Dragons and Monsters - Five Books by Michael Gordon

Genre: Children's Picture Books
Source: I purchased them.



Dragon's Breath
George has a pet dragon. Unfortunately, the pet dragon doesn't think it is important to brush his teeth. George has to find a way to get Joe to brush his teeth. I love Michael's books because they teach a lesson and they rhyme and this makes them interesting to children.









The Angry Dragon
George and his pet dragon are playing. George accidentally breaks Joe's favorite toy and Joe gets angry. Later on, when George is doing chores Joe wants him to stop and play with him. When George doesn't Joe gets angry.  Joe has got to learn to control his anger and learn that you don't always get your way.









The Bad Dragon

Blerks first day of school doesn't go the way he wanted. He is rude. He shoves people, refuses to sing, cuts in line. When it happens to him the next day he understands why. The new girl Nell wants a friend just like him.








Dragon's Fury
Ben has a pet dragon named Gronk. They love to play together. When Gronk doesn't get his way he gets angry and throws a tantrum. He melts the kitchen sink, He stomps his feet and screams and blows steam and flames out his snout. When Ben does the same they have to learn how to calm themselves.

The Tantrum Monster
Devy the monster had trouble controlling his emotions. When his sister was rewarded with a new toy for good behavior he became jealous and threw a tantrum.  When he and his sister played a game and his sister kept winning he lost his temper again and started to throw a tantrum. His mom gave him fruit for a snack and he wanted cheesecake. He started to throw a tantrum. Each time he had to learn to breathe. Devy learns that controlling his emotions can have great benefits.

Sophia Freeman and the Mysterious Fountain

Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved this magical book. When Sophia's dad tells her they will spend the next day together to explore the island he had just purchased she was excited. Since her mother died she and her father spent very little time together.  I absolutely detested Sophia's dad because of his status attitude. Snobby is what you call it. Sophia spent most of her days at home with the housekeeper, even eating in her room alone. I was really hoping her that time on the island would help her and her dad bond.  When she chases a creature into the woods away from her dad and meets a light guardian her troubles begin. A dark guardian wants her dead. The quake on the island sends her dad running. She makes it to the beach in time to see her dad's boat fleeing.  She must make friends with strange creatures on the island if she is to survive. Loved the island, characters and how much Sophia changes and grows. Can't wait for my students to read this one. I'm sure they will enjoy this as much as I did.

Rodent by Lisa J. Lawrence

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

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

This story could have been pulled from the lives of many of the students I teach.  Like Isabelle, I have many students who have had to deal with an alcoholic parent. In Isabelle’s case, it is her mother.  I have many students who have had to take care, raise their younger siblings. Isabelle has a younger brother and sister to take care of.  On top of all of this, she has a part-time job and is going to school.  She is in a vicious cycle. She has the weight of the world on her shoulders and she is afraid to try to remove that weight because of the consequences to the lives of her siblings. As I read this and saw her pain I wanted so much to take that pain from her.  It hit too close to home. I had a student, a young man who lived this life with his younger brother. His mom was a drug addict. He’d had enough teachers show support that he finally took a leap of faith, left his mom in another state and moved back to Florida with his younger brother. He arrived a few days before turning 18,  with the help of one of his high school teachers he was able to go to court to get custody of his brother.

Unlike my former student, Isabelle doesn’t want anyone knowing what is going on in her life and therefore, getting help for her and helping her deal with things is made more difficult. This is definitely a book I will recommend and it is a book I will put on my shelves at school. I see this as a book that may just help that one child who is like Isabelle and needs some encouragement to get help.  Well worth the read.

Notes to Self by Avery Sawyer

Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

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

This was such an emotional read. Robin and Emily have been best friends. One day Robin’s adventurous friend Emily decide to climb to the top of a theme park ride. Robin doesn’t really like heights.  The next thing Robin remembers is waking up in a hospital. She is told that she and Emily were found beside a Waffle House. Unfortunately her best friend has not awakened.  Imagine not knowing exactly what happened. Then you go back to school where you are tormented and teased and blamed for your friend’s condition. You can’t do anything about it because you don’t really remember what happened. Robin starts writing notes to herself as she remembers things.   Through this story line we see the same teen angst we would see in teens today.  That is what makes this story so believable and makes those connections to the reader.  This is so much more than a book about an accident. It is a book about finding answers. Yes we know Robin needs to know  what happened that night and why it happened.  One of the messages that came across reminded me of a time in my senior year in high school. I was admiring a student’s car. He had three vehicles. I told him I would love to have just one. His response was that he would love to have parents that he knew loved him.  Robin realizes that even though she has always seen Emily as so lucky and outgoing, she learns through her flashbacks that she and Emily really aren’t so different.   This is definitely a book I recommend. Once you pick it up you won’t be able to put it down.

Road Whiz – Darcy Pattison

Genre: Middle Grade, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction

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

Your freshman year in high school is always an adjustment. But what if your height suddenly shot up. Being one of the tallest kids can sometimes cause bullying in the form of teasing. Jamie is dealing with this as well as trying to help his mom. His dad is out of the country on business and will be most of the year so it is up to Jamie to help his mom not feel so sad. Jamie has not really been into sports. However, Jamie and his mom have started running and realize they really enjoy it. They enter a marathon and learn that this is something that they want to continue. Jamie’s training takes a turn when he convinces his mom to adopt Road Whiz a retired greyhound. In some ways Jamie and Road Whiz are just what each other need.   This is a positive way to deal with realistic issues Jamie faces.  I have known many people who have adopted retired greyhounds. My husband used to raise greyhounds. They are one of his favorite dogs. That was one reason I wanted to read this book. The main reason is that I have read almost every book Darcy Pattison has written. I love her writing. It is concise and realistic. Kids can relate to her books.  I highly recommend this book.

Glimpses of Time and Magic by Ariel Paiement

Genre:  Adult, Historical Fantasy

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

This anthology of fantasy stories is historical because the stories take place in different time periods.
There are nine stories and that means there is something for everyone. "Maiden of Embers" explains the explosion of Mount Vesuvius in Pompeii. I have always loved the story of Pompeii. "Excal'byr" explains the beginnings of Excalibur. "In Leap of Faith a woman, wounded in the heart by a man trusts no man. It isn't until she meets a stranger and takes a leap of faith into another world that she learns about true love.  In "Rise of an Empire" we see the final battle before Rome falls. Then we travel with the remaining soldiers as they travel north to try to re-establish their empire. "Misted Love" was one of my favorites. It is the classic tale of a woman of high breeding falling in love with a man of a lower station in life. When her family's finances take a downward turn her father makes a decision to save his own wealth. He will sell his daughter to the one man she detests.  This story pretty much explains the fog of England.  I won't say too much because I don't want to give anything away.   "Paradoxeffair" is one that felt familiar but fresh at the same time. We have a young man who has run off to join the circus only to learn it isn't what he thought. No one can leave the circus until their contract is up and only if other conditions are met. Most of the people of this circus are true "freaks or have natural magic". The magician has magic that was taught and yet it was enhanced by this special circus run by an evil mermaid.  One of my favorites was "The Heart of the Phoenix King".  This is the retelling of the disappearance of the people of Roanoke. Let's just say it is full of betrayal and revenge.  "The Apprentice of Amadan Dubh" is written by an author I am very familiar with. Kandi J. Wyatt often writes stories of Dragons and other worlds.  I was extremely pleased to find something completely different and refreshing. In a small village a mage takes on an apprentice. The apprentice has always wanted to use his power for good. But, what happens when his master decides to use his magic and his apprentice's magic to get rich?  What is the line between right and wrong, good and evil?   Maybe your tastes run more toward the time period of Pirates.  In "The Heart of the Coast" a young boy whose father was responsible for the death of Blackbeard finds that his father despises him. When given the opportunity to run away to sea he does, promising his one remaining brother he will see him again. But Blackbeard's curse may have more to do with how his life changes than he ever understood.

I have truly found some new authors to check out. I have always loved anthologies because you get to sample different author's work as well as have stories with a common theme.  I would whole-heartedly recommend this book. 

The Dollar Kids by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

 Children, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction

Source: I won a copy from LibraryThing

I loved this book. However, my loving this book doesn’t mean my students will. All my recommending won’t make them love it unless they can connect to it in some way. The same thing is true for adults. This is one of those books I think everyone, young and old can connect to.  A few years ago I had a student write in his journal, “Most teachers don’t understand how hard life can be. I go to bed every night wondering if a stray bullet will come through my house and kill one of us. I go to bed every night wondering if I will still have my friends when I wake up.”

That student like so many of my other students will find many things to connect with in this book. After Lowen’s friend is shot and killed Lowen goes through a period where he can’t seem to draw his comics anymore. He is going through both guilt and grief. When his parents learn of a lottery to buy a house for a dollar in an old mill town they enter and win. There are some things they must do though. They not only have to fix up the house but they have to start a business.

 While Lowen’s dad stays in Flintlock to work, his mom starts a business called Cornish Eatery. Things still are not going smooth. Like a lot of small towns, not everyone is welcoming. Some people will do anything they can to keep others from being successful.  Unless people of the town realize how much they need this new life their own livelihood will disappear. This story looks at how everyone has to change to survive. It looks at learning to move on through any situation. It is all about second chances. I wish I’d had this book back when I had this student. Maybe he would have found a way through this book to deal with what he had to deal with.  I whole heartedly recommend this book.

Sea Change by Iain Rowan

Middle Grade, Young Adult, Horror

Source:  I won a copy from LibraryThing

John knows what it’s like to be bullied. Yet he does nothing when another kid is bullied. Plagued with guilt his mother sends him to spend some time with his sister in a fishing village. Have things really changed? When he arrives and gets off the bus the first thing he sees is a boy with a snarl.  Then he meets Simon and Sal. The three become best friends. But something is seeking John out. Something needs his help. It seems to be the worst bully of all.  Will John help or will he finally stop running?

This book starts out with a bullying incident that leads to John being shipped to his sisters for a while. Then things turn creepy.  You have a small fishing town. Dark legends and tales.  What I loved about this story was the message of learning to stand on your own two feet and face your fears. The idea of standing up to bullies. The idea is that if you take revenge on the bullies then you yourself become the bully.  I also loved that John is introduced to an old man through his sister’s friend Alan who runs the local bookstore. This is where John learns about the town's legends and the evil that is there. 

Egmont Key A History by Ronald H. Thompson and Carol Thompson

Genre:  Non-fiction

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

Egmont key is a place I have wanted to visit since I was in college. My history class was going to take a field trip to Egmont one Sunday. Unfortunately due to church and my job I was unable to go. I had to write a paper about it. This was difficult because there isn’t a whole lot written about this island.  Egmont can only be reached by boat. Originally it was the home of Fort Dade and a lighthouse.

The book is full of history.  However, like other resources I have found on Egmont Key. I felt it was somewhat lacking. I guess if I truly want to learn about it then at some point I am going to have to take time to visit the island.

4 Years Trapped in My Mind Palace by Johan Twiss

Genre:  Adult, Magical Realism

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

Johan Twiss has created two characters that anyone could relate to. You want to cheer them on.

Aaron is a young teen who is living in a nursing home. His body doesn’t work right but his brain does. He has created a place in his mind he calls his “Mind Palace” to keep himself from going crazy. Unfortunately, his parents are unaware of this since he can’t communicate with them.  I felt so sorry for him.  When he described his condition as being turned to stone by Medusa, you truly understand how it is. His character reminded me of the character Shawn in Terry Trueman’s book, Stuck in Neutral. For me having a working mind but not body would be horrible. I guess I feel this way because I had a cousin who was in a terrible accident. Her eyes were open and she could hear the nurses talking about how she was nothing but a vegetable. They had no idea until a month or two later how much her brain processed.

Solomon is the other main character in this book. He is elderly and has been placed there due to dementia.  Solomon can hear Aaron’s thoughts. Because they can communicate through their minds, Aaron gets to learn about Solomon’s earlier life. There is a historical aspect to this book as we learn about Solomon. The connection between Aaron and Solomon was simple. Aaron played trombone in his school’s jazz band and Solomon was a Jazz musician. Solomon takes Aaron on trips back into his past.

I have read several books  by this author and this one is right at the top of my list. I highly recommend it.