Beverly Stowe McClure's Blog: Enter Beverly's World of Writing, page 25

TEX AND THE GANGS OF SUBURBIA

Tex And The Gangs Of Suburbia by Stuart R. West

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Girl troubles, gangs, murder, and spirits: just another year at Clearwell High School. Yep, the characters we met in TEX, THE WITCH BOY are back, along with some new additions to add excitement to Tex’s life.

Author Stuart R. West continues the story of Richard (Tex) McKenna in his latest YA fantasy novel TEX AND THE GANGS OF SUBURBIA. Tex, now a junior at Clearwell High School, just wants to survive the year. Like any “normal” teenage boy, he often acts before he thinks and the consequences at times can be fatal. If only he’d learn to keep his mouth shut. Instead of the peaceful year he had hoped for, he struggles to get his girlfriend Olivia, who broke up with him, back. He’s caught in the middle between two rival gang’s warfare. Elspeth, a hot new girl that isn’t exactly who she seems to be, comes into his life. And if that’s not enough to cope with, a dead boy’s spirit returns and he’s after Tex. Oh, and don’t forget another body that turns up and the suspicious cop that suspects Tex is involved in the whole mess. Now, why would he believe such a thing? In all this bedlam, Tex’s protectors try to help him out, not very successfully, I’m afraid. And I have to admit, I think they’re my favorite characters. Yes, the cats.

Will Olivia and Tex get back together? Will Elspeth take Olivia’s place? Can Tex convince the gangs to settle their differences without further killings? Can Tex send the spirit back where it belongs, or will Tex be sucked into the hole with the spirit? Wow! Never a dull moment in TEX AND THE GANGS OF SUBURBIA. If you like a fast paced adventure with good guys, bad guys and those in between, then this is the book for you. In spite of Tex’s impulsive nature and constant mistakes, he’s a character that I keep cheering on. He’s good at heart and a son any father and mother could be proud of. This would make a good addition to school classrooms and libraries to show the downside of gangs and perhaps influence young people to stay clear of trouble. That said, I’m wondering what trouble Tex will find in the next book in the series.

Happy Reading.



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Frankie's Perfect Home Sale

Hi dear friends,

My picture book Frankie's Perfect Home is on sale at Amazon for $3.07. The story is about Frankie Armadillo whose burrow is too crowded so he goes in search of the perfect home, just for him. The illustrator Alex Morris created lovely characters for Frankie and his family and the other critters he meets on his search. Pick up a copy or two for those little readers in your family. Check it out here:
http://www.amazon.com/Frankies-Perfec...

Thanks. Happy Reading

The Shadow of the Unicorn Review

The Shadow of the Unicorn: The Legacy by Suzanne de Montigny

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Long, long ago lived the unicorns and dinosaurs. Then came the fireball hurtling toward earth, and their world would never be the same. Strange creatures that walked on two legs appeared, bringing with them danger and death. Soon the unicorns were in a struggle to survive. Award Winning Author Suzanne de Montigny tells their story in her MG/Tween Fantasy, THE SHADOW OF THE UNICORN.

Azaria, unicorn colt, and his father, Polaris, receive a message from Saul the Great Chief asking them to go where the dinosaurs dwell. That’s a scary request because the dinosaurs are huge animals and dangerous, but they go anyway and meet Darius, a small dinosaur that tells strange tales, tales the unicorns cannot ignore, for they soon come true, and the creatures that walk on two feet (humans) arrive in the valley, bringing greed, torture, and death with them, threatening to wipe out the entire unicorn herd. I don’t want to give anything away, just let me say that Suzanne de Montigny has written a story that will have you laughing, crying, and falling in love with not only the unicorns, especially Azaria, but with the little dinosaur Darius, also, whose warnings they’d best heed. I found myself wishing I wasn’t a human at times, for the cruelty the human Ishmael shows to the unicorns, who only want to live in peace.

THE SHADOW OF THE UNICORN would make a great addition to school libraries and classrooms to show how greed and the choices a person makes, whether right or wrong, affect those who make the decisions as well as others. This is the first book in a series, so be on the lookout for book number two for the further adventures of Azaria and the unicorns.
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THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS

In the monologue of his play As You Like It, Shakespeare says: “All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players. Maximilian Starling, AKA Mister Max and Mister Max Solutioneer, could say the same thing about his life. And he’s only twelve years old.

MISTER MAX: THE BOOK OF LOST THINGS, Award Winning Author Cynthia Voigt’s latest novel for MG/Tween readers, is a story that will have you laughing, crying, and waiting to see what young Max does next to solve his problems. His life is not running too smoothly at the moment. His troubles all start when his parents, William and Mary Starling, owners of Starling Theatrical Company, receive an invitation to India from the Maharajah of Kashmir, along with two ship tickets and a brooch. Things go wrong from the beginning and Max soon finds himself alone, with only his grammie for help, as he tries to piece together the situation. A delightful cast of characters adds mystery and confusion for Max in his quest to discover what has happened to his parents. He also needs a job if he plans to eat. Having a variety of costumes, thanks to his actor parents, Max disguises himself and goes about job hunting. Along the way he discovers he’s good at finding lost objects and that people are not always what they seem.

Cynthia Voigt’s tale about Max, who is quite the clever young man, should appeal to young readers that enjoy adventure, a hero who’s not perfect but does the best he can, and doesn’t back down when he believes he’s right, no matter what the adults around him may say. Beautiful imagery brings each scene to life. The author leaves Max with an even bigger problem to solve, making the reader (at least me) wonder when the second book in the series will be out. Recommended for school libraries and classrooms and for all readers from ten to a hundred.

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An ARC of the book was provided to me by Random House Children's Books and Net Galley.

A Bad Boy, A Villain Academy, A Fun Read

Take a bad boy who likes to start fires. Add a school for Super Villains. Mix in a family secret. Stir, and you have a delightful story that will have you laughing and crying and falling in love with the characters and the situations they find themselves in.

Award winning author Kai Strand has written another winner. KING OF BAD, fantasy for YA, is the story of Jeff Mean, a typical sixteen-year-old boy who attracts trouble, constantly thinks of girls, and doesn’t understand his parents at all. Oh, we mustn’t forget, Jeff can also shoot fire from his fingers, which makes him a bit different than a “normal” boy, if there is such a thing. Jeff’s talent (or ability, or whatever you call it) changes his life forever, and he soon finds himself attending a most unusual school called Super Villain Academy that teaches the students how to be really good at being bad. What follows is an adventure for Jeff and for the reader as well. We meet an interesting cast of characters, each with his, or her, own abilities. Jeff is attracted to two girls, Oceanus and Mystic, in quite different ways. Along the way to being bad, he discovers some amazing truths about himself.

I don’t want to give away too much, so I’ll just say that when you think you have the story figured out, Kai Strand throws in a twist or two that you don’t see coming, at least I didn’t. KING OF BAD should appeal to teen boys (and girls) that sometimes feel as if they don’t belong in their family, or anywhere, for that matter. The teen years are tough, and Jeff is a hero that kids can relate to. I recommend this story for reluctant readers and everyone who likes a character that’s far from perfect as he struggles to discover who he really is.
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The Black Shard Review

THE BLACK SHARD

By Victoria Simcox


Have you ever dreamed of living in a magical land of fairies, serpents, gnomes, and other fascinating characters? Even better, what if this land also has talking horses, a Seeing Crystal that shows the Wizards where whatever they want to see is, and a handsome prince that seems to think you’re pretty awesome? If you’d like to journey to such a place then come along with me to Author Victoria Simcox’s latest MG/Tween novel, THE BLACK SHARD.



My favorite characters, Kristina Kingsley and Prince Werrien, from THE MAGIC WARBLE, the first book in the series, are back with more adventures, intrigue, and surprises. While attending a riding camp for girls, an accident lands Kristina in Bernoven, where she met Prince Werrien two and a half years earlier. Davina and Hester, the bullies that do their best to make Kristina’s life miserable, are also there. Kristina has no idea what happened, but she’s happy seeing old friends, along with new ones. Everyone is not friendly though. Some want to harm Kristina, and her courage is soon tested, along with her trust in Werrien.



Like Kristina, I enjoyed renewing acquaintances from the first book. Davina and Hester are just as mean to Kristina as ever. Prince Werrien is two years older, as is Kristina, and their romance is hesitant, and tender, and just right. Who wouldn’t fall for a guy, prince or commoner, that made you feel like a princess? The little girl, Jabela, stole my heart. Besides characters that come to life, Victoria Simcox, has a way of bringing the reader into the setting, making you feel as though you’re with the characters, feeling the waves toss the ship up and down, hearing the wind whistle around you. Or visualizing the image in the mirror and shuddering. Black-and-white sketches throughout the novel provide just the right touch.



As much as I liked the first book, I think THE BLACK SHARD is even better. I wasn’t ready for the story to end and hope the next book in the series will soon be out. I recommend Ms. Simcox’s novel for fantasy lovers, adventure lovers, and everyone that enjoys a good read with a touch of danger and a gentle romance. And you don’t have to be a tween to read it; adults will enjoy Kristina and Werrien’s story, as well.

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Life on Hold

Hi, dear friends,

I have great news. My YA Contemporary Novel Life on Hold is now available as an eBook. Yes! Check it out at Amazon and Barnes & Noble, as well as the publisher.

http://tinyurl.com/ms2fps8 (Amazon)
http://tinyurl.com/mgujrnn (B&N)
http://tinyurl.com/mv23w42 (4RV Publish)

Enjoy. Thanks.

BEWARE OF THE WHITE REVIEW

How did you celebrate your twelfth birthday? A party? Balloons? Cake? Ice cream? Your best friends singing “Happy Birthday” to you while you blew out twelve candles?

In Kai Strands new fantasy eBook for tween readers, BEWARE OF THE WHITE, Terra celebrates her twelfth birthday by discovering she’s a Natures Spirit and it’s time for her to learn what her special talents are. With her Introguide, Hermie, Terra enters the Underworld, a new world filled with unusual characters, some friendly, some dangerous. In the course of her Underworld studies, Terra finds that she is named in a prophecy, which could mean her death. Frank, gorgeous eighteen-year-old, is assigned as her Spirit of Security protector to keep her safe.

Wow! So much is going on in this story that you can’t put the book down for wanting to see what happens to Terra and the friends she makes along the way. At lease I wanted to keep reading and let everything else go. Kai Strand builds a fascinating world of mother love, honor, respect, and danger as secrets about the prophecy are revealed, along with secrets Terra’s mother has kept from her daughter. Terra is strong and brave. She’s also human and not perfect (even though she is a Natures Spirit), making her a good role-model for other twelve-year-olds, especially the way she stands up to the “real” world girls that bully her at school.

BEWARE OF THE WHITE will appeal to young readers that are searching for meaning to their lives, which at this age can be quite confusing. They may even get a lesson in how to deal with a bully. The eBook will make a nice gift for the tweens in your life and for yourself, as well, as you journey with Terra to a land in need of a heroine, like Terra. Happy reading.
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A SHADOW IN THE PAST (Review)

Take a stone circle and a boy and girl dressed in old-timey clothes playing at the circle. Mix with an old mansion that has a history. Add a surprise or two. Stir, and you end up with a mystery, a girl’s dream, and a seemingly impossible romance.

Sarah Shand loved the stories her grandmother told about Weetshill mansion. She knew that someday she would live there. The problem was, the mansion was old and falling down and no one had lived there since the 1950’s. Sarah still believed, however, as only a nine-year-old could believe.

Fast forward ten years. Distraught over her breakup with her boyfriend, Sarah runs away to the mansion, where she swallows sleeping pills, passes out, and awakens in a different time and place. Author Melanie Robertson-King’s debut YA novel, A SHADOW IN THE PAST, is not only a time travel story, it’s also a story of love, family, and making choices. The author takes the reader back to a simpler time period, the Victorian era, where people dress and talk differently, and where Sarah certainly does not belong. Or does she?

A SHADOW IN THE PAST has it all: good guys and bad guys, hope and despair, a gentle romance challenged by others. Of course, that’s what makes an interesting story, someone causing trouble for the heroine and hero. Sarah faces many challenges to discover who she is and what she wants, and the choices she makes affect not only herself but those she loves as well. Melanie Robertson-King has written a delightful story for teens and older readers too. So pick up a copy for yourself and another for your favorite teen and settle down for a good read.
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Victoria and the Ghost Review

A family torn apart.
A girl uprooted from her home.
A boy with killer abs and a cowboy hat.
And a ghost.

No doubt about it. Victoria Peterson’s live has changed, and not for the better, in her opinion. In Author Janet K. Brown’s debut YA novel, Victoria and the Ghost, 15-year-old Victoria moves from the city to the country with her dad and sister after her parents’ divorce, leaving behind her friends and most of all her mom. She hates her new life. Not even the hot cowboy, Brad Williams, can make her like the country. All she wants to do is live with her mom. But her mom has a new husband now, along with a stepdaughter. Nothing is the way it used to be and Victoria doesn’t know where she belongs anymore.

Victoria and the Ghost is a story of family and change. It’s a story of give and take. To have a friend you have to be a friend. The people Victoria meet as she attempts to find her place in life, some friendly, others downright hateful and even dangerous, help her grow in understanding of what love really means. As for the ghost she encounters in the cemetery … well, you know how ghosts are, right? If not, you will when you read the story.

So pick up a copy of Janet K. Brown’s Victoria and the Ghost, curl up in your favorite chair, and take a trip to the country and the wonderful characters that live there. You’ll be glad you did.
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