Review: A SNICKER OF MAGIC by Natalie Lloyd

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal
**Starred Review** GoodBooksforKids (us)

A SNICKER OF MAGIC is all about magical realism, and Natalie Lloyd's debut novel does it right.  This is a book that is going to appeal to readers who love quirky characters, small communities, and happy endings.  

Backstory

Once upon a time Midnight Gulch was a hidden place. A place of magic. And two brothers were some of the most magical of the people who resided there. They made music and when they played people couldn't help but dance, and the trees would grab a hold of their tunes and kept them on the breeze. Then one day something tore the brothers relationship apart and they decided to duel.  The penalty was horrible and would tear them apart forever, for whichever one of the brothers lost would have to leave Midnight Gulch, forever.  And worse, they would be cursed with a rambling heart so that they could never settle down.

That horrid day, when the brothers parted, marked the beginning of a decline of Midnight Gulch.  People no longer wanted to live there. They left and didn't come back, and sorrow became more a part of peoples lives, than not.

Change is coming though.  Because to 12 year-old Felicity this small town is still magical. Even if it's just got a snicker of magic and not full blown magic. It's the place where she finds her first friend, and it's a place where her 'seeing and catching' words and writing them on her shoes and in her blue notebook is accepted.

The Conflict

Felicity and her little sister, Frannie Jo, want to stay put, but their momma just can't.  Felicity is convinced that their mom is afflicted by the heritage of the brother's curse.  And she's convinced that if she applies herself that she can figure out the curse and undo it.  The question is whether there will enough time to unravel the mystery before her mother moves them on again.

a touch of quirkiness...

The next afternoon, Johan told me to meet him at his mom's beauty salon. The shop is called

Jewell Pickett's Lube & Dye

because it happens to be the only salon offering beauty services and minor car repairs in the entire town of Midnight Gulch and possibly the whole world.  Jonah said the shop came about because his mom, Jewell, had two great passions in life: tinkering with carburetors and coloring people's hair.

This book had me when Felicity was described as a 'collector of words'.  As a reader I love words and I understood immediately the power of her ability.  That I love stories with quirky characters and whimsical small towns didn't hurt either.  

A SNICKER OF MAGIC delivers on all of these things.  There are a slew of strange characters to love, and magical moments abound. It's a book about love, forgiveness and making amends.  (

Pam~


A SNICKER OF MAGIC
(Scholastic)
by Natalie Lloyd

4.13 STARS from 695 GoodReaders 

Reading Information:
Word Count: 69,414
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reader: 4.7 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 164275
--sample pages and reviews available

Review: OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY by Karen Foxlee

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

**Starred Review** ALA BookList

OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY is a modern fairy tale and a very good book at the middle grade level.  It's the story of two children from two different times who join forces to defeat a cruel Snow Queen.

Backstory
The Marvelous Boy has been chosen by wizards to defend the world against the coming of frosty evil.  To protect him they have taken away his name.

Ophelia is a sad little girl.  Her mother has recently died and her family is dysfunctional as a consequence. She is struggling with her issues when she discovers the Marvelous Boy who has been locked away by the Queen for centuries.

The rest of the story is Ophelia's being drawn into the Marvelous Boy's quest of finding THE sword and THE 'one that has been foretold' so that the queen can be defeated.

Book blub...

Unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard doesn't believe in anything that can't be proven by science. She and her sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother when their father takes a job in a strange museum in a city where it always snows. On her very first day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been waiting for Ophelia's help.

As Ophelia embarks on an incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns more and more about the boy's own remarkable journey to reach her and save the world.

A story within a story, this a modern day fairytale is about the power of friendship, courage and love, and never ever giving up.

OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY is told from the perspective of both Ophelia and the MB. She narrates the present, while MB tells the story of how he arrived in custody of the Winter Queen in the museum.  Two sample pages follow.

WHAT WORKS for me in this story are the characters.  They are well drawn for middle grade fiction, and the magical Marvelous Boy is the perfect foil for the science and logic loving Ophelia Jane Worthington-Whittard.

OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY is not a perfect book however for the MG market.  There are longish lists of items in the principle setting of the Museum, and this slows the plot down in places.  Similarly I thought there was more wandering around and exploring than was truly necessary for the story to move forward.

However, if a reader preservers, they'll probably really like this book.  The word-smithing is good and the characters are delightful.

Pam~


OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY
by Karen Foxlee

3.95 STARS from 331 GoodReaders

Reading Information:
Word Count: 50,231
Page Count: 240
Accelerated Reader: 4.9 / points: 7.0
AR quiz: 164216
--sample pages and reviews available

Review: IN THE AFTER by Demitria Lunetta

 3.98 STARS from 3,098 GoodReaders

IN THE AFTER is fast paced novel that isn't too grim.  It requires some suspension of belief, but if you're committed to forgive the book a few flaws, it's going to be entertaining.

"They were faster than I’d thought possible, a blur of green, the color of pea soup. Glowing yellow eyes sometimes caught the light and flashed gold. The creatures pounced, not bothering to kill their prey before feeding. They ripped skin and flesh from their victims, who screeched in agony. The cries always brought more of Them, eager for their next meal."

Backstory:

Amy is at home when it happens.  She's watching television and it soon becomes apparent that something terrible is unfolding.  And in short order she loses everyone to new creatures called Floridae-Sapiens.

As society falls, Amy becomes marooned at home where she is fortunate enough to have an solar panels, an electric fence, and dishwasher.  Amy's only excursions outside are to find supplies, and that is where she finds a toddler who has miraculously survived.

After years the two are rescued and taken to a research compound where some scientist survivors have figured out how to keep Them at bay.  At first it seems like paradise... but the colony has it's own demands, and Amy soon realizes that she and Baby might soon be separated, and there might be worst things in store.

~

What didn't work for me was the 'big discover' at the end.  I think it's going to be predictable to most readers who are overly familiar with the scifi/Post-Apoc genre.  There were however enough interesting other things going on so that I found myself up later than normal, flipping pages.

It is not a book with character development.  The characters are what they are, and you aren't going to see them evolve.

The writing is better than average and as I read I got deeper into the story.

If I was to choose my favorite aspect of the book, I'd probably say it was how the author constructed the narrative in the 2nd section.  [The book has 3 sections.]  Demitria used two different timelines for the main character (Amy) which interwove.  The contrast between Amy's two states of being were remarkably different, which made watching the two narratives push towards a common resolution pretty entertaining.

To me IN THE AFTER is a solid, but light read.  It's the kind of book that would make for great beach or airplane reading.  Just throw your suspension-of-disbelief in full gear and enjoy.

Pam~



IN THE AFTER
(In the After #1)
by Demitria Lunetta

Reading Information:
Word Count: 89,228
Page Count: 455
Accelerated Reader: 4.5 / points: 13.0
AR quiz: 163801
--sample pages and other reviews available
--audio version available
--sample e-chapters available


You might also be interested in:

Review: THE CHRISTMAS WISH by Lori Evert

**Starred Review** Kirkus

 NEW YORK TIME BEST SELLER

Long, long ago, in a place so far north that the mothers never pack away the wool hats or mittens, lived a sweet little girl named Anja, whose greatest dream was to become one of Santa's Elves.

THE CHRISTMAS WISH is adorable. The photographs and costuming is beautiful, and Lori Evert has managed to write a simple and compelling story that is likely to please adults as well as children.  

Backstory

Anja is a sweet little girl who wants to be one of Santa's helpers. So after a bit of preparation, she sets off into the snowy wilderness in search of the jolly man in Red.  

She's fine for awhile, but then, despite her planning, she begins to loose confidence. And that's where the magic takes place.  For you see, the animals have apparently heard of her mission and one after another they step up to do what they can to help Anja along.  First there's a patient cardinal that helps her, and then a horse, a musk ox, a polar bear, and finally a reindeer.

But I won't tell you more.  You'll have to read for yourself what happens when she finds Santa.

click on image to enlarge in most browsers

What I love, besides the beautiful photography, is the kindness exhibited by Anja and the animals.  Before she leaves, Anja gives gifts to her family and friends and tells them that she will visit when Santa gives her time off.  But more than that she checks in on a widowed neighbor. She catches the old woman's cat so that the elder woman won't have to go out into the snow to do this, and then Anja does a few chores for her friend, like sweep out her sauna.  

------------------------------------------------------------------

Review: BABY ELF'S CHRISTMAS

Review: SISTER BEAR by Jane Yolen

Review:  BEAR STAYS UP FOR CHRISTMAS

------------------------------------------------------------------

Not a book with an emphasis on the religious reason for Christmas.  It still fits the season because of it's emphasis on kindness.   

Pam~


THE CHRISTMAS WISH
3.99 STARS from 141 GoodReaders
by Lori Evert
Per Breiehagen (Photographer) 

Reading Information:

Word Count: 1,266
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reader:  4.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 161311

updated by Pam
November 2014

Review: CHASING SHADOWS by Swati Avasthi

Junior Library Guild Selection

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal

CHASING SHADOWS is Swati Avasthi's second novel and a definite departure from SPLIT, her wonderful first book.

One of the twists she's employed to make this book different is to include graphic-novel pages like the one that follows. These pages don't just reduplicate visually what readers are told; they stand in place of text.

Artwork by Craig Phillips

Backstory

In CHASING SHADOWS the principle characters are Holly, her twin brother Corey, and their best friend and girl friend, Savitri (Sav).

The three of them are high schoolers in their senior year, and while deeply bound to one another, they realize that the coming year will most likely see their group fall apart as Savitri, the most academic of the group, awaits responses from Princeton and other first tier schools.

It's not that Corey and Holly aren't interested college, but they aren't inspired to leave the home town they love.

Related books...

SPLIT by Swati Avasthi - Sixteen-Year-Old Jace Witherspoon arrives at the doorstep of his estranged brother Christian with a re-landscaped face (courtesy of his father’s fist), $3.84, and a secret.

All of this turmoil about schools and the future is brutally stripped away and made moot when Corey is shot and dies. His sister doesn't recall much of the nightmare event, but Sav bears the scars of a survivor who wishes she could have saved him.

(Corey, Holly, and Sav are seriously into freerunning)

As a read, I found this story gut wrenching. Swati's portrayal of Corey's family's and friend's grief made me have to put the book down twice. But I always came back. Basically because there's a mystery to be solved. And because I needed to know what the girls would do. Were they crazy enough to try to find Corey's assassin. And could Sav find the strength to leave and find her future.

Another element that worked to keep my attention was the question of the strange alternative world that was portrayed. While she was in a coma, Holly 'entered' this world where Corey was being dragged off by Death.  (a simplification) The story was written so that I was never certain whether this was a product of the drugs Holly was given, a sign of madness, or whether it was simply a view into a real other world.

CHASING SHADOWS won't be a read for everyone.  It's very much into the drama, and it's not a topic that everyone is going to take to heart. One of Avasthi's strength though is her characters.  They live.  They breathe.  They are dimensional and so realistic that it's hard not to be drawn into the stories where she places them.  Suitable for Adults and Young Adults.

Pam~

------------------------------------------------------------------
Review: INFINITE SKY
Review: REALITY BOY
Review: FANGIRL  (light-hearted drama)
------------------------------------------------------------------

CHASING SHADOWS

by Swati Avasthi

Craig Phillips (Illustrator)

3.92 Stars from 60 GoodReaders

Reading Information:

Word Count: 61,004

Page Count: 320

Accelerated Reader:  4.2 / points: 9.0

AR quiz: 160989

Review: SORROW'S KNOT by Erin Bow

SORROW'S KNOT is one of my top reads for 2013.   I hadn't gone 3 pages before I was drawn in and held spellbound by Erin's dark tale of love, friendship and madness.

Backdrop

Westmost is a small isolated village at the western edge of known civilization.  We aren't told how the eastern places are ruled but Westmost is governed by women.  In fact, the only males there are children.  (The boys, when they are old enough, leave and go down the river with the men who come to trade with the settlement.)

Westmost exist there because of the binders. These are women who have the strength and knowledge to weave the knots that bind the evils outside. And the danger isn't wild animals, as you'd think; but the dead. Shadowed creatures that take two forms.

The first type of dead are small and have always been.  They hide in the forest and in the earth and grasses and they inflict pain and hurt, but are easily killed and defended against.  Newer though are the White Hands. These are terrible human-dead that are capable of engulfing souls and turning people's minds to madness so that they too become evil shadow creatures.


Background
Otter (girl & main character), Kestrel (girl), and Cricket (dude) are best friends. They have grown up together and now they are coming of age.  Kestrel wishes to take training as a ranger, like Otter's grandmother.  These are women who roam the forest hunting and gathering.  They are also the ones that kill the dead.

It is expected that Cricket will leave.  That come spring he will follow the men who come to trade when they turn back home. Then he will seek out someone strong in the magic of storytelling to apprentice to.

Otter desires nothing more than to begin training with her mother to be a binder.  It's the most important role in the community, because it is the binders who weave the spells that keep the dead out.  And it has been clear for some time that Otter has the skills to do this.


Story
Life in the little community begins to spin out of control when Otter's mother is touched by a White Hand, for the community has no ready defense against the corruption of it's own Binder.


SORROW'S KNOT is beautiful.  A dark fantasy that combines horror with beauty and wonder.  The narrative has a fairytale feel, but the subject matter deals with love and death and the difficulty of letting go of our grief.  

What I love about this book –besides the excellent writing and characters – is that it manages to be both epic in nature, and yet very personal.  It was utterly important to find out how White Hands were created.  But painful to see the task fall to these three friends.

I HIGHLY recommend SORROW'S KNOT to readers who are in the mood for stylized narrative that will transport them to somewhere else. 

HIGHLY Recommend.

Pam~


SORROW'S KNOT
by Erin Bow

Reading Information:
Word Count: 80,337
Page Count: 368
Accelerated Reader: 4.9 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 162051
Lexile: HL620L

--sample pages and reviews available

Sneak Peek: Sorrow's Knot by Erin Bow (Excerpt)

Review: READY TO WEAR (Sew Zoey!) by Chloe Taylor

 3.89 Stars from 19 GoodReaders

The SEW ZOEY series is really different. Unlike other series for Tween and Teen girls --thinking DORK DIARIES and DIARY OF A WIMPY KID-- these books are all about doing creative things. Almost, but not quite, how-to instructions in some cases.

Background

• Zoey and her brother are being raised by her dad and Aunt since her mother's passing.
• Zoey loves to draw, and she has two really really close friends.  
• In READY TO WEAR, Zoey starts a Blog about one of her favorite things, Fashion!

As far as style goes, READY TO WEAR is a squeaky clean book without a lot of plot surprises. There are the super supportive friends, and the trouble making rich girls. But the material is well written, and the story really is a great way to present information about blogging and sewing in a kid-friendly fashion.

In Book #1, it's all about Zoey learning to take her drawings to the next level. Not only putting up some of her stylings on the internet for others to enjoy, but actually sewing up some of her designs.

Zoey doesn't know where to begin, of course. No more than most real girls in her age bracket.  But that's where her supportive Aunt and author Chloe Taylor come in. They describe some of the basics of blogging and sewing, and on the other side of this book girls are going to know what a 'notion' is, and that they shouldn't try to cut out a pattern on the bed. 

Refreshingly different.  I think this is just what some creative girls are going to want.

Be Sure to Touch Base with Simon & Shuster's SEW ZOEY page where there are sewing tips and downloads available
  
Pam~


READY TO WEAR
Sew Zoey #1
by Chloe Taylor
Nancy Zhang (illustrator) 

Reading Information:
Word Count: 27,238
Page Count: 176
Accelerated Reader: 4.0 / points: 4.0
AR quiz: 159038
--get sample pages and other reviews

Review: MALICE by Chris Wooding

4.06 Stars from 1,504 GoodReaders

MALICE is part novel, part graphic-novel... and so much fun. 

If your children liked the GOOSEBUMPS series and are ready for a longer tale that's a bit scarier, then they might want to take a look at Chris Wooding's MALICE series.

The premise of the story is that there is a mysterious comic book series titled "Malice", and that if you have it in your possession, and then say the right words and burn the right set of ingredients, that you can be 'transported' into the comic book-world ruled by the villainous guy that you see here on the cover, Tall Jake. The catch is that the world is just awful -- filled with monstrous creatures and machines that will hunt you down and kill you.

Now you might be wondering who on earth would want to take part in such an experiment, but the truth is that it's mostly done because the children don't really believe that it can happen. They are just fooling around and challenging each other. Too bad it works.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Review:  THE MONSTRUMOLOGIST (YA)
Review: THE WITCH'S KITCHEN (MG/YA)
Reading List: RL STINE'S HORRORLAND series (MG)
------------------------------------------------------------------

The writing in MALICE was very good and the story was well plotted; and it wouldn't surprise me at all if kids stay up late trying to finish it.

As far as appearance, I have to say that the cover is really eye-catching. It features Tall Jake, and he and the MALICE lettering are raised and touchable and just the sort of thing that ought to have this book whizzing off the shelves.

Inside the print is well sized and easy to read. AND there are plenty of grayscale drawings by Dan Chernett. These illustrations are divided into panels just like you would find in a graphic novel.

There is violence in this series, although so far most of it is portrayed in the drawing and not the text.

Overall, this book isn't going to be for everyone. It's scary and fast paced though, and since there's both male and female characters I think MALICE is going to appeal equally to Middle-graders of both genders. At least those who like a scary adventure story.

Beginning of a series.

Pam~


MALICE
(Malice #1)
Scholastic
by Chris Wooding
illustrated by Dan Chernett

Reading Information:
Word Count: 67,634
Page Count:  384
Accelerated Reading level: 4.5 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 133618
Lexile: 650L
--get sample pages, reviews, and prices
--get the series information here

Review: THE HALLOWED ONES series by Laura Bickle

THE HALLOWED ONES is a creepy and
wonderful YA series.  

The background for these is books is modern... sort of. I say that jokingly because the first book begins in an Amish community where Kate, our heroine, lives with her parents and little sister.  Kate has friends and is generally happy, but also terribly curious about sampling the modern world by going on the Rumspringa.

These plans get dropped though when the end of world erupts. When suddenly a strange 'disease' breaks out that forces the elders to 'close' their community so that none may go out and none may come in.

This declaration sets into motion a series of events which threaten Kate and her family.  For one, Kate's best friend, Elijah, decides that he will take his vows, and everyone in the community, including Kate's parents, want her to join him so that they also be married.  Kate however isn't eager to give up on her Rumspringa dream.  No one knows after all whether this unknown threat will blow over.   

It also creates a crisis of faith and obedience for Kate when an injured young man collapses at the fence at the periphery of their community.  She wants to do the 'right things', but the elders have made their choice and turned away from helping the boy.  As expected, she can't be so hard-hearted, and by helping the college-aged boy, both of them (and an adult friend) end up being exiled from the community.

Amish. Vampire apocalypse.  There's so much that fresh and new about these books. 

I really enjoyed all the interesting information about daily Amish life. And Ms. Bickle wields it in a way that makes Kate's world very, very real. So when we jump off in the creepy vampire aspects of this story, it's from a concrete-solid world.

I also loved that it's not clear where these vampires come from.  Are they truly, biblically Evil?  Or is it an infection?  Or somehow both.

In any case, some good reading.  Enjoy.

Pam~

**all ratings from GoodReads
***mild swearing; some violence; some sexual situations

THE HALLOWED ONES
**Starred Review** Kirkus
4.02 avg rating — 1,176 ratings

Reading Information:
Word Count: 79,375
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reader: 4.8 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 156924
--get sample pages and other reviews available


THE OUTSIDE
**Starred Review** Kirkus
3.80 avg rating — 175 ratings

Word Count:  78,335
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 161169
--get sample pages and other reviews available

Review: FLORA & ULYSSES

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

**Starred Review** ALA BookList

**Starred Review** Kirkus

**Starred Review**SchoolLibraryJournal

Kate DiCamillo wins constant kudos for her work in children's literature.

She's penned such popular works as Because of Winn-Dixie,  The Tale of Despereaux,  The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, and the Bink and Gollie (links to reading list) and the Mercy Watson pig series.

In FLORA & ULYSSES she has adapted a new style of story telling where graphic novel pages are interspersed within normal text. The pictures don't just enhance the story visually, they take the place of text. 

Background

Flora is a young cynic. A dedicated cynic. And life certainly hasn't been pushing her in any other direction. Her mother and father have separated, and her mother seems to care more for the "Bo-Peep" lamp that she was awarded for writing romance novels, than for her.  

NOW given this grim home-life, I wasn't sure I was going to be a fan of the story.  DiCamillo's tales always seem so dark and sort of depressing, and I guess it's to her credit that Kate can bum me out, but I wasn't in the mood for a dark read.

However, FLORA AND ULYSSES is wonderful. It has an uplifting ending and the ultimate focus isn't on any thing negative, but rather it brings home the fact that it's our viewpoint that determines whether or not we can see the wonder and magic of life.

The stimulus for these revelations is a squirrel. At first just a normal everyday squirrel. But then, after a near death experience, he becomes Flora's Ulysses. A squirrel who can fly (sort of), and who can definitely type!  

Great characters. Very satisfying ending. If you like Dicamillo's work, you should definitely check this book out.

Pam~


FLORA AND ULYSSES
by  Kate DiCamillo
K.G. Campbell (Illustrator)

4.11 Stars from 211 GoodReaders

Word Count: 32,790
Page Count:  240
Accelerated Reader: 4.3 / points: 5.0
AR quiz: 160221

Review: RED KAYAK

(This book was reviewed by Laura, aged 13)

3.88 Stars from 2,238 GoodReaders

The RED KAYAK is a dramatic book full of plot twists.  The story is set in the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia where life is changing for Brady and his friends.  Rich people, like the DiAngelos, are moving in and are changing their way of life.

The plot revolves around a tragedy where Mrs. DiAngelo and her 3 year-old son are in a kayak that overturns. When Brady finds Ben hooked on a rotting log he picks him up and tries to save his life.  Once they get back to the bay Brady's cousin Carl performs CPR and they say "we have a pulse !" However, later in the book he tells Brady that Ben is dead.  Brady is very sad, but it gets worse because he finds out from Digger that they got the idea to sink the boat from him.  Brady tries to find the truth.  But does he really want to know the truth?

My Thoughts

I didn't like this book because there were too many plot twists.  Every time some problem is solved and you think that the book is going to be about what happened after that, then another problem would crop up.  For example, when you think that Brady is an only child you find out that he had a sister named Amanda, who died of SIDS.

And when you think that Brady is going to tell the police about the drill, you find out that he throws it in the water.  These twists made me feel like I was reading a Goose-Bumps book because the twists seemed artificial, and not realistic.

I think if you want to read something that is exciting that you should look at Gary Paulsen's book HATCHET.

Laura~


RED KAYAK
by Priscilla Cummings

Reading Information:
Word Count: 50,353
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reader:  4.9 / points: 8.0
AR quiz: 82252
Lexile: 800L
--get sample pages and prices

THE SLIMY BOOK OF SPIT by Connie Colwell Miller

 

Launch a loogie.  Drool on your 

pillow.  Wipe slobber on your sleeve.  

It seems like you can do a million gross 

things with your spit.  But did you know 

that spit also helps your body do some 

pretty important stuff?

Thus begins THE SLIMY BOOK OF SPIT.  A kid-friendly book that gives readers the low-down on mouth moisture.

Ms. Miller talks about the history of spit and how different cultures view spit.  Also, how saliva aids in digestion, and how spit can even be used to test for diabetes and cancer. 

There's also some attention paid to dog and baby drool.

Truly, all things 'spit' are here.  And besides being entertaining, readers will find out some pretty cool facts about our Amazingly Gross Bodies.

Good book for classroom shelves.   Moms should get it at the library.

Pam~


THE SLIMY BOOK OF SPIT
by Connie Colwell Miller

Reading Information:
Word Count: 1,782
Page Count:  32
Accelerated Reading level: 4.6 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 131116
Lexile: 770L

Table Of Contents
Nothing To Spit At
The Scoop On Spit
How Spit Happens
A Nasty Habit

 

Glossary
Read More
Internet Sites
Index

You might also be interested in:

DISGUSTING JOBS!

DEADLIEST JOBS ON EARTH

DISGUSTING PLANTS

DISGUSTING ANIMALS!

DISGUSTING JOBS!

DISGUSTING JOBS is part of Connie Colwell Miller's Disgusting series.  These little 32 page books discuss disgusting foods, animals, bugs, plants and places, as well as jobs.

Ms. Miller uses a facetious Gross-O-Meter to keep up interest.  So that jobs run from 'Sort of Disgusting' to REALLY Disgusting.

I like these little books because they are short, simple reads that can really appeal to reluctant readers.  And I definitely consider them boy-friendly;  basically because most of the boys I know love gross stuff.

Here's a sample page. 
The facing page shows some yucky diapers. 
But not too close up.

I had to laugh at the first 'job'.  It's changing diapers and cleaning up puke.  The author assigns this horrid job to Day Care workers; but we parents know that's part of our jobs too.

Unlike some of the other books in this series, this one does have some grossness that might not be appropriate for sensitive or younger readers.  There's a dead deer and a dead rat in two of the photos; not to mention the dead vermin on the cover.  And one of the jobs is cleaning up after a murder.  But generally speaking, the book is not scary or particularly revolting.

Here's one of the pages that sensitive kids might not like. 
And note the Gross-o-Meter is registering high.

Good kid-friendly book.  This one might appeal to children that like non-fiction.  

Pam~

DISGUSTING JOBS
by Connie Colwell Miller

4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 Stars from 9 GoodReaders

Reading Information:
Word Count: 394
Page Count:  32
Accelerated Reading level:  3.1 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 112295
Lexile: 740L

Table of Contents

DISGUSTING JOBS
--That's Disgusting!

SORT OF DISGUSTING
--Diaper Duty
--Bug Off! --Dog Days
--Toe Jam

PRETTY DISGUSTING
--Rotten Work
--Potty Time!
--Body Work
--Hog Wild

REALLY DISGUSTING
--Road Kill
--It's a Crime
--Dress the Dead
--Dirty Work

Glossary
Read More
Internet Sites
Index

If you like this book, you might want to check out:

• The THAT'S DISGUSTING! series book list
• The DEADLIEST JOBS ON EARTH 

THE DEADLIEST JOBS ON EARTH

THE DEADLIEST JOBS ON EARTH is part of Connie Colwell Miller's "Deadly Series".  [Deadliest Animals on Earth, ...Deadliest Bugs, ...Places, ...Plants, ...Weather.]

These are colorful, bright books that tend to appeal to kids who like factoids and non-fiction.  This particular book is at the Lexile 730 level.

As in her other books, Ms. Miller builds some 'tension' by sorting the danger in categories from 'sort of dangerous' to EXTREMELY dangerous.  And I do think these categories also help children to think about these jobs in a more analytical manner.  Why is X-job, for example, more dangerous than Y-job.

The format is straight forward.  Most of the text is on the left-hand side, while there is usually a factoid on the right.  There is nothing actually gross or graphic.

Recommend for classroom shelves, and as a library-borrow.

Pam~

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Deadly Jobs
Sort of Dangerous
Very Dangerous
Extremely Dangerous

Glossary
Read More
Internet Sites
Index

THE DEADLIEST JOBS ON EARTH
by Connie Colwell Miller

Reading Information:
Page Count: 32
Accelerated Reader: unavailable
Lexile: NC730L

FIRST POOCH - THE OBAMAS PICK A PET

 

We loved FIRST POOCH.  It's fun and upbeat, and the artwork from Amy Bates fits Carole Weatherford's story perfectly.   [The focus is on the girls, with no heavy messages.]

One thing I liked in particular was that the book shows other Presidents, in cameos by themselves, and with their own dog buddies.  I liked this because it gives moms like me a chance to talk about the many families who have followed their candidates to the White House. 

Ms. Weatherford ties those presidents to the puppy in question by saying that while Calvin Coolidge promised a chicken in every pot, and Kennedy promised a man on the moon, the current president promised his sweet daughters, a puppy! if he was elected to the presidency.

While this may sound fatuous, the fact is that the book emphasizes that Sasha and Malia actually earned a dog by showing how responsible they could be.  They were patient and good when touring with mom and dad, and they obeyed their Grandmother while mom and dad were away on the campaign trail.  (I should note that this isn't said in print, and it's going to be something adults might have to point out if they want kids to get this message.)
 
The book continues to support this message of responsibility by pointing out how much reading and research the family did before they chose the First Pooch.

Highly recommend as a fun book to share.  Totally upbeat and non-political.  The emphasis is on the joy of dog ownership and responsibility, but there are all sorts of fun asides.  Click below to see two additional sample pages. 

click here to see more pictures from First Pooch

Pam~

FIRST POOCH
THE OBAMAS PICK A PET
by Carole Boston Weatherford
illustrated by Amy Bates

Reading Information: 
Word Count: 915
Page Count:  32
Accelerated Reading level: 4.3 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 134371
Lexile: AD730L

BOOK DU JOUR - The Story of Snow

THE STORY OF SNOW by Mark Cassino is a wonderful book that explores the magic that is snowflakes.  Check it out this weekend and share the science and art that is snow.

** Starred Review BookList** 

** Starred Review Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books**

The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder
by Mark Cassino with Jon Nelson, PhD
Nora Aoyagi (illus.)

Reading Information:

Word Count: 1,627

Page Count: 36 

Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 131879
Lexile: 870L
-- sample pages available

BOOK DU JOUR - Fifty Cents and a Dream

Young Booker T. Washington

The BOOK DU JOUR is supposed to be about artwork.  In this case Bryan Collier's wonderful drawings.  But I have to say that I love this book.  Jabari Asim really captures the magic of wanting to better yourself.  Of struggling to better yourself.  And he gets across the power of education.  This is a book that has the power to get across to children how important education is.

Highly recommend.

FIFTY CENTS AND A DREAM
by Jabari Asim
illustrated by Bryan Collier

Reading Information:
Word Count: 1,326
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 0.5
AR quiz: 155677
--sample pages available

2012 YALSA "Teen Choice" Nominees

From YALSA:

The Teens' Top Ten is a "teen choice" list, where teens nominate and choose their favorite books of the previous year! Nominators are members of teen book groups in sixteen school and public libraries around the country.

The Young Adult Library Services Association is a wonderful organization. And one of the fun and useful things they do every year is sponsor a Teen's Choice List. The 2012 Voting takes place between August 13th to September 13th, but we have the 24 nominated books listed here -- with the usual award and reading information. If you want to vote, or want more information on YALSA or this program, go here: 2012 Teens’ Top Ten Nominations

We've listed the books by reading level.


PAGE BY PAIGE
by Laura Lee Gulledge

Paige Turner's life is uprooted and overturned when her family moves to Brooklyn from rural Virginia. Using her sketchbook she tries to make sense of this 'new world'.

Word Count: 8,718
Page Count: 192
Accelerated Reading level: 3.0 / points: 1.0
AR quiz: 147931

• Publisher: Amulet Book
• ISBN-10: 0810997223
• sample pages available

BETWEEN SHADES OF GRAY
by Ruta Sepetys

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** Booklist

15 year-old Lina, her mother, and brother are sent to Siberia. Only her secretly created art and the hope that one day she might be be reunited with her father keeps her going. (YA)

Word Count: 64,750
Page Count: 368
Accelerated Reading level: 3.6 / points: 9.0
AR quiz: 142569

• Publisher: Speak
• ISBN-10: 014242059X
• sample pages available

ALL GOOD CHILDREN
by Catherine Austen

Max, his sister Ally and their mother return home to Middleton to find Ally’s classmates acting strange. Turns out that the government has created a “vaccine” that makes kids so much easier to live with and teach. Now the decision Max's family has to make is go along with the rest of the parents or flee.

Really enjoyed this book and can't understand why it hasn't gotten wider press. ALL GOOD CHILDREN is not an action-driven dystopia. Instead it's a great book with good world building and characters.

Word Count: 73,559
Page Count: 312
Accelerated Reading level: 4.1 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 147391

• Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
• ISBN-10: 1554698243
• sample pages available

ALL THESE THINGS I'VE DONE
(Birthright #1)
by Gabrielle Zevin

**Starred Review** Booklist

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, takes it all in stride until her ex is accidentally poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame.

Word Count: 90,447
Page Count: 368
Accelerated Reading level: 4.4 / points: 13.0
AR quiz: 146009
Lexile: HL

• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
• ISBN-10: 0374302103
• sample pages available

Because It Is My Blood (September 18, 2012)
(Birthright #2)



SCARLET
by A. C. Gaughen

Will Scarlett is one of the Merry Men, Robin Hood’s legendary band of thieves, but what few people know is that Will Scarlett is actually...a girl! Disguised as a boy to escape from her past, Scarlett robs from the rich and gives to the poor. When an old enemy of Scarlett’s appears, she must choose: Keep her identity hidden? Or keep the people of Nottingham safe?

Word Count: 70,771
Page Count: 304
Accelerated Reading level: 4.4 / points: 10.0
AR quiz: 151137

• Publisher: Walker Childrens
• ISBN-10: 0802723462
• sample pages available

SHINE
By Lauren Myracle

When her best friend falls victim to a horrible hate crime, sixteen-year-old Cat sets out to discover the culprits in her backwoods town in North Carolina.

Word Count: 78,687
Page Count: 376

Accelerated Reading level: 4.4 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 143631
Lexile: HL

• Publisher: Amulet Books
• ISBN-10: 0810984172
• sample pages available

HOW TO SAVE A LIFE
by Sara Zarr

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** Booklist

A year after Jill’s father dies, her mother decides to adopt a baby Mandy’s been living in different places, but now that she’s pregnant, she wants to make sure her baby has the love and support she never did. A story of two girls dealing with grief, new life, and everything in between when their paths cross.

Word Count: 86,114
Page Count: 352
Accelerated Reading level: 4.4 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 147220
Lexile: HL

• Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
• ISBN-10: 0316036064
• sample pages available

TEMPEST
by Julie Cross

**Starred Review** Kirkus

Jackson is a typical college kid until the day his girlfriend, Holly, is shot. Jackson decides he must use his one incredible gift, the ability to time travel. He goes back in time two years, trying to discover a way to alter the future so that Holly lives. The future is full of uncertainty and the past is full of betrayal- is there anyone Jackson can trust?

Word Count: 97,574
Page Count: 352
Accelerated Reading level: 4.6 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 148730

• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
• ISBN-10: 0312568894
• sample pages available

HOURGLASS
by Myra McEntire

Emerson Cole sees dead people- ghosts from the past blending in with her surroundings. When a new consultant from a secretive organization shows up at her door to try to cure her, everything changes. But diving into the world of the mysterious Hourglass Society proves to be dangerous as the past merges with the present.

Word Count: 84,556
Page Count: 416
Accelerated Reading level: 4.6 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 144263

• Publisher: EgmontUSA
• ISBN-10: 1606843842
• sample pages available

A MONSTER CALLS
by Patrick Ness

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** Booklist

Conor's sleep isn't what it used to be. His mother is deathly sick from chemo and now it seems there's a monster that wants to chat him up.

A very different book from Ness. And I have to say that it caught me entirely off-guard. The beginning led me to think this was going to be a middle-grade sort of book. But that was just the author being sneaking. Very moving. Definitely going to need tissues with this one. Thought provoking and recommended.

Word Count: 33,446
Page Count: 224
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 5.0
AR Quiz: 147163

• Publisher: Candlewick
• ISBN-10: 0763655597
• sample pages available

DIVERGENT

(Divergent #2)
by Veronica Roth

**Starred Review** PublishersWeeklyAbnegation (selfless), Erudite (intelligence), Candor (honesty), Amity (peace), or Dauntless (brave): where would you fit? Beatrice lives in a society where she must choose either to remain with her family’s faction or set off towards independence and her beliefs. And what happens when the unity between these factions begins to fall apart?

Divergent is a fast-paced romance-driven read. Told in First Person, readers who liked Hunger Games and are tolerant of long drawn out romances are likely to find it just as interesting. Upon reading book#2 we've had to back off of our hardy recommendation. Indulgent Insurgent requires quite a bit of 'suspension of disbelief'. But still a fun summer-read type of book.

Some language, some sexual content, some romance (a note I add for some guys who asked me to add notes about such things).

Word Count: 105,143
Page Count: 576
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 144400
Lexile: HL

• Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
• ISBN-10: 0062024035
• sample pages available

Insurgent
(Divergent #2)
Word Count: 106,028
Page Count: 544
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 151402



LEGEND

(Legend #1)
by Marie Lu

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths—until the day June’s brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family’s survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias’s death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Word Count: 75,464
Page Count: 336
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 148251

• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
• ISBN-10: 039925675X
• sample pages available

Prodigy
(Legend #2)



WHAT HAPPENED TO GOODBYE
by Sarah Dessen

Ever since Mclean’s parents divorced, she has lived in four towns in two years – each time taking on a new persona. Mclean expects to leave Lakeview in six months, but soon finds that she doesn’t want to – she just wants to be herself.

Word Count: 105,444
Page Count: 432
Accelerated Reading level: 4.8 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 143325
Lexile: HL

• Publisher: Speak
• ISBN-10: 0142423831
• sample pages available

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
(Across the Universe #1)
by Beth Revis

**Starred Review** Kirkus
Scifi based, the action takes place on a colossally large spaceship without FLT travel. Important people are frozen. The rest of the ship has citizens that carry on with agriculture and what-not in depressing circumstances. Wasn't supposed to be like that but something went wrong a few generations back... but what?

This one has a bit of romance, some adventure, and some good mysteries to solve. Across the Universe was a good read. A Million Suns did not please as many people.

Word Count: 98,469
Page Count: 416
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 15.0
AR quiz: 142333
Lexile: HL

• Publisher: Razorbill
• ISBN-10: 1595144676
• sample pages available

A Million Suns
(Across the Universe #2)
Word Count: 95,579Page Count: 400
Accelerated Reading level: 5.1 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 148963
Shades of Earth (January 15, 2013)
(Across the Universe #3)



THIS DARK ENDEAVOR: THE APPRENTICESHIP OF VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN
by Kenneth Oppel

**Starred Review** Horn
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

In this prequel to Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is on a dark quest to save his twin’s life. With help from his best friend Henry and his lovely cousin Elizabeth, the three go on a quest to concoct the mythical Elixir of Life. How far is he willing to go to save his twin?

Word Count: 74,594
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reading level: 4.9 / points: 11.0
AR quiz: 145776
Lexile: 690L

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• ISBN-10: 1442403160
• sample pages available

ASHES
(Ashes Trilogy #1)
by Ilsa Bick

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons when an electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

Really liked this book. It's a quick fun adventure read at first, and then it slows in the second half and becomes more of a sinister mystery story. If you can handle the change in plot direction, Ashes has a lot to offer. Can't wait for #2.

Word Count: 104,605
Page Count: 480
Accelerated Reading level: 5.0 / points: 16.0
AR quiz: 146122

• Publisher: EgmontUSA
• ISBN-10: 1606841750
• sample pages available

Shadows (September 25, 2012)
(Ashes Trilogy #2)



ABANDON
(Abandon Trilogy #1)
by Meg Cabot

Pierce has experienced death before and barely escaped. When she moves from her old town to a town called Isla Huesos - Island of Bones - for a new start, she realizes that death wants her back. Can she escape death once again? (YA)

Word Count: 77,989
Page Count: 320
Accelerated Reading level: 5.1 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 143876
Lexile: 770L

• Publisher: Point
• ISBN-10: 0545040647
• sample pages available

WHERE SHE WENT(book#1, see IF I STAY)by Gayle Forman
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

This sequel to Gayle Forman’s If I Stay is narrated by Adam, Mia’s ex-boyfriend. Shortly after the devastating accident that killed Mia’s family, the talented cellist moves to New York, where an accidental meeting brings them back together.

Word Count: 55,415Page Count: 288
Accelerated Reading level: 5.1 / points: 8.0
AR quiz: 143768
Lexile: 800L

• Publisher: Speak
• ISBN-10: 0142420891
• sample pages available

WITHER
(The Chemical Garden #1)
by Lauren DeStefano
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

Wither is a strong, engaging book, but guys should know that it leans a bit towards chicklit. Fever does not advance the storyline much, but expands upon the disaster that is Rhine's world. Romance dominated. Adult situations, but nothing graphic. Creepy.

Word Count: 87,411
Page Count: 384
Accelerated Reading level: 5.2 / points: 13.0
AR quiz: 143644

• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• ISBN-10: 1442409061
• sample pages available

Fever
(The Chemical Garden #2)
Word Count: 81,066
Page Count: 352
Accelerated Reading level: 5.1 / points: 12.0
AR quiz: 150965



EONA: The Last Dragoneye
(Eon #2)
by Alison Goodman

As the battle for ultimate control of her home draws near, Eona finds herself waging an internal battle that might cause more damage than the war threatening to break out across the kingdom.(YA)

Page Count: 637
Accelerated Reading level: 5.4 / points: 25.0
AR quiz: 143199
lexile: 740L

• Publisher: Firebird
• ISBN-10: 014242093X

EON: Dragoneye Reborn
(Eon #1)
Word Count: 134,943
Page Count: 576
Accelerated Reader: reading level: 5.5 / points: 21.0
AR quiz: 126998
Lexile: 750L



THE FAULT IN OUR STARS
by John Green

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** SchoolLibraryJournal

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

(older YA)

Word Count: 65752
Page Count: 336
Accelerated Reading level: 5.5/ points: 10.0
AR quiz: 148461

• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
• ISBN-10: 0525478817
• sample pages available

THE SCORPIO RACES
by Maggie Stiefvater

**Starred Review** Kirkus
**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly
**Starred Review** School Library Journal
**Starred Review** Booklist

**Starred Review** Horn
Every November, the beaches of Thisby come alive with the Scorpio Races. The water horses are vicious, the terrain is treacherous, and death is likely, but the reward can be beyond anything you could imagine. Puck Connolly is racing for her family, Sean Kendrick for his passion—but only one can win The Scorpio Races.

Fabulous, classically told story. Moody setting. You end the book feeling as if you were raised on the island.

Word Count: 110,085
Page Count: 416
Accelerated Reading level: 5.5 / points: 17.0
AR quiz: 147559
Lexile: 840L

• Publisher: Scholastic Press
• ISBN-10: 054522490X
• sample pages available

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
by Ransom Riggs

When Jacob was little, his grandfather would tell him stories of the fantastical children’s home where he grew up and the seemingly magical kids who lived there with him. When his grandfather is killed, Jacob sets out to find the home where these children lived, unearthing a magical secret and uncovering his true heritage.

Word Count: 84,898
Page Count: 352
Accelerated Reading level: 5.7 / points: 13.0
AR quiz: 145802
Lexile: 890L

• Publisher: Quirk Books
• ISBN-10: 1594744769
• sample pages available

CINDER
by Marissa Meyer

**Starred Review** PublishersWeekly

A futuristic retelling of the classic Cinderella, Cinder, a cyborg and talented mechanic, lives with her cruel stepmother and two stepsisters in the plague-ridden New Beijing. Soon after meeting Prince Kai, Cinder must find the truths of her past.

Word Count: 87,661
Page Count: 400
Accelerated Reading level 5.8 / points: 14.0
AR quiz: 148727

• Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
• ISBN-10: 0312641893
• sample pages available

compiled by Pam