Grandpa's Still Watching by Dan Loftus

Genre:  Children, Picture Book

Source: I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Grandparents play an important role in the lives of our children. When we lose a grandparent it can be difficult for the children who loved them so much. It is important to reasure them that their granparents are still there in their hearts and their memories. This book does a wonderful job of telling and showing children how our grandparents who are gone are still around looking after us. A wonderful book on family, grief and the memories we hold in our hearts.

Little Ghost's Summerween by Maggie Edkins Willis

Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my review.The opinions expressed here are my own.

Genre:  Children's Picture Book

Little Ghost's Summerween was a wonderful book to read.  Children will love it.  The idea of a small ghost attending a birthday party was a fun idea.  Little Ghost has never had a birthday. He wants one but doesn't know what type he should have.  His best friend Anya tells him to make sure he finds what is special to him. He decides to have just a small party with his best friend. But, things take a surprise turn. 

This is another great book for children. As a grandparent I found it delightful. The story is enhanced by beautiful pictures. This is a must read.

Underwearwolf by Gideon Sterer

 

Genre:  Children's Picture Book

Source: I received a copy from the publisher to facilitate my reviews. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Are you looking for something fun to read to or with your child?  This is an awesome book. Take one young birthday boy, a gift from his uncle and get ready for a fun read.

The main character is a young boy who has just received the strangest pair of underwear from his uncle. They are made of wool. Not only are they made of wool, they come with a warning about not wearing them on a full moon. Of course he puts them on. After turning into an underwearwolf he goes on an adventure into the night.  This was such a strange and original idea that I laughed and laughed.  Along with such an awesome story, you have wonderful pictures from Charles Santoso. The repetition of the phrase "I should have taken them off, but then I would have been butt naked..." cracked me up.  I have great-grandson who would love this fun book.   We definitely need more books like this. Reading needs to become fun again and it needs to begin with the youngest readers.  I can say I highly recommend this book to parents and grandparents, or people like me who love books for all ages.

Paskal's Hope Kickstarter

Kandi J.Wyatt has done it again.  .

All he wanted was to prove himself a man.
All she wanted was to learn to use her new-found magic.
Neither of them knew the price of their desires.

When 18-year-old Paskal set out for a week in the wilderness, he was confident his father would accept him as a man when he returned. But three days into his outing, he awakes from a nap to discover a mage gazing down at him – not just any mage, but a slaver no less! Trussed up and tossed in the back of a wagon, Paskal joins nineteen other hapless souls.

When 17-year-old Cambria’s magic manifested, her mother sent her to the capital to learn how to use it. But without resources and knowledge, Cambria paid for her education with her power and her body. Six months later, she’s far from home in the sun-cursed lands in the back of a wagon.

Sold at the first village along the Inferno Trail, Cambria and Paskal both loathe their masters, but when another clan attacks the town, Paskal sees their chance to escape. Not willing to leave without Cambria, he leads her straight into the arms of their new captors.

With all hope lost, Paskal begrudgingly accepts the title of slave, but even a slave can protect a friend and stand for what’s right. The question is: how far is he willing to go? And who will pay the ultimate cost of his freedom and Cambria’s safety?

Paskal’s Hope is book 2 of the coming-of-age fantasy duology Journeys by Kandi J. Wyatt that follows two different young men, and the women who love them, trying to find their place in the world and discover where their worth lies.

Kickstarter link:  https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/kandijwyatt/paskals-hope-an-early-release-special-edition-hardback

Marina Mews by DL Mitchell

 

Genre:  Adult, Mystery

Source: I received a copy from LibraryThing Early Reviewers. The opinions expressed here are my own.

What I loved about this book is that it is a fast paced mystery and has animals to fall in love with. I loved that the author had a six toed cat named Hemingway as a character in the book. The story takes place in a small South Florida town. I could relate because I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida with its laid back feeling.  Emily is a veterinarian and has just found the body of her friend Billy. He owned a dive shop and actually taught Emily to dive. Eventhough her boyfriend and brother try to get her to stay out of it she just can't. This seems more important when she learns the death was possibly a murder. As a teacher I love learning things in books, especially if they are sprinkled throughout a fictional book. The author has sprinkled advice about treating animals all throughout the book. In other words, the author has interjected her own expertise into the book. The cat Hemingway belonged to Billy. He helps Emily solve his owner's murder. There is the slightest romance in the book, but not enough to throw me out of it. There are actually two other books in this series I have not read.  I will be reading them. I love when I find not only a great new series but a great new author. I highly recommend this series to you.

Ten Days In A Mad-House by Nellie Bly

 

Source: I purchased a copy

Genre:  Memoir

My fascination with this book came when my students had to read an excerpt in my Middle School English class.  They struggled to understand why someone would purposely get themselves committed to an asylum. Nellie Bly had a lot of guts in my mind. First of all she was a female living in a male dominated world. Many women were put away by husbands who no longer wanted them around. Nellie Bly wished to let the world know what actually went on inside. Why you may ask. There was no one to speak for those women. Bly came up with a plan to tell their story. She got herself committed by acting like she was insane and used a fake last name. They sent her to the asylum where she spoke with these women and documented the abuses they suffered.  She had pre-arranged with her editor to have them get her out after ten days. She exposed the atrocities and created change.

 

Genre:  Young Adult, Fantasy, Ghost Stories

Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I had never heard of this series before I won a copy of this book from LibraryThing. It has so many things that I love in books I read. I love reading books where one or more of the main characters are underdogs.  We have Luis who loves math but gets bullied. We have Zuri who practices mixed martial arts. She and her mother have moved to Pinedale to get away from her father who is very violent. She actually saves Luis from the bullies and they become best friends. Then of course who doesn’t love stories that have ghosts. Zuri meets one in her school library. Zuri has a ghost friend she meets in the library and helps her with her math. I wish I had a ghost when I was in school to help me with my math.  As I read I learned there was an evil entity in the sub-basement.  I have had a fear of basements since I was about ten years old. Zuri, Luis and many of the other ghosts in the school decided to help Zuri protect the ghost helping her with her math.  Here is why teens will love this book. It deals with so many issues they often deal with. Zuri has to deal with not only a violent father, but also with racism.  Then there is Luis who has to deal with bullies.  They can identify with and relate with so much in this book.  Of course this is a great book for anyone who loves reading about people who overcome major obstacles in their lives and especially for those who love ghost stories. I would most definitely recommend this book.

Calm Within Chaos by Paul DeRenzo

 

Genre:  Nonfiction

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

As a middle school teacher I found this book to be a wealth of knowledge. The author has definitely done a lot of work with teens.  The first section talks about emotions and how to learn to regulate them.  The first thing is to understand emotions and how and why teens react to them the way they do. There is an entire section on how to deal with those emotions and a quiz at the end.

The fifth chapter talks about resiliency. This to me was one of the most important chapter. The reason I found this chapter so important is because we have resiliency lessons  every month at school. We are teaching them some of the same things that this book teaches. The book is far superior to the simple lesson we give once a month. The author explains what resiliency is and why it is important to our mental health.  This is a practical guide for teens, parents and anyone. I say anyone because teens aren’t the only ones who need to learn to regulate and deal with their emotions.  This should be used in every school.  Great book that every parent should have.

Hiding in Holland by Shulamit Reinharz

Genre:  Biography, Memoir, Non-Fiction, Adult

Source:  I received a copy from the author. The opinions expressed here are my own.

                Let me start by saying that I have loved reading about this part of history since I was twelve and learned I shared a birthday with Anne Frank. I was fascinated by the resilience of the Jewish people. I was fascinated by kindness and often the sacrifice of their own lives that a handful of non-Jewish people showed in the face of such atrocious adversity. John 15:13 says, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” In the case of the holocaust, often the person who laid down their life for the Jews were total strangers, yet they exhibited true love.  When I read these stories and memoirs I find myself angry at those who saw what was happening to their neighbors and did nothing and then when the war had ended tried to pretend like they knew nothing or that it was all a lie.  Those same feelings came back as I read where Max had returned to his hometown and this was the attitude of so many. So many still blamed the Jews.  

                This book starts of with the author finding boxes of old documents which her father tells her she can throw out. Instead she takes them home and organizes them. She cobles together an account of her father’s survival and resistance to the Nazi atrocities around him. It is obvious that he saw himself as more than just a survivor of the atrocities thrust upon the Jewish people. It was years later after discovering and organizing the materials that she finally had them translated. She used those findings along with massive amounts of her own research to write this book. One thing that became clear was the importance of keeping alive memories. Not all of us have gone through something so horrific. However, memories of our past and those of our parents and grandparents are important. Does that mean we should all write books about what our parents went through? No. However, the importance of documenting not only good times, but extreme hardship is what may make the difference in future generations not repeating mistakes and atrocities of the past.

                I was shocked to learn that Jews who were not real strict followers of their Jewish religion often survived compared to those who stuck religiously to their Jewish beliefs.

When I read the percentage of murdered Jews from different countries, I was shocked to learn that 85% of the Dutch Jews were wiped out compared to other countries.  It still boggles my mind that we as humans could let something like this happen. Yet for centuries we have allowed this to happen.  One thing that stood out in this memoir is found in the following excerpt where the author explains why and how her parents survived the German occupation. She mentions what her father considered the most important lesson he learned. He said, “There are some good people in this world.”  The author said, “Dad’s belief is not to be confused with Anne Frank’s naïve idea that there is ‘some good in everyone.’”  As a teacher I have taught “The Diary of Anne Frank” for years. I don’t know how many times I have pointed out that quote.  It wasn’t until I read this book that I truly see how naïve she truly was.  This is not a put down to her. I believe we all want to believe that there is good in everyone. However, after reading this book I actually have to agree with the author’s father’s statement.  If there was “some good in everyone” then those who stood by and let the Nazis do what they did, or turned their neighbors in for money, we would have to conclude there was more evil than good in them.

    For me one of the things I really loved about this book is all the references.  Obviously, the author did so much more research to add to her father’s accounts.  For me it just added so much more for me to read to add to my own understanding. I as a non-Jew can never understand what they went through. However, I can increase my understanding of those times to try to pass that knowledge on to future generations. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn more about the holocaust.

 

He's Not a Pig; He's My Brother by Mark Tiffany

 

Genre: Children's Chapter Book

Source:  Purchased

In this great adventure Carter, acting as the big brother decides he should be the alpha. He claims since they came from wolves that have an alpha leader, and since he is the oldest, he should be the alpha. He tells his half-brother Jack that he gets first choice on everything.  Jack disagrees. This causes an argument and Jack and Carter stop talking. Their human parents can see the issue and are not sure what has caused it. Matthew decides they need to follow the advice of a dog whisperer. When he becomes the alpha Carter doesn't like it. While watching a TV commercial about pig races Carter gets the bright idea to become a pig racer. There is just one issue, he isn't a pig. Carter runs away  to the fair where the pig races are held. He disguises himself and joins in the races.  His parents and half brother look for him everywhere. Finally Jack writes a letter to the pig racer man asking about his brother. He decides to go and look for him. When Matthew and Erin realize that Jack is also gone they become even more sad. Will Jack find his brother and convince him to come home?  Will Matthew and Erin ever see their beloved pets again?  I loved how the book shows that love can overcome just about anything.  I am really enjoying the books by this author.

The Green-Eyed Monster in a Maltese Suit by Mark Tiffany

 

Genre:  Children's Chapter Book

Source: Purchased

In this book we learn how Carter and Jack came to live with their adoptive parents. Matthew and Erin adopted Carter. From the pictures they had seen he looked different than his brothers and sisters and they fell in love with him. When he arrived at the airport he was determined to get back at these people who had taken him from his family. He didn't realize that all of his brothers and sister would be adopted. He made life very difficult for his new parents. They tried everything including obedience school.  When even school failed they decided maybe he needed a companion. They took a chance and found another maltese from the same people.  He looked just as cute as Carter. He was actually Carter's half-brother. They had the same mother. When Carter was introduced to his new brother he could smell his mother on the little pup and the bond was made.  From that day forward Carter took it upon himself to train his brother right.

What a wonderful story of love and affection.  I, as an adult, loved this book so I think children of all ages would love it as well.

My Life is Good by Mark Tiffany

 

Genre:  Children's Chapter Book

Source:  I purchased a copy

Carter and Jack are two dogs living the good life. Even though they are brothers, their personalities are completely different.  Jack has smelled a coyote in the area. He knows the danger for all smaller animals.  Many have gone missing.  Carter, on the other hand, doesn’t want to concern himself with such things. He thinks they should be focusing on how humans need to take better care of them.  In his opinion, humans were put on earth to wait on them hand and foot. It isn't until he is attacked by a coyote that he learns what is really important in life.  

This is the perfect book for this time of year when we reflect on what we are thankful for. This is a time when we really practice gratitude.  What a wonderful chapter book for the young reader.  I definitely recommend this book to adults and children alike.

Blood Gone Cold by Katy Grant

Genre:  Young Adult, Thriller, Novel in Verse

Source: I own a copy.

This is a quick read. The novel is told in verse. The story starts out with two sisters snowboarding with their parents, Abby is the nerdy one and Natalie is the popular sister.  They used to be so close. They are constantly arguing with each other. After returning to the cabin and arguing about what to do for dinner the parents solve the issue. The two girls can figure out what they are going to eat and the parents are going to go out for dinner.  Abby hides her sisters phone while she is in the shower. Then she goes out and sits in the hot tub.  She sees car lights in the drive and assumes it is her parents returning. To her surprise and horror it is not her parents but two men in a pickup.  She hides in the hot tub and hears them break into the house.  Now she is worried about her sister.  When they bring her sister downstairs she has to come up with a plan to save her sister and escape from these men.

This kept me on the edge of my seat. Abby comes up with the plan and Natalie is grateful.  This is a book that accurately displays the relationship between sisters and how it changes over time yet often finds its way back again.

 

Kristjan's Rise by Kandi J. Wyatt

Genre: Young Adult, Adult, Fantasy

Source:  I received and advanced copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Kristjan is the son of the chief. One day he will be the new chief of the clan. Only one thing can stop this from happening, the voices in his head that keep telling him how useless he is. For every positive voice he hears there is a negative voice.  Kristjan and his best friends Marko and Bastian his cousin are almost inseparable. They live in a city carved out of the stone. The gems they mine have been found less and less. They need these gems to bring the traders in. Marko and Kristjan are more like brothers. They have been this way since they were tiny.  Kristjan's mother died giving birth to him. His father the chief raised him. For some reason Kristjan doesn't believe he can live up to one day being the chief. The darkness in his mind escalates when he volunteers himself, Marko and Bastian to go out hunting for food. A freak accident claims the life of his best friend and sets him down the path of darkness.  He blames himself for Marko's death. He feels he needs to be punished, and the punishment should be death.

I believe there are so many people who could relate to this book.  I was once like Kristjan.  I had dark thoughts.  The thing is that as a Christian you just keep crying out to God to help you find the peace.  The journey Kristjan is on is hard to read. We will either see ourselves in him or we will see someone we know or knew. For me this book was very  soothing.  It resembled a time in my life I can look back on and know that God brought me through.  There is so much more to this book than just the darkness. This is as much a book of hope.  I highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next one to come out.  This book is supposed to be published sometime in September so keep your eye out for it.

 

Citrine's Monsters by Angela J. Ford

Genre: Fantasy

Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This prequel short story set the series up in away that made me want to dive right into it. Citrine is a unique character. When you see how she was betrayed by the one she loved and used by others you can't help but feel sorry for her and root her on.This is the beginning of a world filled with fantastic characters and what I believe will be a great adventure.

 

When the Silence Fell by Christopher Francis

 

Genre:  Young Adult, Dystopian

Source:  I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Christopher Francis has quickly become one of my favorite dystopian writers.  Mara is a survivor. She lives in a world coated with ash and silence.  She is on a journey to find her brother Gabe and her sister Cami. They left one day to find supplies and never returned. Now all she wants to do is survive and find them. Sometimes  life doesn't go as planned. When Mara finds a young boy named Silas, things change.  Silas has a device that leads him from one relay point to another. She is not sure how or why only he can receive the signal, but she is sticking with him to protect him and to hopefully locate her brother and sister.  Along the way she and Silas are saved by Jared, a young man they had encountered before. They also rescue a young girl who seems to be reacting to the signals the way a lot of adults do before they become hollow.

I kept reading to know more about the sickness and the signals and each of the characters we meet along the way. I kept reading to find out how a world could go so wrong, how adults who seem so ready to help and protect can be just the opposite. Although the ending was tied up neatly, it left us waiting for the next book in this series. 

How To Improve Leadership Development In Business: A Simple Blueprint to Build Strong Teams, Master Emotional Intelligence, Inspire Confidence, and Achieve Leadership Excellence Dr. Francis Dumbuya

 

Genre: Adult, Inspirational Leadership

Source: I received a copy from the author to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

This book is set up to teach you how to become a successful leader.  To do this you need to become well disciplined. Part of this is connecting emotionally with your team. This makes things so smooth. He talked about active listening and giving and receiving feedback. A lot of the things he talks about in the first half of the book are things we do with our students at school. We teach them to be active listeners. We teach them to be risk takers. 

The author describes different types of leadership shedding light on the pros and cons of each type. He gives examples throughout the book using real people and real situations. This is a very motivational book no matter what your leadership role is.

Project Human by Pen Avey

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Science Fiction
Source: I won a copy. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I am so thankful I won a copy of this book from the author through LibraryThing Early Reviewers.  I read this book in under three hours. I had to take a break for breakfast. The major theme of this book is, What does it mean to be human?  This story about a girl named Eva and her father, and the android sister they created for her, caught my eye from the very beginning.  Eva and her sister Ann are home schooled. The reason? Ann is and android, called a simulant. Eva calls her a Humant. One day their father tells them he has to try to find a different job. He will need to have them stay with his sister. The problem is he hasn't exactly asked his sister Jo to keep them. He makes Eva promise not to tell anyone about Ann. For the first time in their life they will be going to a public school. The new neighbors below her aunt have a son named Rokas. He and Eva hit it off. When a day trip to a science museum leads to Ann's disappearance, Eva and Rokas set off to find Ann.  What happens next will keep you on the edge of your seat, reading. It brings into question what love will make you do for someone else. The major plot twist that happens about three-quarters of the way through was one I suspected. Every part of this book was a pleasure to read. I don't think five stars is enough. That is how much I loved this book.

Edge of the Woods by A.J. Rivers

 

Genre: Adult, Young Adult, Mystery
Source: I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved this book. It had an element that many people hate or find confusing. In this story, a group of girls is spending their last year at camp. They have just graduated from high school. After camp, they will be moving on with their lives. In the middle of their camping, Bethany walks out of their cabin and never returns. The story has flashbacks through text messages and memories.

Now move to the present time. Annie is awakened with another nightmare. Every June for fifteen the nightmares return. Annie finds it difficult to function.  Then she and two other girls receive a call from someone who wants to make a movie about what happened at camp that summer. Annie finally agrees so that it is told from the right perspective.  But what happens when things start happening at  camp again.  Will it destroy or help Annie?

There was everything to love about this book. The mystery, the characters, all of it.  I definitely recommend it.

The Abandoned Theater by dana Robertson

 

Genre: Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy

Source: I received a copy from the author to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

What an amazing  and wonderful middle grade book.  We have a mysterious theater, said to have swallowed up people in the past, a young girl and two friends who have chosen to figure out the mystery.  Then there is the whole portal to another world. What story like this would be complete without someone who wants to take over all worlds?  The mystery genre has been my favorite since I was in elementary school. Throw in a fantasy world and I have the best of both genres.

If you have ever been in an old theater, especially at night you know the eerie feeling you get. It is a bit creepy. That feeling is definitely in the this theater.  The author has done an excellent job of creating twists and turns at just the right place.

I received a copy from the author to facilitate my review. Since I teach middle school and I am always looking for great books for my classroom shelves, I am glad Dana reached out.  I can’t wait to do my first book tasting and book talk. This will be the first book I recommend to my students.  I am looking forward to the second book in this series.