No Name Baby by Nancy Bo Flood

Summary:

Sophie remembered last night's dream and the gray stones-a whole row of them like the ones under the trees. Each stone was etched with letters that she couldn't quite read. When her pregnant mother falls, Sophie blames herself for the accident. Premature labor begins, and everyone worries the infant might join the others under the gray stones. Aunt Rae has come to help care for the baby and mother, but her presence only increases the tension in the family. Then Aunt Rae finds her niece talking with the young man from a neighboring farm and confronts her, revealing something that shakes Sophie's world.No-Name Baby is an intimate portrait of a young girl as she discovers the truth about herself and her family.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 106 pages

Source: NetGalley Arc

Publication Date: March 1st 2012

This book was surprising, I really didn't expect it to be as good as it was. Maybe it's because while I like the cover, I feel that it just doesn't work for the book itself. If you're a cover snob like I am you may be put off by it too but let that pass because inside is a darling little book about hope, family and learning who you are and how to forgive.

Sophie is an italian immigrant who lives in Illinois just after the Great War. Through a series of events Sophie deals with guilt because she thinks that she is the cause of her mother going into premature labour. She is dreading the news that her mother has lost another baby, and struggling with the fact that though she sees herself as mature her family and most importantly her Aunt Rae still sees her as a child. 

The tension between Sophie and Rae is palpable. It's so thick you could cut it with a knife, but as the book goes on family secrets come out and all is understood. This is a nice read for middle graders, I think girls especially will be drawn to it but, that is not to say that it won't be good read for boys too. It's short, easy and to the point and well written.

I do have a few complaints though, I think that the book should have been longer. The plot was a little too simple, and I wish the book was less rushed. Sophie was a likable character but I wish we knew more about her. This to me seemed more like a 100 page summary of a longer novel. However it was still an okay read.

To purchase the book on Amazon CLICK HERE

To visit the author's website CLICK HERE

*I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★

Red Heart Tattoo by Lurlene McDaniel

Summary:

At 7:45 a.m. on the day before Thanksgiving break, a bomb goes off at Edison High. Nine people die instantly. Fifteen are critically injured. Twenty-two suffer less severe injuries. And one is blinded. Those who survive, struggle to cope with the loss and destruction. All must find new meaning for their lives as a result of something they may never understand.

Lurlene McDaniel's signature expertise and finesse in dealing with issues of violence, death, and physical as well as emotional trauma in the lives of teens is immediate and heartrending.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 224 pages

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: July 24th 2012

I love this author! I first discovered her when I was 11 and I found a copy of her book that I inherited from my older sister, ever since then I've loved her books so when I saw that the fabulous people at NetGalley had this one available I had to get it!

However my elation was short lived. In the past few years Lurlene has been straying further and further from the style of writing she used to use. I know that times are changing but I miss the way she used to write her old books.

Don't get me wrong I still love her writing, and I did enjoy this book. But, for me it fell short in several ways. The characters seemed flat, especially Morgan. I thought her character was very one dimensional which sucked since she is one of the main characters. The story was slow, and it felt like it was typed by someone trying to hard to write a good book and I also didn't like how the book was switching back and forth from Morgan to Roth's POVs they didn't flow seamlessly into each other as well as her other books have.

Still it was an enjoyable read, it was actually surprising to me that it dealt with a school bombing. I don't often come across that stuff in YA or Juvenile fiction. I thought that while there were some weaknesses in terms of the write the story over all was a neat concept. Like always Lurlene delivered another heart wrenching tale even if it lacked the strength to make me tear up a bit like her others have.

I think for me it'll take some more getting used to before I really embrace her new writing style but despite my thoughts on this book I still highly recommend it to people who love realistic YA fiction. The author may have fallen a tad bit short in my estimation in writing this book but it's still worth the read. So mark it on your calenders people!

To pre-order the book from Amazon CLICK HERE

To visit her website CLICK HERE

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★1/2

Diary of a Part-Time Ghost by Vered Ehsani

 

Summary:

In the first book of the ‘Ghost & Shadows’ series, fifteen-year old Ash wants nothing more than to be a normal kid and avoid trouble. And then his birthday gift transforms him into a ghost and zaps him back in time to the beginning of the American Revolution. If he thought that was bad, it’s about to get a whole lot worse. Armed only with an ancient history book and the quirky advice of an annoying mentor, Ash must rescue his ancestor from one danger after another, including an implacable enemy who controls the very shadows. What starts out as a brief experiment in time travel rapidly changes into a race for his very survival, and Ash is running out of time. Despite his efforts to stay out of trouble, Ash finds plenty of it as he must decide what his role will be in the shifting balance of forces. As he moves through one shadow- plagued adventure after another, Ash gradually discovers that true power lives in the most unexpected place: himself. Humorous and action-packed, Diary of a Part-Time Ghost will hold readers in its grip from the first sentence to the last.
Summary taken from Goodreads.com
Length: 248 pages
Source: Review copy from the author
Publication Date: March 2nd 2011

A few months ago I was approached by the author Vered Ehsani on goodreads.com to review her book Diary of a Part-Time Ghost, and because I was had so many books on the go it wasn't until a week ago that I was finally able to read it.

I found the character Ash to be snarky and funny at the same time which I really liked. I also really liked BiBi, who is Ash's great aunt (if I remember correctly). I thought she was cute. Her advice to Ash throughout the book reminded me a lot of Yoda because she wanted Ash to figure things out for himself when it came to the Book of History.

As for the story, I thought it was neat. I always love time travel fiction be it juvenile, YA or adult and I haven't read any in a while so that gave this book a huge plus from me. I liked how the plot wasn't laid out in the way I thought it would have been. The whole time I read it I was left guessing as to what would be coming next. The fact that Ash was a part-time ghost added a unique aspect to the story especially when he travels back in time to meet a relative of his from 1773 and is able to become solid (there's no other word I can think of right now to describe it). The whole deal with Kali (you'll meet him when you read the book) left me puzzled and confused, but I'm guessing all will become clear in the next book.

All in all I really enjoyed this book by Vered Ehsani and I hope she releases the second book soon! I would recommend this to any YA/Juvenile fiction lovers. It's a light and easy read that will surprise you with all of its twists and turns. For a first time author I'd definetly say that Vered Ehsani is on her way to success and I hope when she does release her next book she'll drop me a line and let me review it for her as well.

To purchase the book on Amazon click here!
To visit the author's website click here!

*I would like to thank the author, Vered Ehsani for sending me a copy of her book in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★ ★

The Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford

Summary:

Instinct told them that the way home lay to the west. And so the doughty young Labrador retriever, the roguish bull terrier and the indomitable Siamese set out through the Canadian wilderness. Separately, they would soon have died. But, together, the three house pets faced starvation, exposure, and wild forest animals to make their way home to the family they love. The Incredible Journey is one of the great children's stories of all time--and has been popular ever since its debut in 1961.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 160 pages

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: 1961

Nothing feels better than to read an old childhood classic read. Plus I was able to include it in my Around the World in 52 Books Challenge. It's been many years since my Daddy read me this (Hey I may be 21 but Daddy is the only thing I've ever called my father) story. I loved it then and I really loved reading it now that I'm older.

The story of the young lab, old bull terrier and the Siamese cat is one that is timeless and one that appeals to both the young and old as well as new readers and those who just want to revisit the story.

Now I like the variety of children's/juvenile fiction books that are on the market now but I think that it's important that we still expose the young people to these heartwarming tales that have warmed the hearts of readers of decades.

I loved reading about Tao, Luath, and Bodger again it was like I was visiting old friends that have stayed the same as I got older. Now I feel like I appreciate this little gem of a book all the more and though times got tough for the unlikely trio and they had to face starvation and wild animals I enjoyed traipsing through my home province of Ontario in the wilderness with them.

I highly recommend this book to my fellow Canadians and of course to everyone else. Read it to your children, read it again if you've read it and even if you aren't a kid give it a try. You won't regret this tale (pun intended) of adventure and friendship. The best way to read it is with your favourite hot beverage and a pet cuddling you (or a child).

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Night of the Bat by Paul Zindel

Summary:

When Indian workers begin to disappear from an expedition into the Amazon, fifteen-year-old Jake fears that his father, a bat biologist, is in great danger. Against his dad's wishes, Jake flies to Brazil and joins his father's research team, working high in the canopy of a remote stretch of the rain forest. Unfortunately, Jake's first climb up the rope bridges and suspended walkways of the dense forest leads him to discover the mutilated bodies of the missing Indians-and triggers a terrifying, explosive attack by an unknown winged beast. For a while the biologists and workers hunt the savage beast, but when Jake's father is attacked, it becomes clear that the hunters are now the hunted. Jake realizes that it is up to him to find some way of stopping the nightmarish creature before it returns to slaughter the rest of the expedition.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Length: 144 pages (Hardcover)

Source: Toronto Public Library

Publication Date: July 1st 2001

Back when this book was first published I must have read it half a ddozen times and Paul Zindel has become one of my favourite childhood authors. His books were spooky enough for me to want to read over and over again without getting tired of them.

Since It's been a decade since I read this one though I really wanted to read it again. Sometimes I just get struck by the feeling that I have to read some childhood favourites every once in awhile. It's nice to sit back, relax and let nostalgia take over.

I really enjoyed reading this book again. I thought that despite all the new books out on the market that this one can still stand up to the competition though I believe it is now out of print. It's got adventure, death and a monsterously large bat that used to be a human that kills people! What more could a kid (boys especially) want in a book?

The only thing I didn't like about the book was Jake's father he really ticked me off. I didn't care for the way he spoke and treated his son. Though Jake is 15 he is still a child and I think that by not even welcoming his son or not even giving him so much as a hello hug really irked me. However I can see how this adds to the story and readers can connect to that sort of relationship if they infact have that sort of strained and forced relationship with their parent(s).

I highly recommend this as a must read for kids 10 - 12 years of age. Especially young boys because they'll really enjoy this story of one boy's triumph over the evil giant bat of the Amazon.

★ ★ ★ ★

Escape From Dinosaur Planet by Jody Studdard

Summary:

When Captain James Bowman’s ship, the Helix, is shot down during a routine survey mission, he and his crew make a shocking discovery. The planet they have crashed on, Antos, is teeming with dinosaurs, just like the ones that lived on Earth millions of years ago. As Captain Bowman and his crew attempt to discover the origins of the strange but wonderful creatures, they befriend Antos’s natives, a feline species called the Ondurans. Join Captain Bowman, his crew, and the Ondurans as they attempt to survive Antos’s many dangers, including hybrid velociraptors, alien pterosaurs with razor-sharp beaks, and a monstrous allosaur with teeth like knives.

Summary taken from GoodReads.com

Length: 128 pages

Source: Book I Own

Publication Date: January 8th 2010

Dinosaurs, space travel and aliens OH MY!

To me this book was like a mixture of Star Trek, Jurassic Park and Primeval. There was space travel which I thought was a little blah since I'm not one for space travel that's just a little too sci-fi for me. I mean my mother is addicted to Star Trek. I get enough of that in the middle of the afternoon when she's watching it.  But thank goodness it the author didn't get overly detailed on the space travel.

I feel like the author did actually put some thought into the story although I think it was way too short and I felt like the story was a little bit rushed in parts and it seemed as though there were some details missing. The thought behind the story was good but I had hoped that there would be more, but perhaps thats because it's written for a certain age group.

Overall I liked it and found it interesting.  I've never read anything else by the author but will probably be checking out the sequel to this book just to see if the author's writiting is a little stronger and that the story will gain more strength.  All in all I recommend it as a good book for kids 10+.

★ ★ 1/2

The Wild Book by Margarita Engle

 

Summary:

Fefa struggles with words. She has word blindness, or dyslexia, and the doctor says she will never read or write. Every time she tries, the letters jumble and spill off the page, leaping and hopping away like bullfrogs. How will she ever understand them?

But her mother has an idea. She gives Fefa a blank book filled with clean white pages. "Think of it as a garden," she says. Soon Fefa starts to sprinkle words across the pages of her wild book. She lets her words sprout like seedlings, shaky at first, then growing stronger and surer with each new day. And when her family is threatened, it is what Fefa has learned from her wild book that saves them.

In this vibrant novel in verse, award-winning poet Margarita Engle paints a glowing portrait of her grandmother as a young girl.

Summary taken from GoodReads.com

Length: 144 Pages (Hardcover)

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: March 20th 2012 by Harcourt Children's Books          

Today having a learning disabilty is more manageable in a lot of ways but in decades past there was a lot of misconceptions that people had when it came to them. Children who had them were often considered to be stupid and hopeless.

This is the story of author Margarita Engle's grandmother, Fefa. Fefa has dyslexia which was known as "word blindness" at the time she lived. The doctor who her mother had taken her to said that she would never read nor write. However Fefa's loving mother never gave up on her and encouraged her to write.

Now this isn't a biography of her grandmother it's more like a fairy tale type version of her life. I really liked the story and the way it was told and I generally hate books written in poetic verses. It's just one of my pet peeves so I was surprised that this author did a pretty good job utilizing that writing skill especially since this is a childrens book.

I think that the author told the story in a way that is appealing to young readers because it takes place in a different country, a different time and its about a young girl triumphing over her so called "learning disability". I highly recommend it to younger kids maybe 9 years old and up and I think that young girls would especially relate to Fefa's feelings of being an outsider.

*I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★

Soldier's Game by James Killgore

Summary:

Ross is fed up with being on the losing side, as Bruntsfield Primary football team suffer another humiliating defeat. But after football practice each week he goes to visit his grandmother, and this week she has a special present for him. Pat digs out a pair of old football boots and strip which belonged to her father, who once played for Heart of Midlothian Football Club. Ross is amazed that his great-grandfather, Jack, had played for the famous Hearts. As he finds out more about Jack, an incredible story unfolds -- a tale of Edinburgh's young heroes and a battalion of footballers and fans who fought in the First World War at the Battle of the Somme. Based on the true story of the 16th Royal Scots, otherwise known as the 'Heart of Midlothian Battalion', this moving book brings a fascinating moment of Scottish history to life. Jim Killgore interweaves the present day life of an ordinary football-mad boy with a story of young men who were sent to war. He focuses on the friendships that develop as the lads play football and learn to become soldiers together, making this remarkable story enjoyable and accessible for young people.

Summary taken from GoodReads.com

Length: 160 pages

Source: NetGalley ARC

Publication Date: July 1st 2011

As you can tell I've been reading quite a few juvenile fiction books as of late but by no means am I going to be reviewing books for this age group and nothing else.  I will be reading and review other types of books soon.

Anyways on to the review!

I thought that the book was pretty good. Considering I don't know much about soccer "football" it wasn't hard to follow the story. I thought that the idea behind it was interesting. The story revolves around Ross the 12 year old soccer player who has two left feet and the story his Grandmother Pat tells him about his great grandfather Jack who was a star player of his favourite team before he went to fight in WWI.

The story switches from Ross's point of view and that of Jack as Pat tells the story of her father growing up from being a sickly child to one that would play for a major team. For Jack things appear to be going well until the war broke out and he and his team signed up to fight. He ends up seeing some action and gets injured and never plays soccer again. I actually liked Jack's part of the book was the best part because he became the main character which at first I thought was weird because I was wondering where Ross fit in. As Ross learns more about his great-grandfather he gains more confidence on the field.

I thought that the story was well written, the characters are easy to relate to and I think that the book shows that WWI wasn't fought by old men but that it was fought by young men like Jack. Jack had what he wanted in life. He had a nice family at home with his parents and siblings, he had a job and he was an up and coming star on his soccer team but he was able to give all that up to fight for his country and was willing to die trying. I wonder if many kids out there know how bad the wars really were.

I know here in history class we focused a lot on WWI and WWII in our history classes and we studied all the countries who participated but I know that elsewhere there isn't as much focus or that the focus is only on the country that people were born in. To me this is wrong. It was a WORLD war respect should be given to all those who fought.

I would recommend this to younger reader aged 12 and up and I think boys especially would like it.

*I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★

Chronal Engine: A Prehistoric Time-Travel Adventure by Greg Leitich Smith & Blake Henry

Summary:
When Max, Kyle, and Emma are sent to live with their reclusive grandfather, they think he’s crazy, especially when he tells them about his time machine. But after Emma is kidnapped at the exact time that her grandfather predicted, Max and Kyle are forced to believe his eccentric stories—even the one about the Chronal Engine in the basement.
 Now, to save Emma, Max, Kyle, and their new friend Petra must pile into a VW Bug, and use the Chronal Engine to take the road trip of a lifetime—right back to the Cretaceous period. With dangers all around, the teens find themselves dodging car-crushing herbivores in addition to the terrifying T. rex. In this ancient environment, can three contemporary teens hunt down a kidnapper, forage for food, and survive long enough to return home?
Length: 192 pages
Source: Netgalley ARC
Publication Date: March 20th 2012
Summary taken from GoodReads.com

This was my first time reading a book by either of these two authors and I really liked it. Let me tell you that in my house watching the Discovery Channel, Nova, and the History Channel after school was not optional. This is both good and bad, you see now have a love of all things dinosaur and prehistoric as well sharks and nazis. It's true. By the time I was 8 I knew more about the past the any kid in my class...and though I got tired of my Dad forcing me to watch WWI and WWII shows I still have a great love for prehistoric animals and sharks. Seriously Shark Week for me is like NY Fashion Week for other girls I know. But, rather than be ashamed of this I chose to put it out there on the interwebs.

My name is Kimberly.
I am a nerd.

So of course I knew as soon as I read the description on NetGalley that I HAD to read this. I mean the kid in me would not forgive me if I were to have passed it by. I'm so glad I read this! I really wish it had been around when I was younger because I think I would have loved it.

The whole idea behind the story was awesome, I mean it had time travel AND dinosaurs. What more could I ask for?  I really think that the story is great for kids 10+. The characters were likable and I thought that it was somewhat like a kid's verison of the H.G. Wells classic book The Time Machine.
Out of all the characters I would have to say that I liked Max the most just because I know what it's like to be the youngest sibling and to be babied by my older brother and sister. I think that the authors added just the right amount of dinosaurs to the story as well as just the right amount of mystery and intrigue for younger readers.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who has a kid that loves dinosaurs and time travel and I really hope the authors write another book and will turn this into a series and will take them back in prehistory again.

*I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ ★ ★

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Summary:

Orphan Hugo Cabret lives in a wall. His secret home is etched out in the crevices of a busy Paris train station. Part-time clock keeper, part-time thief, he leads a life of quiet routine until he gets involved with an eccentric, bookish young girl and an angry old man who runs a toy booth in the station. The Invention of Hugo Cabret unfolds its cryptic, magical story in a format that blends elements of picture book, novel, graphic novel, and film. Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick has fashioned an intricate puzzle story that binds the reader like a mesmerist's spell.

Length: 533 pages (hardcover edition)

Source: Library

Publication Date: 2007

Summary taken from GoodReads.com

I know I've been a bit lax lately posting my reviews but I haven't been idle! I've already read 22 books this month so I'm doing pretty good but I will be posting my reviews faster now.

The main reason I wanted to read this book is because of the movie which I haven't seen yet but I think it looked really good so even though this was a kid's book I thought I would give it a try. I thought that this book was unique and I really enjoyed the artwork. The artwork was actually the best part of the whole book in my opinion.

I will admit that the story was different from all the magic that seems to be in kids books now and it was nice to have a break from that but, I didn't really care for the writing in this book at all. I really wanted to like this one because I read a lovely review of  it over at The Crazy Life of a Bookaholic Mom (one of my favourite blogs run by a fellow GoodReads group member).  But I didn't like it all that much. I couldn't connect to any of the characters at all and found them all really annoying. I didn't like Hugo at all. I thought he was a  little brat and he deserved to be treated as a nuisance. Yes his father dies but honestly his whole demeanor didn't sit well with me.

The only reason that I even bothered to finish it was on the hope that it would get a little better and it did slightly. I found Papa Georges part in the story to be interesting and it was one of the few things I did like apart from the artwork. Despite the idea for the plot being a good one and the artwork being so lovely I would have given this a much lower rating than I have. But, like always I encourage you to go out and try it yourselves. Just because I didn't like it, it doesn't mean that you won't and even though I thought the book was lacking a lot I would still recommend this for kids to read on their own or with someone. I think that for a children's book it could have been much worse but it could have also been much better. I do hope that whenever me and the Mister do watch this movie that I like it more than I did the book.

★ ★ 1/2

If I Should Die Before I Wake by Lurlene McDaniel

Summary:

Deanne doesn't want to spend her summer on silly debutante activities, like hanging out at the country club and flirting with the rich boys. She'd rather spend time with the kids in the cancer wing at the local hospital. Wil Deanne's compassion lead her to love -- and heartbreak?

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

Now I know I said that I wouldn't be reading anymore books by this author but I couldn't help it. When I read it a few days ago I really needed a short book to pass the time. At 124 pages this book certainly fit the bill.

As much as I like Lurlene's earlier works this one fell very short for me. Actually I would even venture to say that this is my least favourite book of hers that I've ever read and I've read somewhere in the neighbourhood of 20+ of her works. I just couldn't connect to the characters or the setting.

The writing and the story in general seemed bery one dimensional to me and almost as though she didn't really put much thought or effort into this book which was disappointing since she's one of my favourite childhood authors.

I wish the Deanne had been more personable and I really wanted to smack her mother because she didn't want her daughter to help people in the hospital. Seriously, who wouldn't want their kids to be that compassionate?  To me Deanne although I pitied her for how her mother treated her I just couldn't like. I also didn't like Matt the boy she met in the hospital that much either but I think that it's because the story was so rushed and the author left out a lot of details which I wish she would have put it. 

Despite my feelings for this book I do think it's a great book for girls and boys aged 11+.

★ ★ ★

WarHorse by Michael Morpurgo

Click here to see a list of the other books I'm reading for this challenge

Summary:

A powerful tale of war, redemption, and a hero's journey--now available in paperback!

In 1914, Joey, a beautiful bay-red foal with a distinctive cross on his nose, is sold to the army and thrust into the midst of the war on the Western Front. With his officer, he charges toward the enemy, witnessing the horror of the battles in France. But even in the desolation of the trenches, Joey's courage touches the soldiers around him and he is able to find warmth and hope. But his heart aches for Albert, the farmer's son he left behind. Will he ever see his true master again?

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

So my main motivation for reading this book is because I desperately want to see the movie and haven't been able to yet. On the other hand I love a goods kids book about a horse as much as the next girl.

What I loved most about this book is that it was written from the point of view of the horse Joey much in the style of Black Beauty. The way the author wrote it is perfect for readers young and old to enjoy as it is not overly simple or overly complex.

I think that the author Michael Moepurgo did a superb job of getting the setting right and making me feel like I was right there alongside Joey throughout the novel. In fact I enjoyed this book so much I had to read it all at once in one sitting!

Joey, the horse seemed like the most human character I've read about it a long. long, long time. I thought that this was a unique recounting of one of the bloodiest wars in human history because of the way it was told. 

Throughout the book I found myself hoping that Joey would indeed live to see his master  Albert again and I thought his strength and determination to never give up despite the danger he was in which included illness. starvation and fear.

This book is one that I can absolutely see myself reading again and plan on reading it when I have children of my own one day. I highly recommend that everyone who loves a good animal story to read this as it is a great tale of triumphing over adversity shown through a rare if not unique pair of eyes.

I truly wonder if people ever stop and think of not only the brave people who served in the war and the victims but also of the grave animal sacrifices. Next time you see a horse maybe you'll remember to thank them for their ancestors serving in the war as well. I know I will

★ ★ ★ ★

Chengli and the Silk Road Caravan by Hildi Kang

Click here to see the other books I'm reading for this challenge.

 

Summary:

Chengli is an orphaned errand boy who lives in Chang’an China in 630 A.D. His mother has died from illness and his father is presumed dead after disappearing into the desert when Chengli was a baby.
Now thirteen, Chengli feels ready for independence. He is drawn to the desert, beckoned by the howling of strange winds and the hope of learning something about his father—who he was and how he died.
Chengli joins the caravan to travel down the merchant route known as the Silk Road, but it is a dangerous life, as his father knew. The desert is harsh, and there are many bandits, particularly drawn to Chengli’s caravan because a princess, her servants, and royal guards are traveling with them.
This story invites readers to experience the sights, sounds, and smells of this fabled desert route.

Summary taken from Goodreads.com

So I took a trip to China for my around the world challenge and I managed to go back in time as well. Our maincharaqchter is a 13 year old boy named Chengli who was orphaned as a baby and raised by an elderly woman named "Old Cook". He spends his days delivering silk for the merchant he works for with his companion Little Limp until one day the urge to find information about his father leads him to quitting his job and joining up with a caravan that will travel 2,000 miles from where he'a grown up.

The road is long and the days are harsh, Chengli has to battle exhaustion all the time. Plus the fact that he's got to deal with an annoying child princess, the threat of bandits, and the fact that the boy he thought of as his friend Fourth Brother is stealing and Chengli can't do anything to stop him.

Mile after mile the days begin to wear on him but after a brief stop in a town he becomes friends with the bratty princess and still manages to seek information about his dead father but he recieves very little information at all.

At another stop the Caravan is attacked by brigands and the princess is stolen. Chengli risks his own life in pursuit of her but becomes injured. As he slowly begins to heal and his story spreads the people that have taken care of him and he recieves information bit by bit about where the princess is. Soon he is well enough to pursue her and rescue her from her captors and with the help of his new found friends he finds her and frees her and in the process avoids death serval times to find a man who knew his father.

The princess goes on her way to meet the king she was supposed to be married and Chengli returns to his home town knowing that his life is forever changed and that he's made a life lng friend in this once bratty princess.

I liked the idea of the story more than I liked the writing itself. It was not written badly I just didn't feel that it flowed at times and I found it to progress fairly slowly despite being a tale of adventure the writing seemed stiff. I did like the characters though and I like how both the Princess and Chengli evolved ad grew up as their circumstances changed. Both in the end showed that they had an inner strength to them that was not evident before.

I feel that this book while I didn't like it as much as I wanted would be perfectly suited for 10-12 year olds, as it expose the readers to a time and culture they might not already be familiar with.

*I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

★ ★ 1/2

First Aid For Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts by Lari Don

Summary:
Helen has absolutely no interest in becoming a vet like her mother. So she isn't best pleased when asked to help an injured horse. Only this horse isn't entirely normal ... nor are his friends.
Without warning, Helen is thrust into an extraordinary world filled with magic rituals, fantastic creatures, and a dangerous, powerful beast known as the Master, who would destroy it all. Everything hinges on finding the lost Book of Wisdom before the Winter Solstice. Can Helen work out the riddles and help her new friends to make amends for a foolish prank?
First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts
Summary taken from Goodreads.com

The main reason that I was drawn to the book at first was because of the cover. There's just something about it that caught my eye. The second thing that drew me to the book was the title. I love mythological beings and I love the way that children's book authors weave their stories with so much magic and make things come alive.
I really enjoyed the book over all and I believe that it would be a great book for older kids 10+ to read, but I also think that it would be a good read aloud book perfect for bedtime. I found Helen to be a likeable young girl but I wish we knew a wee bit more about her like her age and what she looked like just so I could get a better picture of her in my head, but perhaps the author will have included that information in the next book that chonicles Helen's adventures with fabled beasts.
I liked the sense of adventure and I love how the author wove scottish folklore into the story and made it accessable for younger readers/listeners as well as adding vivid desriptions of the other characters like Yann the centaur, Sapphire the dragon, Lavender the fairy and Rona the selkie as well as The Master the minotaur and his fauns that do his evil biding.
The use of historical events and places were also well used and added more dimension to the story. All in all this was a well written book that I would recommend parents to buy.

*I recieved a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my free and honest review.

★★★

The Future Door by Jason Lethcoe

Summary:

The Future Door

by Jason Lethcoe

Thomas Nelson | December 6, 2011

A mystery is afoot at 221 Baker Street, but will Griffin Sharpe be able to figure out the clues before the future catches up with the past?

When Sherlock Holmes moves out of Baker Street, a new tenant moves in-a mysterious woman named Elizabeth who has long been a fan of Holmes. When she discovers that Griffin and his uncle are also detectives, she becomes very friendly. So when Elizabeth goes missing along with a special invention, Griffin sets out to rescue her. But finding Elizabeth will take them on a race against the clock that bends time itself!
Summary taken from Chapters.Indigo.ca

I received my copy of The Future Door for free from www.Booksneeze.com  which is a great resource offering bloggers the chance to read books free in exchange for their honest reviews. Check it out everyone!

So I was browsing the selection of available print books on the website and since I am trying to read some YA/Children’s books in order to recommend them to my niece and nephew I decided that this is the one I wanted to try.

                I was skeptical at first because I have read other YA books that were dealing with a child sleuth and sometimes…it feels like the author was trying far too hard to make the main character seem witty and we all know that when an author tries too hard things can go bad. Very bad. Good thing for me though it seems that I picked a good book to review. I say this despite of it being Volume 2 in the series and I have not read the first volume I found it easy to follow and I plan on reading volume one soon.

                I absolutely adored Griffin! I love how serious he was but still managed to have moments when I was reminded that he was still a kid, despite being a genius. I loved how passionate he was when dealing with the Moriarties! I also loved his uncle Rupert though I like Griffin believe that he should have gotten more credit for inventions. Plus having Toby Sherlock Holmes’s dog in the book gave it extra brownie points for me. I love how the author Jason Lethcoe added humour into this book. It gave it a nice touch. I found it to be a great book for kids and adults and highly recommend it to everyone. In fact I think I may be passing my copy on to my nephew for Christmas time. I hope the series continues because I would love to read more of Griffin’s adventures.

 ★ ★ ★ ★