Book Review: Happy Like Soccer

Last week I read the children’s picture book, Happy Like Soccer by Maribeth Boelts and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. All I can say is “Wow!” I loved it. It really took me by surprise. It’s not really a soccer story at all, like you would suspect, but rather a very moving and emotionally powerful story of a young girl and her love for her aunt.

Told in a very simple and honest manner, Happy Like Soccer gives a brief, yet poignant glimpse into a young girl’s difficult, but happy life. Yes, there is a soccer element to the story, but it has many other more intriguing layers to it; new friendships, loneliness, hardships of a poor family struggling to get by, overcoming disappointment, a young girl’s initiative and courage to change a tough situation into a positive one, and the dedicated love between a young girl and her aunt

The ink and watercolor art enhance and fit the mood of the story perfectly. Happy Like Soccer is a great story and read-aloud between parent and child!

Book review: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Guest blogger and teen girl reviewer reviews Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

Vin’s brother has taught her all her life never to trust anyone else and do all she can to survive, so when Kelsier, a Mistborn Allomancer (someone who burns metals to gain unnatural powers) offers her a position among his thieving crew she barely accepts, filled with suspicion and doubt.  But as time passes and she begins to discover her true powers, Vin realizes her importance and responsibility within the crew and their mission to overthrow the Final Empire.

Tired of the same old knights and dragons, vampires and werewolves fantasy?  Mistborn, though still filled with the excitement of fiction, reaches beyond the normal and overused common themes of today’s fantasy genre.  Brandon Sanderson has done an excellent job mixing the emotional apprehension into the excitement of battle and a story of true friendship and trust.  One can know that they will be entirely entertained while reading Mistborn.

Review: Death Cloud - Young Sherlock Holmes

After receiving a recommendation from a librarian about it being an interesting read for middle graders, I read the first book in the Young Sherlock Holmes series called Death Cloud by Andrew Lane. I’ve never really been a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes and thought it might be a bit stuffy and slow moving, but I was wrong. Death Cloud has fast paced action that begs the teenage Sherlock to decipher a trail of intriguing clues to solve his first mystery. In Death Cloud, Lane presents Sherlock as a likeable teen full of curiosity and with a desire for adventure that often gets him into more trouble than he can handle on his own. But with the help of his friends and his own overactive brain power, Sherlock manages to escape several close calls with death and solve the mystery.

 In addition to making the English countryside come alive in the reader’s mind, Lane creates a world that most kids can easily relate with – one where adults rule and think they know everything, even though it’s a kid that actually has the right answers to save the day as well as save the adults from their own foolishness. Death Cloud by Andrew Lane is an enjoyable read that will capture the interest and imagination of inquisitive young minds.

Review: False Prince

Wow! FALSE PRINCE by Jennifer A. Nielsen is a great read. Nielsen has developed a rich set of characters in FALSE PRINCE, especially in the protagonist named Sage, who truly comes alive in the reader’s mind with his mysterious depth and layers of complexity. As you peel back each layer of Sage’s intriguing personality, you find yourself rooting more and more not only for him to survive, but that he’ll turn the tables on his adversaries.

Coupled with the great character development, FALSE PRINCE takes the reader on an engaging adventure entwined with treachery, sword fights, deadly rivalries, royal secrets, and a daring plan to save a kingdom from civil war. Its delightful and surprising plot twists not only keep you guessing at the final outcome and cheering along the way, but leave you pondering on the story and its characters for weeks after. FALSE PRINCE is a prized selection you'll want to add to your list of middle-grade/YA books that boys will love. Oh, and girls will love it too.

Review: Ranger's Apprentice

When I asked a large group of librarians for suggestions on middle-grade books that would appeal to boys, one of the most recommended books was the RANGER’S APPRENTICE series by John Flanagan. In fact, one librarian said, “The books (RANGER’S APPRENTICE) fly off my shelf.”

So, the other day I read the first book in the series, THE RUINS OF GORLAN. As expected, RANGER’S APPRENTICE is full of adventure that will engage boy readers (and girls too) from ages 10 and up. But what I believe makes this book rise way above your typical adventure is the way Flanagan takes the readers deep inside the emotions of the main characters. Not only do the characters go on wild adventures that any boy would dream of, but it lets the readers feel and see how the two main boys in the book deal with boyhood trials common to today’s youth, including bullying, feuding friends, and acceptance by others. While I loved the action and adventure, its Flanagan’s focus on the trials and hardships of youthful relationships that makes RANGER’S APPRENTICE: THE RUINS OF GORLAN so exceptional.

Review: Icefall

After seeing Icefall by Matthew J. Kirby garner so much national attention, I decided to read it the other week. Although, set in Viking times, it’s not your typical Viking warrior and berserker middle-grade fantasy. Yes, it does have Viking warriors and berserkers, but they’re really just supporting characters. This fantasy/historical fiction is a character driven story about a young girl who is deemed unimportant in the eyes of her father, a Viking king. Icefall takes us on her journey to prove her worth to herself and those she loves. Deeply colored with a backdrop of Nordic tradition and mythology, Icefall is a tale of mystery, friendship, and treachery that pulls the reader in with a cast of rich characters and great storytelling.

Review: Wolves, Boys and Other Things that Might Kill Me

Guest blogger and teen girl reviewer reviews Wolves, Boys and Other Things that Might Kill Me

Kristen Chandler’s title may suggest the popular theme of supernatural creatures, but no vampires or werewolves exist in this city.  All 17 year old and social outcast KJ wants is to survive high school in her small Montana town, but Virgil, the new kid from Minnesota, without warning starts a reaction that changes KJ as well as the whole town’s lives.  As her and Virgil start falling for each other, their small town outside Yellowstone National Park starts consequently falling apart.  Neighbor turns against neighbor, friends against friends.  Through all the turmoil, though, KJ begins to find her voice and confidence, standing up to the bullies of her school and villains of the town, creating a turning point for her whole town.

Chandler has created a rare type of book, one that does include the fun but short-lived teenage romances, but also the more emotional issues of an average teenager’s life: low self esteem and feeling to small to make a difference, needing to find the confidence to overcome opposition, family and issues at home, and the need to be loved.  Her book doesn’t just graze over problems, having a “happily ever after.”  Instead, she realistically writes of possible outcomes to real life and common situations, including all awkward, sad, happy and uncomfortable.  These realistic results make it quite easy to connect with the characters, making the book even more enjoyable.  Overall, I would definitely recommend this book, specifically to the teenage and young adults.

Review: The Looking Glass Wars

Guest blogger and teen boy reviewer reviews The Looking Glass Wars

The Looking Glass Wars is a novel similar to Alice in Wonderland. You think it’s just the same as Lewis Carroll’s novel however Frank Beddor adds different twists and turns that keep you guessing on what will happen next. Not only are there unexpected twists and turns Frank Beddor added extraordinary details so you have an exact image of what is going on in the story.

Instead of adding the same exact characters as in Alice in Wonderland the author adds different characteristics and features about each of the characters. There is a wider variety of characters and items in the novel.

This novel was a fantastic book. It’s one of the books that you just can’t stop reading and you never want it to end. I would definitely recommend this book. This was an amazing book.

Review: The Beyonders

Guest blogger and teen girl reviewer reviews The Beyonders

Jason Walker has been thrust into a new world, a world full of cowards, fallen heroes and the malicious magician Maldor. His destiny has found him as he takes on an adventure to not only save himself, but this whole civilization from the kingship of the evil wizard. His plan: find the single word that can destroy Maldor.

Brandon Mull, author of the Beyonders as well as the best selling Fablehaven series, has created the beginning to a unique and entirely unpredictable trilogy. Full of excitement and sorrow, triumph and tragedy, Beyonders definitely entertains and meets expectations. It is well worth the read.

Review: Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lenses

Guest blogger & teen girl reviewer reviews Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lenses: by Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz Smedry, the boy blessed with the talent to break things, throws himself amid the battle between the evil Librarians and the kingdom of Mokia: giant robots versus explosive teddy bears. If the Librarians win this battle they will have reached one step closer to completely manipulating the world into believing lies like that there are only 7 continents and that guns are more useful than swords. Using his rare, mysterious talent and crazy Smedry sense of adventure, Alcatraz must save Mokia before they too are overthrown by Librarians. Alcatraz Versus the Shattered Lenses is full of adventure and contains tons of humor. A great pick for someone who enjoys to laugh.

Review: Hunger Games Trilogy

Guest blogger & teen girl reviewer reviews the The Hunger Games Trilogy:

Katniss Everdeen, living in a future society called Panem, was born and raised in the poorest of districts, district 12 and she dreads the occurrence of the annual Hunger Games. This “game” requires each district to provide 2 tributes, one boy and one girl, whom the Capitol throw into a manipulated arena where only one rule exists, kill or be killed; the last one standing is declared victor. Fate and Chance fall upon Katniss, forcing her into the arena as well as a series of gruesome and agonizing events with co-tribute Peeta Mellark. Katniss inadvertently starts an uprising against the Capitol and is unwillingly turned into a symbol of rebellion and hope.

Suspense fills the pages of Suzanne Collins’ Hunger Games, causing its reader to always sit on the edge of their seats. This trilogy has something for everyone: ongoing and agonizing romance, intensity, action, and cause for contemplation. Read Hunger Games and experience the anxiety of the Arena.