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George is known around his community for getting into trouble, and his antics capture the attention of the Pilfer Academy, a secret school for young thieves, crooks, and the like who promptly kidnap and enroll him. George learns the thrill of playing with new thieving gadgets and even finds a new partner-in-crime, Tabitha. However, nothing shakes the uneasy feeling in George’s stomach. The teachers aren’t terribly professional and something about stealing feels wrong. George and Tabitha will have to create a master plan like none before if they hope to steal themselves away from Pilfer Academy.
Having adored Lauren Magaziner’s previous book, THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN WITCHES, I was delighted to read PILFER ACADEMY, and I was not disappointed. PILFER ACADEMY is a fun story with plenty of puns and humor, guaranteeing reading time filled with laughs. The boarding school type setting makes for exciting adventures and great descriptions.
George makes a great protagonist and even role model. He experiences the rush of doing something bad like thievery, but he has a strong conscious. His character development as he learns to listen to his gut is beautiful, especially when his gut goes against what the people around him think. The friendship with Tabitha is lovely as well. She is the Hermione Granger of the academy, and though she and George have rocky spots in their relationship, genuine respect and acceptance are always there. The author includes a nice variety of minor characters, giving just enough specific detail to distinguish them all but never throwing too many characters in at once to become confusing.
PILFER ACADEMY is destined to steal the laughter, hearts, and possibly wallets of many. This humorous story of thievery and friendship teaches readers to listen to their own voice and watch out for any Whirlyblergs.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/19537-pilfer-academy
Having adored Lauren Magaziner’s previous book, THE ONLY THING WORSE THAN WITCHES, I was delighted to read PILFER ACADEMY, and I was not disappointed. PILFER ACADEMY is a fun story with plenty of puns and humor, guaranteeing reading time filled with laughs. The boarding school type setting makes for exciting adventures and great descriptions.
George makes a great protagonist and even role model. He experiences the rush of doing something bad like thievery, but he has a strong conscious. His character development as he learns to listen to his gut is beautiful, especially when his gut goes against what the people around him think. The friendship with Tabitha is lovely as well. She is the Hermione Granger of the academy, and though she and George have rocky spots in their relationship, genuine respect and acceptance are always there. The author includes a nice variety of minor characters, giving just enough specific detail to distinguish them all but never throwing too many characters in at once to become confusing.
PILFER ACADEMY is destined to steal the laughter, hearts, and possibly wallets of many. This humorous story of thievery and friendship teaches readers to listen to their own voice and watch out for any Whirlyblergs.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/19537-pilfer-academy
Chloe Cho is fed up with the people around her automatically comparing her to Abigail Yang, not knowing the difference between Korean, Chinese, and Japanese, and crediting her intellect to her being Asian. She’s also angry at her parents who refuse to tell her anything about their Korean background, something she desperately wants to know more about. When an assignment from the new, Korean American teacher leads Chloe to push for more answers from her parents, she discovers something she never imagined.
UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung features a lively main character, Chloe, who has a powerfully strong voice. She’s a rage of emotion, action, and snappy dialogue, and readers will easily feel her come alive on every page. The story brings up several important issues on diversity, from examples of everyday racism to personal feelings on ancestry, making this a much needed addition to middle grade bookshelves.
The friendship between Chloe and Shelley stands out beautifully. They have a very positive relationship, while also showing that fights are part of friendship. Their relationship is supportive, especially as Shelley attempts to recognize her own privilege and internal bias.
The mid story plot twist feels a bit strange. However, the way it changes the direction of the plot offers chances for deep discussion; it just takes a few chapters to wrap your head around.
Chloe is an unforgettable character: vocal, assertive, and completely hilarious. Readers who want a good laugh, an important discussion on diversity, and a surprise plot twist should grab UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT immediately.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kbc-home/latest-kids-indie/discussions/review?id=37397
UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT by Mike Jung features a lively main character, Chloe, who has a powerfully strong voice. She’s a rage of emotion, action, and snappy dialogue, and readers will easily feel her come alive on every page. The story brings up several important issues on diversity, from examples of everyday racism to personal feelings on ancestry, making this a much needed addition to middle grade bookshelves.
The friendship between Chloe and Shelley stands out beautifully. They have a very positive relationship, while also showing that fights are part of friendship. Their relationship is supportive, especially as Shelley attempts to recognize her own privilege and internal bias.
The mid story plot twist feels a bit strange. However, the way it changes the direction of the plot offers chances for deep discussion; it just takes a few chapters to wrap your head around.
Chloe is an unforgettable character: vocal, assertive, and completely hilarious. Readers who want a good laugh, an important discussion on diversity, and a surprise plot twist should grab UNIDENTIFIED SUBURBAN OBJECT immediately.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kbc-home/latest-kids-indie/discussions/review?id=37397
"READER, I MARRIED HIM is a short story collection inspired by the famous Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. This collection offers stories from several popular authors, including Emma Donoghue and Helen Dunmore. The stories range from ones featuring exact characters from Jane Eyre, such as Jane herself and Grace Poole, to stories that take a theme or idea from Jane Eyre and run with it. " Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=59125
"In 1940, Charlotte and her best friend, Kitty, listen as Charlotte's father tells them his research on time travel. When Charlotte and Kitty are put in danger because of the secrets the German government believes Charlotte's father has, Charlotte makes a snap decision that separates her from everyone she loves. Alone and unsure, Charlotte knows only that she must find Kitty." Full review at Fresh Fiction: http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=59127
In this third and final installment in the Age of Legends trilogy, Moria and Ashyn are desperate to defeat Alvar Kitsune and rescue the empire and their village’s children. While Moria must force a tentative alliance with Gavril in effort to take Alvar down, Ashyn is reunited with a grandfather she never knew who believes she is the key to a special ritual. With deception and danger all around them, the twins will have to watch their backs if they want to stay alive.
What I Loved:
Ever since I read the first book in this series, I’ve both dreaded and anticipated the last book. I wanted so badly to find out what happens to the characters I love so much, but I also never wanted their story to end. This final book delivers all the action expected from the previous two books and more. Moria and Ashyn still face some of the dangers of previous books, such as the shadow stalkers, but a few new creatures are introduced, adding to the rich world building. The dragons are hands down my favorite addition.
The plot twists seem somewhat less than previous books, but their impacts are just as big. The plot twist during the climax is one of my favorites, showing real emotional sacrifice from one character. The ending answers all major questions for the most part, though it does wrap up a little quickly.
What Left Me Wanting More:
As powerful and intense as the action is, it wasn’t well balanced with the emotional side of the story. Most of the characters’ reactions feel a bit rushed over, and I had a harder time connecting with the characters this time because of that. However, readers who are primarily in for the action will definitely not be disappointed.
Alongside that, specifically Ashyn’s side of the story comes across as neglected. Her character does grow, but her chapters are so spread out between Moria’s that it doesn’t feel as strong. The plot almost seems to leave her behind as Moria, Gavril, and Tyrus are focused on. The sister bond between Moria and Ashyn that was so well established in the first book is significantly missing from this one, and one sister isn’t even present during the big climatic scene.
Final Verdict:
Though the lack of developed emotion and imbalance of the sisters’ sides are disappointing, FOREST OF RUIN captures the intense action, rich world building, and fiery romance that Kelley Armstrong fans expect and adore.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/19535-forest-of-ruin
What I Loved:
Ever since I read the first book in this series, I’ve both dreaded and anticipated the last book. I wanted so badly to find out what happens to the characters I love so much, but I also never wanted their story to end. This final book delivers all the action expected from the previous two books and more. Moria and Ashyn still face some of the dangers of previous books, such as the shadow stalkers, but a few new creatures are introduced, adding to the rich world building. The dragons are hands down my favorite addition.
The plot twists seem somewhat less than previous books, but their impacts are just as big. The plot twist during the climax is one of my favorites, showing real emotional sacrifice from one character. The ending answers all major questions for the most part, though it does wrap up a little quickly.
What Left Me Wanting More:
As powerful and intense as the action is, it wasn’t well balanced with the emotional side of the story. Most of the characters’ reactions feel a bit rushed over, and I had a harder time connecting with the characters this time because of that. However, readers who are primarily in for the action will definitely not be disappointed.
Alongside that, specifically Ashyn’s side of the story comes across as neglected. Her character does grow, but her chapters are so spread out between Moria’s that it doesn’t feel as strong. The plot almost seems to leave her behind as Moria, Gavril, and Tyrus are focused on. The sister bond between Moria and Ashyn that was so well established in the first book is significantly missing from this one, and one sister isn’t even present during the big climatic scene.
Final Verdict:
Though the lack of developed emotion and imbalance of the sisters’ sides are disappointing, FOREST OF RUIN captures the intense action, rich world building, and fiery romance that Kelley Armstrong fans expect and adore.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yafiction/19535-forest-of-ruin
3.5 stars rounded up
Short and Sweet:
This fun, dancing story is perfect for middle grade readers who love dance!
To Elaborate…
I love books and movies that focus on dance. I took dance classes myself during my middle school years, and I went on to do colorguard in high school and in college, so I love reading stories with people who love to perform. Brooks Benjamin handles the dancing element perfectly in this story. Dillon loves to dance, but he hasn’t had any training. He makes up his own style with his friends/crew, but a big part of him yearns for learning something other than his created style. When he gets the chance to possibly work with a studio, he’s torn between seeing formal training as restrictive and rule bound (as his friends see it) or as a means of becoming a real dancer. Dillon’s conflict is something I’ve heard happening in many creative areas (especially creative writing): does some sort of formal schooling dampen or strengthen a person’s creativity? Dillon’s exploration of that question is lovely, especially as his friends (and not-so-friends) bring their own perspectives into the discussion.
The secondary characters, particularly Kassie and Sarah, are really fleshed out. I love seeing a female-female conflict that isn’t stereotypically black and white. Sarah is far from a blanket ‘mean girl,’ and the conclusion between her and Kassie is perfection. Benjamin also does a good job of integrating LGBTQ characters into the story, which is especially great to find in a middle grade book.
While I think the humor in the story is perfect for the age group, I personally didn’t enjoy it as much as I think the age group will. There are also several different dance competitions/performances in the story, and sometimes the timeline for what was happening when was a little confusing.
Overall, I think this would make an excellent addition to any middle grade shelf. It tackles issues of peer pressure, masculinity, family dynamics, crushes, and of course, dancing.
Originally posted at TFoWaP: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/
Short and Sweet:
This fun, dancing story is perfect for middle grade readers who love dance!
To Elaborate…
I love books and movies that focus on dance. I took dance classes myself during my middle school years, and I went on to do colorguard in high school and in college, so I love reading stories with people who love to perform. Brooks Benjamin handles the dancing element perfectly in this story. Dillon loves to dance, but he hasn’t had any training. He makes up his own style with his friends/crew, but a big part of him yearns for learning something other than his created style. When he gets the chance to possibly work with a studio, he’s torn between seeing formal training as restrictive and rule bound (as his friends see it) or as a means of becoming a real dancer. Dillon’s conflict is something I’ve heard happening in many creative areas (especially creative writing): does some sort of formal schooling dampen or strengthen a person’s creativity? Dillon’s exploration of that question is lovely, especially as his friends (and not-so-friends) bring their own perspectives into the discussion.
The secondary characters, particularly Kassie and Sarah, are really fleshed out. I love seeing a female-female conflict that isn’t stereotypically black and white. Sarah is far from a blanket ‘mean girl,’ and the conclusion between her and Kassie is perfection. Benjamin also does a good job of integrating LGBTQ characters into the story, which is especially great to find in a middle grade book.
While I think the humor in the story is perfect for the age group, I personally didn’t enjoy it as much as I think the age group will. There are also several different dance competitions/performances in the story, and sometimes the timeline for what was happening when was a little confusing.
Overall, I think this would make an excellent addition to any middle grade shelf. It tackles issues of peer pressure, masculinity, family dynamics, crushes, and of course, dancing.
Originally posted at TFoWaP: http://www.forestofwordsandpages.com/
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In the third and final book of the Luck Uglies series, Rye is locked right in the cross between the Luck Uglies and the Fork-Tongue Charmers as she fights to rescue her father. While venturing back to Drowning to help him, she finds her village full of Bog Noblins and fear. With most of the adults fighting, it’s up to her and her friends to save the village.
Paul Durham finishes the Luck Uglies series with a perfectly executed plot and breathless pacing leading up to the big climax. The plot twists are numerous and excellently timed, giving the reader just enough pause to gasp before continuing right through. The familiar world of Rye and her friends is as lovely as it was discovering it in the first book. Readers will see several creatures they are familiar with, but the new ones are equally fascinating/scary.
While the entire book is an adventurous thrill ride, the last third or so stole the show for me. The bond between Rye and the people around her has always been strong, but readers can really feel them all coming together during the big finale. One of the final scenes concerning the future of a High Chieften might be my favorite scene of the entire series. The theme of finding your own path is strong, as well as the powerful message to follow your heart to the decisions you believe are best, whether history sees them as one way or another.
There are a few moments of comic relief to help ease some of the tension in high stress areas, especially ones that bring up minor characters from previous novels. The chance to have a laugh is very welcome and lightens some of the darker moments.
Readers who have followed this series will not be disappointed with THE LUCK UGLIES: RISE OF THE RAGGED CLOVER. Rye’s story concludes beautifully with action galore.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/19550-rise-of-the-ragged-clover
Paul Durham finishes the Luck Uglies series with a perfectly executed plot and breathless pacing leading up to the big climax. The plot twists are numerous and excellently timed, giving the reader just enough pause to gasp before continuing right through. The familiar world of Rye and her friends is as lovely as it was discovering it in the first book. Readers will see several creatures they are familiar with, but the new ones are equally fascinating/scary.
While the entire book is an adventurous thrill ride, the last third or so stole the show for me. The bond between Rye and the people around her has always been strong, but readers can really feel them all coming together during the big finale. One of the final scenes concerning the future of a High Chieften might be my favorite scene of the entire series. The theme of finding your own path is strong, as well as the powerful message to follow your heart to the decisions you believe are best, whether history sees them as one way or another.
There are a few moments of comic relief to help ease some of the tension in high stress areas, especially ones that bring up minor characters from previous novels. The chance to have a laugh is very welcome and lightens some of the darker moments.
Readers who have followed this series will not be disappointed with THE LUCK UGLIES: RISE OF THE RAGGED CLOVER. Rye’s story concludes beautifully with action galore.
Originally posted at YABC: http://www.yabookscentral.com/kidsfiction/19550-rise-of-the-ragged-clover
