Sunday, December 25, 2011

Three Wonderful Books By Patricia Puddle



Molly Gumnut Rescues a Bandicoot
Publisher:  CreateSpace
Pages:  228
Source:  Received an e-book for review from the author
Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

Molly is one of those kids who loves animals.  A class project, where she has to take a picture of  a native animal is the beginning to this wonderful story. When she sees the neighbor’s cat attack a bandicoot, Molly jumps in to save him.  She is not supposed to  have the bandicoot as they are an endangered animal.  She begs her dad to let her keep him.  She even names him Furble.  Dad takes the animal to her grandmother’s house because she is one of a few people allowed to nurse the animal back to health as a wildlife rescue officer.  Molly is not very happy when her grandmother tells her that they will release the animal  back where he was found when he is healthy.  It is here where she decides that she will have to take matters into her own hands.   Molly is allowed to help her grandmother, but almost blows it by trying to get a picture of it for her school project.  She is constantly getting herself in trouble trying to do the right thing. For example she goes to talk to the neighbor whose cat injured Furble and comes across as rude and almost loses her opportunity to help her grandmother. It doesn’t help that she has a snotty little classmate named Gretchen who tries her hardest to see that Molly is always in trouble.  This was a wonderful book that shows kids that they need to stand up for what they believe in, but at the same time there is a right and wrong way to do it.  Both boys and girls will enjoy this book.  Molly’s antics will keep the reader rolling.



Velvet Ball and the Broken Fairy
Publisher:  CreateSpace
Pages: 110
Source:  Received an e-book from the author
Genre:  Middle Grade,  Realistic Fantasy

I have never read a book where the author addressed the issue of alopecia, or hair loss in kids.  I don’t even think most kids know what it is.  In this story we are introduced to a young girl named Velvet Ball.  She has a disease that caused her to lose all of her hair.  Her parents move her to the country to try to improve her health in the hopes her hair will grow back.  The kids at her new school don’t want to be her friend.  They bully her around and call her names.  One day on her way home she finds a fairy hanging from a tree.  The fairy  promises to grant her a wish if Velvet will help her.  Velvet has no idea how much trouble Roseberry is going to cause her.  I see several common things running through several of Patricia’s books.  She always has her characters rescuing something or someone.  There is usually a bully that the man character must deal with, in this case the kids at school plus the fairy with an attitude.  She also always teaches a lesson.  It is one that is not thrown into a kids face, yet one that they learn along the way.  This book has so much to offer.  It would be great for discussions about accepting differences.  I laughed at the fairy’s antics, before she learns she isn’t a fairy.  The ending had a surprising twist I didn’t see coming but I hope it leads to another book.

  

Star Crossed Rascal
Publisher: CreateSpace
Pages:  82
Source:  Received a e-book copy for review
Genre:  Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

This was a wonderful adventure story.  Polly and Gertie are best friends.  When Polly’s parents leave her Aunt in charge of her for a week, things get really hairy.  Polly can’t seem to do anything right.  Everything she attempts to do ends in catastrophe.  It all starts with a gumball that she and her best friend make.  This is the first thing that gets her on her aunt’s bad side.  When she tries to hide her dinner of Liver and Spaghetti, can you say yuck, she gets in more trouble.  Trying to fix her mistakes only makes things worse.  Her aunt has no patience for kids and this adds to the humor.  I rooted for Polly and Gertie all the way through the book.  The writing style of this book reminded me of Roald Dahl.  I think kids who liked “George’s Marvelous Medicine” by Roald Dahl will love this book.  It has the cranky relative that you love to hate.  The antics in the book are hilarious and of course you find the parents have a tendency to overlook the mischief that Polly and Gertie get into.  I highly recommend this book to my students and to parents everywhere.






2 comments:

  1. What a wonderful Christmas day surprise, Sandra. Thank you so much for those fabulous reviews. I wasn't expecting that. You have a fabulous blog. I'm now following. Happy New Year!

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  2. Oh, I forgot to say, I think it's wonderful that you encourage your students to write and publish books. I sure wish I had a teacher like you when I was at school. I didn't learn how to write properly until I was in my fifties and I often wish I'd had an understanding teacher such as you. I hope your students appreciate it. They should.

    Thanks again, Sandra. Now, I'll go and twitter this again. LOL.

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