Kara by Scott J. Kramer

July 3, 2013 By 1 Comment

KARA
Kara by Scott J. Kramer
A Territories Novel
Publisher: Turquoise Morning Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (195 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

It seems everyone is chasing twelve-year-old Kara. She is running not only from her powerful king and an assassin elf, but also from something horribly evil. She doesn’t know why they all want her or even if they want her for the same reason. She only knows she needs to hide somewhere safe.

When King La’ard attacks her home and captures her father, Kara escapes to the Territories where humans are unknown and elves, orcs and dwarves roam the land. She finds comfort and safety with a dwarc named Hambone, Dante a werefox, and Grace the sprite. To get back to the human land of Faldoa and rescue her father, she enlists the help of her new friends and a reluctant wizard. But can she figure out the secret that will save her and those she loves before her enemies catch her?

Imagine a world that is split so that humans live in part of the land and non-humans in the other, with a fast-flowing river and a wall between them. Kara, a twelve-year-old girl, finds herself on the Territories’ side of the river after running from the soldiers who had captured her father. Suddenly her world has been turned upside down and she has to fend for herself.
In turn, his partner might come across generic viagra from canada discover over here now condition like rejection or inadequate lovemaking session. On top of that, there are a number of ways, in which one can achieve orgasm and provide each other complete pleasure, without order cialis online purchased here necessarily having to have a sexual intercourse with your partner. It can be associated with other spinal conditions, overnight viagra online such as osteoarthritis and premature disc degeneration. Poor and low erection have been two common disease faced by American viagra online canada couples now days.
Scott Kramer has written an exciting, fast-paced novel about a very interesting world filled with both good and terrible evil. I love his characters, and I especially like how various non-humans and humans work to protect and help Kara. There are a variety of non-human characters, each unique and special. Dante is a were-fox, and his sister Snow, a were-rabbit. Dante is vain and easily lost and distracted but Snow is smart and clever. Hambone is a dwarc, half dwarf and half orc. He is gentle and kind, and he becomes Kara’s first friend in the Territories. Kara’s last non-human friend is a sprite named Grace. These friends work together to try to help Kara, and they even manage to convince the Wizard to help as well.

Kramer’s world is complete and magical. There are humans who can speak telepathically with animals. There are rats who fight the Witch Guard. And of course, there are some really nasty villains. The characters are well-defined and either very likeable or greatly to be feared, depending on whether they are good or evil.

There were some minor editing goofs sprinkled here and there, but not enough to slow down the reader. I found the plot to be both engaging and believable, and the ending was very satisfying, concluding this story properly, but providing a hint of what may lie ahead if Kramer writes another Territories novel.

Kara is an excellent read for fantasy lovers of all ages. I really enjoyed getting to know Kara and I hope that she has many more adventures. I would love to follow her and her friends as they work together to save their world.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Supernatural: An Anthology of Magic and Secrets by Heather Beck

July 1, 2013 By Leave a Comment

SUPERNATURAL
Supernatural: An Anthology of Magic and Secrets by Heather Beck
Publisher: Treasure Cove Books
Genre: Young Adult, Horror, Paranormal, Contemporary, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Short Story (117 pages)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Age Recommendation: 10+
Reviewed by Astilbe

Enter a world where anything is possible.

Heather Beck presents Supernatural, an anthology of magic and secrets.

Black Magic Wish
A curse, cast thirteen years ago by a black magic witch, causes chaos for the unfortunate Jamie Banks.

The Amazing Amber Cook
Strong, smart and independent, Shane’s new friend would be perfect if only she wasn’t an alien.

Jupiter’s Revenge: An Amber Cook Sequel
After being abducted by an alien, Shane must devise a tricky plan in order to escape.
Online drug store is the generic levitra online that amerikabulteni.com as you get discounts and offers on the purchase of a medicine. Kamagra-Possible Treatment of Erectile sample free cialis Dysfunction Treatment of erectile dysfunction depends on the cause responsible for problem in you. Trying out new positions and levitra price http://amerikabulteni.com/2012/01/21/iste-new-yorklularin-en-klise-zirvalari/ different timings in the day can really make sex interesting. Some of the foreign pharmacies are now producing all kinds cialis for cheap price of high risk businesses, located around the world.
Revenge Of The Fortune-Teller
The magical life of Sage Michaels is revealed when she becomes a fortune-teller’s assistant at the local carnival.

Home Grown Flowers
The Walker sisters have an unsettling secret, but when Bridget discovers the truth, will anyone believe her?>

Would you still make a wish if you knew the forces that grant them sometimes grant them in unexpected ways?

Each story in this collection contains a character who is about to have his or her wildest dreams come true. The problem is, not all of their dreams are good ones, and not everyone has actually thought through the logistics of their deepest desires.

“Black Magic Wish” feels like a modern day fairy tale. What Jamie’s parents intended for good has turned out be far more complicated than either one of them could have ever imagined. While the premise caught my attention, Madeline’s explanation of what was actually happening to Jamie never quite made sense to me.

“The Amazing Amber Cook” and “Jupiter’s Revenge: An Amber Cook Sequel” work best if they’re read an one continuous plot. Amber’s self-confidence made me like her despite her tendency to steamroll over social conventions, although I would have preferred to hear her explanation for how she planned to make Jupiter’s atmosphere palatable for Shane’s lungs. She weaved around the topic so often I expected it to finally be answered at some point, and I was a little disappointed when the dialogue never revisited to this question.

In “Revenge of the Fortune-Teller,” Sage’s need for a summer job takes her to places she never would have visited otherwise. While her lack of emotional maturity and social awareness made Sage seem much younger than seventeen, the final scene was deliciously creepy and will be stuck in my head for a long time.

Skip ahead and read “Home Grown Flowers” first. This perplexing mystery is perfect for the age group for which it was intended, and it is by far the strongest tale in this anthology. Ms. Beck piqued my interest in the Walker sisters’ unusual secret, and I hope her hints about a possible sequel at the end of it will come to fruition. The Walker sisters and their friends have only scratched the surface of their adventures. In the meantime, consider reading this tale aloud as you huddle around the fireplace!

Supernatural: An Anthology of Magic and Secrets is a terrific choice for late elementary students who are beginning to request more nuanced reading material. The frights are real, and I will be recommending this collection to friends and family members in this age group.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Chase Tinker and the House of Magic by Malia Ann Haberman

June 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

TINKER
Chase Tinker and the House of Magic by Malia Ann Haberman
(The Chase Tinker Series Book 1)
Publisher: Crossroad Press
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (212 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

In Chase Tinker’s world, magic, lies and secrets can be a lethal combination…

Thirteen-year-old Chase Tinker can’t understand why he has the power to move things with his mind. Besides that, his dad has been missing for over a year, causing his mom to be too upset to pay much attention to her sons, so now he’s been busted for shoplifting. As if this isn’t enough to worry about, his younger brother Andy suddenly has a weird magical ability too.

Can things get any crazier? Chase thinks.

Then, a grandfather they thought to be long dead arrives at their door. He wants Chase and Andy to come visit him for the summer so they can learn about their supernatural heritage and why they have magical powers in the first place.
The prescribed dosage of this medication is 100 mg once in a prix viagra pfizer appalachianmagazine.com time span of 24 hours. Effective treatments have been proved through clinical practice in the use of steroids athletes, and for generic online viagra new users. Contact you specanadian viagra store t or social insurance expert immediately if the erection endures longer than 4 hours or more. cialis pills effects of The gentle massage of muscles tendons and or ligaments in the treated area because no strain is added and any scar tissue is softened.
The boys soon find out that Grandfather, along with their cousin Janie, lives on a remote island in the middle of Puget Sound in an out-of-this-world house where fantastic magic can be found in practically every room, stairway and corridor. Chase can’t believe their dad has been keeping so much from them.

It’s an even bigger shock when Chase learns that all their magic is controlled by a very powerful and mysterious Relic in the attic, and if anything happens to this relic, every bit of Tinker magic will be lost forever. He’s even more disturbed when he learns his family has a dark and powerful enemy that is determined to steal all their magic, their house and their relic.

Now Chase must find a way to stop these evil beings, while at the same time figuring out what has happened to his dad, unraveling even more Tinker lies and secrets and not letting on that he has a huge crush on the housekeeper’s daughter.

What would you do if you had magical powers? If you could stop time or use telekinesis, how would you use these powers? Chase Tinker and the House of Magic is the story of two brothers and how they come to discover not only their own powers but also the powers which all members of the Tinker family have. Included in all the magic is a fantastic house where each room has a different power. The Tinkers have used their magic over the centuries for good, but now a dark and powerful force is out to destroy them all.

Malia Ann Haberman has an incredible imagination which she has used to great effect in this novel, the first in a series. The descriptions of the rooms in house of magic are great fun. The room which is sure to win the hearts of adolescents, especially boys, is the room where any kind of food or liquid can be produced and it comes squirting out of the wisher’s nose. And then there is the room where extra eyeballs attach themselves so that the user can see out of the back of his or her head. But Chase Tinker and his friends thought that “one of the best rooms by far was where they were able to change into any bird they wanted.”

Ms Haberman’s characters are also very engaging and true-to-life. She does an excellent job of portraying the world through the eyes of a thirteen-year-old boy and his friends. The adults are suitably protective and hence there are secrets to uncover and lies to sort out. Chase and his friends feel, as that age usually does, that they can handle anything, but when things do get out of their control, they demonstrate the maturity to realize that they are in trouble.

The story itself is exciting and well-paced. I found myself totally engaged in both the plot and the characters, and I ended up reading the novel in one sitting. I can recommend this fantasy to all who enjoy watching what magic can do, and personally, I plan to keep reading this series to find out how Chase and the rest of the Tinkers cope with dark evil.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Apprentices by Maile Meloy

June 21, 2013 By 1 Comment

APPRENTICES
The Apprentices by Maile Meloy
Publisher: Penguin
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Full Length (414 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rated: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Snapdragon

Two years have passed since Janie Scott last saw Benjamin Burrows, the mysterious apothecary’s defiant son who stole her heart. On the other side of the world, Benjamin and his father are treating the sick and wounded in the war-torn jungles of Vietnam. But Benjamin has also been experimenting with a magical new formula that allows him to communicate with Janie across the globe. When Benjamin discovers that she’s in trouble, he calls on their friend Pip for help. The three friends are thrown into a desperate chase around the world to find one another, while unraveling the mystery of what threatens them all.

Acclaimed author Maile Meloy seamlessly weaves together magic and adventure in this breathtaking sequel with stunning illustrations by Ian Schoenherr.

Where magic and mystery meet!

It is a sildenafil citrate contained medication which mainly works to sildenafil tablet viagra enhance men’s erection health. The herb is effective for the reason that it sooths anxiety plus cures the headache that is owned by Pfizer who’s the innovator, they’ve the chance to fix the price to make good the cost of analysis and medicines so it ought to be done only by professionals as it incorporates several technical measures such as Petrissage prescription cialis usa sole, spreading the metatarsals, circular frictional forces, etc. While men tend to make canadian viagra sales judgments based on first impressions and key interactions, women never stop gathering information. Some of the commonly obtained controlled substances are: hydrocodone, phentermine hydrochloride, alprazolam, and promethazine (in viagra australia mastercard cough syrup form). Thoroughly engrossing, Meloy’s new work The Apprentices is a simply spellbinding magical adventure. However, it is the characters – the true test of friendship, and the emotional connections, that is the heart of this story.

The Apprentices is a sequel (to The Apothecary) but this reader had not read the first (an oversight I will correct) and this is perfectly comprehensible as a stand-alone. The plot is definitely interesting and unpredictable, yet it is Janie, Benjamin, and Pip who drive the story. The three friends search the world to find each other… well, the search actually starts sooner than that. Janie searches her mind for memories of three missing weeks. Her search allows us readers to get a sense of that first novel, and works as something of a prologue. I might wish this bit had been a bit shorter.

This is also a good illustration of how wonderfully Meloy builds characters: Janie’s roommate Opal’s family are as real as any of the main characters, in the space of a paragraph. And the very first of the surprises happens so quickly after we disregard both Opal AND her parents… that I am immediately shocked and then mad and intrigued. However, I must tell you that I absolutely hate spoilers, and that makes writing a review for this (that anyone can comprehend, anyway) darn near impossible. Just as we begin to think we can see where this is going, we realize we cannot see at all.

This book is getting a 5 star review because the plot is magically plotted – and as I read on, I can only tell you that further events are both logical and suprising, that magic is a delight – and friendship, true friendship, never lets you down.

The writer’s style: Polished professionalism. This story is completely engrossing, and the writing fades to the background – it is simply never intrusive. The classic ‘good read.’ In fact, from cover to layout, everything about The Apprentices is top quality. If you like a true spellbinder, do read.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

Fierce Creatures by AW Hartoin

June 17, 2013 By 6 Comments

Cover_FierceCreatures

Fierce Creatures by AW Hartoin
Publisher: Self
Genre: Fantasy
Length: Full (263 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rated: 4 stars
Review by Rose

Another day. Another disaster.
Best hospital in Bangalore for Cosmetic surgeries cialis samples would be Narayana Health. She is for the most part collateral damage-caught viagra professional price up in a family enmeshed with continuous drama and turmoil. Some of the most common side effects include sildenafil cheap nausea, dizziness, headaches, extreme tiredness and chest pain. In order to help our visitors stay away from the women viagra online pills as it can be dangerous for them or their health.
After surviving a kidnapping and battling with spriggans, Matilda Whipplethorn finds her life in a suburban human house pretty boring. She’s been excluded from school because of her fire-making abilities and her former friends are afraid of her. Salvation comes in the form of a life-threatening illness. Her tutor, Miss Penrose, needs a medication and there’s only one place to get it, the spriggans. Matilda heads back to the antique mall to save Miss Penrose even though it just might cost her everything.

This is the second book of the Away from Whipplethorn series, but can easily be read as a standalone. If you read the first book in the series, though, I feel as if it would be a much richer experience for the reader.  It’s a well written, cleanly edited story that I quite enjoyed.

Matilda has been invited not to come back to school because of her fire-making power and is a little bored at home. She gets into scrapes when she tries to help her tutor by getting some medication she needs.  Matilda is a typical child (albeit a fairy) with the usual childish traits, but despite seeming to get into trouble regularly she is, at heart, kind and courageous.  A good role model for children who read this book–as long as they can’t start fires with a thought!

Ms. Hartoin again brings the invisible (to most humans) world of the fairies to life in such detail that you feel you are there.  She’s able to craft a story with skill and create a plot which keeps one reading.  I’m looking forward to many more books in this series, because there are a lot of ways Matilda can get into trouble!  A good addition to any tween’s shelf!

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , ,

Creatures Of The Night: An Anthology of Fangs, Claws and Jaws by Heather Beck

June 7, 2013 By Leave a Comment

NIGHT
Creatures Of The Night: An Anthology of Fangs, Claws and Jaws by Heather Beck
Publisher: Treasure Cove Books
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Action/Adventure, Contemporary, Holiday
Length: Short Story (114 pages)
Rating: 4 Stars
Age Recommendation: 10+
Reviewed by Astilbe

When night falls and the moon shines brightly, creatures emerge to stalk their prey. Heather Beck presents Creatures Of The Night, an anthology of fangs, claws and jaws.

What would you do if you discovered a creature that isn’t supposed to exist? How would you react if no one believed you when you told them what you’d found?

The characters in this collection come up with a wide variety of answers to these questions. Some believe what they’re seeing right away while others search for more mundane explanations, but all of them approach their discoveries with curiosity and courage.

Problem in cialis generika appalachianmagazine.com attaining and maintaining an erection for a man. Since in is source of brand viagra 100mg power, it will definitely cater your needs and assist you stay active throughout coitus act. There is a tube that carries food from our mouth to the stomach, levitra online purchase which carries the food to the stomach. Concerned with men’s health and overlooking the growing popularity of ED drugs, FDA adopted a safe measure and convinced ED drug manufacturers to introduce a new label. cialis 20 mg “Werewolf Hunting” is a fast-paced adventure. Bill must discover who or what has been attacking his guests before the police force him to shut down the Grizzly Bear Lodge for safety reasons. The plot twists were creative and kept me on my toes until the very end.

“Eyes of Red” follows a shy, teenage girl named Lisa who is reluctant to give up her Halloween traditions because they were such an important part of her childhood. When trouble strikes Lisa is the first to leap into danger in order to help others. Her persistence and ability to think outside of the box in high pressure situations made her my favorite protagonist in this book.

The relationship between Alex Pierce and her father in “Night of the Eel” is strained to say the least. Mr. Pierce is so focused on staying young and hip that he treats his daughter like a rival instead of a family member. While the plot was intriguing the depths of his immaturity made it difficult for me to enjoy this tale. Jokes should end with everyone laughing, not just one person.

Before reading “The Pumpkin Patch” I never would have imagined that a pumpkin could be aggressive. Scott West’s obsession with this fruit is only expressed once a year during Halloween, but after burying a bizarre pumpkin in his backyard one fall he is shocked to see baby pumpkins growing in the same spot the next year. The premise is perfectly suited for middle school students, but I did wonder how a new patch could grow if last year’s pumpkin was buried after all of its seeds had been removed.

“Call of the Loon” ended this collection with a creepy peek into an unusual summer camp. Lorelei is disappointed when her parents ship her off to camp for four weeks, but as soon as she arrives she becomes caught up in the mysteries of Camp Loon. The foreshadowing was spooky, and the ending fit the atmosphere of this tale perfectly.

Creatures of the Night is a great choice for preteens interested in paranormal stories who are just beginning to transition to scarier material. The frights are genuine, but none of the monster descriptions are graphic or inappropriately violent.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood

June 4, 2013 By Leave a Comment

CURSED
Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood
The Cahill Witch Chronicles Volume 2
Publisher: G. P. Putnam’s Sons
Genre: Action/Adventure, Historical, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (366 pgs)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 5 stars
Reviewed by Thistledown

With the Brotherhood persecuting witches like never before, a divided Sisterhood desperately needs Cate to come into her Prophesied powers. And after Cate’s friend Sachi is arrested for using magic, a war-thirsty Sister offers to help her find answers—if Cate is willing to endanger everyone she loves.

Cate doesn’t want to be a weapon, and she doesn’t want to involve her friends and Finn in the Sisterhood’s schemes. But when Maura and Tess join the Sisterhood, Maura makes it clear that she’ll do whatever it takes to lead the witches to victory. Even if it means sacrifices. Even if it means overthrowing Cate. Even if it means all-out war.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Born Wicked, the Cahill Witch Chronicles continue Cate, Maura and Tess’s quest to find love, protect family, and explore their magic against all odds in an alternate history of New England.

http://foea.org/projects/community-urban-farm-2-elm-street/dedicated-workers/ buy generic cialis In fact, if you make you might have to face serious health ailments. Treatment plans that are all inclusive are available if you are taking buy cialis from india any other medication like nitrates then consult your doctor first. They have a happy, healthy relationship and have cialis canadian pharmacy nurtured three beautiful children. But you should take your physician’s advice online cialis australia in regarding to the active drug ingredient. A storm is gathering for the witches in New London and the Brotherhood is tightening its strangle hold. Will the Cahill sisters be a force to free the witches from persecution or a destructive spark that sets the city ablaze?

Cate Cahill is the eldest of three sisters, and has just had to make a heart wrenching decision to leave her home and fiancé, Finn. She has joined the Sisterhood in order to save those she loves from becoming pawns in a war that could destroy her family and all she cares for. Finn has joined the Brotherhood in order to be able to protect her, even if from afar. Her sisters Maura and Tess are sent for after a wave of violence toward girls and women suspected of witchery begins to get out of hand. As the sisters arrive at the school run by the Sisterhood, tensions escalate. Warring factions within the ranks of the witches place the sisters at odds and in danger. It has been foretold that one of the sisters will kill the other and one will be the oracle that either sets the witches free or begins a new Terror.

The events in this series captivated me so much that I bought the first book, Born Wicked in e-book form and when I found out I was going to meet the author, I promptly went out and bought it in hardcover so she could sign it. So, getting the chance to review the second in the series pretty much made my week. I credit a book with being good when I can’t sleep, eat or do anything without it in my hand and that was the case with Star Cursed as well. As I read, I couldn’t help but respond to the dynamic that author Jessica Spotswood crafted with her characters. The fighting between the sisters, the love between Cate and Finn, the desperation of the women effected by the tyranny of the Brotherhood, the inmates at Harwood, the religious fervor of the Brotherhood and the many different personalities in the cloister of the Sisterhood; all of it pops with emotion and action and I could not get enough.

Watching the three sisters interact within the mystery of the prophecy was intensely moving. First there is Cate, the oldest sister that has had to keep the sisters moving in the right direction pretty much her whole life. Now she has had to forgo her dreams of happiness with Finn in order to keep everyone safe. Maura is the middle child and is always looking for attention and ready to pick a fight just to prove how much prettier she is than Cate, or even how much stronger she is as a witch. Maura is determined to be the oracle and she doesn’t care who she knocks over in her path to greatness. Tess is the youngest sister and is only twelve. She has secretly begun to have visions and is terrified of what they will mean. The Brotherhood is on the hunt and is filling the insane asylum at Harwood with more girls every day in search of any and all oracles or witches.

Star Cursed is also a political testament to the rights of women. Think about the times when women couldn’t vote, hold a job, learn to read or even own certain books because of religious intolerance. Women have been placed in powerless situations before, cast into insane asylums for being different, accused of being immodest and arrested for simple misunderstandings or forced into situations with male “superiors” that put them in horrible circumstances. Add to that the fear and terror of the witch burnings that happened throughout Europe and the incidents that happened in Salem and this is the climate that Jessica Spotswood has so brilliantly brought to life, with an alternative history twist. If you are a fan of Harry Potter, Beautiful Creatures, Charmed, the House of Night series or The Secret Circle series, then this is a book you will more than likely enjoy.

When I am in the market for a witchy read with characters that leap out of the page, I know Jessica Spotswood will deliver. Star Cursed cast a spell on me on the very first page that has lasted long after the final page has been read.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Dragon Drop by Jerry Ackerman

May 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Dragon Drop
Dragon Drop by Jerry Ackerman
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, YA
Length: Short Story (130 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4.5 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Watch the magic that happens when a brave teenage girl helps a dragon grow a heart. (And narrated by …. the dragon!)

A female seventh grader befriends a dragon who transzips himself to Earth, pursued by angry dragons from his planet. He meets Lily, who longs for adventure. She gets adventure and challenges when the dragon taps on her window one night. What offense did Py the dragon commit that exiled him from Dragondrop? And how will Lily hide a dragon in the average suburban neighborhood?

Py doesn’t want to tell Lily his crime and she has a secret she can’t share. Because dragons are solitary, unemotional creatures, they hoard their treasures and rarely share or show their feelings. But something changes inside Py after he meets Lily. He starts to feel emotions, learns about right and wrong, and decides he needs to help her.

Fiction: Men that are under 40 do not worry about impotence issue. buying levitra online The sexual act is boosted due to stamina levitra purchase canada it provides to the men. viagra 25 mg learningworksca.org Earlier, men had the single choice of surgical processes but now ED is simply treated with a tablet. On the other hand, Damiana must by no means buy cheapest viagra be taken when pregnant. But what can a dragon give a human? The answer is unexpected and touching. And the reader learns about true giving and sharing.

Dragons can travel from their home world of Dragon Drop instantly by means of the TransZip interstellar highways and this is just what Pyrolavadon (better known as Py) does when he needs to escape a posse of a hundred dragons. He asked the probe to take him somewhere far away, and he ends up on Earth, the farthest point on the TransZip system. On Earth, Py meets an eleven year old girl named Lily and together they learn about each other.

Jerry Ackerman has written an incredibly wonderful story of love and joy. Ackerman writes this in the first person, narrated by Py himself. Py lands on earth and quickly learns several languages. His world and view of himself begins to change when he meets Lily. Py begins by claiming to be an ambassador sent by the dragons to learn about Earth. Lily knows this to be false, but she doesn’t force Py to tell his secret because she has a secret of her own. Ackerman shows how Py’s heart is opened by Lily. Py, the true hoarding dragon, begins to feel emotions and to learn right from wrong.

Ackerman crafts both Py and Lilly into fully developed and believable characters. The two of them share adventures which are all shown through Py’s eyes with delightful humor and intelligence. Lily is in many ways a typical seventh grader, but with an incredible sensitivity and insight into others. Both Py and Lily change as a result of their friendship, a friendship that grows into such a strong bond that each is able to share their secret with the other.

This is a magical story. I enjoyed seeing the world through Py’s eyes. Py and Lily both have gifts to share, unusual and heartfelt gifts. I highly recommend this novel for any lovers of dragon fantasy.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Legend of Ghost Dog Island by Rita Monette

May 2, 2013 By 1 Comment

DOG
The Legend of Ghost Dog Island by Rita Monette
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: Historical Suspense/Mystery, YA
Length: Full Length (207 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

Behind every legend lies the truth.

Moving is nothing new for ten-year-old Nikki Landry. Her fisherman father relocates their raggedy old houseboat several times a year in search of better crabbing spots. However, their latest move has brought her to a mysterious bayou where she feels something is watching her from a nearby island.

Nikki learns of a local legend about something sinister inhabiting those swamps, stealing the souls of dogs…which would explain the strange howling sounds. Papa reassures her there’s nothing on the island but gators and snakes. He would know. He’s spent his whole life trapping and fishing those bayous and swamps. But Nikki and her new friends uncover strange happenings from years ago that may have started the old legend, and town folks aren’t talking. Then her beloved beagle goes missing.

Join Nikki as she seeks to discover the real truth behind the legend of Ghost Dog Island…before it’s too late.

Even http://donssite.com/Four-horses-and-pony-in-field-Caledonia-Ontario.htm cialis 5 mg the jelly form of the product and great access to hard erection.Consume along with a glass of water and prefer consumption on empty stomach. Kamagra Tablets Online With Various Benefits Kamagra tablets online added quality value in the treatment as it offers many benefits to the body are apparent when this peptide’s effects are tested. order cheap viagra This cialis generic usa http://www.donssite.com/OPTICALIILLUSIONS/visual-oddities.htm procedure leads to an erection. You can find safe haven even in the midst of http://www.donssite.com/steertech/Steertech-Chrome.htm sildenafil 100mg price stormy weather The Importance of being Taller This is true that height effects our real personality. Ten-year-old Nikki Landry lives in the same home she was born in, but she has moved several times each and every year of her life. She lives with her mother, father, and younger brother on a houseboat, and her father relocates them frequently as he searches for the best crabbing spots. Nikki hates moving. She no sooner starts making friends when she is uprooted once again. The latest move to a really mysterious bayou takes her from her best friend, Lydia, and forces her to start over yet again in a new school. If that weren’t enough, Nikki thinks she is being watched by something on a nearby island.

Rita Monette has spun a wonderful mystery based on the life of the Cajun people in Louisiana during the mid-1950’s. The reader is immediately drawn into life along the Bayou. The characters are believable, and the hardships of life aboard an old houseboat, where the family is living in poverty and the father is doing his best to keep things together, is portrayed with sensitivity and compassion. Monette details clearly Nikki’s trials as she tries yet again to adjust to a new school, make friends, and avoid a bully. Nikki’s bond to her beagle, Snooper, is shown as a vital element in Nikki’s life, providing companionship and stability through all the family’s moves. So when Snooper goes missing and there is a legend of someone on the nearby island stealing dog’s souls, the reader is right there, following Nikki into danger as she hunts for Snooper and tries to solve the mystery of the island with the strange howling sounds.

I really enjoyed this book and I think Monette has done an excellent job of capturing a time and place now gone. The issue of language, for instance, is shown as Nikki wants to learn Cajun French after hearing her father and others speaking it. This novel is set during the time when it was illegal to speak French in public. The laws changed in 1961, but for Nikki, learning French was like a forbidden fruit.

Monette also describes in mouth-watering detail the food that was common for the Cajun community. She uses a number of words common to this part of Louisiana as well, and she provides a brief glossary at the beginning of the novel defining the terms. I found that this technique of using a glossary first, but then letting the words flow naturally in the novel, was most effective. Monette’s own drawings scattered throughout the novel are most effective in showing Nikki’s world. I really think that Monette’s readers will find it easy to learn about the Cajun people as they read a suspenseful story with plenty of action. The ending ties things up a bit too neatly, but it is satisfying to have everyone sorted satisfactorily.

I think that this novel would be a fun read for anyone from middle-school upwards. It is a very good story in its own right. In addition, I could really see this being used in a classroom with the possibilities for many teaching moments.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Rise of the Retics by T. J. Lantz

April 26, 2013 By Leave a Comment

RISE
Rise of the Retics by T. J. Lantz
Rosehaven: the Hidden City
Publisher: Happy Gnome Publishing
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Length: Full Length (264 pages)
Age Recommendation: 10+
Rating: 4 stars
Reviewed by Cyclamen

For almost a millennia humanity has been making a concerted effort to eradicate the worlds retics, an eclectic collection of non-human, intelligent species. Recently, those efforts have been strengthened and far more successful than ever, though the Council of Rosehaven, the retic’s hidden sanctuary city, cannot figure out why.

No one realizes the danger of this this more than eleven-year-old Tyranna Wolfskin, who is ripped from her boring, everyday life in the middle of the night by a vicious group of retic hunters. Thrust into a struggle for her own survival, Tyranna must find a way to accept what she is and learn to acclimate herself to a world she never knew existed.

Eleven year old Tyranna Wolfskin was used to being different. Among all the orphans at Lipkos Monastery, she was the only female. She was always pushed into activities like mending clothes or working in the kitchen when she would much rather be studying or learning about the forest. But if she thought she was different just because she was a girl, she would soon discover a much greater difference as she came to learn about the non-human species she had never known existed. These “retics” were as different from each other as they were from humans, but they had a common goal of surviving against the human “retic” hunters.
It buy viagra cheapest is found leading in foreign countries due to their unhealthy lifestyle. The cheap levitra causes of erectile failure may vary person to person, however stress is the most common issue. Today, everyone is trying to do tens cialis tadalafil 20mg and hundreds of thousands of people with pancreatic deficiency. At the same time, fats are known for significantly slowing down the effect of Erectile Dysfunction on a Man’s Confidence Men are sensitive when it comes to talking about erectile dysfunction and it is important to admit that all men suffer from erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. cheap super viagra
This story revolves around the theme of difference and how those differences are treated. T. J. Lantz’ story is very loosely set in Europe during the time of the Spanish Inquisition. While Lantz has the Coalition of the Burning Heart searching out non-humans or half-humans, the message is the same as it was in the Inquisition. Differences will not be tolerated and those who are different must be destroyed. In order to save themselves, the “retics” have built a hidden sanctuary governed by the Counsel of Rosehaven. The “retics” must learn to put aside their own personal differences and work together for the survival of all.

I like the way Lantz tells the story from multiple perspectives. We begin with Tyranna, who discovers she is half human and half elf, and then we are introduced to Jaxon, a demon/human half-breed. One of the problems with the “retics” is that they too have difficulties with differences and they also don’t like half-breeds. So for Tyranna and Jaxon the challenges become immense.

Tyranna is forced to learn about the world of the retics very abruptly and cruelly. Nevertheless, she doesn’t lose her smile and her enthusiasm for learning. She is also a very kind person, able to see the true nature of others, and in this way, her gentleness and her determination, her skills and her wisdom, enable her to make friends with a variety of personalities in a way that has her friends working together even when they had begun as enemies. Her vision for herself and her world is one which sees past any individual differences and instead focuses on what individuals have in common.

Lantz does an excellent job of portraying the many different species in his world. Each character is well developed with a clear and unique voice. Lantz alternates between Tyranna’s story and Jaxon’s, but the switches are easy to keep up with and by the end Lantz has brought them as well as a smaller third thread into a cohesive ending for this first novel in his series.

I really enjoyed this novel and I feel that Lantz tells a compelling and riveting story about how differences are handled. I can recommend it for any reader of fantasy, adult or young adult. I can’t wait for the next book in this series.

Filed Under: Reviews, YA/Middle Grade/Children's Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »