Tory's flaring power is stronger than the others which is useful. I'd have perhaps liked a bit more focus with and action on the flaring, but the action was generally non-stop and I was constantly surprised by every revelation. After this 9/10 read, I'm eagerly awaiting book 3.

Be sure to check out Kathy's website for more news about her books.

Suggested read

Definitely check out book 1, Virals

This Dark Endeavour by Kenneth Oppel (Young Adult)

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000Z

6th October 2011, David Fickling Books

384 Pages, Hardback

Review copy , Teenage

Content: Violence(medium graphic), Romance(unrequited), Suspense(frequent)

Summary from David Fickling Books

In this prequel to Mary Shelley's gothic classic, Frankenstein, 16-year-old Victor Frankenstein begins a dark journey that will change his life forever. Victor's twin, Konrad, has fallen ill, and no doctor is able to cure him. Unwilling to give up on his brother, Victor enlists his beautiful cousin Elizabeth and best friend Henry on a treacherous search for the ingredients to create the forbidden Elixir of Life. Impossible odds, dangerous alchemy and a bitter love triangle threaten their quest at every turn.

Victor knows he must not fail. But his success depends on how far he is willing to push the boundaries of nature, science, and love – and how much he is willing to sacrifice.

The Mole's Review

I really wasn't sure what to make of this book... It says it's a teenager's book but it felt like a book for younger readers except that the approach to the subject matter didn't suit younger children. I found it engaging and kept reading although I didn't find it that enjoyable - something I found intriguing in a way.

The story is all about alchemy, science and death.... a little on the darkside and while there is love and romance it lacks a feel good ending.

There will be many readers who will enjoy this story for what it is - a prequel to Frankenstein - and it does that very well as that is another story that lacks a feel good end.

Suggested Reading

The Monstrumologist: Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey another dark read...

Blog Tour: Don't Call Me Ishamel by Michael Gerard Bauer (Children's)

2012-01-03T00:30:00.000Z

January 2012, Templar

363 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: school life, boys, bullies, teamwork, the unexpected, debating, cool and not so cool teachers, boy humour, mild romance and mild infrequent swear words.

Summary from Templar

Hounded by the school bully and struck dumb in the presence of girls, the year doesn't get off to a good start for Ishmael when he is asked to take misfit James Scobie under his wing. However, life takes some unexpected turns as Ishmael and his friends embark on the most embarrassingly awful...and the best year of their lives.

Nayuleska's thoughts

Although this goes in what I'd call a boy orientated book, I enjoyed it a lot. I like the sense of camaraderie which Ishmael experiences, both negative and positive. He uses an imagined disease to help justify his life, but through new friendships realises that there are worse things in the world than having to be a petrified debater on the debate team. This gets a healthy 8/10, for the last few parts of the book had slower pacing and I zoned out when Moby Dick was discussed as it didn't grab my interest (I've never read it before).

Find out more about Michael and his books on his website.

Check out the next stop of the tour tomorrow, Wednesday 5th January over at Bookbabblers

Suggested read

For another boy with an interesting school life, check out The Donut Diaries of Dermot Mulligan by Anthony McGowan

What are you reading? #96

2012-01-02T09:13:00.000Z

Books I've read this week

Saving Daisy by Phil Earle

Out Jan 2012

Children's

(A startling insight into a mixed up teen in care, dealing with self-guilt, depression and related issues...)

10/10

Chocolate SOS by Sue Limb

Out Jan 2012

Young Adult

(Jess digs herself holes with lies, but she has a good heart for her friends who are going through tough experiences...)

8/10

A Touch of Power by Maria V Snyder

Fantasy

(I adore all Maria's books, but this book tops them all! Avry the Healer is in danger a lot, and can help the world a lot too. There may be an interview with Maria too....)

10/10

Wereworld: Shadow of the Hawk by Curtis Jobling

Children's

(There is a reason why this didn't get 10/10 - it is down to personal preference, not the story which is as fab as ever. Blog tour happening for this one!)

8/10

Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka

Non-fiction

(What the Japanese ladies who leave their home country to go to husbands in America - who aren't what they seem - endure brought so many tears to my eyes, and put a lot of life in perspective.)

10/10

Re-reads

So, what are re-reads you ask. Simple! These are the reading adventures I'm undertaking in addition to my weekly reads at that most perfect hour of the day....right before lights out. What better time to settle in with an old (or not so old) favorite....and so the "re-reads" category was born. Currently going through.....

Twlight by Stephanie Meyer

Young Adult

(I'm re-reading as I have to cull my books. These are quite thick ones, but they could well be staying put...)

The Babysitters Club: Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M Martin

Children's, 9 years +

(This is a real blast from the past, I adored these when I was little. I'm now starting to collect them again - my absolute favourites were the holiday special collections!)

Winging It by Annie Dalton (children's, 9 years +)

2011-12-29T19:22:00.003Z

May 2010, HarperCollins Children's Books

Reissue in The Heavenly Collection omnibus, Paperback

Personal copy

Themes: angels, life after death, imposter, misfit, seeking sense of belonging, out of the world locations, funky angel powers, fashionable angel uniform, World War 2, time travel, exciting classes, disobedience, teenage view on life, good intentions, kind heart, lots of laughter, occasional mild to moderate peril, some tissues needed.

Summary from HarperCollins Children's Books

Melanie Beeby, just thirteen, has been permanently removed from the late 20th Century by a speeding joy rider. She is elevated to another place, where she attends Angel Academy. When she is asked to join an elite trouble-shooting group, Angels Unlimited, she is sent on a trial mission to London during the Blitz...

Nayuleska's thoughts

Although she's convinced she's in the wrong place and not angel material, Mel has an amazing sense of compassion, once she connects with herself. The people (I can't get more specific because of spoilers) who help her connect are those whose books/media I read so I can understand more complex without getting lost in technical jargon - that made Mel easy to relate to. Life as an angel is far from easy - not all clouds and manna, but as Mel discovers it's more than worthwhile, making this a 10/10 read.

Make sure you check out all about Annie's books on her website

Suggested reading

For other girls experiencing the other side of death, check out Tamsyn Murray's My So-Called Afterlife

Alien Invaders #1: Rockhead the Living Mountain by Max Silver (Children's, 7 years +)

2011-12-28T09:17:00.001Z

July 2011, Red Fox

120 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: space adventure, aliens, special powers, excitement, moderate peril, some humour and some tnesion

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Five awesome aliens have been unleashed from the darkest corner of the galaxy - and they're out to destroy the universe.

Only Cosmo, a young boy from planet Earth, has the power to stop them. Recruited by the elite defence organisation G-Watch to defend the galaxy, Cosmo must prove himself and commence battle against the deadliest aliens in space...

The first title in this action-packed series sees Cosmo discover the truth about his father's mysterious past, and take up his role as a defender of the galaxy. When the might alien Rockhead is sent to destroy G-Watch headquarters, only Cosmo has the power to stop him. But will the young Earthling be able to defeat the monstrous mountain alien?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Given that I usually prefer heroines to heros (Nuri does have a cool role), I'm totally into Cosmo's exciting story. The advanced technology and smoothly integrated illustrations makes this feel like one of my anime shows. The sturdy, informative collectable cards add to this 10/10 read.

Suggested read

For more save the world adventures by a boy with unusual skills, try Lord of the Mountain by James Lovegrove.

Torn by Cat Clarke (Young Adult)

2011-12-27T17:27:00.003Z

22nd December 2011, Quercus

378 pages, paperback

Review copy

Themes: death, school life, mean girls, revenge, embarrassment, doing the right thing, grief, lives, love, illusion of life, some gore, some strong swearing, teen romance, tissues needed.

Summary from Quercus

Four girls. One dead body. A whole lot of guilt.

Alice King isn't expecting the holiday of a lifetime when she sets off with her classmates on a trip to the Scottish wilderness, but she's not exactly prepared for an experience beyond her darkest nightmares...

Alice and her best friend Cass are stuck in a cabin with Polly, the social outcast, and Rae, the moody emo-girl. Then there's Tara - queen of mean. Powerful, beautiful and cruel, she likes nothing better than putting people down.

Cass decides it's time to teach Tara a lesson she'll never forget. And so begins a series of events that will change the lives of these girls forever...

Nayuleska's thoughts

I don't like Alice that much, but I do admire the choices she ends up making. She's a good person really - she just needs to realise the world is bigger than the bubble around her. Unlike some characters whose names I won't mention, I needed a tissue early on in the book. The plot revelations were rather shocking, especially as I got closer to the end. This thought provoking read gets 9/10 from me.

Make sure you check out Cat's website to learn what her favourite food is - and about her books.

Suggested read

There's heaps of mystery, intrigue and mega plot twists in Cat's debut novel, Entangled.

What are you reading? #95

2011-12-26T19:10:00.003Z

Books I've read this week

Due to germ gremlins, I haven't read much this week. I've read all of

Alien Invaders: Zillah the Fanged Predator by Max Silver

Children's, 7 years +

(Ordinarily I'm not scared of spiders, but I was scared of this spider-like alien!)

10/10

I am half way through the following:

Vampirates #3 Blood Captain by Justin Somper

Children's, 9 years +

(So far the series is 10/10 - I love how the chapters switch between the twins - I prefer Grace but Connor has lots of drama too!!)

Angels Unlimited: #1 Winging It by Annie Dalton

Children's, 9 years +

(Being dead is way more work than Mel realised, and more dangerous. So far it's a 10/10 read.)

Highway Robbery by Kate Thompson (Children's, 5 years +)

2011-12-24T18:43:00.001Z

July 2011, Red Fox

122 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: historical, highwaymen, thieves, scoundrels, a good heart, horses, soldiers, temptation, money, some mild peril, some humour.

Summary from Random House Children's books

'Hold the mare for me, lad. And when I come back I'll give you a gold guinea.'

It's more money than the street urchin has ever dreamt of. But who is the rider, and why is there so much interest in the big black horse? And ll the boy ever see the money he has been promised?

Nayuleska's thoughts

I love the feel of this story, the way the boy speaks is such an insight into his nature. I particularly liked the girls who interact with him, because they look exactly how I imagine them in my minds eye with gorgeous period costume. Definitely a 10/10 read.

You can find out more about Kate on her website.

Suggested read

Try one of Kate's other books, the exciting Wanted (near the end of the post)

How To Save A Dragon by Annie Dalton (Children's, 7 years +)

2011-12-22T18:09:00.001Z

September 2011, Tamarind

122 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: life in space, cosmic travel, single parent family, fear of magic, dragons, evil dragon hunters, family, connections, moderate peril, a touch of cuteness, a lot of humour.

Summary from Random House Children's books

Oscar can't believe his ears when Ferris Fleet tells him that dragons aren't just fairy-tales, but it's true: dragons are really real, and hundreds once called World Nine home.

But that was before the Dragon-Chasers came; before they hunted down almost every dragon alive to steal their eggs and their gleaming rainbow skin. Now Fleet, and his friends are doing everything they can to protect what few remain.

Oscar wants to help - and he may just get his chance. Because a stranger's arrived in Lonelyheart - a man who gives Oscar the creeps. A man they say is a hunter and a poacher, a man who wears a coat of gleaming rainbows...

Nayuleska's thoughts

Oscar might not go to school, and his mother might be able to teach his leassons, but there isn't osomeone at hand when he needs help protect his littler sister and a dragon. There are lots of fun elements to Oscar's home, magical elements which I'm hoping might unravel in other stories. This gets 9/10 from me.

Check out more about Annie and her books on her website.

Suggested read

For more magical fun, this time in an unmagical world, try Witch Baby and Me at School by Debi Gliori

Writing, being myself and relaxation

2011-12-20T18:44:00.002Z

It took enough time to write my post on my other blog, that I'm linking it here (because it's relevant). In it you'll find out why I think this picture of Winx fairy Bloom getting ready to attack someone in season 4 is perfect for a writer.

What are you reading? #94

2011-12-19T14:15:00.003Z

Books I've read this week

Torn by Cat Clarke

Young Adult

(Girls really need to be nicer to each other - meanness gets taken to the extreme. Out 5th January 2012 from Quercus. Review to come...)

9/10

Alien Invaders: Rockhead the Living Mountain by Max Silver

Children's

(I've enjoyed this awesome space adventure WAY more than I expected to...)

10/10

Alien Invaders: Infernox the Firestarter by Max Silver

Children's

(...and the story keeps getting better - aliens rule!)

10/10

Magical Miracle, vol 1 by Yuzu Mizutani
Manga, Fantasy

(Sadly I think I only have one volume of this fun magical manga where the heroiine has to impersonate an important magic user who has disappeared - a magic user who is a boy! Hilarity ensues...my review...)

10/10

Highway Robbery by Kate Thompson
Children's

(It was fun learning about Dick Turpin and the illustrations matched the feel of the story perfectly.)

10/10

Magical Miracle vol 1 by Yuzu Mizutani (Manga, Young Adult, fantasy)

2011-12-18T18:09:00.000Z

(cute cover!)

April 2006, Tokyopop

208 pages, Paperback

Personal copy

Themes: fantasy, mistaken identity, playing a part, self esteem and self belief, magic, child princess, cute costumes, lots of humour, a few tissues needed.

Book cover blurb

It's a tale of magic, mystery, and mistaken identity!

Merleawe has just arrived in Viegald, where she hopes to study magic at one of the best schools in the kingdom. But shortly after she arrives, the Master Wizard Sylthfarn - the greatest magician in Viegald - goes missing. With panic setting in and a country in need, the followers of Sylthfarn discover that Merleawe looks remarkably like the Master Wizard. With the right training and guidance, she might just pass as Sylthfarn. But is Merleawe "man" enough to bring peace to the kingdom?

Nayuleska's thoughts

It's inspiring watching Merleawe work hard to help out the tricky situation. It gets her thinking about all the people in the kingdom, the poor and the rich. She wants to be true to herself and protect people. With her cute costumes, even when she's masquerading as the boy wizard her determination only wavers when doubt slaps her in the face (not necessarily literally). Definitely a 10/10 read!

Suggested read

It isn't a manga, but it is a case of identity swapping for a good cause - Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt

Secret Agent Jack Stalwart: The Mission to find Max: Egypt by Elizabeth Singer Hunt (Children's, 5 years +)

2011-12-15T18:11:00.000Z

September 2011, Red Fox

122 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: Egypt, special agent, fun gadgets, moderate peril, surprises, evil criminals, supernatural events

Summary from Random House Children's Books

An ancient and terrible curse of the pharoahs is set to wreck havoc in Egypt. Can Secret Agent Jack Stalwart save the day and finally solve the mystery of his missing brother, Max?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Most of the elements of the story were unpredictable, making it an exciting read. Being the last book in the series I had a slightly higher expectation of the plot, which unfortunately didn't fully deliver. I've only read one or two in the series. Several of the plot elements were unbelievable (I use my imagination a lot, but the plot didn't flow at that point) or it felt as if the impact of the plot elements was lower than I'd anticipated. The ending itself was a cheery one, and I really loved spunky Kate, so this gets 6/10.

You can find out more about Elizabeth and her books on her website

Suggested read

Be sure to check out other books in the series, including The hunt for the Yeti Skull: Nepal

Astrosaurs: The Forest of Evil by Steve Cole (Children's, 7 years +)

2011-12-14T00:30:00.000Z

August 2011, Red Fox

144 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: space, adventure, evil mastermind, poison, twisted nature, evil intentions, lots of high peril, unexpected ending.

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Noxia-4 is a farm-planet; a world of plants that feeds billions of hungry dinos. But when the harvest fails and the farmers are attacked, Teggs and the team investigate - and soon learn that Noxia-4's dark forests are home to a strange and deadly evil that could destroy them all.

Nayuleska's thoughts

This is the scariest Astrosuars book I've ever read! All I thought of when I saw the plants was eeeep, because they reminded me of monster plants in the video game series Final Fantasy, or of Winx Club cartoon series because magical plants mostly attack Winx and their friends (although some are friendly). The Astrosaurs have a real problem on their hand - I didn't see the end coming. Definitely a 10/10 read.

Make sure you check out Steve Cole's website for more information and him and his books.

Suggested read

Try the 20th Astrosaur book: Earth Attack!

The Monster Story-Teller by Jacqueline Wilson (Children's, 5 years +)

2011-12-13T00:30:00.000Z

August 2011, Corgi Pups

80 pages, paperback

Review copy

Themes: school, boredom, imagination, being a little naughty, life for a monster, lots of humour

Summary from Random House Children's Books

One morning at school, Natalie is very bored. Then she has a big surprise - there is a tiny monster at the window, waving at her! Suddenly Natalie's day is much more exciting....

They whizz off together for some monster fun, and soon Natalie has lots of special stories to tell.

Nayuleska's thoughts

I enjoyed the small but noticeable differences in the monster world, compared to the human one, especially with the colours of the animals. Having every illustration in colour brought the story to life more, which probably will help newer readers to imagine the story in their head.

Natalie sort of learns there's a time and a place for telling stories. Having the school story-teller look like Jacqueline was rather fun. This gets 9/10 from me.

Suggested read

Monster mayhem is a little closer to home for Jake in Lee Carr's Monster Baby

What are you reading? #93

2011-12-12T14:39:00.001Z

Books I've read this week

Astrosaurs: Earth Attack by Steve Cole

Children's, 7 years +

(Learning about the origin of Astrosaurs was really exciting! My review...)

Seizure by Kathy Reichs

Young Adult

(The 2nd book in the series is even more thrilling than the first - Virals rule!)

My Bear Griz by Suzanne McGuinness

Children's, picture book

(Grizzly bears are really friendly! Check out my review...)

Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Tale of the Terrible Secret by Kristina Stephenson

Children's

(Full of colour and a focus on how words sound...my review...)

The Cupcake Diaries 2: Mia in the Mix by Coco Simon

Children's

(A series about girls making cupcakes focusing on friendship and how each girl looks at herself within the group...is a seriously good read!)

The Monster Story-Teller by Jacqueline Wilson

Children's, 7 years +

(All the illustrations are in colour - perfect for enticing new readers....)

Astrosaurs 19: The Forest of Evil by Steve Cole

Children's

(This is the scariest Astrosaurs book I've ever read!)

Little Old Mrs Pepperpot and Other Stories by Alf Proysen

Children's

(I grew up on Mrs Pepperpot, and the magic is still there for me...)

How to Save a Dragon by Annie Dalton

Children's, 7 years+

(The dragon is only half the story!)

Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Tale of the Terrible Secret by Kristina Stephenson (Children's, Picture book)

2011-12-11T00:30:00.000Z

November 2011, Egmont

32 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: brave knights, kings in trouble, secrets, bravery, adventure, mystery, morals, mild peril, lots of humour

Summary from Egmont

In the dead of the night - when the wind is right - there comes a pitiful sobbing: out of the rumbling, grumbling castle and down the side of the hill...

Who could it possibly be? And what is this terrible secret all about? It seems something dreadful has happened in the tall, tall tower (with the pointy roof) and the only person who can put things right is - you guessed it - our very own honourable, fiesty and courageous young hero, Sir Charlie Stinky Socks!

Nayuleska's thoughts

What I love best besides the detailed, bright and colourful illustrations is the way different fonts are used to emphasize the feel and sound of certain words. The advice on telling the truth is related in a way which isn't one bit preachy. The sturdy flaps which add extra dimensions to the story help make this a 10/10 read.

Suggested read

Check out more of Charlie's books, including Sir Charlie Stinky Socks and the Really Dreadful Smell

My Bear Griz by Suzanne McGinness (Children's, 3 years +)

2011-12-10T00:30:00.000Z

September 2011, Frances Lincoln

32 pages, Hardback

Review copy

Themes: friendship, imaginary friends, childhood, happiness, playing, imagination, adventure, feel good factor

Summary from Frances Lincoln

Billy has a bear called Griz. A Grizzly Bear. And the two friends have all kinds of wonderful adventures together. They go exploring, play hide and seek, eat peanut butter and honey sandwiches, share secrets and tell jokes. Griz is the best friend a boy could possibly have - whether he's a Grizzly Bear or a teddy bear...

Nayuleska's thoughts

This sweet story is teamed with what look like crayon illustrations, with scribbled notes on each page in a child's handwriting, which are funny to read. I liked the detail of the star constellations in one part of the story. It's definitely a book that be will be loved by children and adults alike - a 10/10 read.

Suggested read

For another fun picture book with lots of adventure, try The Boy Who Cried Ninja by Alex Latimer.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: Coco's Story by Amy Watson (Children's, 5 years +)

2011-12-09T00:30:00.000Z

August 2011, Red Fox

112 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: new pet, being wary of big and/or boisterous dogs, fun in the mud, keeping pets healthy, lots of laughs

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Coco, Lilly and Tim's little chocolate labrador from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, has just one thing on his mind - food! He may seem slow and a bit dozy when trying to catch a rabbit in the park or learning how to do tricks, but if there's the sniff of a feed then he turns into a fast-moving criminal mastermind...

One day Lily is crossing the road with Coco when a cyclist comes speeding towards them. Can her tubby puppy's sudden turn of speed avert an accident?

Nayuleska's thoughts

A labrador isn't exactly the type of dog which I'd have given Lily, considering her personality, but Coco won over her frightened heart. Lily learns to understand dogs behaviour with Coco as part of the family. Another 10/10 read.

Suggested read

Alfie's Story is another cute read in this informative and fun series.

Wolf Springs Chronicles: Unleashed by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie (Young Adult, Paranormal)

2011-12-08T00:30:00.000Z

8th December 2011, Doubleday

392 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Young Adult, Paranormal

Themes: isolated community, wolves, high school, losing parents, living with unknown family, heaps of fear and scary scenes (do not read if you're alone in the house, especially if it is dark and stormy!), secrets and mysteries, modern teen romance, some humour, a lot of suspense

Summary from Random House Children's Books

When Katelyn starts at her new school, the only person she knows is the handsome and intriguing Trick Sokolov, an acquaintance of her grandfather. She's surprised when the popular Cordelia Fenner invites her home and when she meets Cordelia's hot brother, she begins to think her new life might be OK after all.

But as she spends time with the family, she realises that the Fenners are harbouring a deep dark secret. Every bone in Katelyn's body tells her that the Fenners are mad, bad and dangerous to know - but how can she give up her only friend, and how can she ignore the way Justin sets her blood on fire with a single look?

Katelyn finds herself caught between three major werewolf clans who have been at war with each other for centuries - a war, it seems, that Katelyn is destined to end.

Nayuleska's thoughts

I loved Katelyn for staying strong (mostly) as her life turned weirder. I was a bit surprised and disappointed that the plot towards the end didn't happen sooner, and the one enemy force was mentioned a lot but nothing really came of it. Despite that this gets 9/10 because I was gripped by every page.

Suggested read

If you like werewolves, take a look at Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Pop Pixie Season 1 Volume 1 (French version, children's dvd)

2011-12-07T18:01:00.001Z

As a huge fan of Winx, I was delighted to get my hands on the spin off series, Pop Pixie! It's all about the Pixies. I confess that I looked on a certain reference online source for the gist of the series. I'm glad I did, because it is set in a sort of alternate world to Winx. There's no mention of Winx, the Pixies can have transformation powers, some of them are boys (including Digit, but I haven't really seen her/him yet), they live with gnomes, are pestered by elves, have jobs. In short, it's fun!

I love it almost as much as Winx - I give it 9.9/10. The -0.1 is for the theme tunes. They are very catchy, with fun graphics. However, they seem a little short. I understand the episodes are shorter than Winx episodes. It sort of makes sense, as the series is more about the lives of the Pixies rather than several large story arcs. The opening theme song is virtually long enough. But the ending song feels as if it's cut off suddenly. And that annoys me every time I see it.

Otherwise Pop Pixie rules! There are lots of new Pixies, but old familiars are there too. I haven't really seen Piff, I've seen Tune who is supposed to be younger in PP (she looks it).

(Tune)

Chatta is typical Chatta, always chatting!

(Chatta)

I wish that Lockette would quit her job at the hotel because she always looks so busy and her boss is stingy.

(Lockette)

I haven't really seen Digit yet, but I have seen Amore and oh wow! Amore has a potionery (ok, so not quite sure what it's called - apothecary?). She is quite a character, still timid in some social circumstances but can pack a powerful punch.

(Amore (plus Chatta's arm))

Another feature which is rather sweet is that when the Pixies cry, lots and lots of water comes out - they have to use umbrellas, or grab buckets to catch the tears. Or worse, when the weather fairy comes on the scene.

I totally recommend watching Pop Pixie. You needn't have watched Winx to enjoy it, although watching Winx will provide a bit more insight to the main Pixies' characters.

What are you reading? #92

2011-12-05T00:30:00.000Z

Books I've read this week

Lolly Luck by Ellie Danes

Children's, 9 years +

(An emotional read about how Lolly deals with the sudden life changes which rock her life. My review.)

10/10

The Cupcake Diaries 1: Katie & the Cupcake Cure by Coco Simon

children's, 9 years +, January 2012

(My review to come in the new year delves into my love of this cover, and super-fun story about friendship inside)

10/10

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Coco's Story by Amy Watson

Children's, 5 years +

(Find out what type of dog it takes to get a girl nervous of dogs finding a best friend).

10/10

That's it for this week, next week there are double the amount of books read! It's amazing how much I read when I need to rest and am not too tired to read. Hope a book has reached your hands over the last few days!

Astrosaurs: Earth Attack! by Steve Cole (Children's, 7 years +)

2011-12-04T17:15:00.001Z

September 2011, Red Fox

122 pages, Paperback

Review

Themes: space, dinosaurs, good tactics, time machine, battling evil, food, friendships, unexpected happenings, lots of courage and humour.

Summary from Random House Children's Books

In this special twentieth Astrosaurs title, Teggs and his crew face an evil old enemy. A carnivore time-machine has been invented and sent back to Earth 65 million years ago to sabotage the plant-eaters' efforts to leave the planet. Only meat eaters will escape!

The Astrosaurs must chase the time machine to save their ancestors and prevent Earth being completely destroyed. Can they do it?

Nayuleska's thoughts

This is an awesome book because at last I discovered how the Astrosaurs' ancestors got into space with all the details. A few parts of the plot were obvious but it was a gripping read. It was enhanced by having the first Astrosaurs Academy book included, which I hadn't read before and had fun finding out how the Astrosaurs originally met. (I forgot to add there are the usual 4 collectors' cards at the front of the book). This gets 10/10 from me!

Make sure you head on over to Steve's website to find out more about Astrosaurs and his other books!

Suggested read

Try one of the Astrosaur's Academy books - the one first one I ever read was Deadly Drama!

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home: Alfie's Story by Amy Watson (Children's 5 years +)

2011-12-01T00:30:00.000Z

August 2011, Red Fox

102 pages, Paperback (& ebook)

Review copy

Themes: parents divorcing, step-families, life changes, friends moving away, four legged addition to the family, learning to find a voice, a lot of humour, a few tissues needed

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Anna's missing her friend, Sophie, who's moved away...but when Mum suggests getting a new doggy companion from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, Anna knows she won't be lonely for long! Alfie, the adorable border terrier puppy, is Anna's perfect match - he's a quiet pup who can't bark, but he makes up for it by having a very waggy tail!

Anna and Alfie soon become best friends, but some bad news from school puts a stop to their fun. A scary speech day is shy Anna's worst nightmare. Will Alfie be able to find his voice - and help Anna find hers too?

Nayuleska's thoughts

This book made me cry in several places. I think it's because I related to a lot of issues Anna went through - being shy is so hard, especially if you can't near your closest friend all the time. All the feelings surrounded with divorce, and major changes are touched upon in Anna's story, with lots of humour in between. This gets 10/10 from me.

Suggested read

Check out other books in the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home series, Buddy & Holly's Story which is winter themed.

Eye Contact (Book 1 of The Conditioned Series) by Rebecca Royce (Paranormal romance)

2011-11-30T00:30:00.001Z

September 2011, Decadent Publishing

Ebook & Paperback

Review copy

Themes: special powers, prejudice, misunderstanding, social ranking, cruelty, friendships forged amidst adversity, family ties, a few instances of violence, adult romance (inferences and the occasional odd scene), a little swearing, some humour

Summary from Decadent

Thirty years ago, after the breakdown of an oil negotiation, the President of the United States decided that all people born with unusual abilities, which he would now refer to as "the condition", would be locked away from the general public where they couldn't harm others. Parents and loved ones of these people, most of whom were children, were forced to turn them in upon penalty of death. Formed to keep the institutions secure, the Committee for the Protection of a Free Society now rules these institutions with an iron fist.

The granddaughter of one of the Committee members, Addison Wade has lived her life wary of the institutions and all they represent. A woman of secrets, she is forced to turn to Safe Dawn, one of the facilities designed to hold conditioned people, when her nephew is kidnapped and, despite her best efforts, cannot be recovered. She knows the last thing anyone in 'Safe Dawn' will want to do is to help a Wade with any problems, but she is desperate and out of options.

Spencer Lewis is famous for being the premier conditioned 'locator'. There's no one he can't find and he has a soft spot for missing children. But, Spencer has been through a trauma and locating Jeremy Wade may be dangerous both to himself and to those around him. In addition, he takes one look at ice cold Addison Wade and wants nothing more than to knock her down a peg. Never having turned down an opportunity to help a child, he reluctantly agrees to help recover Jeremy.

In a world where nothing is as it seems and every person they encounter has his own agenda, Addison and Spencer will find that the only people they can trust are each other. But how can anyone fall in love living in a world that wants you dead just for being born?

Nayuleska's thoughts

I love the magic, the funky special powers and found everything I like in a character in Addison. What her talent develops into is one most readers would enjoy having. She fights hard for those she loves, even though it costs her greatly. I originally was going to say that the only negative thing was having to wait for book two. However, it's out! I'll hopefully be reviewing it soon. This is definitely a 10/10 read.

You can find out more about Rebecca and her books on her website.

Suggested read

For thrilling adventures with people having special powers, which are both used and abused by others, try L J Smith's Dark Visions omnibus.

Fright Flight (Dream Seekers book 1) by Lisa Ard (Children's, 7 years +),

2011-11-29T17:13:00.001Z

October 2011, Puddletown Publishing

ebook (and paperback)

Review copy

Themes: dreams, imagination, friendships, family life, being a hero, a lot of humour

Book blurb

Being twelve years old can be challenging, but add to that the unusual ability to experience dreams as reality and you begin to understand Patrick's need for a little self-control. A "sweet" dream devouring the world's largest ice cream sundae can end with an enormous stomach ache. A fall from a bike means Patrick wakes up with a broken arm. Try explaining that to the emergency room doctor! Oh wait - that would be Patrick's mom. She's a dream seeker, too, as are Patrick's sister and brother. If Patrick follows the family's dream-seeking rules he can have cool night time adventures. But if he forgets...

Nayuleska's thoughts

I loved the chapter heading of the start illustration, and also the other illustrations which fit in well with the story. I found myself smiling a lot, especially when phrases melded perfectly with the story. There were a few areas which drew me out of the story's spell: some awkward phrasing, words not always seeming suitable for the story, plot flow not always smooth or logical, characters sometimes acting out of character. Overall this gets 7/10, as I did really enjoy most of itt.

Suggested reading

For another very peculiar story with lots of humour and twists, try Boom! by Mark Haddon

What are you reading? #91

2011-11-28T07:45:00.001Z

Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: School of Meanies by Daren King

Children's, 5 years

(Even ghosts has to go to school, much to Humphrey's disgust. His tale is hilarious. My review...)

9/10

Driven by Rebecca Royce

Young Adult, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

(Rachel's adventures continue with this thrilling sequel in the world where vampires are evil, and humans are fighting for survivial. Or are they? My review....)

10/10

A School for Villains by Ardyth DeBruyn

Children's, 9 years +

(Danny's exploits as a student at the Dark Lord Academy land him in a lot of trouble and initially set his mind on getting excluding. However, his viewpoint does change over time. My review...)

10/10

Lolly Luck by Ellie Daines (Children's, 9 years +)

2011-11-27T18:07:00.001Z

January 2012, Anderson Press

ARC 180 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: school life, family ups and downs, parental separation, unemployment, depression, mean girls, life changing secrets, bonds of sisterhood, a few tissues are needed, there's also a lot of humour.

Book blurb (not quite yet up on the publisher's website)

Lolly Luck is lucky by name, lucky by nature. But suddenly her luck begins to change.

Lolly always wins magazine competitions, on scratch cards and any game you can think of. But when Lolly's dad loses his job and then the family home, Lolly's luck starts to change. And when she overhears her parents arguing, she learns a secret that will change her life forever.

Nayuleska's thoughts

Lolly is a real sweetheart, who understandably doesn't find it easy to deal with the challenges life throws at her. The bond she has with her sister helps her, even though they bicker a lot and have normal sibling rivalry. I wanted to cry wheb Zola comforted Lolly in the major revelation chapter. The issues dealt in this book make it a true to life story, with lots of tricky situations hitting Lolly all at once. Emotion rises up off the pages, so much so I can't list all of my favourite parts. Definitely 10/10 material!

You can find out more about Ellie on her website.

Suggested read

For another girl whose life challenges occur when she's in a school play, check out Star Makers Club: Polly Plays Her Part by Anne-Marie Conway (only now do I realise how similar Polly & Lolly's names are!)

Winter = germ fest

2011-11-26T16:40:00.001Z

This weekend is now a dvd fest, thanks to a germ fest. Winter is lousy - you get rid of one virus, and pick up another. I'm a tiny bit grouchy because virus = no reading, no writing. I'm getting some crochet done though, which is good fun. Solid rest involving comfy chair & dvds is making me feel much better than attempting to read/write for a little while. I want to do both badly. Maybe Monday :) Trying to be better for work, so must be good.

A School for Villains by Ardyth Debruyn (Children's, 9 years + )

2011-11-24T00:30:00.000Z

October 2011, Kindle,

Review copy

Themes: darker side of magical life, fierce yet loyal creatures, magic school, interesting forms of detention, good vs evil debate, heaps of humour

Book Blurb

Thirteen-year-old Danny is astounded when his father decides to send him to Dark Lord Academy to learn to be a villain. Pa claims it will make him stand out and fulfil his own lost childhood dreams. Being evil doesn't appeal to Danny, but he's always been a good and obedient son, so he goes.

Dark Lord Academy's not just unappealing, it's downright terrible. His advisor dyes Danny's blond hair black and changes his name to the unpronounceable Zxygrth. He can't get the hang of maniacal laughter, his second-in-command servant is a puke-coloured monkey, and the cafeteria lady enjoys serving stewed cockroaches or friend bat wings. A run in with a hero results in hate mail and he gets caught up in a rivalry with the school bully. The only way for Danny to stay alive is to find his inner villain.

Nayuleska's thoughts

Danny was pretty unfortunate in what happened to him, even more so because right until the end he wonders what is good and evil. It's very easy to cross the lines of both. I adored his friends, in particular Daisy who is outgoing and appears good (but isn't). She is superenthusiastic about everything which reminds me of myself when I'm hyper. What made this witty read more entertaining were some of the amusing takes from a certain HP series, making this a 10/10 read.

Be sure to check out Ardyth's website to learn more about her and her books.

Suggested read

Read Ardyth's Chosen Sister (this is the new version of the cover, being printed in paperback. Contrary to the original cover, the book isn't Young Adult, it's 9 years +)

Driven by Rebecca Royce (Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy)

2011-11-23T17:20:00.001Z

(I love the covers in this series, nice and mysterious by not showing her face)

May 2011 (ebook), Decadent

195 pages, Ebook (ARC)

Review copy

Themes: apocalyptic world, dystopian, vampires, werewolves, survival, learning truths which turn your world aroundd, the chaos of normal human emotions, pain, tragedy, teen romance, familial love, quite a bit of gore, tissues needed although there are a few laughs to be had.

Summary from Decadent

My name is Rachel Clancy. Forty-six years ago, life as humanity understood it ended. Armageddon. Well, that's what we call it, anyway. What other term works as well to describe the day the Vampires and the Werewolves slaughtered nearly all of humanity?

When Rachel Clancy turned sixteen, she inadvertently changed the lives of everytone around her. Now, xis months later she has to figure out how to live with what has happened.

Sent back into the wilderness - this time with a new love - she will find herself face-to-face with two people she never thought to see again: the boy she though she loved and the man who wanted to destory her since birth. If Rachel can learn what drives her forward, there may be a chance for everyone to start again. If she fails, all is lost.

Nayuleska's thoughts.

I think when I read the first book, Rebecca had mentioned either through Tweets or email that she wondered what I'd make of this book. Surprisingly I like it. I like it an awful lot. It is grim. Rachel gets her heart pulled out again. The difference this time, there's no 6 months in a comatose state. She sucks it up and deals with it. I love Rachel's inventiveness. I love her voice, especially the at the end of the book. There is a small hope, a hope which she and the other characters will nurture until book three. For now, this 10/10 is a must read for dystopian and paranormal book lovers.

You can find out more about Rebecca and her books on her website.

Suggested read

Definitely check out how it all began in book one, Initiation. Personally I prefer our modern, coming of age celebration with cake and no blood.

Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: School of Meanies by Daren King (Children's, 5 years +)

2011-11-22T17:37:00.001Z

September 2011, Quercus

120 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Themes: school life, bullies, life as a ghost, mean teachers, lots of humour and a little sadness

Summary from Quercus

'Ghost School is stupid and rubbish, and, um, I'm not going to Ghost School ever again!'

Bumping is Humphrey Bump's best thing - even better than cakes and lollipops! But the nasty headmaster at ghost school doesn't agree. He expels Humphrey for - you've got it! - bumping.

So the other ghosties - Agatha, Tabitha and Wither - find Humphrey a place a still-alive school. They are also on hand to help him make friends. Wither invisibly writes a spooky poem on the board, Agatha sends children whirling into the clouds, and they all whisp out of Humphrey's satchel during lessons.

The still-alive children are so mean they only run away. But they are nothing compared to the still-alive headmaster who is the biggest bully ever. Can Humphrey gather all the ghosties together to fight the bully, save the school and make lots of new friends?

Nayuleska's thoughts

I like Humphrey because when he doesn't want something to happen, he pulls out all the stops to prevent it. His family have distinct personalities which are hilarious, especially at the end when had me laughing to myself. The illustrations fit in with the feel of the story, and are well positioned throughout the book.

I give this 9/10

Suggested read

Try the adventures of Penny, the pony mad girl who happens to be a Unicorn Princess at Fetlocks Hall, which starts with The Unicorn Princess by Babette Cole

What Am I Watching? #2

2011-11-21T13:53:00.001Z

Every so often life can get complicated, leaving my reading time at a premium...but that doesn't mean something interesting and fun didn't pass before my eyes. This meme was created for just those times to discuss the movies and programmes that I've recently watched. I'd love to hear your views on them if you've seen them too.

So, here's what I've been watching.....

The Unit

American TV show - Total of 4 seasons

12 years +

(Life in a special forces unit in the USA is never dull or uneventful. I love the Unit because I find life in the forces interesting, the characters work well together, it covers the lives of the wives as well as the Unit members, it covers some tough issues too, but there's quite a bit of pyrotechnics to keep a few of my friends happy...)

Winx

Season 4

Originally aired in Italian....though I'm watching the French version

(Winx - what can I say, it's really cool! Fairies living on earth [in this season], helping humans believe in them, as well as fighting various enemies! My full review...)

Strawberry Marshmallow

Anime

(Super cute about the lives of 5 girls in Japan, I've only watched one episode but it's as fun as the manga [if not more so]. Think Azumanga Daioh, with some of the cuteness and humour of Aria, the Animation.)

So...what have you been watching or reading recently? Feel free to share!

Winx Season 4 review

2011-11-18T17:52:00.001Z

Reading has been on an all time low this week as I haven't been well. However, I have been watching dvds, so I figured I can review them too!

Today I'm having a brief look at Winx, season 4. Oh, it does contain spoilers (sorry), so if you haven't watched it all you might want to not read the review.

(not entirely sure why it only has 3 of the girls on the front, and Roxy (the last Earth fairy) on the back....but it's still cute!)

I have the French version (I prefer it in French too). I love season 4 because although the world is in serious danger in the later part of the series, it is a lot lighter (apart from Naboo's death). Season 3 is really cool because of Enchantix, but there's a lot of tough challenges for each of the girls and sometimes I find it a bit too heavy.

Season 4 sees the girls living in Gardinia as they try to find the last Earth Fairy, and free the other trapped Earth Fairies in a magical realm. There are the Fairy Hunters, who are super strong, and only Layla and Bloom's attacks affect them...that is until the girls get the power of Believix!

(top row from left to right: Musa, Flora, Techna, bottom row from left to right: Stella, Layla, Bloom)

I love all the transformations. Believix is really cool because watching all the Winx transform, they look so happy. Considering that Believix is people's faith in them, and that as graduated fairies with immense power within them and being guardians of the world, no wonder they look utterly content! I love the hearts on Bloom's outfit, Flora's outfit screams 'nature girl', I love the colours of Stella's clothes, Techna looks more girly (which I like - wasn't all that fond of her outfit in season 1), Layla is Layla, Musa...I'm not overly fond of her outfit. And there's the plait which just looks a bit weird sometimes. (I realise I haven't gone into the different powers of Believix, or Lovix or Sophix, that will have to be for another time)

It's fun watching the girls as they try to get people to believe in them, because they learn that although their powers can help people, people need to be dealt with carefully in order to believe in magic. Once they do start to believe in the girls, then chaos descends as the plot heats up.

Okay, two final things before I go (I've no doubt I'll be back discussing more details another time). One huge, wonderful thing which I simple A.D.O.R.E in season for is the pet shop for the magical pets. It's really cool how the girls all run different parts: Bloom is on reception, Stella is on clothes and hair, Musa teaches the pets music, Flora looks after their health and Layla helps the pets keep fit. The magical pets are super cute, and pretty funny with their own personalities. Their owners also have personalities which make the show funny. The way the girls have to run the store, as well as fight their enemies is more realistic than if they didn't have a job. The store provides many light moments, as well as a few heavy ones.

(These are the outfits the girls wear at the pet shop, along with their own magical pets)

The final thing is the musical theme of this season. All the songs in all the seasons are fun. This season is more enjoyable because Musa starts to get her music career on Earth, but...wait for it...all the girls become a band! The songs are funky, and often rooted in meaning with what's going on in the story. Layla's on drums, Musa and Bloom sing, Stella's on guitar, I honestly can't quite remember what Flora's doing, I think she's on guitar too, and I think Techna's on keyboard (but don't quote me). The music is an important part of the plot, and it's another creative outlet for the girls.

(CD cover for one of the albums...yes I have the season 4 album, and the Winx in Concert dvd (English versions which are mostly easy listening))

Right, this is it for now. I love Winx each and every time I watch it. (& I've watched it a lot). I just notice more details in each episode, I understand the characters better, I love the girls and it's almost the only show I can say which cheers me up 100% (even when Naboo dies, the strength of friendship between the girls is a positive message to take away).

Playground by 50 Cent

2011-11-16T09:37:00.000Z

3rd November 2011, Quercus

320 Pages,Paperback

Review Copy

Swearing -Frequent use of sh*t, Violence but not graphically portrayed

Summary from Quercus Books

'I wonder what she would've said if I'd told her all the parts the report left out, like how I'd woken up that morning and pulled that sock out of my draw and filled it, one after the other, with the D batteries I'd bought the last time I visited my dad in the city. But there was no way. There was just no way I'd ever tell anyone what really went down that day...'

Thirteen-year-old Butterball doesn't have that much going for him. He's teased about his weight. He hates the suburb his mum moved them to so she could go to nursing school and start her life over. He wishes he still lived with his dad in New York City - where there's always something happening, even if his dad doesn't have much time for him.

Still that's not why he beat up Maurice in the playground.

Now his school is forcing him to talk to some out-of-touch lady therapist, as though she could ever fix him - as though she could ever figure out the truth. No, Butterball's lips are sealed about what happened that day. But some tales can't help being told. And this is one of them.

The Mole's Thoughts
Something I am not sure about though is the reading age.... Normally a book about a 13/14 year old boy is aimed at 11+ but this book has language (not profanity although 'sh*t' is thrown in liberally through out the book) and concepts that just don't seem right for a young teenager - things that might be learned and understood retrospectively in later life.
Having made those minor comments, it doesn't detract from the fact that this book is 'mostly true' and a heart warming story for it. Clearly the book is not a transcript of the sessions and it is easy to say that as a work of fiction this just would not have happened. It did - and it's important to bear that in mind.

So it's target audience? Well 50 Cent says it's an anti bullying book and this it most certainly is but are bullies likely to read it? Unfortunately I doubt it. But I wonder how many copies will be bought as presents, because of the name on the cover, for fans and go unread?

It is well worth a read and is easily readable.

The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen (Young Adult, Paranormal)

2011-11-15T00:30:00.000Z

3rd November 2011, Scholastic

252 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Young Adult, Paranormal

Themes: vampires, different dimensions, teen crush, evil killer, highly supportive friends, a nice lot of action, some violence/romance, and some humour.

Summary from Scholastic

What if Edward Cullen was real? What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world - and came into yours? Amy is in love with an imaginary boy: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he is Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo! Together, Amy and her literary crush set out to track Vigo, hoping also to find out how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, how can Amy ever bear to let him return to the world of fiction?

Nayuleska's thoughts

Being aware of the depths of some people's obsession with vampires, I opened the book and started reading. (OK, that sounds really obvious, but what I mean to say is that I picked it up to read from my reading pile, at a time when I'm mostly looking for lighter reads (avoiding some paranormal books)). I was nearly late to work because I finished it when I woke up in the morning. I actually prefer Amy's friend Katie as a character. She provides the extra stability Amy needs, she's pretty ferocious when it comes to stopping villains and Katie uses an awesome weapon which made me laugh. This 9/10 isn't too heavy a read.

You can find out more about Allison Van Diepen and her books on her website.

Suggested reading

For a much creepier read, try the paranormal romance Be Mine by Kelly Daniels

What are you reading? #90

2011-11-14T01:01:00.000Z

Heart of Stone by Melanie Welsh

Children's

(This has more thrills and excitement than book one, Mistress of the Storm...check out that review, right here.)

10/10

Wonder by R J Palacio

Children's

(A truly touching read about a boy with a disfigured face as he experiences going to school.)

10/10

Don't Call Me Ishmael by Michael Gerard Bauer

Children's

(A fun book about a boy's life at school...)

8/10

Tenth Grade Bleeds by Heather Brewer

Young Adult

(Vlad the vampire is back, with more personal issues to struggle with...my review.)

8/10

Zeus Sorts It Out by John Dougherty

Children's

(A hilarious tale of Zeus taking up temple in the boys toilet and 'helping' punish a bully. My review...)

10/10

Sword of Light by Katherine Roberts

Children's

(Supremely awesome story about King Arthur having a daughter who Merlin takes back to lead her kingdom...)

10/10

The Vampire Stalker by Allison Van Diepen

Young Adult

(Watching a vampire book obsessed teen meet her idol in real life was pretty funny!)

9/10

Secrets at St Judes: Party Girl by Carmen Reid

Children's

(This is the first book in the series where I've adored all of it and not thought 'sigh' over the girls' actions - great school fun...)

10/10

Secrets at St Judes: Party Girl by Carmen Reid (Young Adult)

2011-11-14T00:30:00.000Z

August 2011, Corgi

272 pages, Paperback & ebook

Review copy

Young Adult

Themes: boarding school, exams and everything they entail, health concerns, family issues, changes, the power of friendship, hard working students, running, making mistakes, moderate teen romance, heaps of humour.

Summary from Random House Children's Books

The pressure's on this term for the Upper Fifths...There are new boyfriends and new parents on the scene, as well as the dreaded summer exams. But will the girls still find time for fun, and for each other? You can bet on it!

Nayuleska's thoughts

This is the first book in the series that I have unreservedly adore. This is possibly due to the reduced boy obsession. I love each of the girls' character in Party Girl, I was near tears when life got hard for each of them. With such different personalities I was able to see a bit of myself in all of them which makes it easier to relate to the girls. It also made me thankful for my own amazingly kind and supportive friends. Definitely a 10/10 read!

You can find out more about Carmen and her books on her website.

Suggested read

Check out some of the other books in the series, which include Jealous Girl

Tenth Grade Bites by Heather Brewer (children's, 11 years +)

2011-11-13T00:30:00.000Z

April 2011, Razorbill,

298 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Children's, 11 years +

Themes: high school life for a unique boy, vampires, blood, teenage angst and challenges, difficult decisions, fear, moderate amount of gore and a little fighting, lying, teen romance, some humour

Summary from Penguin

It's another dark year at Bathory High for Vladimir Tod...

The evil vampre D'Ablo is hunting for the ritual that could steal Vlad's powers. His best friend doesn't want to be his drudge anymore and it's getting harder for Vlad to resist feeding on those around him. But when D'Ablo shows up demanding his father's journal, Vlad realises that having a normal high school year is the least of his concerns.

Vlad needs to act fast, and even his status as the Pravus won't save him this time...

Nayuleska's thoughts

Vlad sturggles with issues that readers can relate to. He isn't perfect, and does end up regretting his action. Additionally he finally admits he needs help. This vulnerability helps make it easier to relate to him. There isn't so much of Meredith in this book, so it gets 8/10 from me.

You can find out more about Heather and her books on her website.

Suggested reading

Definitely check out the other books in the series, including Ninth Grade Slays

Zeus Sorts it Out by John Dougherty (Children's, 5 years +)

2011-11-12T17:31:00.001Z

August 2011, Young Corgi

104 pages, Paperback & ebook

Review copy

Children's, 5 years +

Themes: school life, bullying, boys, friendship, an enthusiastic deity, school loos, Greek myth, lots of humour

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Eric, the school bully, is causing trouble for Alex's best friend Charlie. He's been stealing his crisps and flushing his head down the loo. Alex isn't sure that Zeus, the Greek god, is the best person to ask for help but before he can stop him, Charlie has built a temple (from a piece of crumpled paper) to summon Zeus.

The problem is, the hot-headed god has now taken over the boys' loos and wants smite Eric with a thunderbolt. But that's against the school rules, so how exactly will Zeus teach the bully a lesson?

Don't worry....Zeus will sort it out!

Nayuleska's thoughts

I love ancient history, and feel this interpretation of Zeus's power and might matches up with my conceived idea of him. If only all bullies could get taken down several pegs. The illustrations were the icing on the cake, especially with the speech bubbles for each person. My favourites were on page 39 and 49.

As a fantastic read, it gets 10/10

You can find out more about John and his books on his website.

Suggested reading

For more hilarious historical fun, check out history from the point of view of a cat, I am Spartapuss by Robin Price

Currently ill

2011-11-11T18:44:00.001Z

Just the usual, but I'm heading to bed for a doze. No review today, hopefully one tomorrow.

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home: Buddy and Holly's Story (Children's, 5 years +)

2011-11-10T00:30:00.000Z

September 2011, Red Fox

112 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Children's, 5 years +

Themes: having a pet, best friends, fun coincidences, holiday festivities, family life, lots of happiness,

Summary from Random House Children's Books

There's double the fun this Christmas when two of Battersea's cutest residents arrive to live on Bell Lane. Best friends Jo and Helen live next door to each other, and Santa has delivered the perfect surprise - a gorgeous tabby kitten for Jo and a cuddly golden Labrador puppy for Helen! Will Holly and Buddy prove to be best friends too?

Nayuleska's thoughts

I love how close Jo and Helen are, and it was fun being able to relate to some of their characteristics. I'm more like Jo because I wear odd socks (although on purpose rather than by accident) & I'm not a neat freak. However, cats are way better than dogs, and Helen's new family member is as mischievous as my own cat. This gets 9/10 from me.

You can visit Battersea Dogs and Cat's home website here. My current cat is a rescue cat! If you want a dog or cat, do give rescue centres a though (there are several different ones). And do be put off by how the cats behave. Mine had had a really rough time and all she did was sit on her bed. We felt sorry for her. She's a totally different cat now, known as the Tabby Tornado for the way she races around the house. The other day she shot through the cat flap so fast she didn't register a cupboard door was open and banged her head right into it (sorry for going off topic a little, I love my cat!)

Suggested reading

Check out more of the Battersea Dogs and Cats books, including one about this cute cat Cosmo's Story

Update on how I'm doing

2011-11-09T17:54:00.001Z

As I'm starting to poke my head into cyber space again, I'm bumping into friends who naturally ask how I'm doing. I'm thankful to them for caring so much to say hi, especially as I go to zero social events at the moment.

I'm not going to give all details, but here's a November update for how I'm doing.

Some of you know I had a treatment in May. It was an infusion of a strong painkiller. The aim was to help bring the pain down a little. (Note: the pain is super high, constant, and never goes away. Nothing makes it better, doing anything (and even doing nothing) can make it worse. I've had it for 2 years now).

The infusion didn't work. I got an appointment for late October to go back and discuss what to try next (that wasn't even to try another treatment.). Unfortunately due to my supreme ditzyness, and family being on holiday so not able to get me to double check things, I missed the appointment. I wasn't a happy bunny. The pain clinic didn't chuck me off their list (as I thought they would), I'm seeing them at the start of January. So we're probably looking at Spring before I try a new treatment, which has no guarantee of working.

I'm watching light anime (including Winx French version), ones which make me smile and laugh. Reading children's books is helping too, as I'm picking lighter ones. I'm having to check books when I get them, and put them to one side if they are dark. I love dystopians, but at the moment I'm staying clear of most of them.

So it's a muddle on with things and hope for the best next year! Personally I'm seeing how many times I can watch the Winx seasons. On the plus side, I'm making good progress with my wips, so I'll be able to query soon - hopefully this month. - whoohoo! Writing helps a lot. I'm putting my energy into that, so we'll see how it goes). Plus the photocopier at work is being it's usual misbehaving self and causing jams at completely inappropriate times of day. The world is normal when I have to give it a bash or too!

(This friendship hug is how I feel for my friends (left to right: Musa, Flora (my favourite!) Musa, Stella (also my favourite - ok so all of them are but Flora & Stella probably more so). The world survives on love.)

Winner of 300 follower competition

2011-11-09T17:11:00.003Z

Midnight of 8th November has been and gone, so it's time to announce the winner of the 300 followers competition.

A massive 158 of you put your names in to win my (read once) ARC of Elizabeth Miles' Fury.

So after putting the numbers in the random number generator, the person getting this copy is...

Lakshmi!

Many congratulations, I'll be in touch shortly by email to verify the win.

Thank you to everyone who entered, and spread the word about my blog because now I've got 322 followers! I hope over the next few months I might make it to 400, which I've got a special prize in mind for. Make that prizes as there is more than one!

I hope you continue to enjoy the reviews here on Nayu's Reading Corner, because I fully enjoy reading the books and sharing my thoughts on them.

Gargoylz Wild in the Woods by Burchett and Vogler (Children's, 5 years +)

2011-11-09T00:30:00.000Z

September 2011, Red Fox

128 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Children's, 5 years +

Themes: inseparable friends, bullies, school life, camping with school, having to explain strange goings on, parents who are like their children, lots of humour

Summary from Random House Children's Books

Max and Ben are off for an awesome adventure in the woods - going camping with their favourite Gargoyle friends. A scary story about a monster that lives nearby has spooked the Gargoylz, and Max and Ben want to investigate....But will bully Barry the Basher meet the monster first?

Nayuleska's thoughts

I shouldn't have be surprised about Barry's father, or what the pair do, but I was. I did like how justice was served by the end. It was hard to work who was more excited about the camping, the Gargoylz or Max and Ben. They all have oodles of enthusiasm, which bounces off the pages. This is definitely a 10/10 read.

Make sure you check out the Gargoylz website which has fun games, facts about the characters and other exciting things!

Suggested read

Catch up with some of the other Gargoylz books, perhaps my favourite one Gargoylz Summer Fun

Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk (Fantasy, Urban Fantasy)

2011-11-08T00:30:00.000Z

October 2011, Penguin,

384 pages, Paperback

Review copy

Fantasy, Urban Fantasy

Themes: families, true friendship, taking risks, hunted, injustice, personal journeys and discovery, sunshine after rain and vice versa, funky powers, knitting! cute cat, a balance of thrills and fun, 2ish strong adult romance scenes, lots of humour

Summary from Penguin

"Using magic, meant it used you back. Forget the fairytale hocus pocus, sparkles and pixie dust crap. Magic, like booze, sex and drugs, gave as good as it got"

Everything has a cost. And every act of magic exacts a price from its user, maybe a two-day migraine, or losing the memory of your first kiss. But some people want to use magic without paying and they Offload the cost onto innocents. When that happens, it falls to a Hound to identify the spell's caster - and Allie Beckstrom is the best there is.

Daughter of a prominent Portland businessmen, Allie would rather moonlight as a Hound than accept the family fortune - and the strings that come with it. But when she discovers a little boy dying from a magic offload that has her father's signature all over it, Allie is thrown into the high stakes world of corporate espionage and black magic...

Nayuleska's thoughts

I've found a book which vies alongside one of my top favourites (which are by Maria V Schnyder). Allie is instantly likeable, probably more so because I share a lot of character traits with her and her friend. (I adore knitting fingerless gloves). I love the concepts of magic, and how it all works. What happens to Allie is terrifyingly awesome, and feels as if it could happen in our world. There is a lot of danger in the story, but it isn't all encompassing - there's almost always a sense of hope soon after dark moments, especially at the end.

It will be a long wait to January to read the sequel to this 11/10 book. Yes, 11. I'm miscounting on purpose. I want to reread the book already (but I have a stack which need my attention first).

Check out Devon's website for more about her books

Suggested read

For an equally fun read (with vampires) try Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill.

What are you reading? #89

2011-11-07T08:01:00.001Z

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Young Adult

(A re-read for me....I love the world of mermaids in this humerous tale.)

10/10

New Beginnings by Rebecca Emin

Children's

(A highly readable tale about a girl who suffers from bullying, but is able to pick herself up and get help in the end. Scheduled for release, January 2012.)

10/10

Winners of #1 & #2 Half term competition

2011-11-06T17:36:00.000Z

A day later than planned, here are the people who won a prize from my two half term competitions!

Competition #1's prize (with 62 entrants)

has been won by Robbo769!

Competition #2's prize (with 71 entrants)

has been won by flossey!

Congratulations! Robbo, I've just emailed you details about posting the prize. Flossie, if possibly please could you email me - the address on the entry form has been bounced back. Thankfully you put your postal details so the book won't be delayed. Remember, there's still 2 days to enter the competition for winning my proof copy of this book

News

2011-11-06T17:24:00.001Z

(a nice, bright sunny picture to brighten up an overcast day (which is now night))

Very shortly I'm putting up a post for competition winners, but first up figured I'd have an early winter update on 'stuff'.

I'm starting to read more books! This is a plus. Today I've read nearly 4 (ok so children's books can make it easier to finish a book, because some are super short (but correct length for age group). I feel more normal by breathing books. Sadly I still get too tired for reading, but that's what DVDs are for.

In conjunction with the post where I changed my focus of NRC (more on that it a minute), I can say for definite that I won't get to try new treatment until next year, and there's no guarantee it'll work. It's been a real relief to read lighter books. I can't remember where I saw it online, but I recently heard the comment about how dark Young Adult has become. In some cases that was very true. That's not a criticism, it's just how things are. I've needed humour and I haven't been disappointed.

I don't always put a review up every day. I'm learning that if I'm not up for it, there's no way I'm posting up a review when I should be resting. I know a few people who are glad I'm seeing sense in that area.

I am reading other genres than children's - but apparently that's inevitable as I enjoy such a wide range. They will be on NRC for now, rather than the second blog for 12 years + books. Work on that is happening, but it's a huge project and will take time.

You may have noticed that my reviews have morphed into a few sentences. That's turning out to be quicker for me to post, and somehow has cut the work down, which is always a plus.

I think that's all the news I've got. There are some awesome books being published in 2012, it's such a privilege to be able to read them now. The problem is I mostly have to keep quiet because some of the reviews are for blog tours.

Now that it's darker early, the best thing any of us can do is snuggle up with a blanket and read!

(nose in a book = very good occupation)