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The Secret of Sweet Treats Kingdom
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo -- EXCERPT: A rumbling sound filled my ears and the ground started tilting and rolling. The light hanging over the dining room table began swaying and the wood mini-blinds rubbing against the windows sounded like fingernails on a chalkboard. “Amber?” Ava grabbed my hand and held on tight. “Don’t worry. It’s just an earthquake.” Growing up in Southern California you got used to this kind of thing. “Remember what they taught you at school? Drop, cover, and hold on?” I pulled her toward the dining room table to hide beneath it, although I was positive by the time we got into position the quake would be over. We were ten steps away from the table when Ava stopped walking. She yanked my arm and started pulling me backward, toward the family room. I heard the crash of glass breaking on the kitchen tile and was glad I had flip-flops on. Our family portrait fell from the dining room wall, the glass splintering from the black frame sent shards of glass flying across the room. A small piece caught my ankle, sending a sting up my leg. “Knock it off, shrimp. We need to get under the table right now!” While I had been in several earthquakes, this felt different. It wasn’t slowing or stopping, like I thought it would. I didn’t want to admit it, but I was scared. Could this be the “big one” grownups talked about? Instead of letting me lead her toward the dining table, Ava began pulling me harder toward the family room. With my feet sliding on the slick tile, I couldn’t stop. “What’s that?” I had never heard my sister screech like that before, so I turned around to see what she was talking about. The small fragments of the Sweet Treats board game were hovering in midair, swirling in a circle, going faster and faster. The floor tilted us toward the flying pieces, and we were slipping toward the growing whirlwind. The edge of the vortex was expanding outward at a rapid rate, while the center was a dark, black hole. It looked like a giant vacuum hose, and it was sucking us toward it. My terrified sister started screaming, clinging to my legs. “Do something, Amber!” I started shrieking as I tripped over Ava, and we were pulled head first into the middle of the vortex.
GIVEAWAY! -- From the blurb: History, magic, and adventure collide in this riveting middle-grade fantasy novel about an unusual boy who unlocks an ancient relic—and with it, a forgotten world. Befriended by a band of young witches, Archibald Finch must quickly adapt to survive in Lemurea, where a battle born in the Middle Ages is still unfolding . . . Archibald is a risk-averse boy with quirks that earn him plenty of eye-rolls, especially from his older sister, Hailee. Things get worse when his parents move the family from London to his grandmother’s creepy manor in the English countryside. Now he has to deal with hairless dolls in the library, weird stone creatures on the roof, and a spooky forest at the edge of the backyard. But these turn out to be the least of Archibald's problems . . . One day, as he's exploring the cavernous house, he finds a curious globe that whisks him away to a secret world, hidden for 500 years. Archibald finds himself on a thrilling adventure full of medieval magic, mysterious symbols, and the strangest beasts, while Hailee—who witnessed her brother’s disappearance—embarks on a daring quest to find him. 9-12 y.o.  My thoughts:
I loved this magical adventure so much that after listening to an advanced copy, I went on to buy my own copy. This proved to be an excellent decision because the illustrations are absolutely marvellous and add so much to this already fascinating story. After the funaral of a much loved grandmother Celestine, eleven-year-old Archibald and his family. move into a mansion in a small town half an hour away from London. Archibald is a nerdy, but confident and adventurous kid and he starts exploring his new home straightaway. This is how he finds an odd object that looks like an antique globe which transports him into a new magical world populated by strange looking ferocious beasts and ... kind and resourceful tween and teenage girls who turn out to be witches. At this point the story splits into two, as Archibald's thirteen-year-old sister Hailee launches her own investigation, helped by an antique dealer's son Oliver, and together they will do everything possible to save the world from mysterious villains and bring Archie back home. Archibald is thrown into his adventure and has to hit the ground running. Luckily for him, he is a strong and I daresay opinionated character. I loved the supporting characters of witches, especially down-to-earth Faeryday, but the second plotline was even better as you can see Hailee go through so much development- she stole the show for me. I liked the world building and the magic system of using stone golems as ingredients for potentially limitless spells. Steve Hendrickson does a wonderful job as the narrator. He had me hooked on the story from the word go until the last minute. A perfect audioversion for a gripping story! Can't wait to read and listen to the sequel! Thank you to the publisher for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
The Cassandra Curse
-- EXCERPT: Light from a dangled candy cane overhead flashed red in Hector’s eyes. “Did your former director ever happen to mention a handbell player named Cassandra?” Bella jolted back and knocked over a folder stand on the table behind her. She clutched at her chest with a fist. “No, can’t say that I have.” Her voice shot up to a high-bell octave. She weaved her gloved fingers into her hair, but the cloth caught on a curl. Abandoning ship, she left the glove in a tangle and polished the bells on the table with a black cloth. “Come on!” Paris slammed his hands on the table. But because the players had covered the surface in a foam pad, the sound muffled. “We got evidence at the library that she played with this group thirteen years ago. You joined a year after. You had to have heard something. And if my brother is going to show up in public in that ridiculous Red Riding Hood cloak, then you better make it worth it.” Wowza, Paris standing up to the man. Well, wo-man. Not being under the scrutiny of Danae’s glare had its wonders and benefits. Unfazed, Bella started to shove bells into a case. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Hector pulled out his tablet-- Where on earth had he been keeping that? —and the screen illuminated a scary-eager grin. “Oh yeah, well take a look at—” his voice dropped, cracked, “this?” Charity took two steps back and hoisted herself on her tiptoes to glance at the screen. The file had disappeared and a red “Error” replaced its slot. Had her touch back in the car eradicated the newspaper from the device? Bella waved her hand at some invisible bug near her sharp nose. “Sorry, kids, but I don’t have time for this. We need to pack up in the next five minutes before the ‘Looking Sharp Jazz Choir’ gets here.” She jerked her chin over her shoulder at her other band members who hoisted suitcases full of bells onto rolling carts. They needed to act, now. When Bella turned to shove some mallets covered in yellow yarn into a black felt bag, Charity tore both gloves with her teeth, spat them on the floor, and gripped the handle of a bell the size of a baby doll’s head. Her arm swung down a few inches under its weight. “What are you—” Bella stiffened. She sweetened her voice. “Now, put that thing down on the table. Nice and easy.” With a knee crack, Bella lunged forward for the bell. But Paris and Hector stepped in front of Charity to form a barricade. Blanched, Bella whirled around to call for the aid of her bell-mates, but they were busy grunting and heaving the carts toward the door. Now, for the bad cop sans good cop routine Charity’d practiced with her stuffed animals. This would, in no way, make Bella’s world a better place today. But she needed to do this for Io. “I hate to do this, Bella, and I never envisioned myself being a CIA interrogator. That was twenty-seventh on my list of possible occupations for me in the future, next to skydiving instructor and corgi herder. But you’ve left me with no choice.” “Listen, do you want money?” She dug a leather wallet out of her black slacks, opened it, and waved a neon-orange business card. “I have a coupon for two dollars off a pint of ice cream at The Scoop. You want?” Oooh, ice cream. Memories of sweet pralines of butter pecan mixed with cotton candy swirled over her tongue. Her favorite combo. No, focus. “Ma’am, if you do not tell us what you know about Cassandra, I’m afraid I’ll have to . . . have to,” she made a claw with her fingers. Digits wriggled like spider legs, “have to touch this bell with my bare hands.” Bella slapped both palms against her over-blushed cheeks. She gasped. Charity’s fingers squirmed so much, aches formed in her palms. She’d never threatened anyone before. Hoped she wouldn’t have to again. But for Io . . . she’d even get a fingerprint on this bell. “Think of the oils from my skin.” She slithered each s like a snake. “The tarnish on this beauty. Bet it will take forever to wipe off. What is this?” Her thumb budged down an inch to reveal the label on the black handle. “A middle C.” “Yes.” Bella’s voice tremored. She even crunched two crooked teeth down onto her pink lipsticked bottom lip. “That’s an important note, isn’t it?” “Some would argue that it’s the bread and butter that holds the music together.” “Pity if I touched it . . . or even worse. Dropped it.” Her fingers wriggled closer, closer . . . a centimeter away . . . . “Wait!” 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:  Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources for inviting me to participate in the blog tour for The New Land, the first book The Tales of Avalon fantasy series by Daisy Bourne.  The New Land, Book 1 in the Tales of Avalon series What happened to Arthur, King of the Britons, after he was allegedly killed on the battlefield? Legend has it that Merlin, the mighty sorcerer, put the king’s body in a boat and set it sail for a mysterious place called Avalon. However, many Britons refuse to accept that Arthur was really dead. Instead they believe that Merlin had taken the king to a place of safety. There have been many theories as to the whereabouts of Avalon, but none proven to be accurate. The New Land is the first book in the Tales of Avalon series. It tells the story of how Arthur, magical beings, and other Britons, fearing for their lives, seek refuge in a far-off land. They hope their new home will be a place where magical beings and humans can live together in peace and harmony. Will the travelers find the new life they so desire? The Avalonians soon find that they have to form new and unusual alliances in order to protect themselves against an unexpected enemy. If you like stories about witches, wizards, fairies, elves, giants, and unicorns, you will enjoy this book. DAISY BOURNE www.TalesOfAvalon.co.uk THE TALES OF AVALON - BOOK 1 9 781999 902902 The New Land is a magical tale readers will love. Bourne describes the fictional land so vividly, readers will think the setting is real. The descriptions of the lush greenery and mountains are expertly paired with a map of Avalon at the beginning of the novel. The New Land would be best for fans of fantasy novels like Harry Potter and other novels about magical powers. The Merlin and King Arthur references in the novel would also appeal to fans of medieval fantasy. The book would be great for readers of The Lord of the Rings trilogy or other Tolkien-esque novels about journeys. Though the novel may appeal most to young adult readers, The New Land can appeal to readers of all ages. Daisy Bourne has written a book that will have readers clamoring [SIC] for more. The New Land will have readers eager to return to Avalon --Pacific Book Review ‘The New Land’ was chosen as one of Pacific Book Review’s five Books of the Month in January 2017. Tales of King Arthur and Merlin will probably always be told and re-told for new generations, but it’s up to the author to keep the stories fresh. This particular presentation does just that for the younger audience. Bourne does an admirable job of building this into a believable new world and populating it with an assortment of interesting characters. --US Review of Books Purchase Links UK / US  My thoughts: I'm a big fan of Arthurian legends in any format and so is my niece. I think she'll love this series dealing with King Arthur's life after his faithful Merlin put him on a boat and let the boat float towards the mysterious land of Avalon. Of course, he survived and was nurtured to health by the magical folk. In the New Land we find out about the great migration of humans, witches and elves from Briton, destroyed by human greed and aggression, to the new peaceful world and how this new life works out. It's a mix of a story about magical beings (yes, giants and unicorns are included) and a story of a new settlement with all the excitement of discovery and survival. Apart from the canonic characters, there are some sweet, new ones, including young Edward, son of King Arthur and his new wife Glenda, and Edward's half-sister Rosalie. There are new neighbours- some peaceful, but weary of humans, others- just waiting to attack. Fortunately, the inhabitants of Merlport are ready to rally together and defend their new home. I think this book is better listened to, perhaps read to a child at bedtime. It is fairly short, but it's clear this is just the beginning of the whole world of new fascinating adventures and original characters. Can't wait to read the neext book in the series. Thank you to Rachel from Rachel's Random Resources, the publisher and the author for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. Author Bio – About the Author Daisy Bourne was born in England, in 1917. Nothing much is known about her real parents, except that their lives were changed dramatically by the First World War. At the age of six, Daisy was unofficially adopted by a farmer and his wife. They changed her name and took her to Canada. There are several similarities between the real Daisy Bourne and her namesake in this book. To a small child, Canada, with its heavy snowfalls, huge forests, and grizzly bears, must indeed have seemed like some kind of new world. Although Daisy loved Canada and the farm on which she lived, she was not happy and ran away. She returned to England at the age of 16. In later life, she took up farming again. She also enjoyed her garden and preserving much of its produce. This is where the similarities between the real Daisy and the character in this book end. I am proud to use my mother’s birth name as a pseudonym when writing the Tales of Avalon series. My ambition is to one day write the story of the real Daisy Bourne. In the meantime, I shall work to complete the other seven books in the Tales of Avalon series Social Media Links – http://www.talesofavalon.co.uk/ (20+) Daisy Bourne | Facebook https://twitter.com/RoseGriffin14  Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Monday!   Today I'm delighted to participate in the book birthday blitz for Tessa Buckley's Middle Grade mystery Haunted, the second instalment in The Eye Spy Series.  Haunted Alex doesn’t believe in ghosts, but he is about to have his beliefs challenged… When Jimmy Devlin asks the twins to investigate the strange things that have been happening at The Priory, Alex seizes the opportunity to prove to his sister that there is no such thing as ghosts. However, it soon becomes clear that unquiet spirits are not the only problem facing the Devlin family. Are the family servants hiding secrets? Has a valuable ring been stolen, or just mislaid? And what has happened to Jimmy’s missing elder brother, Harry? As the twins and Jimmy try to solve the many mysteries of The Priory, they discover they are dealing with a very dangerous enemy… Purchase Link UK / US Troubador  My thoughts: Happy Re-Release Day to the second instalment in Tessa Buckley's award-winning middle grade series of mysteries! First of all, I'd like to say that I love the new cover art which captures the essence of the book and is more age appropriate. The book can definitely be read as a standaone, although there are references to the case solved by the main characters in Book 1. The protagonists of the series are twins Donna and Alex and the author manages to capture a typical sibling relationship really well- they argue, compete, try to outsmart each other, but, ultimately, they know they can always rely on their sibling. This time the case is ....almost paranormal. A boy comes back to their school after a long perieod of absence. It turns out Jimmy Devlin's parents won a lottery and bought an enormous house with plenty of history. Jimmy thinks it might be haunted. Well, Alex doesn'tbelieve in ghosts- there's got tobe a rational explanation! Donna is more open to the idea, but would like to investigate the issue. Off they go to solve their new case! The book is well-structured with short snappy chapters. It is very easy to read this mystery and follow the events. The characters are interesting and have their own unique personality. There is a cast of secondary characters, because managing this large medieval house, which used to be a Priory, requires employing a housekeeper, a chauffer and several other servants. The setting is also very appropriate for a fascinating mystery! I really enjoyed the spirit of adventure that permeates this book and would definitely recommend it to my 10-11 year old students!  Author Bio – Tessa Buckley was an inveterate scribbler as a child, and spent much of her time writing and illustrating stories. After studying Interior Design, she spent fifteen years working for architects and designers. She took up writing again after her young daughter complained that she couldn’t find enough adventure stories to read. This led, in 2016, to the publication of Eye Spy, the first in a series of detective stories for 9-12 year olds, designed to encourage reluctant readers. The second book in the series, Haunted, was a finalist in the Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2017. Tessa lives with her husband and a large white cat called Pippa. in a town on the Thames estuary, which inspired the seaside setting for the novels. She also writes about health and nutrition, and family history, which has been her passion for many years. Social Media Links – Thank you for reading the post! Have a wonderful Wednesday!
 Description: Follow Buzzwing the honeybee on a beautifully illustrated journey through the world of bees filled with amazing science and intriguing folklore. Welcome to my honey hive home. It’s where I live with my family. I’m small and fuzzy and striped black and gold. I’m Buzzwing the hardworking honeybee! Did you know that bees love to dance? Or that they have an amazing sense of smell to help them find the best flowers? In The Secret Life of Bees, Buzzwing shares with you all the details of her life as a bee, in and out of the hive, starting with the day she was born. Learn the secrets of this worker bee’s tiny world, including: The bee life cycleBee anatomyHow bees collect nectar and make honeyWhat happens inside the hiveThe different types of beesWhy bees are so important to humansHow bees can thrive in the cityBee folk tales from around the world With things to search for and find throughout, tips for making your own environment welcoming to bees, and even a poetry-writing exercise, The Secret Life of Bees is brimming with reasons to admire and respect the hardworking honeybee. Sumptuous and detailed illustrations have pride of place in this magical guide to bees that mixes natural history with a splash of fantasy—a book to be pored over time and again.  My thoughts:
The first thing that came to my mind when I saw this book is that the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous. The colours are so bright and vivid that you do feel as if you've been magically transported to a spring meadow full of flowers. But the book isn't just beautiful. It is also very informative, covering a variety of topics related to these hardworking animals: their anatomy, the structure of a hive, different types of bees, the way bees use dance for communication, honey-making, beekeeping, and many others. All of this is combined with tales from all over the world to engage children and show how universal our interest in bees is across different cultures. This book would make a great teaching resource for elementary school or homeschooling. Thank you to NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group for the review copy provided in exchange foran honest opinion.  The Description: Maths + history + jokes - boring bits = A Quick History of Maths. This book begins around 43,000 years ago with a notched baboon leg, the Lebombo bone (the very first mathematical object in the world) and rushes us past Hindu numerals and the invention of zero, via Pythagoras, Pascal and probability, right up to the present day, with big data and the maths that rules our digital lives. Geometri-cool! You will discover: How to count on your fingers (there are more ways than you might think!) Why we have 60 seconds in a minute (hint: it’s to do with the ancient Babylonians) How to count like an Egyptian (using hieroglyphs) Why it’s hip to be square using square numbers A Pythagorean party trick The naked truth of Archimedes’ bath time mathematics How to do matha-magic with magic squares …and much more. In chronological order from pre-history to present day, this is the story of maths itself. It’s 43,000 years of human mathematical endeavor squeezed into one book for your reading pleasure. Illustrated with funny cartoons and packed with fascinating facts, you’ll be laughing and learning how to be a better mathematician.  My thoughts:
My little one is absolutely obsessed with numberblocks at the moment. He wakes up and falls asleep dreaming of maths. This is why whenever I see a book dedicated to children who enjoy this noble subject and want to know as much as possible about it, I am happy as a parent and an educator. The book gives an overview of how the humanity discovered the basic concepts we use every day. From counting systems ( I've always been fascinated by the ancient Inca quipus) and the importance of zero to geometry, Pi and irrational numbers, this entertaining history of maths explores different time periods and different civilizations. I really appreciated the clear layout and fun illustrations. Sometimes children's non-fiction books appear too busy and sadly lose their young readers by cramming too many facts in one page. The book would make a fantastic addtion to an elementary (or even middle grade) school library or any home with an inquisitive child who loves a good joke. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary review copy provided in exchange for an honest opinion.  Description When his mother goes missing, Max Daybreaker’s world is turned upside down. Luckily, a crew of Spice Pirates, led by the mysterious Captain Cinn, help Max on his dangerous mission across the three seas. Along the way, an unlikely alliance aids in his search—a teenage warrior queen, a three-eyed seer, and an assassin spy. Their journey takes them through treacherous lands while facing shapeshifting bears, an ancient witch, harpies, and the nightmarish Djinn, who will stop at nothing to enslave the world. With every new challenge, Max unlocks the secrets of his unsettling past. Powers awaken within, forcing him to question everything he knows. Is Max who he thinks he is? Only time and destiny will tell… My thoughts:
Max and the Spice Thieves is an extremely imaginative book, full of unique characters, adventures, twists and turns, magic, friendship and love. MaxDaybreaker is just a regular twelve (almost thirteen) year old boy. He does have a medical condition- he can't stand cold which makes his skin break out in a bad rash. When his father goes missing in the sea, Max keeps hoping sooner or later his father will be back. Max's mother Bettina tells him they are going on a journey on a pirate ship, but then on the day when they were supposed to leave, Bettina disappears. The captain of the pirate ship saves Max from criminals and takes him aboard. He promises to do everything possible to help Max find his kidnapped mother. And here begin Max's adventures that will take him across this original world. On his mission to save his family Max makes friends, shows his courage, loyalty and honesty, and learns that he might not be just a regular boy after all. What I liked the most about this book: adventures! Max never has a quiet moment in this action-packed fascinating journey. Just the sheer variety of places Max and his friends have to visit in order to glean some information about Max's family! The world Max lives in is incredibly diverse and so are the magical beings that inhabit it. Max is still quite young and has a lot to learn, but he is aided by other fascinating characters, including my favourite Captain Cinn. I'm not sure the love triangle was entirely necessary. It might become more important in the following books. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I'll be looking forward to the next book in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion.
Breathing Underwater
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GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:
This is one of the best books I have read this year, and, although I did keep in mind my twelve-thirteen year-old students when I read it, it can and it should be read by people of any age. The way Sarah Allen captured what it's like to live and love a family member suffering from depression is so poignant and authentic. She also managed to do so much more and that is to show what it's like to grow into yourself and begin to own your own feelings, realise that the different ways in which we see the world create it's beauty.
Thirteen year old Olivia, who is passionate about photography, and her older sister Ruth are going on a road trip with their parents' friends in an RV. Olivia would like this trip to become a Treasure Hunt that would recreate the hunt she and Ruth did in the past and remind them of happier times. Olivia tries so hard to be upbeat and keep her complex feelings under control not to upset Ruth or worry their mum. She is trying to understand her own limits (influence over other people's choices, responsibility, anger, frustration, creativity ) and this mysterious thing called sisterly love. It is difficult to imagine a better setting for a coming of age/self-discovery story than a road trip. Olivia is a talented photographer and she has a good eye for anything unusual: an angle that suddenly makes her see an ordinary object in a different light, a special detail that helps you understand the meaning of a place at a deeper level, a connection which isn't obvious unless you've had a similar experience yourself. Ruth is musical - on their treasure hunts she used to come up with perfect playlists- and Olivia comes up with a heartwarming idea- she adds song title captions to her snaps, captions that bring together the sisters' unique ways of seeing the world and creates a perfect fusion that is so meaningful for both of them. The book is written from Olivia's point of view and Sarah Allen manages to keep the first person narrative exactly that. Olivia has to rely heavily on her powers of observation to see the signs of Ruth having a downturn, because she is trying to do everything possible to make her sister feel better. Even a hint of smile on Ruth's face can make Olivia happy. There isn't a hint of omniscience that so often creeps into first person narratives. No, Olivia has to work out things on her own. She really doesn't know what her sister or her mum thinks, she has to rely on their words or their body language, or take a guess, and this is one of the things that make this book so authentic. It doesn't limit your ability to relate to the other characters in the book, though. I wish I could interview Sarah Allen just to get a glimpse into her creative process and how she came up with this perfect ending. I felt I became Olivia for a brief moment- my heart was full of emotions I couldn't express with words, but I had a picture in my mind that I will treasure. Thank you to Giselle from Xpresso Book Tours, NetGaleey and the publisher for the ARC provided in exchange for an honest opinion. 
 Synopsis:
In this book from the critically acclaimed, multimillion-copy best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the life of Stevie Wonder, the genius behind some of the world’s best-loved songs. At just 8 years old, it was clear that Steveland Judkins was going to be a star. Renamed Stevie Wonder for his astonishing talent on the piano and other instruments, he wrote and performed some of the biggest hits of the 1970s. Stevie became known for his inventiveness, his soulful voice, and the social commentary in his lyrics. He is a UN Messenger of Peace and remains one of the music world’s most iconic figures. This inspiring book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the great musician’s life. My thoughts: There is always something to learn from these fascinating mini-biographies, whether they are about historic figures or more current role-models in various fields: art, sport, music, science. It was great to find out more about this outstanding musician, his roots and his passion for music. Stevie Wonder's commitment to promoting peace is also something young readers should know about. I really enjoyed Melissa Lee Johnson's illustrations in this biography and will be looking forward to seeing more of her artwork. Thankyou to NetGalley and Frances Lincoln Children's Books for the review copy. All opinions aremy own and were not influenced in any way. |
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