book review
Book Review: Jorie and the Magic Stones
Jorie and the Magic Stones
by A.H. Richardson (Goodreads Author)
by A.H. Richardson (Goodreads Author)
2 out of 5 stars
Jorie comes to live with her maiden aunt in a house by the Tarn, a deep lake with a magical past. She finds out that she is a Chosen One, who can pass through the Tarn to the magical world beneath, where dragons and goblins roam free. With her friend Rufus, Jorie sets out on a quest to recover the three missing magic stones that will bring peace to the land, but an evil enemy is also looking for the stones, and betrayal haunts every step of their journey.
I was disappointed in this book. The story is promising, but the writing lacks polish and badly needs an editor. The spelling is good, but punctuation and sentence structure are riddled with mistakes and typos. The plot is predictable and trite, making the story boring at times. The whole Chosen One/ prophecy storyline is really overdone, and there’s nothing new in this story to add interest to the trope. Continue reading
Book Review: Freddy the Detective
Freddy the Detective
by Walter R. Brooks, Kurt Wiese
by Walter R. Brooks, Kurt Wiese
4 out of 5 stars
A cute, old-fashioned children’s story about Freddy, an intelligent pig, who reads about Sherlock Holmes and decides to become a detective. All the farmyard animals bring their little problems to Freddy, and he does some sleuthing to solve their mysteries. A little rabbit goes missing, someone steals a toy train, and a cat is wrongfully accused of murdering a crow, but Freddy is up to the task, looking for clues, and tracking down heartless criminals.
I enjoyed the charming old style of writing, and the simple story lines. The characters are sweet and funny, and they kept my interest. I liked how Freddy makes mistakes at first. He is not a very good detective to begin with, but he learns quickly and does a better job each time he tries.
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Book Review: Mary Poppins in the Park
Mary Poppins in the Park (Mary Poppins, #4)
by P.L. Travers, Mary Shepard
by P.L. Travers, Mary Shepard
3 out of 5 stars
Mary Poppins is back again with Jane and Michael for adventures in the Park! An ordinary outing in the park turns into a magical and extraordinary adventure when you go for a walk with Mary Poppins.
I love how Mary Poppins can be stern with the children, but is also kind and loving. She has a no nonsense attitude, but secretly loves to take the children on nonsensical and silly outings!
The writing is enchanting, and has a beautiful charm in its simplicity! I love all the Mary Poppins books! Continue reading
Book Review: War for the Waking World
The War for the Waking World (Dreamtreaders, #3)
by Wayne Thomas Batson (Goodreads Author)
by Wayne Thomas Batson (Goodreads Author)
3 out of 5 stars
Archer and his fellow Dreamtreaders are fighting the final battle. With the Rift tearing their world apart, they will need some strange allies to pull things back together. Kara has taken the Nightmare Lord’s throne, and is throwing the world into chaos in her desperate grab for power. Archer will have to think outside the box to find a way to defeat Kara and her armies before the Rift destroys everything they know.
I continue to love Archer’s character! He grows and changes and becomes more mature in this book. He’s no longer reckless and foolish. He takes responsibility for his bad choices, and puts his own needs aside to focus on helping others. Continue reading
Book Review: Search for the Shadow Key
Search for the Shadow Key (Dreamtreaders, #2)
by Wayne Thomas Batson(Goodreads Author)
by Wayne Thomas Batson(Goodreads Author)
4 out of 5 stars
“The Nightmare Lord has been thrown down, but his throne is no longer empty. Rigby Thames has taken up the evil mantle with Kara Windchil as his queen. Now the only living dreamtreader, Archer Keaton finds himself on the outside of two worlds looking in. Dream Walking Inc. is taking the world by storm, allowing Rigby to build an unstoppable empire. Worse still, Rigby has unleashed the Tendrils, shadow people who can cross over into the waking world. As Archer s family and friends begin to disappear, unexpected help comes in the form of the Wind Maiden, a mysterious angelic being who seems to know how Archer can rescue his loved ones and defeat the new Nightmare King. But the cost may prove too dear for Archer to pay.”– GoodReads Description
I’m so in love with this series! The dreamscape is incredibly imaginative. There’s always something new to discover beyond what we’ve already seen in the first book. The plot keeps me guessing the entire time, and the action just never stops. I love every single character, both the old characters from the first book and the new characters that are introduced. This second book is just as good as the first book in the series, which doesn’t happen often with series.
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Book Review: The Language of Spells
The Language of Spells
by Garret Weyr, also Freymann-Weyr
Katie Harnett
by Garret Weyr, also Freymann-Weyr
Katie Harnett
3 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed this book about a dragon under an enchantment and the little girl who gives up everything to save him and his fellow dragons!
Grisha is still a young dragon when an evil sorcerer freezes him into the shape of a small teapot. Trapped within the teapot for decades, Grisha dreams of being free once more, but as soon as a friend breaks the enchantment of the teapot, Grisha is trapped in another kind of prison. The cruel bureaucracy of Vienna keeps a close watch on the few dragons allowed to remain in the city, and every aspect of Grisha’s life is locked between rigid rules and regulations, even restricting his thoughts and words. Continue reading
Book Review: DreamTreaders
Dreamtreaders (Dreamtreaders, #1)
by Wayne Thomas Batson (Goodreads Author)
by Wayne Thomas Batson (Goodreads Author)
4 out of 5 stars
“Fourteen-year-old Archer Keaton discovers he has the ability to enter and explore his dreams. He is a Dreamtreader, one of three selected from each generation. Their mission: to protect the waking world from the Nightmare Lord, who wreaks chaos in the Dream World. But as Archer’s dreams become more dangerous and threatening, so too does his waking life.Rigby Thames, the new kid from England, builds a suspicious rock star-like following at Dresden High School a little too quickly. Even Archer’s best friend and confidant, Kara Windchil, seems taken in by the cool guy with the wild blond hair, which definitely rubs Archer the wrong way. Archer must face two foes in two worlds, but he cannot succeed alone. Archer sets off to find other Dreamtreaders in a desperate attempt to defeat the enemy terrorizing his friends and family.”
-GoodReads Description
Love this book so much! From the first word, we are plunged straight into the action. This author really knows how to write fight scenes! The plot kept me guessing, and I loved discovering the Dream kingdoms. The world-building is just amazing! So imaginative and different from anything I’ve ever read.
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Picture Book Review: Narwhal and Jelly
Peanut Butter and Jelly (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #3)
by Ben Clanton (Goodreads Author)
by Ben Clanton (Goodreads Author)
5 out of 5 stars
The cuteness!! The adorableness!! The sillyness! I can’t get enough of Narwhal and Jelly. They are so cute and lovable! Narwhal has some strange eating habits, so Jelly tries to help him broaden his culinary comfort zone with hilarious results.
Each little comic is so delightfully funny! I laughed my head off, and smiled and chuckled with glee. I love the simple yet striking illustrations, and the bright colors. I love the sweetly imaginative dialogue and storylines.
I can imagine reading this aloud to a child and having so much fun together! Continue reading
Manga Review: Romeo and Juliet
Manga Classics: Romeo and Juliet
by Crystal S. Chan , William Shakespeare, Julien Choy
by Crystal S. Chan , William Shakespeare, Julien Choy
3 out of 5 stars on GoodReads
With all the original dialogue of the play, this manga adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet bursts with old enchantment and romantic drama. The illustrations flow from one panel to the next in a surge of emotional tension, and the action keeps the wordy dialogue from weighing down the storyline.
This would be a great way to introduce Shakespeare to younger audiences, since the dialogue is easier to understand along with the action of the panels. Continue reading
Luminous Libro 