Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 119

BOOK REVIEW: THE SCARIEST THING IN THE JUNGLE

THE SCARIEST THING IN THE JUNGLE
David Derrick
Immedium
Picture Book

In India the Bengal tiger is the king of the land. But the giant saltwater crocodile is the ruler of the water. What happens when the kids of these fearsome beasts meet?
Let's get ready to rumble!
These animals sing their own version of Anything You Can Scare, I Can Scare Better!
The tiger cub and little croc joust in a witty war of words. In a playful game of one-upmanship, they top each other's boasts of who owns the most frightening canines, claws, and capabilities.
Climbing trees and swimming circles around each other, they are truly well-matched adversaries. But will these terrible tykes discover someone even scarier than them? No elephant is waiting around to find out the answer! Enjoy an eye-opening adventure, illustrated by a veteran DreamWorks Animation artist.
MY REVIEW:
I don't normally review picture books, though I don't know why. I love picture books and still read them daily to my five-year-old son.  David Derrick's book I'm the Scariest Thing in the Jungle is simply adorable. A young tiger and crocodile have the kind of show down two little kids might have on a school playground. The author has perfectly captured those little kid voices, and his artwork is just so cute! I especially like the crocodile's big childlike eyes. The story will entertain kids of all ages and is sure to elicit plenty of giggles.
I give I'm The Scariest Thing in the Jungle ...

BOOK REVIEW: WORDS WITH WINGS by Nikki Grimes

Welcome to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM), a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE .
___________________________________________________

WORDS WITH WINGS
Nikki Grimes
WordSong (Boyds Mills Press)
Ages 8 - 12
84 pp.

Gaby daydreams to tune out her parents’ arguments, but when her parents divorce and she begins a new school, daydreaming gets her into trouble. Her mother scolds her for it, her teacher keeps telling her to pay attention, and the other kids tease her...until she finds a friend who also daydreams and her teacher decides to work a daydreaming-writing session into every school day. With a notebook “thick with daydreams,” Gaby grows more confident about herself and her future. This verse novel poignantly celebrates the power of writing and the inspiration a good teacher can deliver.

MY REVIEW: 

This slim little volume packs an emotional punch. Reminiscent of Sharon Creech's Love That Dog (which I loved) Words with Wings explores a child's sense of loss when her parents divorce and she begins attending a new school. Escaping into a world of daydreams, Gaby worries about many things: if she'll ever meet a new best friend, if she'll get in trouble with her teacher, will she see her father again. These little poems are not overly sentimental, yet they reveal a compelling story with which many young readers will relate. And it's a wonderful way to introduce children to contemporary poetry. I admit I got a bit teary-eyed at the end and can recommend this book with confidence.



CONTENT RATING:

Violence - None
Profanity - None
Sexuality - None

THE LAST ENCHANTER: IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!

*  Win a 16 GB Nook HD during THE LAST ENCHANTER blog tour!



Drum roll please!!!


Finally, after a year and a half, the sequel to THE ROCK OF IVANORE has hit the bookshelves! Whoo hoo!



THE LAST ENCHANTER: THE CELESTINE CHRONICLES, BOOK II 
is available in hardback at the following online retailers and your local bookstore!
Barnes & Noble Amazon Indiebound

SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY HOP!!!

*  Win a 16 GB NOOK HD during THE LAST ENCHANTER BLOG TOUR!



http://www.iamareader.com/2013/08/4th...

Welcome to the SPOOKTACULAR GIVEAWAY HOP hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer !!! If you're new to blog hopping, here's what to do. Hop from blog to blog (there are 100+ participating blogs listed below) and fill out their entry forms. Each blog has a different book or book-related item to giveaway! The more blogs you visit, the more chances you have to win!
What am I giving away?

Enter to win via the rafflecopter form below. Just follow this blog, and earn extra entries by liking my Facebook page, following me on Twitter, or adding my books to your Goodreads! 
Check out all the other blogs at the host website HERE!This giveaway will end on October 31st.   U.S. only, please.

BOOK REVIEW: THE OTHER SIDE OF FREE by Krista Russell

 Welcome to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM), a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE . ___________________________________________________________
THE OTHER SIDE OF FREE
Krista Russell
Peachtree Publishers
Ages 8 - 12
256 pp.

It is 1739. Young Jem has been rescued from slavery and finds himself at Fort Mose, a settlement in Florida run by the Spanish. He is in the custody of an ornery and damaged woman named Phaedra, who dictates his every move. When Jem sets out to break free of her will, an adventure begins in which Jem saves a baby owl, a pair of runaway slaves, and, eventually, maybe all the residents of Fort Mose.

While Jem and the other characters are fictitious, the story is based on historical record. Fort Mose was the first legally sanctioned free African settlement in what is now the United States. In 1994 the site was designated a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2009, the National Park Service named Fort Mose a precursor site on the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom.
MY REVIEW: 

Jem's story details an obscure event in American history, the first free African society on American soil, a generation before the Revolutionary War. This book is a must read. The characters are all so vivid and real. I loved Jem and his efforts to raise a wounded baby owl. And learning about the slave uprising in the North that motivated so many to travel to Fort Mose and toward freedom was simply inspiring.  The Other Side of Free is beautifully written, yet simple enough for readers as young as 8 or 9 to read on their own, and would make the perfect addition to any American History or Black American History curriculum.


CONTENT RATING:

Violence:  Moderate
Profanity:  None
Sexuality:  None

THE LAST ENCHANTER BLOG TOUR KICKS OFF!

How would you like to win a brand new 16 GB NOOK HD?
To celebrate the release of my new book, THE LAST ENCHANTER BLOG TOUR launches TODAY and will run through October 31st. Every day during the tour, participating blogs will be posting interviews, book excerpts and reviews of THE LAST ENCHANTER AND hosting a mega giveaway of a NOOK HD.
How can you enter?
There will be a rafflecopter form on each blog with several ways to win including following my blog, liking me on Facebook, and so forth. But here's the really fun part.
For 10 extra entry points, do the following:

1) Take a picture of yourself with a copy of The Last Enchanter (at home, in a store, etc.)
2) Post the pic anywhere on the web (ie. Facebook, blog, website, pinterest, tumblr, etc.)
3) Email me the link to your pic (and don't forget to check off that you sent it on the rafflecopter form) Send to:  laurisawhitereyes at yahoo dot com

Post a new pic every day for even more chances to win!!!

That's it!  One winner will be chosen at random on November 6th. 
(Open to U.S. residents only. Sorry!)
The schedule and participating blogs are below!  See you on October 12th!!!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
  TOUR SCHEDULE
Sat. 10/12:      Middle Grade Mania &  The Write Path Sun. 10/13:      The Write Stuff & Fiery Fantasy Book ReviewsMon. 10/14:     Word SpelunkingTue. 10/15:     Read for Your Future Wed. 10/16:    The Book Cellar & I Am A Reader, Not A WriterThu. 10/17:   My Keys On:  Writing, Illustrating and MoreFri. 10/18:    The Queekie Girl &  Geo Librarian Sat. 10/19:     Bookworm for KidsSun. 10/20:    The (Mis)Adventures of a 20 Something Year Old GirlMon. 10/21:     Akossiwa KetogloTue. 10/22:    A Library Mama & Randomly ReadingWed. 10/23:    This Kid Reviews BooksThu. 10/24:    Tales of Goldstone Wood ; Scribble Scrabble Babble ; The Haunting of Orchid ForsythiaFri. 10/25:        Sher A. HartSat. 10/26:        Read Now Sleep LaterSun. 10/27:    Laurie's Thoughts & ReviewsMon. 10/28:    Deal Sharing AuntTue. 10/29:      White Sky ProjectWed. 10/30:   Sharon the LibrarianThu. 10/31:   The Gallifreyan Librarian

BOOK REVIEW: CLOCKWORK ANGEL by Cassandra Clare

CLOCKWORK ANGEL (The Infernal Devices #1)
by Cassandra Clare
Margaret K. McElderry Books
496 pp.
Ages 14 - 17


Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
MY REVIEW:
As usual, I'm the last person on earth to read this book. With the Mortal Instruments movie out (based on the books by the same author) I thought maybe, just maybe, I should see what all the fuss is about. What I understand is that the Infernal Devices series is a pre-quel to the Mortal Instruments series. Clockwork Angel is a steampunk/paranormal mash up set in Victorian England inhabited by warlocks, werewolves, vampires and, of course, Shadow Hunters.
I've been pretty open about the fact that I don't care much for books with vampires and werewolves. I tolerated the Twilight series, and barely dragged myself through Shiver and a handful of others. But I'm pretty much burned out on that stuff. Truthfully, I had no idea Clockwork Angel was another paranormal story when I started in. And you know what? I really loved it.  The author takes a rather over-used theme and gives it a unique and creative twist mixing the supernatural with steampunk killer automatons. The characters are all quite interesting and kept me guessing all the way through. I did figure out the final plot twist well before I should have, but Clare's writing is so fresh, so compelling I still went rigid with anticipation waiting for the hammer to fall.
All in all, Clockwork Angel is one of the most inventive and exciting tales I've read this year - right up there with Rick Yancey's The Monstromologist, which I loved, loved, loved. A must read for anyone up for a fast-paced supernatural thriller - even if does have vampires.


CONTENT RATING:
Profanity:  NoneSexuality:  MildViolence:  High

IVANORE'S GRYPHON - IN ART

My lifelong friend, Noelle Campbell, is an artist. Her medium of choice is colored paper, and her work is really beautiful. She recently created a piece in honor of the release of THE LAST ENCHANTER.  Here is a short video where she talks about how she made it.


Noelle is trying to raise some funding so she can enter a contest. If you'd like to help Noelle, consider making a pledge toward her kickstarter campaign HERE .  Thanks! 

THE LAST ENCHANTER BLOG TOUR - UPDATE

How would you like to win a brand new 16 GB NOOK HD?
To celebrate the release of my new book, THE LAST ENCHANTER BLOG TOUR launches on October 12th and will run through October 31st. Every day during the tour, participating blogs will be posting interviews, book excerpts and reviews of THE LAST ENCHANTER AND hosting a mega giveaway of a NOOK HD.
How can you enter?
There will be a rafflecopter form on each blog with several ways to win including following my blog, liking me on Facebook, and so forth. But here's the really fun part.
For 10 extra entry points, do the following:

1) Take a picture of yourself with a copy of The Last Enchanter (at home, in a store, etc.)
2) Post the pic anywhere on the web (ie. Facebook, blog, website, pinterest, tumblr, etc.)
3) Email me the link to your pic (and don't forget to check off that you sent it on the rafflecopter form) Send to:  laurisawhitereyes at yahoo dot com

Post a new pic every day for even more chances to win!!!

That's it!  One winner will be chosen at random on November 6th. 
(Open to U.S. residents only. Sorry!)
The schedule and participating blogs are below!  See you on October 12th!!!
TOUR SCHEDULE
Sat. 10/12:      Middle Grade Mania &  The Write Path Sun. 10/13:      The Write Stuff & Fiery Fantasy Book ReviewsMon. 10/14:     Word SpelunkingTue. 10/15:     Read for Your Future Wed. 10/16:    The Book Cellar & I Am A Reader, Not A WriterThu. 10/17:   My Keys On:  Writing, Illustrating and MoreFri. 10/18:    The Queekie Girl &  Geo Librarian Sat. 10/19:     Bookworm for KidsSun. 10/20:    The (Mis)Adventures of a 20 Something Year Old GirlMon. 10/21:     Akossiwa KetogloTue. 10/22:    A Library Mama & Randomly ReadingWed. 10/23:    This Kid Reviews BooksThu. 10/24:    Tales of Goldstone Wood ; Scribble Scrabble Babble ; The Haunting of Orchid ForsythiaFri. 10/25:        Sher A. HartSat. 10/26:        Read Now Sleep LaterSun. 10/27:    Laurie's Thoughts & ReviewsMon. 10/28:    Deal Sharing AuntTue. 10/29:      White Sky ProjectWed. 10/30:   Sharon the LibrarianThu. 10/31:   The Gallifreyan Librarian

BOOK REVIEW: UP IN THE AIR by Anne Marie Meyers

 Welcome to Marvelous Middle Grade Monday (MMGM), a weekly event hosted by author Shannon Messenger. For a list of other MMGM posts, click HERE . _______________________________________________________
UP IN THE AIRAnne Marie MeyersJolly Fish Press Ages 8 - 12244 pp.
Ever since she can remember, ten-year-old Melody has always wanted to fly.? 
And when she leaps off a swing in the park one day and lands in the mystical realm of Chimeroan, her dream finally comes true. She is given a pair of wings. She can fly! Life cannot be any better.? Yet, dreams do come with a price. Even with wings, Melody realizes she cannot outfly the memories of her past. The car accident that has left her father paralyzed, and her unscarred, still plagues her with guilt-she believes that it was entirely her fault.?
In Chimeroan, Melody is forced to come to terms with her part in her father's accident. She must choose between the two things that have become the world to her: keeping her wings or healing her father.
MY REVIEW:
I love the cover of this book, a little girl leaping from a swing, arms outstretched, a smile on her face. I remember doing that as a kid, that brief, exhilerating feeling of freedom and  weightlessness before landing in a crouch on the grass. There was nothing like it. In Up in the Air, Melody craves that feeling--more than that, she wants to fly. And her wish comes true when she's transported to Chimeroan where everyone's wishes come true.
Up in the Air is a wonderful example of magical realism for children. Kids who love mystical creatures, or magic, or even realistic stories with heart will enjoy this story.  Geared, I think, for a slightly younger audience, it would even make a great read-aloud bedtime story, and will inspire children to use their imaginations and dream!


CONTENT RATING:
Violence: MildProfanity: NoneSexuality: None