I was expecting a story about dragons, but instead I got a story mainly about squirrels. Ummm... What? I love the main idea of the clay dragons having a magic spark within them. I liked the main characters, and how we gradually learn more about the little dragons and where they come from. The writing was a little awkward in places, but the story is charming.

I liked everything about the dragons, but those stupid squirrels! Ugh! I agree with the villain of the story, Mr. Henry, that squirrels are rodents with fur, vermin and pests, who should be trapped and disposed of. I am not exactly an animal lover anyway, so a story about people who love squirrels was not exactly my cup of tea.
I might keep reading the series though, because those dragons are so cute and interesting!

Update: I'm NOT going to read the rest of the series. I prefer books about REAL dragons. The clay dragons are cute, but they just don't compare to the real deal.

Very informative and helpful

Iko and Kinney are teaming up again to stop the bloodthirsty Lunar wolf-soldiers who are terrorizing Earth, but this time Alpha Steele is planning even worse atrocities, murdering and kidnapping Cinder's friends to get his revenge on the Lunar throne.
Cinder and all the gang are back, navigating the tenuous politics between Earth and Luna, and finding a little time to just hang out as friends.

I really enjoyed seeing more of Iko's story unfold, and how her unique programming was developed. And of course, I loved seeing all my favorite characters again, being all cute and delightful and fierce.

However, there are just SO many characters, which worked fine in the books, but there are too many for a graphic novel. Sometimes, I had difficulty remembering which character was which, especially the men who tend to look the same. I know all their names, but I guess I couldn't remember their cartoon faces well enough to recognize them unless someone said their name in the dialogue.

Also, some of my favorite characters didn't get much "screen time," and Thorne only had two jokes. There just isn't enough room in a graphic novel to do them all justice.

I really loved the drama of Scarlet and Wolf's story, and how it threw some uncertainty and conflict into the story. Their romance is my second favorite of the series, so I was happy to see them being sweet and fiery together.

My favorite romance is Cress and Thorne, and I was disappointed not to see more of them, but they do have a couple of good scenes that made me a happy reader!

And of course, Cinder and Kai are utterly wonderful and adorable and serious. Winter is her own strange and wild self, with Jacin hanging around as her shadow in nearly every scene. I love them all!

I liked the plot, but I thought the final dangerous scene was a little too drawn out with lots of talking. They seemed to be repeating a lot of the same things we already knew, like that Cinder is willing to sacrifice herself for her friends, but her friends won't let her because she inspires them all with loyalty, etc.. etc.. I don't know why it took 10 pages to explain all that AGAIN, when we've always known it. Just take down the bad guy already, instead of standing around talking to him!

I adore the beautiful illustrations and the blue-tinted artwork! It really brings the world to life and shows the essence of the characters.

Overall, I LOVED revisiting the Lunar world and seeing all my favorite darling characters again. My main difficulty is just that a graphic novel can't do justice to the wide scope of the books. Still enjoyed it and loved every page!

The Swallows and Amazons are sailing through the China Seas aboard the "Wildcat" with Captain Flint, when they are captured by pirates and made the prisoners of the pirate queen, Missee Lee.

This is my least favorite book in the Swallows and Amazons series, but it's still a good one! There's rollicking adventure, and plenty of humor. Mainly I just love the characters and their unique personalities. The plot takes a lot of twists and turns, with a beautiful setting and interesting development.

Kitty is a 19-year-old pilot on a summer mission to observe humpback whales in Juneau, Alaska, when she stumbles across the path of some gold thieves and is forced on a trek through the Alaskan wild as their captive.

Move over, Nancy Drew! I have a new favorite teen detective! This book ended up being so much more amazing than I ever expected, with an adventurous plot full of twists and turns, compelling and complex characters, and clever dialogue.

The plot really surprised me several times. I was gasping, and jumping up and down in my seat. I was giggling, and crying, and shaking my fists to the skies. I was completely swept away by the story!

I adore Kitty's character! I love how she talks to herself, and she is sometimes awkward or silly. She is tough and smart, but also emotional and sensitive. She is a complex and relatable character, and at times, I felt like I WAS her. I was the girl in the story, savvy and capable and running headlong into danger, or nervous about a first date and checking my hair in the mirror. Kitty is so adorable and sweet and plucky!

I have such a fondness for the crazy brothers she tags along with on her adventures. Each brother has their own understated but powerful personality, and I was always puzzling through their story, eager to know more about them. I pretty much fell in love with each of them, especially Charlie.

It was the dialogue between these characters that really made me love them. It can be difficult to write natural dialogue that feels like actual people are talking, but so many times, I was drawn in by the brilliant and familiar conversations between characters that showed their closeness, their fatigue, their anxiety, their affection for each other, and a myriad of other aspects of their relationships and the essence of their characters.

I gained a whole new appreciation for the wonders and beauty of nature in the Yukon, Alaska, and surrounding coastline. Kitty travels through hundreds of miles of beautiful terrain, across dazzling seas, through pristine forests, and around lakes and rivers. The way she describes the clear air and the splendid Northern Lights made me feel like I was there, experiencing these natural wonders for myself. Talk about a fantastic setting! Every new place that Kitty went made me eager to see more and go further, deeper into the wilderness with her.

A big part of my enjoyment of the lovely setting was the exciting history of the Gold Rush and the mysteries of missing gold, sunken treasure, and the stories of old miners hiding their loot. The rich and terrifying history of the Gold Rush served as a backdrop for Kitty's story, and the more she learned about the bizarre past of the land, the more I wanted to learn too. The writing masterfully paced the release of historical information so that it was seamlessly woven in with the action-packed plot.

I only have two complaints about this book. The print was really small, and I found myself squinting to read. And there are far too many chapters, and some chapter breaks are poorly placed within the story. Having 82 chapters is a bit too much, especially when most chapters are only 2-3 pages long. It broke up the pacing of the story at times. I would have preferred longer chapters, and a slightly larger print type.

However, I loved the writing style, and I appreciated the excellent story-telling. So many times, I completely forgot that I was reading, because I was completely immersed in the story.

I can't wait to read the rest of this series! I am completely in love with Kitty Hawk!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.

Kitty Hawk is vacationing in the Florida Keys where she encounters a mystery in the treacherous waters of the Gulf. Her adventures lead her to sunken shipwrecks, peculiar echoes of Hemingway's typewriter, and strange lights on the ocean floor. The history of the Keys unfolds as Kitty's curiosity propels her into danger and the uncovering of ancient secrets.

I loved every minute of this book! The plot takes many twists and turns that kept me wanting to read more. There is so much action and spying, and Kitty flies all over the Keys investigating every clue on the trail of each suspicious circumstance. One of the best things about the plot is the puzzling aspect of the mystery. I love plots that have some sort of puzzle to solve, with cryptic maps or symbols to decipher.

The gorgeous Florida setting had me longing for sunshine, clear waters, and beautiful beaches. And I loved all the history about the Florida Keys! There are so many unusual stories of old shipwrecks and wars, along with the people who perished long ago in the briny deep.

Kitty continues to be a fascinating character. I love her spunk and bravery, and I especially like how she is curious about everything, wanting to learn more about each place she visits. But sometimes I am shaking my head at how many risks she takes. She is always poking her head into the lion's mouth! Show a little more caution, girl!
(Maybe not a good idea for a young girl to be walking around a strange town all alone at 2:30am in the dark on a lonely street where you are gonna get kidnapped or something! Seriously, have a little common sense and stay in your hotel.)
Of course, I used to say the same thing to Nancy Drew. Always getting into trouble, that one. haha!)
I also like that Kitty has the ability to make friends so quickly with the people she meets. She is kind and funny and personable, and I enjoyed reading about how her friendships with various people develop and deepen.

All the supporting characters are varied and interesting, but I wish there was room in the narrative for more of their backstories. They have a little bit of backstory, but most of them don't get enough "screentime" to be fully developed.

One of my favorite parts of the book was when Kitty jumped into the ocean to swim away from the bad guys, and to keep her iPhone from getting wet, she tucked her phone into the knot of her ponytail to keep it dry, so she could swim with both hands. Say what?!?!
I immediately thought, "This is ridiculous. There is NO way that a ponytail would hold up an iPhone. It would easily slip out! This book was obviously written by an ignorant man with short hair."
Then I tried it with my own ponytail. Spoiler alert: It Works!!! I was nodding and shaking my head, trying to dislodge it, and that phone STAYED in my hair! (Also, FIY.... it works with a French braid in your hair too. Because of course, I had to try that as well.) Who knew?! I don't know if he got his wife or sister or girlfriend to try it and verify for him, but this author did his research. RESPECT.
(P.S. Maybe not a good idea to carry your iPhone around in your hair on a regular basis, because A. you look stupid and B. you will most likely get a brain tumor.)

I am so in love with this series, and can't wait to read more Kitty Hawk!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

Young Peter Simple is given a place aboard ship as a midshipman, and he tells us his adventures on the high seas. He distinguishes himself in battle, earning the respect and admiration of his fellow officers. He is shipwrecked, imprisoned, and somehow manages to fall in love in the middle of it all. Peter meets a variety of interesting characters all over the world, who play a part in his epic story.

The plot is full of action and intrigue, betrayal and sneaking plots, raging storms and bloody battles, and of course a little romance. I love the setting of the British frigates cruising through the West Indies looking for trouble with the French. The politics of a warship, and the little rivalries between officers make the story even more dramatic.

I especially liked the concept of "honor" and "chivalry" between the French and British officers. Often prisoners (mostly officers) would be "put on parole", where a prisoner gives his word of honor that he will not try to escape, so he is set at liberty to roam around town, and told to report to the jail in a few weeks. These men had such a high sense of honor that they would not even take a chance of escaping if it meant besmirching their integrity. I love these high ideals!

Peter is painfully naive at the beginning of the book, earning the double meaning of his "Simple" surname. He is foolish and silly and ignorant of the ways of the world, but he begins to grow and learn and becomes a little more wary. However, despite his loss of childish innocence, he never loses his gentle heart, his generosity, and solid sense of fairness. He rises to meet every challenge with vigor and honesty.
He thoroughly embarrasses himself in the beginning, but gradually you see him develop into a strong man, a wise officer, and a capable gentleman. The best part of this book was that beautiful character development! I adore Peter from start to finish!

I really loved the friendship between Peter and O'Brien, and how they stick together through thick and thin. Their loyal friendship is one of the pillars of this book, and a strong emotional force to draw the reader into the story.

The ending was very rushed, suddenly throwing things together in about 15 pages. The story definitely could have used a little more denouement.

Minor spoilers with no names mentioned:
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The ending was hurried and slapdash with ridiculously convenient circumstances resolving each difficulty all at once.
One of the villains conveniently dies in an accident at the last second, and another villain is killed in a duel... conveniently... at the last second. After years of separation, the major love interest just happens to show up in England.... conveniently... at the right time.
The long-lost relative that no one can find, who has disappeared without a trace just happens to be at the theater the same night that Peter just happens to go to the theater.... conveniently.... at the right theater.
That woman who was needed as a witness at the trial just happens to come back from years and years in India... conveniently... just before the trial.

All of this happens in the last 15 pages!! It's a bit too much. The ending needed more finesse, but the rest of the book is wonderful!

I was unable to read past the first few pages because of all the profanity in this graphic novel. I'm very disappointed. So I guess I can't really write a review, because I only read 5 pages. The colorful artwork looks beautiful, which is mainly why I wanted to read this. Too bad it looks beautiful, but the dialogue is ugly.

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

A simple fishermen gets up one morning, eats breakfast with his wife, and sets out to sea hoping for a good catch. But his day does not go as planned. A massive fishing trawler almost runs him down, a storm hits his little craft, he encounters bloodthirsty pirates, and gets his propeller tangled in a fishing net. Meanwhile, his wife is distraught with worry, and decides to go looking for him, falling into adventures of her own with belligerent chefs, sleek fashionistas, and military dictators.

This story takes so many twists and turns! I loved every page. It is absolutely hilarious and fun from start to finish, and I felt such a connection with the dear fisherman and his sweet wife. It was delightful to see good and simple people, who only want a quiet life in their little village, thrown out into the world in the most ridiculous circumstances.

The artwork is so eloquent that no words are needed. There is not one bit of dialogue in the entire story, and it is perfect! The facial expressions of the characters, and the energy of their movements tells the whole story. I was completely entranced with the art, and read the whole story in one sitting.

I would love to see more from this artist/ author!

Disclaimer: I received an ecopy if this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts and are not influenced by anyone.

The four Cares siblings run around the country side in 1907, running races, exploring the reservoirs, chasing after burglars, fighting their own private wars, and making secret trips into the city. They are constantly in trouble for dirtying their clothes, tearing their stockings, and coming home covered in mud, but they certainly have fun!

I really loved Jane in this first book, and was glad that a lot of the stories focused on her. She's a sweet little girl with a big heart, and two troublesome brothers to look after. She is full of energy and emotion, and she rises up to every challenge.

I hated Theodore in this book, just as I have in every book in this series. He's a bully. He's selfish and downright mean to his siblings. He blames everyone else for his problems, instead of taking responsibility. He's terrible, and I hate him.

The plot is wonderful, with lots of funny little adventures and misunderstandings! I love the charming writing style, and the beautiful country setting.