middle grade books
Graphic Novel Review: Batman Overdrive
Batman: Overdrive
by Shea Fontana, Marcelo Di Chiara
by Shea Fontana, Marcelo Di Chiara
4 out of 5 stars
Young Bruce Wayne is weeks away from getting his driver’s license, and decides to repair his father’s classic car, and maybe give it some upgrades, and maybe start calling it the Batmobile. Bruce is tracking a car theft ring, and hoping they will lead to clues about his parents’ murders. He is isolated and alone, but as he searches junkyards for replacement parts and tracks the car thefts, he befriends two teens that he is certain he can trust… until he can’t.
I loved this graphic novel! Batman has never been my favorite superhero- too dark for me- but I really enjoyed reading about a young Bruce who is just forming his identity as a hero and learning from his early mistakes. Bruce is charming and just so cool. He takes too many risks and has a lot of anger inside though. It was great to see his character growing and developing as he dealt with some of those issues. Continue reading
Feb. 2020 Book Unhaul
Book Review: Premeditate Myrtle
Premeditated Myrtle
by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Goodreads Author)5 out of 5 stars
by Elizabeth C. Bunce (Goodreads Author)5 out of 5 stars
Myrtle is the daughter of a Court Prosecutor, and follows her father’s cases with alacrity. She loves to read the Police reports and studies toxicology. When her next-door neighbor is murdered, Myrtle is sure she knows how to solve the case, but how is a Proper Young Lady supposed to adhere to the Rules of Etiquette AND have the freedom to run around town solving crimes? Only with the help of her redoubtable governess, Miss Judson.
One of the things that made me fall in love with this book is the incredible character development. I love how the main characters change their minds, discover new information, grow in their personalities and abilities, and suddenly realize that their relationships with other characters can be different.
I was fully invested in the character growth and the story from the very first page. The writing drew me in, and emotionally hooked me into the lives of the characters. I was massively curious about every clue. I couldn’t wait to read the next chapter and the next!
Book Review: Septimus Heap: Darke
Septimus Heap: Darke (#6)By Angie Sage
4 out of 5 stars
That stinking Merrin Meredith is back, threatening the Castle with the power of the Darke. Only Septimus, his dragon Spitfyre, and Princess Jenna can stop Merrin from covering the entire city in Darkeness.
I loved this book! The plot is full of action and magic and twists. I adore the characters, and I love how they grow and learn throughout the series. This book was particularly emotional for the Heap family as prodigal son, Simon, strives to win back his family’s love and trust.
January Wrap Up
Classic Retelling Review + Giveaway
Pippa Park Raises Her Game review on GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show…
Enter the Giveaway: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp…
Rules:
1. Must be 18 or older, or have parent’s permission.
2. USA and Canada ONLY.
3. Giveaway is open from Feb 2- 16.
4. Must be subscribed to this channel.
Book Review: The Skull of Truth
The Skull of Truth
by Bruce Coville, Gary A. Lippincott
by Bruce Coville, Gary A. Lippincott
3 out of 5 stars
Charlie is a liar. He meets the Skull of Truth and is cursed to always tell the truth, and his life changes in unexpected ways. Telling the truth gets him into a lot of trouble, and the curse begins to affect other people around him.
I didn’t enjoy this book as much as some of the others in the Magic Shop series. I thought some of the plot points didn’t quite fit in with the rest of the story. There were some radical leftist political ideas that I didn’t agree with. I was surprised to find them in a children’s book.
I was pleased to find that the skull himself is not scary at all. He’s a humorous and silly character, and there’s nothing frightening or creepy about him other than the fact that he’s a skull. Continue reading
Book Review: Pippa Park Raises Her Game
Pippa Park Raises Her Game
by Erin Yun
by Erin Yun
5 out of 5 stars
When Pippa Park gets a basketball scholarship to a fancy private school, she feels pressured to pretend like she’s rich and cool so that she can fit in with her elite classmates. But how long can she keep up the farce, when her Korean family owns a laundromat and Pippa barely has money to buy a slice of pizza at the school cafeteria? With her grades slipping and her relationships in turmoil, Pippa begins to realize that some of her new friends have family secrets of their own.
This retelling of Dicken’s “Great Expectations” is utterly brilliant from start to finish! Continue reading
Book Review: Zeus the Mighty
Zeus the Mighty: The Quest for the Golden Fleas
by Crispin Boyer
by Crispin Boyer
4 out of 5 stars
Zeus is a hamster who rules the kingdom of the pet store along with the other Olympian gods, Athena the cat, Demeter the cricket, Ares the dog, and Poseidon the puffer fish. These animals have mystic powers and find artifacts that help them in their adventures. When Poseidon questions Zeus’ ability to rule, Zeus goes on a quest to find the Golden Fleas (Fleece) to prove that he is worthy to be king of the gods.
I loved this funny book! The animals all have vivid personalities, and I loved their hilarious dialogue. It’s so clever how Greek mythology is woven into the pet store setting. Continue reading
Luminous Libro 