Thursday, March 15, 2012

Middle Grade March Madness Giveaway

In celebration of Middle Grade books, I'm giving away an ARC of an upcoming release for The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict! Here's a little bit about the book:

By: Trenton Lee Stewart
Published by: Little Brown
To Be Released on: April 10th, 2012
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Nine-year-old Nicholas Benedict has more problems than most children his age. Not only is he an orphan with an unfortunate noes, but he also has narcolepsy, a condition that gives him terrible nightmares and makes him fall asleep at the worst possible moments.

Now he's being sent to a new orphanage, where he will encounter vicious bullies, selfish adults, strange circumstances – and a mystery that could change his life forever. Luckily, he does have one thing in his favor: He's a a genius.

On his quest to solve the mystery, Nicholas finds enemies around every corner, but also friends in unexpected places – and discovers along the way that the greatest puzzle of all is himself.
-quoted from Goodreads

To enter to win, please fill out the form below!

-You must be 13 yrs & older to enter or have a parent/guardian's permission to enter if younger
- 1 entry per person
- Open internationally
- This giveaway ends on 4/9/12


Good luck to everyone!

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Book Review: Dear Hound by Jill Murphy


Published by: Bloomsbury Kids
Released on: September 14th, 2010
Source: book from publisher to review
Ages: 8 & up
4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Alfie's your average deer hound puppy—curious about the world around him, happy to chase the cat and laze around in his favorite beanbag bed, and very loyal to his boy, Charlie. So he's extremely upset when Charlie goes away and leaves him with a sitter—upset enough that he escapes into the woods. With the help of some friendly foxes, Alfie learns to live in the wild, but he never stops thinking of Charlie and trying to find his way home. And Charlie, of course, never stops thinking of Alfie, either. Will these two be able to find each other before it's too late?

Featuring irresistible black-and-white line drawings on every spread, Dear Hound is both an accessible, heartwarming story and the perfect choice for readers graduating out of early chapter books. -quoted from Goodreads

Dear Hound is a heart warming story about an adorable young Deer Hound named Alfie. This pup finds himself in the middle of one misadventure after the other. After being sent to spend the night with a care taker while his family goes out of town, Alfie frightens himself and runs off. Finding himself lost and alone in the woods during a stormy night, Alfie wants nothing more than to go home, back to his owner Charlie. Luckily for Alfie he befriends two friendly foxes who have compassion on him and end up helping him learn the ways of the woods, and survive until his owner can find him.

Through out this sweet story, Alfie learns to be like a fox, and Charlie never gives up his search for his pup, even if that search takes him months. During the months of Alfie is missing, Alfie and Charlie and have a lot of close encounters of being reunited. Will Alfie make it home and will Charlie ever find Alfie? This is truly one of those fabulous books young readers will enjoy spending time with. It's easy to read, engaging and extremely easy to follow along with. You don't need to be an animal lover to enjoy this cute story. The friendships, determination and devotion of both dog and owner, simple plot twists and the humor found in this story make this an incredibly enjoyable read! I highly recommend picking this one up.

Monday, March 12, 2012

MMGM / Book Review: At First Bite by Ruth Ames

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is a weekly feature started by MG author Shannon Messengerand is a weekly post featuring an upcoming MG release, a MG Author Interview or a MG review. You can find out more about this series posts, and find links to author authors and bloggers who are taking part in this feature here. You can also my Must Have Middle Grade Reads feature onMundie Moms


By: Ruth Ames
Published by: Scholastic
Released on: November 1st, 2011
Source: book to review from publisher
Ages: 9 & up
4 stars: It's A Great Read
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Series: #8 in the Poison Apple Series

Poison Apple Books: Thrilling. Bone-chilling. These books have bite!Ashlee Lambert, the queen bee from THIS TOTALLY BITES, has had a tough time ever since she became a full-fledged vampire. But now that she's moving from New York City to sunny Los Angeles, she's excited to make a fresh new start.But Ashlee never counted on a clique of popular mean girls or awful sunburns. Keeping her huge secret is suddenly harder than ever. And when something -- or someone -- starts attacking people at her school, Ashlee realizes she's not the only vampire in town. It's up to Ashlee to figure out who's behind the attacks before her cover is blown forever! -quoted from Goodreads

At First Bite is a fun vampire story for tweens and younger readers. This is the second book in the Poison Apple series I've read, and boy do I wish these were around when I was younger. This story introducers readers to tween vampire, Ashlee Lambert, who moves from her posh NYC apartment out to to L.A. were her famous mother gets her own reality tv as a judge. Ashlee not only has to make new friends and deal with a whole new school, but she's still learning about being a vampire. The cool thing about the vampires in this book is that they shift into bats, don't drink animal blood and can go outside. Though she's the lone vampire in her family (who have no idea she is one), Ashlee has a mentor there to help her. Things get a little out of hand once she's in L.A.

Though Ashlee's kind are the "good" vampires and drink Sanga, a blood substitute for human blood since they don't attack humans, there are vampires called the Dark Ones. These vampires do attack humans and it's up to Ashlee to figure out who the Dark One is at her new school that keeps attacking the students and staff. Ashlee for me was a fun character to read about and one I think fans of this series will enjoy meeting. It's not just the paranormal part of this story that makes it a fun read, but also the relatable side to it as well. Ashlee learns some important lessons at her new school like what being a true friend is all about, and having money and being with the popular crowd isn't always as fun as it seems.

This is a fun read and one I'd recommend for both younger and tween readers. It's clean cut and a great introduction into both this series and paranormal themed books.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Book Review: The Moon Over High Street by Natalie Babbitt


By: Natalie Babbitt
Published by: Scholastic Inc
Released on: March 1st, 2012
Source: ARC from publisher at ALA
Ages: 8 & up
3 stars: It's A Good Read
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The new novel by Natalie Babbitt, author of Tuck EverlastingJoe Casimir needed help with the choice he had to make. But how do you choose the person who will help you choose? Mr. Boulderwall, the millionaire, knew exactly what he wanted Joe to choose. And millionaires are experts at making choices. Well, aren't they? But Vinnie, the number-two man down at Sope Electric, didn't much approve of millionaires. He said to Joe, "Listen, kid, all of 'em act like they're the only ones with a ticket to the show!" But he didn't have any real advice to offer. Joe's Gran didn't either, as it turned out, and neither did Aunt Myra. The good advice was there, though. Right across the street. Just waiting right across the street. There are a lot of good things just waiting. You'll see.

Set in the early 1960's, this story follows that of young Joe Casimir, a twelve old boy who's been raised by his grandmother following the tragic death of his parents as an infant. After an accident that lands his grandmother in the hospital, Joe is sent to spend the summer with his "Aunt" Myra. During his stay with her he not only learns what family, love and friendships is all about, but what it means to hold onto your dream. The Moon Over High Street is a story that tackles the theme about money, the working class, rich vs poor, family, friendship and love.

I really enjoyed the old fashioned feel this story has with the setting, the way things were done during this time period and the mannerisms of the characters. It really set the tone for the story. I also enjoyed getting to met Joe. He was a quiet, reserved character who slowly started to break out of his shell during his time with his Aunt. I felt like for the first time he was able to see what having family around him was all about. His time spent with his Aunt consisted of delicious homemade breakfasts, reading out in the hammock, sitting around the table talking, his first crush and his blossoming friendship with the girl across the street and a chance meeting with the local millionaire, Mr. Boulderwall. Much to the shock of Joe, his family and myself, Mr Bolderwall makes an offer to adopt. Faced with making a choice of sticking with his family and following his dreams, Joe has to decide if money will buy him the happiness he always wanted.

This story is a fun, good ole' fashion Middle Grade read that will even be easy to read for readers as young as 3rd and 4th grade. The story line is easy to follow, the words are easy to read and it's a fun, fast paced book. Each of the characters bring something to the story and are enjoyable to read about. Along with Joe, I loved Aunt Myra and Joe's fiery Grandmother. Being that I'm a reader who looks for a little bit more depth with the characters, normally I would say I needed a bit more of a connection to really love this book, but the way in which Natalie wrote each character works great for this story. I think fans of Natalie's will enjoy Joe's story.

Upcoming MG Releases

In celebration of MG Madness here on Mundie Kids I wanted to feature some of this month's upcoming releases. I've not been very faithful about posting upcoming MG releases on here like I do on Mundie Moms, because it's extremely time consuming hunting down all the MG releases, which is sad. It's much easier for me look up the YA releases than the MG, and even than the YA are time consuming as well. There's a lot of awesome MG books out there, and I'm hoping to make a bit more time to feature upcoming releases more faithfully on here.

Here's a look at some of this month's upcoming MG releases, some of which I'll be featuring here on the blog:

By: Natalie Babbitt
Published by: Scholastic Inc
Released on: 3.1.12

The new novel by Natalie Babbitt, author of Tuck EverlastingJoe Casimir needed help with the choice he had to make. But how do you choose the person who will help you choose? Mr. Boulderwall, the millionaire, knew exactly what he wanted Joe to choose. And millionaires are experts at making choices. Well, aren't they? But Vinnie, the number-two man down at Sope Electric, didn't much approve of millionaires. He said to Joe, "Listen, kid, all of 'em act like they're the only ones with a ticket to the show!" But he didn't have any real advice to offer. Joe's Gran didn't either, as it turned out, and neither did Aunt Myra. The good advice was there, though. Right across the street. Just waiting right across the street. There are a lot of good things just waiting. You'll see.

By: P.G. Kain
Published by: Aladdin
Released on: 3.6.12

Brittany Rush is the face of Gotta Have It candy bars, the hands of Write On pencils, the hair of Knot Me Not detangle spray and the voice of Mom, It’s Delicious! soups. Brittany has been appearing in commercials and print ads since her backside was the official derriere of Simply Dry Diapers. When Brittany showed up at a callback some girls would actually just get up and go home since they knew it was almost impossible to compete with her. However, a month after her twelfth birthday, Brittany’s mother tells her that the entire family is moving to Hong Kong for a year. Brittany is forced to take a brief but agonizing break from her commercial career. After a year of being just an anonymous kid in a foreign country, Brittany is more than ready to return stateside to her steady diet of go-see’s, auditions, callbacks and bookings in NYC. Within 48 hours of landing at JFK Brittany’s agent Judith Lister of the A Lister’s Agency has three go-see’s for Brittany. When she shows up to the first go-see, she expects the spotlight to start shining on her again but instead she finds that, in the year that she has been gone, she has changed from being the cute kid to watch out for to just one of the many pretty girls waiting her turn. Will Brittany be able to steal back her spotlight? Or will she discover there's more to life than being a commercial success?


By: Brandon Mull
Published by: Aladdin
To Be Released on: 3.13.12

The second epic installment of Brandon Mull’s #1 New York Times bestselling fantasy series!After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor.

Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping.


By: Ally Carter
Published by: Disney Hyperion
To Be Released on: 3.13.12

The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan--an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.


By: Mark A Cooper
Published by: Sourcebooks
To Be Released on: 3.13.12

Scotland Yard has uncovered a sinister plot by the shadowy criminal gang known as the Triads. The powerful spy organization needs a man on the inside. Someone the Triad's Dragon Leader would never suspect. Someone like 12-year-old Jason Steed, in this follow-up to "Fledgling."


By: Kate Messner
Published by: Bloomsbury Walker
To Be Released on: 3.13.12

In the not-too-distant future, huge tornadoes and monster storms are a part of everyday life. Sent to spend the summer in the heart of storm country with her father in the special StormSafe community his company has developed, Jaden Meggs is excited to reconnect with her dad after he spent years researching storm technology in Russia. She’ll also be attending the exclusive summer science camp, Eye On Tomorrow, that her dad founded. There, Jaden meets Alex, a boy whose passion for science matches hers, and together they discover a horrible truth about her dad’s research that is putting countless lives at risk. As a massive tornado approaches, threatening to destroy everything in its path, Jaden is torn between loyalty to her dad and revealing his secret. Can she find the courage to confront her dad and save everyone from the biggest storm yet?


By: Hilary McKay
Published by: Margaret K. McElderry Books
To Be Released on: 3.20.12

The amazing and hilarious Casson family is back in this all-new novel from award-winning author Hilary McKay.Cadmium Casson is twelve years old the summer that everything changes. Not only are her closest friendships in jeopardy, but her mom is expecting a baby. And when the baby arrives early, Caddy’s world turns upside down. Her mother spends all her time at the hospital, and her father takes over the household, which of course turns into one chaotic (though hilarious) crisis after the next.

When her charmingly dense boyfriend dumps her, Caddy is at her wits’ end. Then she discovers that the fragile baby she is so afraid of losing is not an ending, but a beginning for her whole family. And that love and friendship don’t need to be destroyed by change—they can be strengthened. Another refreshingly wise, funny, and poignant novel from the inimitable Hilary McKay.


By: Maryrose Wood
Published by: Harper Collins Children
To Be Released on: 3.27.12


Of especially naughty children it is sometimes said, "They must have been raised by wolves."

The Incorrigible children actually were.

Thanks to the efforts of Miss Penelope Lumley, their plucky governess, Alexander, Beowulf, and Cassiopeia are much more like children than wolf pups now. They are accustomed to wearing clothes. They hardly ever howl at the moon. And for the most part, they resist the urge to chase squirrels up trees.

Despite Penelope's civilizing influence, the Incorrigibles still managed to ruin Lady Constance's Christmas ball, nearly destroying the grand house. So while Ashton Place is being restored, Penelope, the Ashtons, and the children take up residence in London. Penelope is thrilled, as London offers so many opportunities to further the education of her unique students. But the city presents challenges, too, in the form of the palace guards' bearskin hats, which drive the children wild--not to mention the abundance of pigeons the Incorrigibles love to hunt. As they explore London, however, they discover more about themselves as clues about the children's--and Penelope's--mysterious past crop up in the most unexpected ways. . . .

By: Marissa Burt
Published by: Harper Collins Childrens
To Be Released on: 4.3.12

In the land of Story, children go to school to learn to be characters: a perfect Hero, a trusty Sidekick, even the most dastardly Villain. They take classes on Outdoor Experiential Questing and Backstory, while adults search for full-time character work in stories written just for them.

In our world, twelve-year-old Una Fairchild has always felt invisible. But all that changes when she stumbles upon a mysterious book buried deep in the basement of her school library, opens the cover, and suddenly finds herself transported to the magical land of Story.But Story is not a perfect fairy tale. Una’s new friend Peter warns her about the grave danger she could face if anyone discovers her true identity. The devious Tale Keeper watches her every move. And there are whispers of a deadly secret that seems to revolve around Una herself....With the timeless appeal of books like A Wrinkle in Time and the breathtaking action of Inkheart, Storybound has all the makings of a new classic. Brimming with fantastical creatures, magical adventure, and heart-stopping twists, Storybound will leave readers wishing they too could jump through the pages into this enchanting fairy-tale world

Thursday, March 8, 2012

March Middle Grade Madness Giveaway!

I can't have a month of celebrating Middle Grade books without some giveaways!! Today's giveaway is for an ARC of Brandon Mull's Beyonders #2, Seeds of Rebellion.


This is a MUST have! If you've not yet picked up this series I highly recommend it. Seeds of Rebellion will be in stores next week. Here's a little bit about the book:

The second epic installment of Brandon Mull’s #1 New York Times bestselling fantasy series!After the cliffhanger ending of A World Without Heroes, Jason is back in the world he’s always known—yet for all his efforts to get home, he finds himself itching to return to Lyrian. Jason knows that the shocking truth he learned from Maldor is precious information that all of his friends in Lyrian, including Rachel, need if they have any hope of surviving and defeating the evil emperor.

Meanwhile, Rachel and the others have discovered new enemies—as well as new abilities that could turn the tide of the entire quest. And as soon as Jason succeeds in crossing over to Lyrian, he’s in more danger than ever. Once the group reunites, they strive to convince their most-needed ally to join the war and form a rebellion strong enough to triumph over Maldor. At the center of it all, Jason and Rachel realize what roles they’re meant to play—and the answers are as surprising as they are gripping. -quoted from Goodreads

Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

To Enter: please fill out the form below

- 1 entry per person
- open internationally
- if under 13 yrs old you must have a parent/guardian's permission to enter
- this giveaway ends on 3.31.12


Don't miss my Thoughtful Thursday post today on Mundie Moms which features 5 MG books that inspired me to read.

Book Review: Lucky Leprechaun by Dawn Bentley

Written by: Dawn Bentley
Illustrated by: Michelle Berg
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Published Date: January 27, 2003
Source: Puchased
Ages: 3 - 5 years

Synopsis: Prismatic colored foil has been worked appropriately into the art on the cover and every page of this seasonal book! In Lucky Leprechaun, readers will follow the leprechaun as he is hunting for his glittering pot of gold.

A board book that's fun to read for all ages. The colored foil illustrations make it eye-catching for babies and toddlers while pre-schoolers can practice counting the shiny objects on each page. All the characters and settings you'd expect to see in St. Patrick's tale are there -- fairies, clovers, rainbows and pots of gold.  This story is a great way to introduce a preschooler to the concept of St. Patrick's Day. I know we've read it over and over again in my family.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Waiting On Wednesday: Neversink by Barry Wolverton


By: Barry Wolverton
Published by: Walden Pond Press
To Be Released on: March 27th, 2012
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Along the Arctic Circle lies a small island called Neversink, whose jagged cliffs and ice-gouged rocks are home to a colony of odd-looking seabirds called auks, including one Lockley J. Puffin. With their oceanfront views and plentiful supply of fish, the auks have few concerns - few, save for Lockley's two best friends, Egbert and Ruby, a know-it-all walrus and a sharp-tongued hummingbird.

But all of this is about to change. Rozbell, the newly crowned king of Owl Parliament, is dealing with a famine on the mainland of Tytonia - and he has long had his scheming eyes on the small colony to the north. Now, Neversink's independence hangs in the balance. An insurgence of owls will inevitably destroy life as the auks know it - unless Lockley can do something about it
-quoted from Goodreads

I seriously LOVE this cover and I'm looking forward to featuring this book on the blog within in the next week or so. I can't wait to see a final copy of this out in book stores! It's a cute story and one I think a lot of MG fans will enjoy. What book are you waiting to be released?

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Book Review: The Littlest Leprechaun by Justine Fontes

Written by: Justine Fontes
Illustrated by: Amanda Haley
Publisher: Little Simon
Published Date: January 7, 2003
Source: Purchased
Ages: 2 - 5 years

Synopsis: Seamus is the littlest leprechaun.
How will he earn his gold?

There are board books that we've held onto just beacause of the sweetness of the story and the pictures. This is one of those books.

Seamus is a little leprechaun who invents things like paintbrushes that can tint flowers or skis for elves or faster fairy wings for fairies. He's quite handy as you can tell. But he's reminded that he must earn his gold making fairy shoes and not these other fancy things. As you can imagine, that reminder doesn't stop Seamus who instead builds a flying bike.

This is an adorable story that reminds readers to explore their own talents but remember that they need to make contributions to their world. In Seamus' case, he's forgotten his promise to paint the town green. But don't worry, Seamus makes up for it by...well, you'll see, there may be a rainbow at the end of this story.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Book Review: Leprechaun in Late Winter by Mary Pope Osborne

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is a weekly feature started by MG author Shannon Messenger and is a weekly post featuring an upcoming MG release, a MG Author Interview or a MG review. You can find out more about this series posts, and find links to author authors and bloggers who are taking part in this feature here. You can also my Must Have Middle Grade Reads feature on Mundie Moms


Published by: Random House Kids
Released on: January 12th, 2010
Source: bought
Ages: 7 & up
5 stars: We Loved It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Series: book #43 in The Magic Tree House Series

Jack and Annie are on their third mission to find (and inspire!) creative people to bring happiness to others through the arts (Mozart and Louis Armstrong so far). Set in Ireland, Jack and Annie meet an Irish girl and go on a magical adventure that changes the girl’s life—she grows up to be Lady Gregory, who helped bring back the Irish legends, started a theater, and helped the Irish people regain both their heritage and their pride -quoted from Goodreads

I absolutely love how educational and inspirational this series is for my kids and young readers. Mary does an amazing job with not only taking kids on a history lesson in this story by taking them back in time to the mid 1800's in Ireland, she also teaches readers about this Irish lore, and introduces them to a real historical figure, Lady Gregory. I for one was fascinated about the lore of Irish fairies, known as Shee in this story, and the role they played in Jack and Annie's quest to help young Lady Gregory.

Jack and Annie once again set off another adventure for Merlin and this time it's to help a young Irish girl find her inspiration. When Jack and Annie set off in this lush, green and soaking wet country side of Ireland to find her, they didn't except to find someone who stopped believing and stopped telling stories. Young Lady Augusta Gregory remembered every story she was ever told and used to love roaming the country side looking for the Seer with her brothers. Now all that's changed and she no longer believes. With Jack and Annie's help and the help of an old friend of Lady Augusta Gregory's old nurse maid, Willie the Leprechaun, they set off to help Lady Gregory in a rather unexpected way.

This is truly a fun magical journey that introduces young readers to the enchanting lore of the Irish. I loved the history, the perfectly described setting and the characters that are introduced in this story. I was impressed with the amount of research that Mary put into this story. I liked that she not only lets readers know her inspiration for this story, but she includes detailed information about the Shee, Lady Gregory, as well as some fun games in the back of the book. This is a fabulous read for 1st and 2nd grade readers.


Saturday, March 3, 2012

Book Review: Fashion Kitty and the B.O.Y.S. by Charise Mericle Harper

By: Charise Mericle Harper
Published: Disney Hyperion
Released on: October 4th, 2011
Source: book from publisher to review
Ages: 8 & up
3 stars: It's A Good Read
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

It's hard to believe, but Fashion Kitty is in danger, who is the villian?
Is it a jealous kitty?
Is it a boy kitty?
Is it an inventor kitty?
Is it a kitty full of trouble?
Yes Yes Yes And Yes
Sometimes even a superhero needs a helping paw.
Lucky for Fashion Kitty, she's not the only hero in town.
-quoted from Goodreads

Fashion Kitty to the rescue! When the school t-shirt fashion show idea brings out an "evil mastermind" set on stopping Fashion Kitty, will she be able to foil his plan before it's too late or get caught in his string filled trap?

This is the first book I've read in the Fashion Kitty series, and I can see why this series is so popular. Fashion Kitty is hard not to love. In this particular story Fashion Kitty aka Kiki Kittie has to foil the plan on grouchy kitty, Leon Lambaster III, who's out to capture Fashion super hero, Fashion Kitty. Luckily Kiki is a well grounded, smart cat who doesn't fall for Leon's tricks and with the help of her real friends is able to stop Leon before it's too late.

Fashion Kitty and the B.O.Y.S. (Ball of Yellow String) is illustrated in a way that will appeal to young readers, as the story reads part like a book and part like a comic strip. Each page offers fun illustrations that not only adds to the story's fun feeling, but it makes it an engaging read even for the most reluctant young readers. I love that the back of the book offers some really fun activities that readers can do with the help of an adult like making a pillow case out of old shirts, a banner out of old shirts and a few other really fun ideas.

If you're looking for a fun, entertaining read I'd recommend picking up the newest Fashion Kitty book!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Book Review: The Humming Room by Ellen Potter


By: Ellen Potter
Published by: Feiwel and Friends
Released on: February 28th, 2012
Source: ARC from publisher to review
Ages: 9 & up
5 stars: I LOVED It!
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Hiding is Roo Fanshaw's special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment's notice. When her parents are murdered, it's her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life.

As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn't believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.

Despite the best efforts of her uncle's assistants, Roo discovers the house's hidden room--a garden with a tragic secret.

Inspired by The Secret Garden, this tale full of unusual characters and mysterious secrets is a story that only Ellen Potter could write. -quoted from Goodreads

I love classic tellings and wow, Ellen Potter has done a beautiful job at retelling, and recreating her own version The Secret Garden with her newest release, The Humming Room. This magical story has a similar feel to this beloved classic, and yet if offers a new generation a whole new story of love, friendship and courage. This is truly an enchanting story that left me feeling completely satisfied and wanting so much more from it all at the same time.

Young Roo has had a rough start to her eleven years of life, but this girl is strong, resilient and doesn't lack courage. Roo is a character who starts out wild and rough around the edges and slowly, over time becomes a bright young girl full of life and love. I adored Roo and the transformation she makes through out the course of this story and the things she uncovers. After her parents are murdered she's taken in by her mysterious Uncle she didn't know she had to a strange and enchanting place called Cough Rock, where this dark and mysterious house sits. One of the things I loved about this story is the setting, and it's timeless feel. Set in a house full of history, and nestled on a lake fueled by stories and magic, Roo makes some startling discoveries about her new home, herself and her family. Cough Rock becomes more than just a setting as the story progresses, it becomes like a character and I love that when authors are able to make their settings come to life like that.

Ellen Potter is a masterful storyteller. She has a way with words and her vivid descriptions of not only her settings, but her characters is brilliant. She has this flawless ability to paint a mental image of each scene in my mind by the way she tells the story of Roo. It's not just Roo that I fell in love with, but her secondary characters as well. Jack, Phillip and Violet are just as strong characters as Roo. I adored the way they all interacted and they friendships that developed as the story unfolds. This book is simply a gem of a story. It's one of those books that belongs on the shelf with the rest of your beloved children's classic fairytales and beloved children's classics. If you're looking for a beautiful story to sit and enjoy on a lovely afternoon, go pick this one up!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Book Review: Zero To Hero, Ghost Buddy Series by Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver


By: Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
Published by: Scholastic
Released on: January 1st, 2012
Source: book from publisher at ALA
Ages: 8 & up
4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Series: Bk #1 in the Ghost Buddy Series

A hilarious new series from Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver, authors of the bestselling HANK ZIPZER books!

Billy Broccoli is new to the neighborhood, and wants cool friends and a spot on the baseball team more than anything. But the one thing he never wanted is his own personal ghost. So imagine his surprise when he ends up sharing a room with Hoover Porterhouse, a funny ghost with a whole lot of attitude.

When an obnoxious school bully sets out to demolish Billy, the Hoove comes up with a plan for revenge. It’s all in the Hoove’s Rule Number Forty-Two: Stay cool. And like it or not, Billy and the Hoove have to stick together if Billy ever wants to get in style, get even, and conquer the school -quoted from Goodreads

Eleven year old Billy Broccoli not only had to move to a new house with his mom and new stepdad, he has to start a new school, make new friends and deal with new bully who also happens to be his next door neighbor. Luckily for Billy, his new room comes with it's own teenage ghost who's been stuck there for over one hundred years. Sounds cool right? Who wouldn't want to have a young friendly ghost for a friend. This ghost is named, "The Hoove", and he's out to help Billy over come mean bullies and find the confidence he needs to make this year the best yet.

Billy is one of those characters you can't help but love. He's klutzy, he's funny, nice and he's trying to figure out how to navigate through his current stage in life. The Hoove is an adventurous, fun loving, loyal ghost who will do all that he can to help Billy, especially when Rod, aka the Bully bullies Billy. Out to make Rod realize he's not this big macho he thinks he is, The Hoove does a little scary of his own with Rod and helps Billy stand up for himself. Zero to Hero is such an enjoyable, fast paced read with a great message in it for young readers. There's plenty of laugh out loud moments, fun twists, and moments that young readers will easily identify with. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series.

Mundie Kids Middle Grade March Madness

It's Middle Grade Madness on Mundie Kids this month. What does that mean? Through out the entire month of March I'm going to be featuring a variety of Middle Grade reviews, author interviews, giveaways and more. While I enjoy reading YA, I love reading Middle Grade. There's something exciting about reading these books, or maybe it just reminds me of my first adventures I took when reading books like these growing up. I'm looking forward to this month's feature!

Book Review: Hooray for St. Patrick's Day by Joan Holub


Written by: Joan Holub
Illustrated by: Paul Meisel
Publisher: Penguin Group
Publish Date: September 15, 2010
Source: Purchased
Ages: 4 - 8 years

Synopsis: It's Saint Patrick's Day, and time to join in the celebration. Children can lift the flaps for interactive fun as they see the children in this book make holiday crafts, taste traditional Irish food, perform a play about Saint Patrick, and even march in a Saint Patrick's Day parade. As an added bonus, they can search for the hidden leprechaun on each spread. A great way for young readers to learn about and enjoy the holiday.

While a group of children celebrates Saint Patrick's Day, the reader is invited to lift paper flaps and search for a hidden leprechaun.

My kids love interactive books and searching for a leprechaun while each page is read makes reading time more fun. While, our heritage doesn't include a drop of Irish blood, we readily celebrate St. Patrick's Day by wearing green and eating Irish stew.

I loved that it explains the holiday in a concise, rhyming way. The best part of the book is a small glossary of terms on the last page. Using it, I could be sure that I pronounced shillelagh correctly (and also understand what it was). This story is a great addition to your spring themed books.

If the author sounds familiar to middle grade readers, she wrote The Goddess Girls series as well. I know that my youngest enjoyed reading an author that her big sister reads, too.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday:

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday is a weekly feature started by MG author Shannon Messenger and is a weekly post featuring an upcoming MG release, a MG Author Interview or a MG review. You can find out more about this series posts, and find links to author authors and bloggers who are taking part in this feature here. You can also my Must Have Middle Grade Reads feature on Mundie Moms.


Published by: Walden Pond Press
To Be Released on: May 15th, 2012
Pre-Order from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The final chapter of the Archer Legacy opens in the central criminal courts of the Old Bailey in London. Gerald, Sam, and Ruby are attending the murder trial of Sir Mason Green, hoping to see their longtime enemy put away for good. But just as the trial is about to begin, Mason Green is killed - and Gerald is framed for the murder. He only has one choice: to run. Now he and his friends are off on a quest to clear Gerald's name. Their journey will lead them across Europe in a race to find the greatest and most powerful treasure ever assembled on earth - one that waits for someone, good or evil, to finally claim it.

Mysteries will be solved, friendships will be broken, and all secrets will finally be reveaeld in this, the last installment of Richard Newsome's thrilling adventure trilogy -quoted from Goodreads

I've really enjoyed reading this series and I'm looking forward to finding out what's in-store for this team of fearless adventurers when The Mask of Destiny is released. If you've not yet picked up The Billionaire Trilogy, I highly recommend it. I can't wait to pick this book up when it's out and featuring it on the blog.

You can read my review for The Billionaire's Curse bk #1, The Emerald Casket bk #2 and my interview with author Richard Newsome here.