A. Renee Hunt's Blog, page 93

Max the Brave by Ed Vere - Kid Tested!

     Max is a charming kitty looking to be brave.  One day he decides to go out, in search of a mouse, meeting with several individuals, as well as a bit of trouble.

     I read this delightful book to my Ewoks; who best to share it with?  They never lost interest and giggled the entire time.  The fun characters, combined with my comical voices, made Max the Brave an entertaining read before bed.  

     Ed Vere's illustrations are bold and appealing to toddler eyes, mine too.  With a monsters who wasn't terrifying and expressions that were relatable, I think children of all ages will enjoy it- I know we did.  If you don't believe me, check out the one-minute video below!

     I'm providing two things on this book: (1) A 

The Clock Struck One by Helen Deakin

     The Clock Struck One is a mental thriller.  It's about a girl named Tamara.  Her family's moved to a new town, which means new friends and school- three things she's not interested in.  Add in the fact she's a teen and you can see what's going on... or do you?

     She feels her house is haunted and her family doesn't notice.  She hears voices, sees apparitions and hears corporeal threats in the night. Also, someone's writing in her diary/journal, telling her she's going to die, signed: Love Sarah.  She's terrified every night and wants it all to just end... mostly by going back to the home she knows and loves.

     I have to admit, I was curious when I received this book.  Since I'm a cover nut, I checked out cover and must say, I LIKE!  It's not one of those book covers that jumps out at you, but it's mysterious, gothic and so I was suckered in.  Sadly, I wasn't as intrigued by the tale as much as the cover.  If the story offered as much description as it gave analogies, I'd have clung to every word!

     Helen Deakin had a story to tell, but she told it to us; there was no  building up of the anxieties or the hauntings.  There was no true mystery because she did what storytellers do, she told the story.  She didn't allow the reader to become transformed, through her words to make it an experience. The story was a little redundant in some of the "happenings", as well as constant repetition of the word suddenly.   With a good editor, the grammatical errors and sentence structure issues can be eliminated.  


     Lastly, I thought Tamara was thirteen so at first; she's seventeen!  She was written a bit on the infantile side so I was thinking brat instead of near adult.  All in all, this story was a decent, quick read, but slightly predictable.  I'm off to the next book!!

Horde (The Razorland Series) by Ann Aguirre

      Horde was supposed to be the final installment of the Razorland series- well that's not quite true.  Through the grapevine, I've heard there's a fourth and final ending coming soon.  I'm not too sure, but should something come up, I'll share it in a blog post.  

    Book three showed major improvement, but still lacked the flair I was hoping for.  In Horde, Deuce not only continued battling Freaks- she formed her own branch of service!  Though there was some semblance of military presence, they weren't good enough.  Nobody wanted to fight anymore, even if it meant being overrun by the horde of freaks, now Muties.

     The fact that men and women wouldn't move until a now 16-year old stepped up to the plate was pathetic and to me, very unreal, even for a dystopian society.  That was the worst part of the book, believe it or not.  Many other aspects were an improvement.

   Tegan and Stalker were the best developed characters of the book.  Stalker, actually continued his maturity, no longer sniffing behind Deuce for love.  He realized he wasn't going to get it and also sought redemption for his previous crimes.  He turned into a scout, and performed to the utmost.  More than the then men of the many outposts... How can that be?  Tegan became, not only a fighter, she became a doctor!  Or field nurse... A Medic.  It was nice to see them grow and mature, according to their surroundings.

     Now for Fade and Deuce.  Oh boy... Fade was so vexatious, I wanted him to die.  Now let me tell you how I really felt.  I didn't like him and I almost gagged every time he begged for "Alone time".   He second guessed himself 24/7 and pretty much became a liability (even during times of No War!).  And as for Deuce, she became a monumental hero, so large even the Freaks whispered of her and her banner!

     She led men, women and children against the horde and they all fell in line.  It was unreal, listening to her give orders to grown men, some who'd been in the military.  It was a joke, but not so off that I wanted to stop reading.  It was tolerable.  The men could have been a bit more realistic without being so chauvinistic, like in book two. 

     Horde was so much better than it's two predecessors, but I still am not a die-hard Aguirre fan yet.  I'm looking to purchase Restoration, just to complete the collection, but I won't push to get it read.  I've got a TBR list to work through.

Have a great day and an even better book!  

Horde (The Razorland Series) by Ann Aguirre

      Horde was supposed to be the final installment of the Razorland series- well that's not quite true.  Through the grapevine, I've heard there's a fourth and final ending coming soon.  I'm not too sure, but should something come up, I'll share it in a blog post.  

    Book three showed major improvement, but still lacked the flair I was hoping for.  In Horde, Deuce not only continued battling Freaks- she formed her own branch of service!  Though there was some semblance of military presence, they weren't good enough.  Nobody wanted to fight anymore, even if it meant being overrun by the horde of freaks, now Muties.

     The fact that men and women wouldn't move until a now 16-year old stepped up to the plate was pathetic and to me, very unreal, even for a dystopian society.  That was the worst part of the book, believe it or not.  Many other aspects were an improvement.

   Tegan and Stalker were the best developed characters of the book.  Stalker, actually continued his maturity, no longer sniffing behind Deuce for love.  He realized he wasn't going to get it and also sought redemption for his previous crimes.  He turned into a scout, and performed to the utmost.  More than the then men of the many outposts... How can that be?  Tegan became, not only a fighter, she became a doctor!  Or field nurse... A Medic.  It was nice to see them grow and mature, according to their surroundings.

     Now for Fade and Deuce.  Oh boy... Fade was so vexatious, I wanted him to die.  Now let me tell you how I really felt.  I didn't like him and I almost gagged every time he begged for "Alone time".   He second guessed himself 24/7 and pretty much became a liability (even during times of No War!).  And as for Deuce, she became a monumental hero, so large even the Freaks whispered of her and her banner!

     She led men, women and children against the horde and they all fell in line.  It was unreal, listening to her give orders to grown men, some who'd been in the military.  It was a joke, but not so off that I wanted to stop reading.  It was tolerable.  The men could have been a bit more realistic without being so chauvinistic, like in book two. 

     Horde was so much better than it's two predecessors, but I still am not a die-hard Aguirre fan yet.  I'm looking to purchase Restoration, just to complete the collection, but I won't push to get it read.  I've got a TBR list to work through.

Have a great day and an even better book!  

Breach Point by Steve Spatucci

     Breach Point was a cool read!  Steve Spatucci, an author I met on Instagram, has talent.  Breach Point, a Supernatural Thriller is about a girl on an adventure.  Clare Tuffney is an official intern for Fogelsang, an architectural firm and she's staying the summer with her Aunt Maureen.  She's hours away from home, where she left behind  a relationship/friendship disaster and a mother she isn't  seeing eye to eye with.  Thankfully, she's met a guy friend who seems worth the attention, along with a ghostly mystery.

    Breach Point reads like a grown up Scooby-Doo episode.  From doing research to finding small clues, I want to shout out "Jinkies" once or twice!  I liked it, so let's kick it off with with some story aspects, then a few particulars, ending with the supernatural aspect.

     The story is perfect for YA readers and it's a fast read.  I'd definitely let my son read it.  I finished the book in two days, and that's with me reading other books, as always.  I have to admit, it was a bit slow at first.  I think I was on page   seventy-eight by the time story really got moving and then the supernatural kicked in a few chapters from there.  I held on because development was there and I'm glad I did.  On to the particulars.  


     While the town and many of its occupants were described in wonderful detail, Clare's physical attributes were not.  Other than the book cover, I don't really know what she looks like, but I'd know Uncle Kevin and his gut, or Nicholas if in a movie.  The lack of some details didn't hurt the story, especially if you're like me and can easily insert your face over others to dive into the story.  There is a middle ground many miss, Breach Point wasn't far from it and that's awesome when it comes to those tidbits.

    Lastly, there's the best part of all, the supernatural!  I'm all for ghosts, wraiths, monsters and more.  This story was more mysterious than supernatural to me.  There are instances that could even be dubbed magical almost, but it was along the lines of ghostly.  I enjoyed the story- it was nicely written and see me adding it to our school year's reading list.   I'd happily referBreach Point to my younger, YA readers!
Off to the next book! 

Reading the "Cardinal Rule" by Joey Pinkney

     The author of this story is a hilarious fellow.  I think I met Joey Pinkney during an author event on Facebook and seems to be one of the few who's constantly interacting with others.  We're buddies on Instagram too; this is where I found Cardinal Rule.  The short story is about a couple; a couple I thought were married until a particular conversation began.

     I thought this story was very funny.  It was real- I've heard many conversations that went along the lines of this story during my lifetime and they all went like this:  real!  Sadly, just when Teddy should have pushed, he let her get away!   He tried to go way back first, for a sort of introduction to his up-coming action, and I understand, but then- BAM! 
No spoilers...

     It's a story that ends almost as it begins, but it's worth letting the time pass to read it.  I enjoyed it.  It was also a tidbit into getting to know Joey as an author and I am happy to say:  I will be purchasing more of his work for my #TBRList.
Time to grab another book!

Outpost (The Razorland Series) by Ann Aguirre

     When I read the first book in the Razorland tetralogy, yes I found out there are four books, I was entertained but slightly bothered.  Outpost brought some interesting growth in a few areas but heavier disappointment in others.  What will the final book bring?

     Outpost, was about Deuce getting used to her new home, Salvation, while dealing with problems concerning her treatment by adults.  Below ground, in the College enclave, she was considered an adult.  She hunted and fought for the safety of the residents, but they weren't a family- more like a clan.  So after relocating, she had to deal, not with hunting and defense, but how to be a lady and attend elementary school.  After proving her worth, she practically takes over the defensive strategy and ends up going out on a mission to another town/outpost for the betterment of Salvation.

     Okay, let me start off by saying, kids can't run the world!  It's ridiculous how so many books have kids like Deuce, Fade and Stalker living like adults, but so immature it's sickening!  We go through the states of puberty and maturity for a reason.  This book had Deuce behaving like a whiny, almost spoiled-like teen, going around trying to prove she was an adult Huntress!  (Oh I can' t wait to stop hearing that claim!)  Fade became so clingy and sophomoric, I just wanted him to be killed off.  And let's not forget about our rapist turned lovestruck, wanna-be hero, Stalker.  He ended up being more interesting than any of them- adults included!
     I have to say I was torn three-fourths and a fourth with this book.  The three-fourths was disappointing because the adults were so ignorant when it came to defending Salvation.  It took a sixteen year old kid- a girl, to bring on some active defense!  The majority of the men were so concerned with being chauvinistic they couldn't even stay alive.  And the  adult ladies pushed Women's Lib back to the stone ages, sitting about knitting and thumping the bible about where a woman's place should be!  THEN...

    When it's do or die for Salvation, it takes Deuce, and her friends to save it?  Nah, I didn't like it.  The portions I enjoyed were all about normalcy.  Deuce, Fade, Tegan and Stalker had to go to school, learn a trade and do their share, which two of the four could relate to.  They developed as characters a bit more and some received loving families, but not enough for me to really care about them.  They were rather flat and too concerned with tongue kissing and fighting the Breeding Feeling.

     I have the next book, Horde, and must purchase the upcoming Restoration.  I sure hope book three is better than the first two.  I have to continue on though...I'm committed to the cause!  Happy reading and find a happy book too! 

Outpost (The Razorland Series) by Ann Aguirre

     When I read the first book in the Razorland tetralogy, yes I found out there are four books, I was entertained but slightly bothered.  Outpost brought some interesting growth in a few areas but heavier disappointment in others.  What will the final book bring?

     Outpost, was about Deuce getting used to her new home, Salvation, while dealing with problems concerning her treatment by adults.  Below ground, in the College enclave, she was considered an adult.  She hunted and fought for the safety of the residents, but they weren't a family- more like a clan.  So after relocating, she had to deal, not with hunting and defense, but how to be a lady and attend elementary school.  After proving her worth, she practically takes over the defensive strategy and ends up going out on a mission to another town/outpost for the betterment of Salvation.

     Okay, let me start off by saying, kids can't run the world!  It's ridiculous how so many books have kids like Deuce, Fade and Stalker living like adults, but so immature it's sickening!  We go through the states of puberty and maturity for a reason.  This book had Deuce behaving like a whiny, almost spoiled-like teen, going around trying to prove she was an adult Huntress!  (Oh I can' t wait to stop hearing that claim!)  Fade became so clingy and sophomoric, I just wanted him to be killed off.  And let's not forget about our rapist turned lovestruck, wanna-be hero, Stalker.  He ended up being more interesting than any of them- adults included!
     I have to say I was torn three-fourths and a fourth with this book.  The three-fourths was disappointing because the adults were so ignorant when it came to defending Salvation.  It took a sixteen year old kid- a girl, to bring on some active defense!  The majority of the men were so concerned with being chauvinistic they couldn't even stay alive.  And the  adult ladies pushed Women's Lib back to the stone ages, sitting about knitting and thumping the bible about where a woman's place should be!  THEN...

    When it's do or die for Salvation, it takes Deuce, and her friends to save it?  Nah, I didn't like it.  The portions I enjoyed were all about normalcy.  Deuce, Fade, Tegan and Stalker had to go to school, learn a trade and do their share, which two of the four could relate to.  They developed as characters a bit more and some received loving families, but not enough for me to really care about them.  They were rather flat and too concerned with tongue kissing and fighting the Breeding Feeling.

     I have the next book, Horde, and must purchase the upcoming Restoration.  I sure hope book three is better than the first two.  I have to continue on though...I'm committed to the cause!  Happy reading and find a happy book too! 

Enclave (Razorland Series) by Ann Aguirre

     Enclave is Book One of the Razorland series.  The story is told by Deuce, a girl who survived in subterranean tunnels with her clan in an apocalyptic world.  A contagious  disease befell the world, allowing the rich evacuation and there rest to endure.  Deuce's enclave, College, persevered primitively, with no one older than twenty-two years.  Anyone approaching  that age prepared to die prematurely or while fighting mutated beings called Freaks.

     I took pages of notes concerning this book.  From issues like the development of College, to its illiterate occupants.  From hunting for meat that didn't come from rats in a NYC-like subway system to coming Topside and not needing a transitional period and eyewear, other than sunglasses,  after living underground for at least thirteen years!  

     I was totally unable to envision what the author intended I see when it came to hunting meat.  They lived and hunted within the tunnel system, so the only critters I can imagine they caught were rats, but Aguirre described their trapping and hunting as if they were in the woods or forrest or something!   What the heck were they bagging every day?  But what seriously damaged Enclave the most was the love triangle, where Deuce fell for both her hunting partner, Fade and her Topside captor, Stalker.  

     Stalker is the leader of the Wolves, a gang.  Stalker and his minions actually capture females for  forceful breeding (yes, procreation) and recreational hunting of males before feasting on their flesh. THEN Deuce falls for the guy, claiming she admires him for his strength and fighting skills!  I was blown away!  I'm not big on Munchausen Syndrome for minors- sorry, big no-no for me.  Deuce became unlikable after that, showing no growth, other than learning to read.

     I sure hope book 2: Outpost is better and Deuce matures, because right now, I don't like the girl.  Have an awesome day and an even better book! 

A Giveaway from Source Books! Max the Brave

a Rafflecopter giveaway     Max is a fearless kitten. Max is a brave kitten. Max is a kitten who chases mice. There’s only one problem—Max doesn’t know what a mouse looks like! With a little bit of bad advice, Max finds himself facing a much bigger challenge. Maybe Max doesn’t have to be Max the Brave all the time…

     Join this adventurous black cat as he very politely asks a variety of animals for help in finding a mouse. Young readers will delight in Max’s mistakes, while adults will love the subtle, tongue-in-cheek humor of this new children’s classic.

     Ed Vere is an author, artist and illustrator with a long track record of success in the picture book category. Max the Brave was named one of The Sunday Times’s 100 Modern Children’s Classics. His book Bedtime for Monsters was shortlisted for the 2011 Roald Dahl Funny Prize and Mr Big was chosen by Booktrust as the official Booktime book for 2009 (and was distributed to 750,000 British schoolchildren making it the largest single print run of a picture book). Vere was the World Book Day illustrator for 2009.

Contest runs Sept. 1-Oct. 31


Social Media:

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuNbrpUVunE

Website: http://books.sourcebooks.com/maxthebrave/

Activity Kit: http://sourcebooksftp.com/Email/MaxTheBrave/MaxTheBrave-ActivityKit.pdf

Educator guide: http://sourcebooksftp.com/Email/MaxTheBrave/MaxTheBrave-EduGuide.pdf

Twitter: @ed_vere, @jabberwockykids