{Trailer Sunday} ROOM by Emma Donoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, ROOM is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another.

{Steampunctober} Steampunk for kids

Today we have a special little collection for those of you looking for a little of steampunk for your little ones.

 The Diamond Thief by Sharon Gosling

No one performs on the circus trapeze like 16-year-old Rémy Brunel. But Rémy also leads another life, prowling through the backstreets of Victorian London as a jewel thief. When she is forced to steal one of the world’s most valuable diamonds, she uncovers a world of treachery and fiendish plots.

Meanwhile, young detective Thaddeus Rec is determined to find the jewel and clear his name. Will Thaddeus manage to rescue the jewel? Or is it really Rémy that he needs to save?

The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor

Alyss of Wonderland?

When Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, must flee through the Pool of Tears to escape the murderous aunt Redd, she finds herself lost and alone in Victorian London. Befriended by an aspiring author named Lewis Carrol, Alyss tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life. Alyss trusts this author to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere will find her and bring her home. But he gets the story all wrong. He even spells her name incorrectly!

Fortunately, Royal Bodyguard Hatter Madigan knows all too well the awful truth of Alyss' story and he is searching every corner of our world to find the lost princess and return her to Wonderland so she may eventually battle Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions surrounding mad tea parties, grinning Cheshire cats, and a curious little blond girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination.

Freaks by Kieran Larwood

Weirdest. Crime Fighters. Ever.

Sheba, the fur-faced Wolfgirl, can sniff out a threat from miles away. Monkeyboy clambers up buildings in the blink of an eye -- then drops deadly stink bombs of his own making (yes, THAT kind)! Sister Moon sees in the dark, and moves at the speed of light. Born with weird abnormalities that make them misfits, these FREAKS spend their nights on public display, trapped in a traveling Victorian sideshow. But during the day, they put their strange talents to use: They solve the most sinister crimes. And in a dank, desperate world of crooks and child-snatchers, they're determined to defend London's most innocent victims: the street urchins disappearing from the city's streets.

The Dead Gentleman by Matthew Cody

The dead are up and walking, and the Gentleman is at the door...

Featuring a kid hero, time travel, and otherworld portals in unexpected places (maybe there are monsters under your bed), The Dead Gentleman is a wild ride between parallel New York City timestreams—1901 and today. Eleven-year-old Tommy Learner is a street orphan and an unlikely protege to the Explorers, a secret group dedicated to exploring portals—the hidden doorways to other worlds. 
But while investigating an attercop (man-eating spider) in the basement of an old hotel, Tommy is betrayed—and trapped. And it's then that his world collides with that of modern-day Jezebel Lemon, who—until the day she decides to explore her building's basement—had no bigger worries than homework and boys. Now, Jezebel and Tommy must thwart the Dead Gentleman—a legendary villain whose last unconquered world is our own planet Earth, a realm where the dead stay dead. 
Until now. Can two kids put an end to this ancient evil and his legions of Gravewalkers?

The Brimstone Key by Derek Benz, J.S. Lewis

Max---the leader

Natalia---the brains

Ernie---the changeling

Harley---the muscle

A year ago, the Grey Griffins were just regular kids from Avalon, Minnesota. That was before they learned about the existence of evil fairies, werewolves, and other things that go bump in the night. Now they are monster-hunters, celebrated heroes, and allies to the legendary Templar knights---but even heroes have to go to school.

When the Griffins enroll at Iron Bridge Academy, a school to train young recruits in the fight against the forces of evil, they find themselves at the center of a whole new adventure. The Clockwork King, a Templar foe from days past, has returned to finish the plan he set in motion decades ago. A plot to steal the souls of changelings---humans infused with fairy blood and supernatural abilities---in order to power his army of clockwork war machines.

In The Brimstone Key, authors Derek Benz and J.S. Lewis deftly blend the mystical wonder of steampunk with magic and adventure to create an action-packed thrill ride.

I hope you find something interesting for you and your kids in this list, and if you have some books to suggest please share.

{Trailer Sunday} The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf

A laugh-out-loud, bittersweet debut full of wit, wisdom, heart, and a hilarious, unforgettable heroine.

When you’re a hypochondriac, there are a million different things that could be wrong with you, but for Izzy, focusing on what could be wrong might be keeping her from dealing with what’s really wrong.

I almost raised my hand, but what would I say? “Mr. Bayer, may I please be excused? I’m not totally positive, but I think I might have cancer.” No way. Then everyone at school would know, and they would treat me differently, and I would be known as “Izzy, that poor girl who diagnosed herself with breast cancer during biology.”

But Izzy’s sense of humor can only get her so far when suddenly her best friend appears to have undergone a personality transplant, her mother’s health takes a turn for the worse, and her beautiful maybe-boyfriend is going all hot and cold. Izzy thinks she’s preparing for the worst-case scenario, but when the worst-case scenario actually hits, it’s a different story altogether—and there’s no tidy list of symptoms to help her through the insanity.

{Review} Bowling Alley Bandit by Laurie Keller

Publication date: June 04, 2013

Publisher: Henry Holt and Company

ISBN-13: 9780805090765

Synopsis

Fresh out of the baker and into Mr. Bing's life comes Arnie the Doughnut how is half of the time a regular doughnut and the other half just a chocolate covered sprinkle doughnut.
This time we follow Arnie the Doughnut in his life at the bowlling alley where he goes from karaoke enthusiast to crime solving doughnut. Follow Arnie as she show's us why he loves the bowling alley so much and how he tries to keep it a safe place.

Review

If you like to read books from the first book and then mover from there then you might want to check out the first Arnie the Doughnut book by Laurie Keeller, but if you don't mind I don't think it would be hard at all to feel up the holes in the story.
This story is more limited on the age range, I like middle grade books that both me and my little cousins can enjoy but this one is more for the little little ones and even if it was amusing to see a doughnut survive a bowling alley it was really obvious at times.
Little kids, in my opinion, will enjoy this story it is accompanied by good art work that makes the story more dynamic and I can imagine little kids having a blast during a little reading time accompanied by a great narrator.
The thing that made this book shine for me is that it doesn't paint Mr. Bing as an old man without energy, no Mr. Bing goes out for walks with Arnie, he bowls and enters tournaments. Mr. Bing is by no means the primary character yet I love the fact that he is in a children's story and that he breaks the old man mold.

Rating:
For adults

For kids

{Review} Epic Fail by Claire LaZebnik

Publication date: August 2nd, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

ISBN-13: 9780061921261

Synopsis

Moving to California was what we had to do, mom got offered a really good job at Coral Tree Prep High in Los Angeles, a plus side you might think yet it’s not, not when the job your mom was offered is school principal and that is the exact same place you will be attending school.

But when your sister dearest falls in love with a gorgeous guy and you suddenly find yourself spending time with the son of Hollywood royalty Derek Edwards then you can really kiss your normal life good bye.

On an attempt to make lunch time bearable Elise tries to talk to Derek only to find him presumptions and way too silent.

Without knowing it Elise finds a friend in the charming Webster Grant who seems to know how to get into Derek’s bad side. Elise will learn that there is more to their story then meets the eye and she will have to make a decision in the type of company she wants to keep.

Review

Ok, lets start with the obvious this is a book that follows the Pride and Prejudice formula, so if you are a fan of the original here is a heads up.

I find that this book might be a way to get a new generation into Pride and Prejudice but, is it worth the spoilers for the new readers, honestly I don’t think so. But as a fan in search of something with the P&P flavor or at least the formula then yes this is for you.

This story is enjoyable, but just know that if you want realistic fiction just know it tends more into realistic glam, which is more like 80’s “normal” there is a bit of glam and exaggeration in those stories.

I would have liked to see an original twist in this story something that would make me forget that this story was based on P&P and feel that Claire LaZebnik made this story her all, sadly this wasn’t the case, the story was enjoyable a nice break into something that I already knew in a different setting.

Have you read Epic Fail? What are your thoughts??

Rating:

{Review} The Summer I Became a Nerd by Leah Rae Miller

Publication date: May 7, 2013

Publisher: Entangled Teen

ISBN-13: 9781620612392

Synopsis

When we are little they tell us to be ourselves, but sometimes being who we truly are can put us in the spotlight in the wrong way, in the middle of everyone’s jokes.

That was the day I learned that being myself, my true self, was better kept hidden.  The little girl that got laughed at has learned to camouflage herself, if you look at me now you’ll see a blond cheerleader, a cheery girl with good grades and the star quarterback as her boyfriend.

Sounds kind of silly doesn’t it? It all sounded logical at first, the plan seemed simple and flawless; keeping my inner nerd as it should be indoors. Yet when Logan Scott comes into the picture, or more like in a desperate act to get to know the finally of my favorite comic I jump incognito into the towns comic book shop only to find out that Logan is the owner of the last copy.

And that was the beginning of the summer I became a nerd.

Review

Leah Rea Miller tells a wonderful story, Maddie will learn that life outside the geek closet can be wonderful and freeing.  While getting how this new world she is discovering can really mix with the one she left at school?

I liked both the main story and the sub-story that takes place on this book. I feel it gives a deeper layer, and expansion to the world Maddie and Scott live in and talks about a problem that is so involved in the daily life that we sometimes forget about it.

The finally of this book may not be a big surprise, it’s in the title, but the way the author takes us through the story and lets us meet the characters that impact Maddie’s life is what makes this an interesting trip. This story has a flavor of its own.

An element that Rea Miller added to this book and that we don’t always get to see in YA is involved parents, unlike other YA book where parents get to be minor characters if they are present at all. In “The summer I became a Nerd” you may not always read them but you know the parents are there.

Theme wise, Leah Rea Miller’s The Summer I became a nerd may sound a little unreal, she makes the parents a present figure, and her teens aren’t involved in drugs, sex or alcohol, but the author teaches us that even if the after mentioned themes are present in the life of a teen they are not always necessary to tell a story, nor do they need to be in the spotlight.

So guys, I was thinking, in honor of “The summer I became a Nerd” how about exchanging adorkable crushes or love stories? Here is my famous adorkable crush:

Duckie from Pretty in Pink

Cute, Geeky and 100% proud of who he is even if he does mess things up every now and then. And that for me makes him worthy of the title of adorkable!!! 

How about you? What is your story? Or who is your adorkable crush?

Rating:

{Cover Reveal} Strangely Normal by Tess Oliver

 

Title: Strangely Normal 

Author: Tess Oliver 

Book Description:

A unique summer job lands eighteen-year-old Eden Saxon into a lifestyle completely different than her own. She becomes a companion for nineteen-year-old Finley King, the daughter of a rock legend. Finley suffers from severe anxiety, and her father fears her being alone. Eden leaves her loving, but wildly dysfunctional, parents and dreary apartment and enters a world where no luxury is overlooked. She instantly adores Finley and her charming, quirky personality. The whole situation has only one flaw– Finley’s older brother, Jude. Jude King is cocky, arrogant and irritating. Unfortunately, he’s also completely irresistible.

Eden realizes she’s underestimated the depth of Finley’s problems, and suddenly her dream job turns out to be a lot more than she’d expected. Eden soon finds herself in over her head . . . and her heart. 

About Tess Oliver

Tess Oliver is a teacher and writer who lives in California with her husband, kids and a small pack of pampered dogs. She loves horses, chocolate and Jane Austen books. 

Links 

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Goodreads

{Audio Book Review} Art Geeks and Prom Queens by Alyson Noel

Publication Date: October 16th, 2012

Publisher: MacMillan Audio
Narrated by: Katie Schorr
Duration: 7 hours and 12 minutes
ISBN-13: 9780062117854

Synopsis

From New York to a fancy school in South Cali, Rio's life changes drastically. Rio's mother feels this is the perfect opportunity for her daughter to go from art geek into the center of attention in the popular crowd.

Originally that wasn't Rio's plan but when she thinks she messed everything up with her new friends Mason and Jas. So after "feeling" that she messed everything up with them she decides to take her mothers advice and try and join the in crowd.

There is where she meets Kristy the cliche cheerleader with a drug addiction and a whole lot of trouble.

Review

I just couldn't finis this book, I disliked it so much. Saying it was a bad adaptation of Mean Girls is little.

Rio is an easily manipulated character that in my opinion deserves most of what happens to her. Okay I didn't finish the book but where I left she deserved everything she was getting.

The thing that made this book bearable to the point I just had to put it down was the narrator Katie Schorr she did a great job making Rio more bearable, I know that if I was reading it, I would have dropped it about 50 pages in, in fear of catching some of Rio's ever growing insecurities.

Rating:

Stitch Head by Guy Bass

Series: Stitch Head #1

Publication Date: August 01, 2011

Publisher: Stripes
ISBN-13: 9781847151834

Summary

Forgotten by his creator years ago Stitch Head is trying to fulfill the promise he and his creator made when he was born, living through the shadows of Castle Grotteskew he tries to bring a peaceful existence to the new creations of the professor but whit a new creation discovers his secret and the freak circus arriving to town will just be the beginning of his journey.

Review

Stitch Head is a fun, cute, weird and easy read where we meet Stitch Head, professor Erasmus first creation that brings a peaceful existence to all the other creations his master has done over the years, even if his master has forgotten all about him.

In this cute story we get to know about  how friendship comes in all shapes, sizes and attached pieces . How  promises and friendships affect us. This creepylissous story is sure to delight children and adults alike and don't worry about it, this is not they type of story that will scare the kids.

In few words I am afraid I have to say, that if cute and creepy aren't your thing, from this book you should stay away.

Rating:

The Other Normals by Ned Vizzini

Publication Date: September 25th, 2012

Publisher: Balzer + Bray
ISBN-13: 9780062079909

Synopsis
Creatures & Caverns was all he really cared about, everything else in his life was a mess. His parents are dating their divorced lawyers, his brother is a "rock star" abusing alcohol and god knows what else, and all of them are ganging out on him for not having any real friends.
Perry doesn't have any friends and he is ok with that, creating characters for Creatures & Cavers and reading the books was his favorite way to pass time. But his family don't support his C&C hobbie and think it's time he starts being with kids his own age, with the hopes that this late bloomer starts his journey into becoming a man.
Little do they all know that camp Whisiska Lake will have more to give Perry then he could ever dream off.

League of Strays by L.B. Schulman

Publication Date: October 1st, 2012

Publisher: Amulet
ISBN-13: 9781419704031

Synopsis
Charlotte didn't know what to make of it at first when the strange letter appeared in her locker telling her she had been invited to join the league of strays, where they serious? was this some kind of joke? The only way to find out was to catch the meeting and see if this was for real and what it was about.
Once there she meets nerdy Nora, boyish Zoe, the school dealer Richie and mysterious Kade who asked them all to meet there.

Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardough

Series: The Grisha Trilogy #1

Publication Date: June 5ft, 2012

Publisher: Henry Holt & Co.
ISBN-13: 9780805094596

Synopsis
"Wait!" I protested, but the Darkling was already turning away. I grabbed hold of his arm, ignoring the gasp that rose from the Grisha onlookers, "there's been some kind of mistake. I don't... I'm not..." my voice trialed off as the Darkling turned slowly to me, his slate eyes drifting to where my hand gripped his sleeve. I let go, but I wasn't giving up that easily. "I'm not what you think I am" I whispered desperately.
The Darkling stepped closer to me and said, his voice so low that only I could hear, "I doubt you have any idea what you are".

{Early Review} Cemetery Girl by David Bell

Publication date: October 4, 2011

Publisher: NAL Trade

ISBN-13: 9780451234674

Synopsis

Imaging yourself as a dad, but not any dad you are Tom Stuart a guy that has lost his little girl at the age of twelve, it's been four years since your daughter went missing and you find that you are the only one that still believes there is hope in finding your daughter Caitlin. Your wife has been slowly drifting away and you are the only parent that has hope that she may still be alive. It's really hard to imagine right? Well what happens when your wife pushes you to get rid of stuff that reminds you of your daughter? like the dog she used to love? or when your wife insist you have a memorial service, to honor her memory? 

You follow all of that to suddenly have your long lost child appear, and just when you start believing things will be good again, she tries to run away, she wants to go back to where she was during this past four years and she is now an entirely different person. All of this and more is what our main character Tom Stuart has to deal with in Cemetery Girl.