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Category: Children’s Books

Review: Life of Shouty by NeonSeon

[ 3 ] October 15, 2011

Reviewed by Amanda Schafer

In Life of Shouty: Good Habits, we see that Shouty is a boy with very bad habits. He doesn’t clean up after himself, he doesn’t care for his teeth, he lays around watching TV and eating junk food, and he always says he’ll “do it tomorrow” when he sees things that need to be done. Shouty has a problem with laziness! He sees the problem, but just doesn’t want to do the things it takes to be better.

He feels overwhelmed and struggles with the temptations to just let things go. Finally, Shouty decided to just take things one step at a time and came up with goals that were easy to reach. He looked at that list of goals each day and figured out that if he worked a little at a time, he could succeed.

In Life of Shouty: Food & Fitness, Shouty has corrected some of his bad habits, but he begins to realize that he has made bad choices with food and has not been physically active. He starts to gain weight and knows that if he would eat healthy and exercise, he would lose the weight. But he just doesn’t want to part with his junk food! He craves the food at weird times of day. It’s just so hard to give up bad habits!

Again, Shouty sees that if he wants to take care of his body he will have to take it one day at a time. He makes goals for each day and decides that for that day, he will do better and make better choices. Before long, Shouty is on his way and is doing better physically.

Both of these books are a great way to show children that we are responsible for our own decisions. And when we see that we’ve made bad decisions, we are responsible for correcting those mistakes and making them right. Shouty also shows us that even when a task seems insurmountable, we can accomplish much if we set small, attainable goals for ourselves.

In a very simplistic way, the author has touched on topics that will help mold our children into better adults, but that will also help many adults to reexamine their own lives and make needed corrections. Shouty books would be very good to have in every classroom, but also in every home where parents and children can read them together.

Rating: 4/5

Amanda lives in Missouri with her engineering husband, two sons, and one daughter. In between homeschooling and keeping up with church activities she loves to read Christian Fiction, Women’s Fiction, and any Chick-Lit. She never goes anywhere without a book to read!

Review copies were provided free of any obligation by Rixkin. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Drink, Slay, Love by Sara Beth Durst

[ 8 ] October 13, 2011

Reviewed by Jennifer Jensen

After being stabbed through the heart by a unicorn’s horn after snacking on her favorite human entrée, 16-year-old vampire Pearl begins experiencing some rather strange symptoms. The most shocking occurs after two teenage “vampire hunters” capture and cage her, and she doesn’t burn at dawn’s early light. Because Pearl can withstand the daylight, her vampire Family comes up with a clever idea: they will enroll her in high school, and she will lure humans to the Fealty Ceremony as a treat for the King of New England.

Pearl agrees to the plan, but as she interacts with the humans, she discovers that she has a conscience and no longer wants to drink their blood. Evan, who once looked like a tasty morsel to her, now makes her experience true human feelings. Pearl decides she must find the unicorn who destroyed her nature, and get it reversed before her Family finds out.

Drink, Slay, Love by Sara Beth Durst is not your typical vampire novel; if you’re looking for another Twilight copycat, you won’t find it here. But if you love iconic movies like Lost Boys, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and anything starring Molly Ringwald, this is the perfect book for you. Light on the romance, Drink, Slay, Love is about a young vampire who does some soul-searching (well, if she had a soul!) and learns that where she thought she belonged might not necessarily be her ideal way of living any more. Caught in between two worlds, Pearl will have to choose: her family or the humans.

I absolutely loved the interactions between Evan and Pearl, and I hope that there will be a sequel to Drink, Slay, Love. This book is definitely one that I “sank my fangs into”, but my thirst isn’t quite satiated–I simply have to know what happens to these characters, and what the consequences for Pearl’s actions will be. If you love vampires, YA, witty dialogue, and are intrigued by the idea of were-unicorns, then you have to stalk your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy of Drink, Slay, Love.

Rating: 3.5/5

Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She occasionally dabbles with her own fiction writing, particularly with the Young Adult and Paranormal genres. She currently resides in Utah with her husband and daughter.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Margaret K. McElderry Books. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Deadly Cool by Gemma Halliday

[ 5 ] October 11, 2011

Reviewed by Grace Soledad

Hartley loves her boyfriend, Josh. They’ve been dating for ages. So why does her friend text her one morning, saying that her boyfriend was cheating on her…with the president of the chastity club? She can’t believe it until she finds evidence.

Sneaking into her boyfriend’s house to confront him, Hartley makes a shocking discover. Courtney – the girl who was cheating with him – dead on the floor, iPod earphones wrapped around her throat. After the discovery of her body, Josh is the number one suspect.

Josh begs Hartley to help him clear his name, and although she hates him, she knows that he isn’t guilty. Grudgingly, she agrees to help. But as Hartley puts her skills to the test, she keeps finding bodies. And soon she realizes that she may be next on the killer’s hit list.

I found Deadly Cool really amusing. While it took me a while to get into it, once I did, I really enjoyed the read. That said, Hartley didn’t strike me as a character who had a lot to say. She didn’t really think for herself that often, and I didn’t really like how she made decisions. Some of the things that she said rubbed me the wrong way and I got annoyed with her several times. And, I probably would have swooned over Josh if he hadn’t cheated on his girlfriend.

Overall, the writing was pretty good. It wasn’t very lyrical or rough, but was nice and solid. Descriptions were used well and clues were cleverly alluded to throughout the book. While I do feel that she could have developed the story a little more, I feel like Gemma Halliday could be one to watch.

I’m sure that many people will enjoy Deadly Cool - I know people for whom this book is right up their alley – but I had a tough time connecting with the characters and the story.

Rating: 2.5/5

Grace Soledad is a teenage bibliophile who runs the blog Words Like Silver. She is described as “antisocial” because she constantly has her nose buried in a book or a notebook. When not reading, she can be found dancing, writing, or at the beach.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by HarperTeen. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Keeper by Kathi Appelt

[ 3 ] October 7, 2011

Reviewed by Claudia Robinson

10-year-old Keeper has had a very, very bad day. If only the stupid crabs had not chosen her to be their rescuer, this entire day, very BAD day, would never have happened, and everyone on Oyster Ridge Road would not be mad at her anymore.

Based on a tiny, seashell strewn inlet in the middle of a park on the Texas Gulf Coast, Keeper embroils its readers in a tale of love, loss, magic and mayhem. Keeper lives with the beautiful, white haired Signe and BD (short for Best Dog) in a haint blue cottage. The other inhabitants of Oyster Ridge are Dogie, the dread-headed surfer, madly in love with Signe, Too, the OTHER best dog, the ancient Mr. Beauchamp and his one eyed cat Sinbad, and Captain, the watermelon loving seagull.

When a daring crab rescue attempt goes horribly awry, ruining night blooming orchids, Blue Moon gumbo and a secret wedding proposition, Keeper does the only thing she is sure will fix everything. She goes in pursuit of her beautiful mermaid mother, Meggie Marie. Counting on the Blue Moon and its power over the ocean, Keeper embarks on a dangerous journey in an attempt to rectify all her wrongdoings. The journey she undertakes at sea and the unfolding drama on land because of it, expose an achingly romantic drama and the power of wishes and full moons.

Reality and magic blur beautifully in this sweet, funny, tenderly woven tale of lost souls, second chances, forbidden love and growing up. Between the lines of this Youth oriented story are older, more ancient tidbits of wisdom, making this a story for all ages.

I thoroughly enjoyed Keeper and the magic between its pages lasted long after I finished it; sure to be a hit among young and old alike. Keeper is proof that dreams DO come true, you just have to want them bad enough.

Rating: 4.5/5

Claudia lives on beautiful Cape Cod with her husband and two children.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Atheneum Books for Young Readers. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: The Last Four Things by Paul Hoffman

[ 4 ] October 4, 2011

Reviewed by Jessa Larsen

To the warrior-monks known as the Redeemers, the last four things represent the culmination of a faithful life: death, judgment, heaven, and hell. The last four things represent eternal bliss or endless destruction, permanent chaos, and infinite pain. These things are embodied in the dark soul of Thomas Cale. He’s been betrayed by those closest to him yet has managed to maintain just a sliver of his childish innocence and naivety. He has a remarkable skill for death and destruction and has taken the role of the Angel of Death who will lead the Redeemers into a battle meant for the destruction of the human race.

In this sequel to Paul Hoffman’s The Left Hand of God, the Redeemer General, Bosco, learns of Cale’s Angel of Death identity. He informs the young man that his intention is to use him as a means to install himself as Pope and thus allow him to fulfill his life-long crusade to purge the world of the wickedness of mankind. With the fervor of a fanatic and demonstrating a lethal range of ruthlessness, Bosco uses religious propaganda set Cale up as more than a mere human child. Bosco means to use Cale as the embodiment of God’s Wrath and thus destroy all of mankind. But Cale is not entirely convinced of Bosco’s inconceivable intentions and is patiently biding his time until the decision must be made. Will Cale fight for God’s will or save himself and in turn, all of mankind?

Paul Hoffman’s writing style is definitely one that takes a little bit of getting used to. It took me a while to decide if this was going be an overly religious tale with some preaching in between the lines. I still can’t quite decide if Hoffman is serious or not, but it’s definitely a style that needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Hoffman mixes in a variety of religious views ranging anywhere from the Bible itself to Star Trek. His style is amusing and straight to the point, making The Last Four Things worth the read.

Rating: 3.5/5

Jessa lives in Utah with her husband, 2 sons, 2 cats, and 2 dogs. She goes to school full time as an English major with a focus in creative writing. She likes anime and reads books and plays video games in her moments of spare time.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by WunderkindPR. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.
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Review: Baby Medbasics by Luke & Tara Hermann

[ 4 ] September 27, 2011

Reviewed by Alyssa Katanic

Baby Medbasics, by Luke Hermann, M.D. and Tara Summers Hermann, R.N., B.S.N., is a compact reference book that gives “Emergency Action Steps” in an easy to use format. It is 5”x6.5”, spiral bound, with a hardcover, making it portable (i.e. diaper bag worthy) and easy to handle. The subject tabs, great color and graphic design makes it easy to navigate quickly, and it gives clear instruction on what to do and when in cases of an emergency – including when to seek medical attention. Not only do the Hermanns give steps to handle emergencies, but they also list preventatives steps, as well, in such areas as allergies, bites & stings, fever, rash, and so on.

Baby Medbasics would make a great baby shower gift, as well as a great guide for babysitters and other caregivers. There is a page for recording family and emergency contact numbers in the front, and a list of international Emergency numbers for those who travel inside the back cover.

I suggest giving it a read over, so that you are familiar with the content, and then keeping it on hand for review in case of emergencies. It is concise and can be read in less than an hour. Either way, it is easy to follow, much like a 911 operator in book format.

Rating: 4/5

Alyssa is a wife and stay at home, homeschooling mother of five, with two boxers, two cats, a soft shelled turtle named after Bob the Builder, and 7 frogs (admittedly a homeschooling project gone froggy). In all her spare time, she loves to read and believes that there is no such thing as having too many books!

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by FSB Associates. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Get to Know Your Kid by Shana Connell Noyes

[ 5 ] September 23, 2011

Reviewed by Melanie Kline

Get to Know Your Kid is a question and answer journal for a parent to share with their child. One hundred questions are posed – one per page with the rest of the page blank. There is a space for the date on each page and you basically just fill in as you go. We skipped around at random although you could easily go page by page.

I requested this book as I thought it would be a fun thing to do with my daughter and who knows, I may even learn something from the experience. I also thought that this would be a great thing for her to pass on to her own children later in life or even just read for her own amusement.

My daughter did not enjoy most of the time we spent filling out the pages of this journal. The questions vary greatly between those for the very young (magic, unicorns, superpowers, etc.) and what you would like to be when you grow up, why do we recycle, what would you do with a million dollars, etc.

I think that this is a wonderful concept and would have enjoyed the experience a lot more if all of the questions had been geared more toward my daughter’s age group. I found great amusement with some answers while others were not nearly as fun. Once a child feels that they are “grown-up”, asking about fairies only produces anger at the thought that they are still babies and made her bristle the next time I picked up the journal to ask her a question.

I would highly recommend Get to Know Your Kid to parents of small children. You can start with the easy stuff and work up to other questions as your child grows older. The book is guaranteed to cause laughter and give you insight into your child’s thoughts.

Rating: 3.5/5

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by Kelley and Hall Publicity. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review: Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

[ 6 ] September 21, 2011

Reviewed by Elizabeth Talbott

Megan Rosenberg has always moved around a lot. After her mother’s death, her father just can’t stay in one place for too long. This time, they are moving to Ireland because of her father’s new job at a marina. When she goes to her new school for the first time, she immediately notices Adam DeRis and feels a magnetic connection to him. Unfortunately, he seems to avoid her at all costs. Other than this anomaly, Megan makes many friends like Caitlin, who tell her about the rumors that Adam and his family are druids and cast black magic. This doesn’t deter Megan from her crush. As she spends more time with him, she notices strange things happening around him and his family. Is Adam some sort of druid? Is he dangerous? Why does she feel such a strong connection with him?

When I first heard about Carrier of the Mark, I was really excited to read it. I enjoy Ireland and paranormal books, plus the cover is gorgeous. I was also impressed that it was picked up by HarperCollins after being put up on InkPop, a creative writing community.

However, Carrier of the Mark fell short of my expectations. I enjoyed the writing, the characters, and the dialog between Megan and her friends. In fact, the writing was really what kept me interested. It flowed really well and had energy behind it that kept me reading even when parts of the plot didn’t interest me. The dialogue between the characters felt authentic; I wanted to know more about them and wish the book was more focused on character development.

The problems I had with Carrier of the Mark had to do with the romance between the main characters as well as some of the plot points. The romance was love at first sight and Adam and Megan became quickly obsessed with each other. I get that young love is intense, but they seemed too in love too quickly. I felt that their declarations of love and how they would die without each other got old really fast. There were a lot of similarities to Twilight including the forbidden love, girl moving to a new school and falling in love with the hot outcast, Adam’s family, and even some structural problems. The main conflict was introduced very late and then resolved very quickly as well because their meeting and subsequent relationship took up about the first two thirds of the book. The beautiful Irish landscape and culture was also underplayed for the most part.

Overall, I liked Carrier of the Mark for the original paranormal storyline and skilled writing. The romance was overplayed, tiresome, and seemed to similar to others in its genre. I would read the next book in the series to see if the mythology is explored in greater detail.

Rating: 3/5

Elizabeth is a student at Cal State Long Beach. She laughs a lot, loves cats, and lives for music and books. You can read her blog here: http://titania86-fishmuffins.blogspot.com/.

Review copy was provided free of any obligation by HarperTeen. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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