TILLY'S MOONLIGHT GARDEN by Julia Green

I read this book aloud to my six-year-old daughter, and we both enjoyed it. Tilly has moved into an drafty old mansion, far from her friends, and her mother is on bedrest for pregnancy complications. Tilly is having a difficult time, so when she is led by a fox to an enchanted garden, she makes a den for herself and befriends Helen, the girl she meets there. TILLY'S MOONLIGHT GARDEN is nothing short of magical. The blurring of what is real and what is in Tilly's imagination is beautifully executed, giving an aura of otherworldliness to the entire novel. Tilly plays with Helen by moonlight, and slowly makes a daytime friend at school. She frets about her mother: will her mother ever be well again? Will she really have a healthy baby?

Tilly's struggles are stressful for a child: an ill parent, a new school, loneliness. The moonlight garden soothes her and makes her daytime life bearable. There is no big realization on her part about reality versus imagination, but that just keeps the story more magical.

Source disclosure: I received an e-galley of this title from the publisher.

THE DRAGON TURN by Shane Peacock

I really enjoyed the previous book in this series, THE SECRET FIEND, but this, the fifth in the "Boy Sherlock Holmes" series, seemed long to me. It simply lacked the tension that kept me turning pages in THE SECRET FIEND, and I found myself setting it aside to read other books. In this installment, one magician (Hemsworth) is suspected of murdering another (Nottingham), who happened to have stolen his wife away. Only bits of Nottingham are found, and no one knows how Hemsworth did it. Against his resolve to stay out of detective matters until adulthood, Holmes agrees to look into the case at the prodding of Irene Doyle, who has been offered a chance to sing in Hemsworth's show.

The solution was telegraphed from the beginning, which accounts for some of the slack in the tension. Wondering what on earth happened is always more engaging than waiting to find I was right. This book was also heavy on the love-triangle angle, which isn't particularly interesting to me. Angsty teenaged Holmes infatuated with two very different young ladies just doesn't hold my interest.

Even if it isn't Peacock's best, young Holmes is still very readable, and I'll be reading the conclusion to the series, BECOMING HOLMES, next.

My review of THE SECRET FIEND is right here. Source disclosure: I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the publisher.

THE CUPCAKE CLUB: WINNER BAKES ALL by Sheryl Berk and Carrie Berk

I'm trying to avoid bad puns like "fluffy" and "confection" when describing this book, which I read aloud to my six-year-old daughter, but I'm not sure that's possible. This is the third in a series by a mother and her nine-year-old daughter, and the first my daughter and I read. I'm doubt that we'll seek out the first two books in the series, as we both pronounced WINNER BAKES ALL merely "okay."

Fifth-grader Sadie, a great soccer player, is struggling with math and anxious about her cupcake club/business's upcoming televised competition on BATTLE OF THE BAKERS. She's also worried about her parents, who are fighting constantly about money, and about the economy, which is taking its toll on the profits of Peace, Love, and Cupcakes. The girls (Sadie, Kylie, Lexi, and Jenna) work together very well and support each other. Since I wasn't familiar with the first two books and the background was dribbled out inefficiently, it took me a bit to get up to speed. The girls have a cupcake club under the advisement of Miss Juliette, the drama teacher at school, that is also a business. It's not a small business, either - one order of 250 cupcakes is supposed to bring in $1,200. I'm not really sure how elementary school students manage to keep up with running a business (not to mention health department issues with selling food made in a home kitchen), but my daughter enjoyed their brainstorming about cupcake ideas quite a bit. She had less patience with the "serious" issues given cursory treatment - Sadie's concern about her parents is repetitive, with Sadie hearing them fight about money and worrying about divorce until, at the end, her parents tell her she has nothing to worry about. Problem solved. The BATTLE OF THE BAKERS competition was cute. The other competitors are caricatures and PLC randomly brings in an extra friend to help them bake with the competition, but their brainstorming and careful execution of ideas are entertaining. Recipes included at the end are a nice bonus.

I'm not sure what tweeners would make of this book. My daughter and I are both outside the target audience for WINNER BAKES ALL, and she enjoyed it more than I did. There are many children's books that transcend their target audience and are a delight for adults to read, but this is not one of them. The divorce issue is a red herring that makes the book initially seem deeper than it is, and honestly, it would have been fine without that storyline. Divorce is a serious issue, and one that certainly concerns children, but it's not treated with any depth here. The same is true with the money problems - while Sadie seems to feel that making more money from cupcakes might help her family, what are the stakes, really, for a child-run business?

I'm giving this one three stars for the positive relationships among the girls and for the cupcake fun.

Source disclosure: I received an e-galley of this title from the publisher.

AFTERNOON OF THE ELVES by Janet Taylor Lisle

AFTERNOON OF THE ELVES was first published in 1989. I was twelve, so I missed this one. It was an excellent readaloud with my six-year-old daughter, and I think it would be a good read for any age. This rerelease includes "A Personal History of Janet Taylor Lisle" and a photo album at the end. Hillary isn't friends with Sara-Kate, the odd, shabbily dressed girl whose backyard abuts her own. But one day, Sara-Kate seeks Hillary out to show her the tiny village she claims elves built in the ruins of her trash-filled yard, and Hillary is enchanted. In fact, she suspects Sara-Kate herself may be an elf. Hillary's best friends warn her against Sara-Kate, but Hillary spends more and more time with her, until one day she discovers Sara-Kate's tragic secret.

This is an odd book, a bittersweet and ambiguous story with an ending that is either perfect or maddening, depending on your personality (I found it perfect; my daughter found it maddening: "But what HAPPENED, Mommy!?" It will be clear from early on to an adult reader (and older children) that Sara-Kate, though only a child, is the head of a shabby household, her mother unable to care for her. Because the story is told through Hillary's eyes, though, Lisle teases out the possibility that Sara-Kate is, in fact, an elf, and that there is magic afoot. And there is, in a way. When Sara-Kate is "rescued" (again, according to the reader's perspective), Hillary is devastated and shows her loyalty to her friend by caring for the elf village. There are so many layers to this story, and all of them with some level of tragedy and pain, that I was reminded of BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA, one of the books from my childhood that still haunts me. But where there is tragedy, there is hope. Was Sara-Kate a true friend, or was she using Hillary out of desperation? There's no way to be sure, but Hillary finds her own peace with the answer she constructs.

All this seems like heavy stuff to read to a six-year-old, but as it is couched in the language of elves and magic, it becomes relatable. My daughter concluded that Hillary's friends were being mean about Sara-Kate just because she's different, and she also understood that Sara-Kate had a very hard life. She was positive, though, that Sara-Kate had cared for Hillary - positive enough to convince me. The ultimate "what happened" question is thorny: Hillary doesn't view Sara-Kate as having been "rescued" from a dire, untenable situation, and so the reader doesn't either. My daughter and I talked a bit about why Hillary's mother reveals Sara-Kate's secret. Sometimes things are simply too much for a child to handle on her own.

A beautiful, tragic story. Highly recommended.

Source disclosure: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher.

THE TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP by Kathi Appelt

My six-year-old and I enjoyed Kathi Appelt's delightfully folksy tall-tale adventure about two raccoons and a twelve-year-old boy who try (separately) to save their beloved swamp from forces threatening it. The Sugar Man, guardian of the swamp, who has been sleeping for centuries, must be woken up. But how?

Bingo and J'miah are the youngest True Blue Scouts, an order of raccoons who serve the Sugar Man. They receive messages from the unpredictable radio in an old car, but they long for a more adventurous role in the Scouts. Their chance comes when a marauding pack of wild hogs is headed straight for the sugar cane. Only the Sugar Man can save the swamp from those frenzied tusks. Chap Brayburn and his mother run Paradise Pies Cafe, selling delicious sugar pies made from the local cane, but their landlord is Sonny Boy Beaucoup, an unscrupulous man with plans to pave over the swamp to make Alligator World Wrestling Arena and Theme Park, along with alligator-wrestling legend Jaeger Stitch. Chap's late grandfather had told Chap tales of the Sugar Man and of an elusive endangered bird living in the swamp - if Chap can prove the existence of either, surely the swamp can be saved.

This is a long book to read aloud, but my daughter and I were both riveted. The folksy, tall-tale tone of the book lends itself beautifully to many an evening reading aloud, and the story, propelled in different directions by memorable characters, keeps the pages turning by themselves. I can feel myself starting to drawl as I write about this book. Besides the charming story, the deft handling of multiple points of view, and the highly unlikely events that somehow seem possible, the messages are lovely. Some things are more important than money. Loyalty is a good thing. Help others when you can. THE TRUE BLUE SCOUTS OF SUGAR MAN SWAMP feels like an instant classic that children will love to hear and adults will love to read out loud.

Available July 23.

Source disclosure: I received an e-galley from the publisher.

Cthulu for Children

THE SLITHER SISTERS by Charles Gilman picks up where PROFESSOR GARGOYLE left off, with Robert, Glenn, and Karina the only children at Lovecraft Middle School who know that monsters lurk in the halls. Sarah and Silvia Price, who disappeared during the first book in the series only to return without explanation, are campaigning for school president - part of an plot for total domination. Fighting tentacled monsters is one thing, but Robert must run for office and win to spare the middle school a fate worse than death.

The first book in the series built up a creative world and introduced memorable characters; the second takes that premise and starts the high-stakes adventure. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and look forward to the third in the series, TEACHER'S PEST.

My review of #1 in the LOVECRAFT MIDDLE SCHOOL series, PROFESSOR GARGOYLE, can be found right here.

Source disclosure: I purchased this book.

SECONDHAND HORSES by Lauraine Snelling and Kathleen Damp Wright

This is the third book in the S.A.V.E Squad - the group of three eleven-year-old girls, Sunny, Aneta, Vee, and Esther. When I requested an e-galley, there was no indication that it was Christian fiction, an area in which I have no expertise or interest, so I will be reviewing it as series fiction/middle-grade fiction. I read it aloud to my six-year-old and we both agreed that it seemed LONG (and we've read much longer chapter books), although the animal-rescue parts kept us reading. As series fiction, this book had some flaws. Ignoring the number one rule of a series, there is no summary of what happened in the previous two books. Apparently, the girls have had adventures before, and I gathered eventually that these adventures involved helping animals, but I was missing backstory. The girls are different from each other in background, family life, and personality, but they are two-dimensional, embodying only the characteristics the author assigned them.

As far as messages go, this book is very mixed for me. The girls compromise with each other and love to help animals in need. They come up with a great idea to help the reluctant readers group at the library learn to enjoy reading. There are some preachy passages that I skipped because I'm in serious disagreement with their philosophy. "Sunny...felt kind of like the zoo. What good was she? She knew from years of Sunday school that God loved everyone. That He didn't make mistakes creating people; however, she wasn't quite sure He hadn't dozed off when He was finishing her brain." So, if you believe that human beings only have value because God created them and doesn't make mistakes (um, hello? Hitler?) and you're looking to indoctrinate your children into that belief, this is definitely the book for you.

The premise of the book is that after Sunny ruins dinner on her night to cook (by becoming distracted with something else), her "consequences" are to go stay with her uncle for two weeks on his new ranch and help take care of the horses and clean out the previous owner's stuff. It was a few chapters in before I realized Sunny must be homeschooled (see above for missing backstory). The attitude of the parents when Sunny ruins dinner is really harsh and seemed disproportionate the the offense (they simply sit at the dinner table with nothing in front of them while the spaghetti she put in the pot burns). Sunny and her parents together determine the appropriate consequences, which was nice. The idea is that Sunny will learn to finish things without getting distracted, but when she fails to clean out a barn as promised, her uncle trips on some junk and breaks his ankle badly enough to need surgery. Now Sunny is also in charge of taking care of her uncle as he recovers. (Seriously? She's eleven.) She and her friends decide to buy a petting zoo from the carnival (Creepy Carnival Guy) by pooling their money when CCG announces he hates the zoo and wants to sell it. I had a number of problems with that - buying a zoo without permission? Handing $50 over to a creepy guy and telling him where they live so he can deliver the animals the next day? Not really smart choices. When someone is breaking into the barn at night and they decide to withhold evidence from the sheriff and catch the guy themselves? Not smart. My six-year-old said at one point, "I don't think it's a good idea to chase the bad guy in the woods! Why don't they just call 911?" Exactly.

Sunny was fairly irritating. Her favorite (very frequently repeated) catch phrases are yayness/ughness to denote good/bad things, "rocko socko," and "for pizza sake." The point of her learning to finish things could have been made in many fewer pages without having her get distracted and abandon a project at least a half-dozen times. The repetition really made the book drag. That said, there's a lovely story of girls helping animals and finding a creative way to help reluctant readers hidden in here somewhere. Uncle Dave is also a good example - he shows compassion and generosity in taking in an abandoned horse and working with a family to help them keep their horse in difficult economic times. He's also surprisingly understanding when Sunny's distractedness causes his ankle injury, but that may have been the pain medication.

My daughter and I agreed that we might be interested in the first two books if we skipped the boring parts and just read the animal-saving parts.

Source disclosure: I received an e-galley of this title from the publisher.

ANTON AND CECIL: CATS AT SEA by Lisa Martin and Valerie Martin

I read this book to my six-year-old daughter over the course of three days, and we were both riveted. Anton and Cecil are cats, brothers who live in the lighthouse with their mother, Sonya. All the cats near the docks know to be cautious lest they be pressed into service aboard a ship, but young Gretchen is taken, throwing the cats into shock and horror. Cecil is an adventurous cat who loves to join the fisherman on short jaunts, but Anton prefers to stay near home. When Anton is pressed into service aboard the Mary Ann, his brother tries to follow, only to fall into the ocean. Desperate to find his brother, Cecil stows aboard the next big ship to come along, not realizing how very large the ocean is. Each brother has his own adventure, ranging from pirates and monster island birds to close encounters with a whale and friendship with a lizard. All along, a cat-like eye in the sky seems to draw them to each other, with the old cat saying, "Where the eye meets the eye, the lost shall be found," echoing throughout the book. Forces beyond the cats' control seem to be bringing them back together, but will Anton and Cecil find each other on the wide sea?

The determination of the brothers to find each other despite the odds is, of course, a lovely illustration of loyalty and familial bonds. Anton, though the meeker of the two cats, rises to the occasion and proves himself brave and resourceful. Both brothers make unlikely friendships and find help in unexpected places. The adventures they have are staggering; pirates, a ghost ship, mermaids, dolphins, an island market, a strange island with bizarre animal inhabitants, and the brothers shine through it all, exemplifying loyalty and courage through the most dire circumstances.

The paranormal has a role here, too, with the strange moon appearing as a cat's eye, seeming to bring the brothers nearer each other. What, after all, are the odds that two cats would be brought together over the vastness of the ocean without some outside force helping them along? Anton and Cecil are intrigued by the idea of a great cat in the sky helping them along, but they do their best to make a reunion possible using all available earthly means as well.

This is a delightful read-aloud to a younger child, although it's billed as a book for the 8-12 set. I'm sure the adventures and sympathetic characters are more than enough to hold interest in that age group. Nautical terms are explained or their meaning clear in context. Harrowing situations add excitement, but are resolved in a reassuring manner. We read this 256-page book over three days, with my daughter eagerly asking if we could read more ANTON AND CECIL.

ANTON AND CECIL: CATS AT SEA is a rollicking adventure and tender family story with the feel of a classic. Publicity draws comparisons to THE WIND AND THE WILLOWS, and I don't think that is an exaggeration. Memorable animal characters, positive messages, and riveting adventures make this a good bet for Christmas gifts for 2013. Available October 8, 2013.

Source disclosure: I received an e-galley of this title from the publisher.

PROFESSOR GARGOYLE by Charles Gilman

This is Book One in Tales From Lovecraft Middle School, and it is an auspicious beginning! Lovecraft fans will be delighted to have this bridge to ease their children into the world of classic horror. While less complex than Harry Potter, Lovecraft Middle School offers plenty of interest for the middle-grade reader. Robert Arthur will attend Lovecraft Middle School, a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility, while his friends attend a different school, so he's naturally apprehensive. On his first day, the only person he knows there is Glenn Torkells, the bully who has extracted a Dweeb Tax from Robert for years. He does meet a girl named Karina who seems a promising friend, but things become very strange when rats leap from student lockers on the very first day and Robert gets literally lost in the library, winding up in a strange, moth-ball-scented room from another century.

While the Harry Potter books take place over the course of a school year, the first Lovecraft Middle School book spans just three weeks, long enough for Robert and his unlikely sidekicks to learn that things are not as they seem at the school (made from recycled materials - but recycled from WHAT?) and to set up neatly the second installment, THE SLITHER SISTERS. I found this book to be great fun. The lenticular portrait of Professor Goyle that shifts to reveal his horns is inspired (my ARC also included the lenticular portrait from THE SLITHER SISTERS to use as a bookmark, and this one looks just as fun). Robert is likable and relatable, and his curiosity and fear are both warranted. I liked Karina quite a bit, and Glenn turns out to be more complex than Robert had thought.

I would say this is easier reading than Harry Potter, which may make it a good choice for reluctant readers. Fantasy and horror readers will also find much to like in the creepy halls of Lovecraft Middle School. Have a copy of Lovecraft's stories handy for more advanced readers - they'll enjoy the references even more having read some of the original material.

Source disclosure: I received a review copy of this title from the publisher.

THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA by Ellis Weiner

I think THE TEMPLETON TWINS HAVE AN IDEA is probably a series that will appeal to the Lemony Snicket crowd. While I've found much middle-grade fiction has appeal for me, I never warmed to Lemony Snicket and the overly intrusive narrator. Likewise, the overly precious, snarky narrator in this book left me cold. And I usually *like* snark. From the publisher:

LET'S SAY John was pragmatic and played the drums, and Abigal was theoretical and solved cryptic crosswords. Now suppose their father was a brilliant, if sometimes confused, inventor. And suppose that another set of twins--adults--named Dean D. Dean and Dan D. Dean, kidnapped the Templeton twins and their ridiculous dog in order to get their father to turn over one of his genius (sort of) inventions. Yes, I said kidnapped. Wouldn't it be fun to read about that? Oh please. It would so.

LUCKILY FOR YOU, this is just the first in a series perfect for boys and girls who are smart, clever and funny (just like the twins) and enjoy reading adventurous stories (who doesn't?!).

If the asides and parentheticals don't irritate you, give this one a try. The whole book is like this description - littered with tangents and chatting by the narrator. To add to the fun (?) there's quite a bit about cryptic crosswords that is fairly interesting, though the tone of the whole book negates the interest for me.

I recommend this book for Lemony Snicket fans, who may be delighted to have a new favorite series.

Source disclosure: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher.

THE SECRET FIEND by Shane Peacock

This is the fourth in Peacock's series about "the boy Sherlock Holmes," and since it's the first I've read, I can assure you that it can stand alone; however, I'm eager to read the series from the beginning.

Sherlock is fourteen years old in this book, and Disraeli has just become the first Jewish prime minister of England, a truly terrifying prospect to some of the ruling class. Social unrest abounds, with increasing demands for expanded voting rights and for feeding the desperately poor. The real terror begins when a mysterious creature, reminiscent of the Spring Heeled Jack of the Penny Dreadfuls, with red eyes and blue flames shooting from its mouth, begins randomly attacking the poor and other marginalized people, beginning with Sherlock's friend Beatrice. Sherlock has apparently decided to forgo sleuthing until he is an adult, but Beatrice more or less drags him into an investigation.

The historical details really make this book rich and enjoyable. 1868 London is beautifully described as Sherlock and his friends walk (not having the money for cabs) back and forth through every part of the city. The social unrest is woven neatly into the story, and if the solution is rather telegraphed, Sherlock's clever sleuthing makes up for it. The seemingly impossible villain is unmasked and Sherlock has another case under his belt.

Sherlock's development will be interesting to fans of Arthur Conan Doyle, as he attempts to shelve emotion in favor of logic and trains in martial arts with the apothecary. I found this a thoroughly enjoyable romp through 1868 London and in the mind of young Sherlock.

Source disclosure: I received a review copy of this book from the publisher.

The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone

Okay, I'm pretty sure Allison is going to keel over from surprise when she sees that I FINALLY posted something to this blog! I told her I would eventually get around to it. And look, I did. :-)

A mom of a good friend of my oldest daughter contacted me at the beginning of the summer and asked if we might be interested in doing a book club with the girls this summer. I wholeheartedly replied YES! And it turns out her younger daughter (the same age as my younger daughter was participating as well). At first, I was thinking the books we picked would be books our incoming third graders would read themselves. But once she sent the book choices to me, it was apparent the books would be above level and we would read aloud to them. This actually worked to our advantage because the younger girls (incoming first graders) would hear the story as well and could participate easily. The first book we read was ELLA ENCHANTED (I will fully review this book in a separate post). And the second book we read was The Sixty-Eight Rooms by Marianne Malone.

Having the museum background that I have, and having visited the Art Institute of Chicago probably close to 20 times in my life, I suggested this book for the girls to read. Mostly, because I was DYING to read it! I believe the first time I visited the Art Institute I was probably about 12 or so--about the main character's age--and I remember LOVING the Thorne Rooms. And ironically, I don't remember the last time I looked at them when I visited the museum.

In the story, two sixth graders, Ruthie and Jack visit the Art Institute on a field trip and happen to meet a nice museum guard while visiting Gallery 11, the Thorne rooms. The Thorne rooms are 68 rooms created by Mrs. James Ward Thorne between 1932 and 1940. Ruthie is fascinated by the rooms and wishes she could shrink down and visit them personally. Not long after she thinks this, she and Jack find a mysterious key laying on the floor of a corridor while the guard is giving them a tour. She magically shrinks down and is able to enter the rooms! This begins a grand adventure where Ruthie and Jack visit pre-revolutionary France and Topsfield, Massachusetts during the Salem Witch trials. They are able to meet real characters from history on their journey and discover part of the truth behind the key and its magical tie to the Thorne rooms.

This was an absolutely FANTASTIC read for both my first and third graders. They were completely engaged the entire story. They wanted to keep reading to hear more. We got MINIATURE ROOMS: THE THORNE ROOMS OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO by Fannia Weingartner from the library. That way when Ruthie and Jack visited various rooms we could look through the library book and see exactly what they were talking about. Now, I'm sure you can google images of the rooms as well, but there is something about NOT using a computer to see them that appeals to me. 

All the girls in the book club as well as the moms LOVED THE SIXTY-EIGHT ROOMS. It created great discussion about foreshadowing and character development. Also, history, art and museums. I cannot recommend this book highly enough! And although it is very nicely wrapped up in the end, there are several things unanswered. And in this case, it is fabulous that there are more answers to be found because the author turned this into a series! We can't wait to read STEALING MAGIC, the second book in the series.

Anyone who loved the Magic Tree house books and the way they tie in history in fiction will love to read this as an older child. And I guarantee you will be planning a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago to see the rooms in person! We're heading there over Christmas break this year!

Source Disclosure: We purchased this book for our personal library.

THE SISTERS GRIMM

THE SISTERS GRIMM: THE COUNCIL OF MIRRORS by Michael Buckley concludes the nine-book series featuring sisters Sabrina and Daphne, descendants of one of the Brothers Grimm, who took all the fairy tale characters to America, established a town called Ferryport Landing to house them, and added a magical barrier to keep them safe. When some of the characters decide they want to escape the barrier, war breaks out, and Sabrina and Daphne must act to save their family and all of Ferryport Landing.

I can't give a plot summary of this book without spoiling the eight books that precede it, so let me just say that it's a satisfying ending. All the loose ends are wrapped up, but not in a by-the-numbers checklist sort of way. There are surprises and sacrifices and a prophecy to shake things up. Sabrina and Daphne conduct themselves in accordance with their established character traits, but eight books' worth of character growth is far from thrown out the window. I realize that, as an adult, I don't require epilogues (and might even prefer them left out), but had I read this series as a child, I would have been delighted with Buckley's addenda.

The series begins with book one, THE FAIRY TALE DETECTIVES, in which the orphaned girls are sent to live with the eccentric Granny Relda, and is great fun for fans of fractured fairy tales. Sabrina and Daphne are resourceful female leads and very believable as sisters. Puck adds comic relief through his pranks, which are usually disgusting. The girls grow into their legacy consistently throughout the series, but certainly act their ages (eleven and seven). I highly recommend starting with the first instead of jumping into the series at the end or in the middle.

Source disclosure: I purchased this series.

THE EXTRAORDINARY EDUCATION OF NICHOLAS BENEDICT

THE EXTRAORDINARY OF NICHOLAS BENEDICT by Trenton Lee Stewart makes a compelling stand-alone novel, but for readers of THE MYSTERIOUS BENEDICT SOCIETY and its sequels, this prequel is a real treat. We meet Nicholas at the age of nine, when he is already an old pro at adjusting to life in a new orphanage, as his narcolepsy and night terrors tax an institution's patience. He joins 'Child's End, ruled by a pack of bullies called the Spiders, and makes a single friend, John. He is locked in his room at night, kept busy with chores, and can't spend all his time in the glorious library, but Nicholas, with his ingenuity and photographic memory, manages to circumvent the rules and avoid the Spiders' sworn punishment. Fortunately for Nicholas, the orphanage has a secret: the Rothschilds, who had lived in 'Child's End, left journals hinting at a hidden treasure and a missing inheritance. The orphanage's director is seeking the same things in order to save the orphanage, but without Nicholas's extraordinary talents.

Nicholas's ingenuity and the friendships he develops are a genuine pleasure to read about. His attempts to outwit both adults and children are not always successful, but when they are, they are great fun as they unfold. Nicholas balances daily life in an orphanage with the novel's big mystery, and developments and resolution of both are satisfying.

Nicholas is charming and his voice perfectly balanced between a child's worries and the thought processes of a genius. The politics at the orphanage are believable (for a time, his friend John, sick of being shunned, turns his back on Nicholas) and the bullies sufficiently threatening. Most importantly for a prequel, this book gives us the foundation for Nicholas's future character and exploits. An excellent standalone, but will be most loved by readers of the series. Source disclosure: I purchased this book.

Picture Book Thursday: Art Project Book Reviews

And now for something slightly different from my normal Picture Book Thursday post (and some shameless promotion besides).....I have started an art project blog to keep track of the projects I do with my girls during the summer months. I may not be able to read a ton of fiction these days or update the book blog often, but I felt like I could commit to updating an art blog weekly for the summer months. :-)

I plan out lesson plans each week by picking an artist, an artistic style, or a theme. I show my kids images of famous paintings that go along with the subject and then they work on an art project related to that.

We also have been making weekly (sometimes even twice a week) trips to the library this summer. And my oldest daughter has been into borrowing "How to draw...." books. So I've visited the 700-750 range in the nonfiction section of the library often. And I've found some GREAT books relating to art and kids. I decided I was going to put up a few reviews of these books on the art blog. Since they were BOOK REVIEWS, I figured why not cross post on the book blog as well. I'm sure there are some mom book bloggers out there who might be interested too! :-)

I found this book, Art in Action(1) by Maja Pitamic this week at the library as well as its counterpart Art in Action(2). Oh my, these are FANTASTIC books relating art and kids' art projects! I will be purchasing them. They break down into chapters by a certain theme like "Color", "Shape", or "Portraits". And then an artwork is profiled that fits within the theme. The artwork page shares interesting yet simple information about the artist or style and then the following pages depict project ideas.

Below shows the artist page for Henri Rousseau's jungle image: Surprised. We actually did a project related to this painting last year. You can see our project here. This page in Art in Action shows a fun collage you could do with the kids' handprints.


The images above show what the artwork page in the book looks like and the finished project.
In the "Nature" chapter of the book (below), you can see an image of Jacopo Zucci's Pergola with Birds and then create the following projects:


You can see from the images I took that the projects come with very visual instructions, also a supply list and most of them are very easy to do. The bird rug project could be applied to other imaginative play as well. Your kids could make rugs for their dolls. My daughter has a kitchen setup for her American Girl doll, this would be a perfect thing for her to make for that too.

What really impresses me about these books are the ease of the projects, the relatively "normal" supplies that can be found around most households easily, and the creativity behind the project ideas. These are things I have not really seen before (at least not all in one book). And I love that I'm interested in more than one project in a book. Sometimes, I find books where only one or two things appeal to me.

This last one is a Cezanne painting and a 3-dimensional box sculpture.

I would love for any of you to head over to Holly's Arts and Crafts Corner and become a follower! I have a few more books I may review of this sort. Please leave a comment and let me know if you might like to see more reviews of this sort here.

Superheroes: A Pop-up Book

I was absolutely delighted when I received a box in the mail from Little Brown and Company! It had some fun stuff inside that I hope to review in the next couple months. But there was one treasure in there that could not wait! I had to get this up, and it would have been posted sooner except I had to take photos of this AMAZING book!

Now, let's preface this by saying, I don't know the first thing about superheroes aside from watching the first couple Superman movies back in the day and the first couple Batman movies in the '90's. Oh, and I did happen to watch reruns of the original Batman television show when I was a kid in the summer when I visited my dad. I suppose, I might have a few Wonder Woman episodes stored somewhere in the deep recesses of my mind. Heh....maybe, I actually have more Superhero knowledge than I thought! ;-)

But now, I have a son. And I do feel like I will eventually have to be up on my Superhero speak. This book will certainly send me on my way!

There are about 6 or 7 different pop-up pages, each featuring a superhero. For instance, the first page is Superman.Each page contains smaller pop-ups on the side discussing various villains and superpowers. Here's an example:
The details in the pop-ups are incredible. Here's the Wonder Woman page and a detail:

Her lasso is made out of gold cord! This is the detail that really blew me away! I will admit, I'm relatively new to pop-up books so maybe many of them have real 3-dimensional details out of materials different than paper. But I couldn't believe it when I opened this page.

Then the grand finale of the book:
A collage of all the superheroes on one page, complete with little numbers and a legend identifying each character.

Still have a little boy to buy a gift for this week? This would be PERFECT! Run out and get it NOW! :-)

Source disclosure: Received unsolicited from the publisher: Little Brown & Company.

Mystery Monday: Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

I enjoyed John Grisham's first foray into juvenile fiction better than his recent adult novels. His knack for storytelling never gets old and translated well for a younger audience.

Theodore Boone is the thirteen year old son of two lawyers. He spends his afternoons at their law office doing his homework and helping students with occasional legal troubles. He is good friends with many of the cops, lawyers, judges and secretaries in town. When the trial of the century takes place, Theo is chomping at the bit for a front row seat. During the trial, a fellow student comes to him with information that could change the outcome of the verdict. Theo must figure out how to help without risking breaking a promise and without messing up the whole trial.

I enjoyed reading this novel and whipped right through it. I only have two complaints. One is very minor. Grisham tended to overexplain things with regard to the courtroom and he defined random words here and there. But, I realize many kids reading this book would not have knowledge of how a courtroom works so these explanations are necessary. It was just a little much for me as an adult reading the story.

My second gripe is that I felt like the book just sort of ended. I wanted a bit more closure. Not sure if Grisham's enthusiasm for writing the book just fizzled out, but I didn't feel like the ending was very polished. There was one man creeping around (Omar Cheepe), and maybe I was reading too fast and missed the background on this guy, but I didn't feel like I fully understood what this character was up to. He was following Theo around but I couldn't figure out why or how he was related to the defendant in the trial. I guess I sort of wanted an epilogue what would neatly tie it all together.

All that being said, I definitely recommend this to any young reader out there looking for a good mystery or interested in how a trial is run. I think this is a great book for children who may read above their level. Content-wise this is very appropriate for younger readers. No real violence, no bad language. Just good storytelling.

Source disclosure: I received this from the Penguin Group as part of their summer promotional package.

YA Weekend - series grab bag edition

I am in Paris, not thinking about book reviews even a little bit. I love the scheduled posts feature, which lets me review books for future posts! It also allows me to catch up on the book blog without posting eleven posts in one day...

The 39 Clues: I have not been great about reviewing this series, and it took me a bit of pondering to figure out why. I think I haven't been taking it seriously because each book takes me less than an hour to read, and it has a definite whiff of the potboiler about it. There's also the feeling of being manipulated by a marketing department - the books are released every couple of months and tell a tiny part of the story, stretching it out into ten books AND the books are complemented by a slick website, collector's cards, and a sweepstakes. I was skeptical for the first few books, but really, this series is growing on me. I think it may be the ideal way to coax reluctant readers into picking up a book or ten. And face it, the books are fun! Not high literature by any means, but enjoyable and entertaining and even...educational. But not in an overt way. Each book takes Amy and Dan (and Nellie, their au pair) to a different part of the world, where they delve into local history and biography to solve the next Clue. The improbable villains and unlikely adventures distract the reluctant reader from the fact that he's learning something along the way. I can see a child getting sucked into the story and looking to read more about one of the historical figures he found most intriguing. The books are easier to read than, say, Harry Potter and its descendants, but high-interest to be sure. The interactive component with the cards promotes involvement for children who are more into games than reading. Each book ends with a cliffhanger that would make it difficult to avoid picking up the next book. There is definitely a place for this series, and I think it serves its purpose well.

That said, my "reviews" are going to be more reports of which location the books focus on. Too much information about the plot would ruin the suspense. The overarching plot: Amy and Dan Cahill, orphaned at a young age, find out at the reading of their grandmother's will that they are part of the powerful Cahill clan, a collection of four family branches, each with its own strengths, including most of the famous/influential figures in history. Grace Cahill's will offers each member of her family a choice: one million dollars, or a chance to join the race to uncover the 39 clues of the Cahill family - clues that will make the winner all-powerful. Amy and Dan choose the clue hunt and travel the world with their au pair, Nellie, and Grace's cat, Saladin, searching for clues and uncovering more about their own past.

Book 7: The Viper's Nest by Peter Lerangis: In this book, Amy and Dan travel to South Africa, where they learn about apartheid and finally discover which branch of the Cahill family they belong to. Amy and Dan also become suspicious of Nellie's motives in helping them. South African history was integrated quite nicely into the story, and the family factions continue to be unclear. Whom to trust is a constant theme in this series, with Amy and Dan forging alliances when they must, but agonizing over those decisions. The different families continue to evolve, growing in complexity from the caricatures they were in the early books to fairly interesting characters.

Book 8: The Emperor's Code by Gordon Korman: The hunt moves to China, where the children travel to the Forbidden City and boy-band sensation Jonas Wizard befriends Dan. Or does he? I enjoyed this one, but I find myself not having much to say about it. The children are separated for a while, and I missed the banter between Amy and Dan, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. Chinese history is fascinating, and well-integrated into the plot.

Book 9: Storm Warning by Linda Sue Park: The penultimate book in the series is a blast...and made me pre-order Book 10 immediately. Pirates. Really, that's all I need to say. Pirates are fun, and this book is a wild ride. There's a moment when Nellie muses that the clues in this adventure all have to do with "women kicking butt," and I realized that I enjoyed that element as well. This book is more revelatory with regard to the family and the Clue hunt; we learn more about Nellie, about the Man in Black, and about Amy and Dan's family branch. Linda Sue Park really did a fantastic job on this one. The history of Jamaica and of pirates like Calico Jack and Mary Bonny is fascinating. There's a very serious plot twist that I think is handled extremely well. I sometimes think of this series as superficial, but Park really delves into one consequence of the Clue hunt, giving it the weight it deserves. An excellent entry, and a fantastic set-up for the conclusion (Into the Gauntlet, August 31).

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull: I've really enjoyed this series, but the last book was a bit of a slog. I could easily put this book down for long stretches, and I almost dreaded picking it back up again. Things are getting very dark and serious, and I missed the lighthearted fun elements that were more prevalent in the early books. On top of that, Kendra and Seth are separated for most of the book, and their sibling interaction is one of my favorite parts of the series. Plot twists like "a shocking betrayal!" were becoming stale for me. A reader can only take so many shocking betrayals before he can't be shocked anymore. This one is the most plot-driven of the series. As the characters race from danger to danger, there's little time for character development or reflection. It was rather exhausting, and while Book 5 tied up all the loose ends, making it a must-read for fans of the series, it had a perfunctory feel, as if Mull were checking off dangling threads from a list. I read this for closure, and so will anyone who read the first four books, but I was disappointed in the execution. The joy I found in the rest of the series was missing.

The rest of my Fablehaven reviews here.

Source disclosure: I purchased all these books.

Alison Dare, Little Miss Adventures

Alison Dare is not your average twelve-year-old. She's the daughter of a world-famous archaeologist...and a superhero called the Blue Scarab. On top of that, her uncle is an international superspy. So the three adventures in this delightful graphic novel are going to be over-the-top. The first adventure is Alison Dare and the Arabian Knights, in which a bored Alison traveling with her mother finds a genie. Her first wish? To bring her friends/sidekicks Wendy and Dot to liven up the dull desert. As things always go with genies, the girls' wishes don't end up exactly as they had planned. In the second, Alison Dare and the Secret of the Blue Scarab, we learn more about Alison's family, including how her parents met and how a mild-mannered librarian becomes the Blue Scarab. In the third, Alison Dare and the Mummy Child, Alison helps her mother when her arch-nemesis Baron von Baron comes to steal a mummy child from the museum.

These stories were a quick read, but so much fun, I'd look for more. In fact, a second volume, Alison Dare, The Heart of the Maiden, is available, and sounds like a fun summer read. I'd recommend Alison's adventures to graphic novel fans, fans of Indiana Jones or Lara Croft, and to reluctant readers who would be drawn in by a spunky heroine in over-the-top adventures.

Source disclosure (hi, FTC!): I received a copy of this book from the publisher through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers program.

YA Weekend

Enola Holmes and the Cryptic Crinoline by Nancy Springer: I like Enola Holmes. She's spunky, resourceful, and bright. While her life would be much easier if she would just trust her brother Sherlock, it's understandable why she doesn't, and chooses instead to rely on her own instincts and deductive reasoning skills. In this, the fifth in the series, Enola's landlady, Mrs. Tupper, goes missing. Enola unravels the mystery, which leads to Mrs. Tupper's past during the Crimean War and to a meeting with Florence Nightingale. The historical setting is believable, Enola's cat-and-mouse game with her brother balanced nicely against the central mystery, and the mystery and codes compelling. A really fun series. The first is Enola Holmes and the Case of the Missing Marquess.

Source disclosure: I purchased this book.