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Recommend this book:
Sami the Magic Bear
A Trip to the Hospital!
Murielle Bourdon
2017 Finalist
30 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Laurie is a very active little girl. She loves school, but she has to keep busy all the time or she starts to fidget. She loves playing soccer and she’s even the captain of her soccer team. So when Laurie suddenly lacks energy and her cheeks lose their rosy glow, her parents are understandably worried. They take her to see the family doctor and he runs a bunch of tests. The results are not happy news. Laurie has leukemia. She has to be hospitalized immediately and the only visitors allowed are her parents and they have to be thoroughly sanitized and gowned before they can visit her. Laurie becomes very despondent and sad. When her class sends her a big card with lots of messages and a special Sami Bear to keep her company, things start to improve and, with Sami Bear’s help, Laurie is determined to fight her battle with leukemia.
It is difficult for children being sick; it is also difficult for children watching other children who are sick. Any child who has had a friend fighting a life-threatening disease like leukemia knows just how difficult it is. Children aren’t supposed to get sick; they’re not supposed to die. But it does happen, sadly. Murielle Bourdon’s picture book story, Sami the Magic Bear: A Trip to the Hospital!, book 3 in the Sami the Magic Bear series, is an informative and helpful story for both children who are very sick and their friends who wait for them to get healthy again. The story is told simply, but with compassion and just enough information for a child to understand the seriousness of an illness like leukemia. Sami the Magic Bear is off on another very important mission and his presence and importance in the lives of the children he touches is significant. Well done!
Laurie is a very active little girl. She loves school, but she has to keep busy all the time or she starts to fidget. She loves playing soccer and she’s even the captain of her soccer team. So when Laurie suddenly lacks energy and her cheeks lose their rosy glow, her parents are understandably worried. They take her to see the family doctor and he runs a bunch of tests. The results are not happy news. Laurie has leukemia. She has to be hospitalized immediately and the only visitors allowed are her parents and they have to be thoroughly sanitized and gowned before they can visit her. Laurie becomes very despondent and sad. When her class sends her a big card with lots of messages and a special Sami Bear to keep her company, things start to improve and, with Sami Bear’s help, Laurie is determined to fight her battle with leukemia.
It is difficult for children being sick; it is also difficult for children watching other children who are sick. Any child who has had a friend fighting a life-threatening disease like leukemia knows just how difficult it is. Children aren’t supposed to get sick; they’re not supposed to die. But it does happen, sadly. Murielle Bourdon’s picture book story, Sami the Magic Bear: A Trip to the Hospital!, book 3 in the Sami the Magic Bear series, is an informative and helpful story for both children who are very sick and their friends who wait for them to get healthy again. The story is told simply, but with compassion and just enough information for a child to understand the seriousness of an illness like leukemia. Sami the Magic Bear is off on another very important mission and his presence and importance in the lives of the children he touches is significant. Well done!
Recommend this book:
My Fox Ate My Homework
David Blaze
2017 Honorable Mention
99 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite
My Fox Ate My Homework by David Blaze is a thrilling fantasy for young readers. Jonah — and he prefers being called Joe — is just eleven when they move. In his new school, he feels out of place. He can’t sing well and is easily embarrassed. Apart from having to deal with the usual problems a kid his age faces in a new environment, he is bullied not only by one, but by two nasty kids. Joe is surely going to have a very difficult year and he is aware of this. But things change when he finds a talking fox at his new home. A unique friendship develops and with it a whole new world. Now, Jonah is on an adventure that will open his eyes to the beauty of friendship and allow him to see his worth.
David Blaze has done a marvelous job in capturing sentiments and problems that kids face as they grow up. Bullying is one of the themes that is so masterfully developed and it’s a common reality in modern schools. But friendship is a world where kids can learn to name themselves and to see the worth of others, the beauty of their uniqueness, and the importance of creating spaces for others. The characters are compelling and memorable. The narrative voice is absorbing. I read this book with my seven-year-old son and he developed a lot of sympathy for Joe. I was thrilled when he asked questions, just the way he does whenever I read The Little Prince by Antoine de St-Exupéry to him. My Fox Ate My Homework is an entertaining and educative read for kids; a grand success.
My Fox Ate My Homework by David Blaze is a thrilling fantasy for young readers. Jonah — and he prefers being called Joe — is just eleven when they move. In his new school, he feels out of place. He can’t sing well and is easily embarrassed. Apart from having to deal with the usual problems a kid his age faces in a new environment, he is bullied not only by one, but by two nasty kids. Joe is surely going to have a very difficult year and he is aware of this. But things change when he finds a talking fox at his new home. A unique friendship develops and with it a whole new world. Now, Jonah is on an adventure that will open his eyes to the beauty of friendship and allow him to see his worth.
David Blaze has done a marvelous job in capturing sentiments and problems that kids face as they grow up. Bullying is one of the themes that is so masterfully developed and it’s a common reality in modern schools. But friendship is a world where kids can learn to name themselves and to see the worth of others, the beauty of their uniqueness, and the importance of creating spaces for others. The characters are compelling and memorable. The narrative voice is absorbing. I read this book with my seven-year-old son and he developed a lot of sympathy for Joe. I was thrilled when he asked questions, just the way he does whenever I read The Little Prince by Antoine de St-Exupéry to him. My Fox Ate My Homework is an entertaining and educative read for kids; a grand success.
Recommend this book:
Oh Susannah
It's in the Bag
Carole P. Roman
2017 Bronze Medal
46 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Vernita Naylor for Readers' Favorite
We all need help and at times we all experience that overwhelming feeling. Susannah Logan felt exactly this way in Oh Susannah: It's in the Bag by Carole P Roman. Oh Susannah is a children’s chapter book about how what may seem to be hopeless can be accomplished by taking it one step at a time. Susannah Logan is a little girl who felt so overwhelmed that she couldn't make a decision about anything, so she decided to bury it all in her backpack. With her unfinished homework; the folders; the sleepover invitation from her friend, Lola; the math pop quiz that she failed which must be signed off by her parents; the exercise pamphlet that must be read with her parents because she forgot her sneakers for gym; the two books she chose about dogs, one of which she must decide on for her book report, and a rotten banana ... all stuffed into her backpack so that it eventually burst. Susannah just felt hopeless. Children will learn how to navigate through these challenges and discover what it takes to overcome indecision.
I enjoyed Oh Susannah because children need to learn early on not only about making decisions, but about what it means to take a breath, exhale and tackle life one step at a time. Carole P Roman displayed this cleverly in Oh Susannah. Time management is a task that can take on a character all of its own if it's not handled properly. This is a part of child development and what turns us into accountable, responsibility and productive adults. With help, Susannah was able to learn how to effectively tackle this challenge and come out of it victorious.
We all need help and at times we all experience that overwhelming feeling. Susannah Logan felt exactly this way in Oh Susannah: It's in the Bag by Carole P Roman. Oh Susannah is a children’s chapter book about how what may seem to be hopeless can be accomplished by taking it one step at a time. Susannah Logan is a little girl who felt so overwhelmed that she couldn't make a decision about anything, so she decided to bury it all in her backpack. With her unfinished homework; the folders; the sleepover invitation from her friend, Lola; the math pop quiz that she failed which must be signed off by her parents; the exercise pamphlet that must be read with her parents because she forgot her sneakers for gym; the two books she chose about dogs, one of which she must decide on for her book report, and a rotten banana ... all stuffed into her backpack so that it eventually burst. Susannah just felt hopeless. Children will learn how to navigate through these challenges and discover what it takes to overcome indecision.
I enjoyed Oh Susannah because children need to learn early on not only about making decisions, but about what it means to take a breath, exhale and tackle life one step at a time. Carole P Roman displayed this cleverly in Oh Susannah. Time management is a task that can take on a character all of its own if it's not handled properly. This is a part of child development and what turns us into accountable, responsibility and productive adults. With help, Susannah was able to learn how to effectively tackle this challenge and come out of it victorious.
Recommend this book:
Rogue Wolf
The Oldenglen Chronicles Volume 3
Robin Mason
2017 Silver Medal
384 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Melinda Hills for Readers' Favorite
The peace of Oldenglen is threatened once again and the power of the Gladestone may not be enough to save the wood folk this time in Rogue Wolf: The Oldenglen Chronicles Volume 3 by Robin Mason. Jackson Wolfe, well named because of the wolf genes he carries as a result of a bite his father had received when he was younger, begins to feel the pull of the wolf part of his being as a new pack invades the quiet glen. Along with his friend, Sarah, Jax works with the Elder, Pondlefoot Badger and the other woodland animals to try to convince Rogue and his pack to leave the glen. Rogue is determined to stay, though, and desperate measures are needed to save the limited population of Oldenglen from ravaging wolves. Poachers are also a problem and take a young eagle, Windlord, that Jax and Sarah must also try to rescue. With the rogue pack of wolves attacking livestock, the authorities become involved and things really heat up when the bullets start to fly. Will the Green Glade ever be safe again or will the presence of so many people destroy what is special about Oldenglen?
Exciting action and extreme danger are just two parts of what makes Rogue Wolf such a wonderful book. These elements hold your attention, but the fantastic descriptions of the woods and all the types of animals and birds that live there paint a clear picture of the setting, helping you feel as though you are part of the story. Great characterizations of the different animals and a strong message that is subtle, not preachy. Jax and Sarah are great friends who dedicate themselves to the safety of the glen and its inhabitants and are quite resourceful. It doesn’t hurt that Jax has many traits of the wolf that are growing stronger within him! I love the intensity of Jax and Sarah and the theme of cooperation among all species. This is an excellent stand-alone story as much as it is a terrific addition to The Oldenglen Chronicles series by Robin Mason. I strongly recommend this book for its action, emotion and heart.
The peace of Oldenglen is threatened once again and the power of the Gladestone may not be enough to save the wood folk this time in Rogue Wolf: The Oldenglen Chronicles Volume 3 by Robin Mason. Jackson Wolfe, well named because of the wolf genes he carries as a result of a bite his father had received when he was younger, begins to feel the pull of the wolf part of his being as a new pack invades the quiet glen. Along with his friend, Sarah, Jax works with the Elder, Pondlefoot Badger and the other woodland animals to try to convince Rogue and his pack to leave the glen. Rogue is determined to stay, though, and desperate measures are needed to save the limited population of Oldenglen from ravaging wolves. Poachers are also a problem and take a young eagle, Windlord, that Jax and Sarah must also try to rescue. With the rogue pack of wolves attacking livestock, the authorities become involved and things really heat up when the bullets start to fly. Will the Green Glade ever be safe again or will the presence of so many people destroy what is special about Oldenglen?
Exciting action and extreme danger are just two parts of what makes Rogue Wolf such a wonderful book. These elements hold your attention, but the fantastic descriptions of the woods and all the types of animals and birds that live there paint a clear picture of the setting, helping you feel as though you are part of the story. Great characterizations of the different animals and a strong message that is subtle, not preachy. Jax and Sarah are great friends who dedicate themselves to the safety of the glen and its inhabitants and are quite resourceful. It doesn’t hurt that Jax has many traits of the wolf that are growing stronger within him! I love the intensity of Jax and Sarah and the theme of cooperation among all species. This is an excellent stand-alone story as much as it is a terrific addition to The Oldenglen Chronicles series by Robin Mason. I strongly recommend this book for its action, emotion and heart.
Recommend this book:
Nickerbacher, The Funniest Dragon
Terry John Barto
2017 Gold Medal
Kindle Edition
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon is a fantasy for children, grades K-3, written by Terry John Barto and illustrated by Kim Sponaugle. Nickerbacher was a young dragon who didn’t feel that his job of guarding Princess Gwendolyn in her tower was what he should be doing with his life. He really liked to tell jokes, which he did all of the time, and he wanted to be a stand-up comedian. Gwendolyn liked his jokes and thought he should follow his dreams and become a comic, but Nickerbacher was worried about what his father would think. His father believed that all dragons should guard princesses, and he placed Gwendolyn under Nickerbacher’s care. When a young prince rode up to see the princess, Nickerbacher knew he was supposed to scare him away, but Nickerbacher really only wanted to tell him jokes.
Terry John Barto’s children’s fantasy picture book, Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon, features a very unusual dragon who sees humor and wit as his weapons, and who wants to do stand-up comedy. He has to find the courage to first tell his very frightening father what he wants to do with his life, and then to appear before an audience as a stand-up comic for the first time. The positive and inspiring message of this story is driven home in a hilarious way through the young dragon’s inability to do anything else but make jokes. Kim Sponaugle’s pen and ink drawings have gloriously colorful washes that make this story larger than life, a fitting thing indeed for a tale about dragons. The characters’ expressions are fabulous, especially Nickerbacher, whose bushy eyebrows are exceptional. Adults will have a marvelous time reading this story and sharing the pictures during storytelling sessions, but it’s also a great book for young readers. Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon is most highly recommended.
Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon is a fantasy for children, grades K-3, written by Terry John Barto and illustrated by Kim Sponaugle. Nickerbacher was a young dragon who didn’t feel that his job of guarding Princess Gwendolyn in her tower was what he should be doing with his life. He really liked to tell jokes, which he did all of the time, and he wanted to be a stand-up comedian. Gwendolyn liked his jokes and thought he should follow his dreams and become a comic, but Nickerbacher was worried about what his father would think. His father believed that all dragons should guard princesses, and he placed Gwendolyn under Nickerbacher’s care. When a young prince rode up to see the princess, Nickerbacher knew he was supposed to scare him away, but Nickerbacher really only wanted to tell him jokes.
Terry John Barto’s children’s fantasy picture book, Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon, features a very unusual dragon who sees humor and wit as his weapons, and who wants to do stand-up comedy. He has to find the courage to first tell his very frightening father what he wants to do with his life, and then to appear before an audience as a stand-up comic for the first time. The positive and inspiring message of this story is driven home in a hilarious way through the young dragon’s inability to do anything else but make jokes. Kim Sponaugle’s pen and ink drawings have gloriously colorful washes that make this story larger than life, a fitting thing indeed for a tale about dragons. The characters’ expressions are fabulous, especially Nickerbacher, whose bushy eyebrows are exceptional. Adults will have a marvelous time reading this story and sharing the pictures during storytelling sessions, but it’s also a great book for young readers. Nickerbacher: The Funniest Dragon is most highly recommended.
Recommend this book:
 (Volume 1) by Gale Leach is the story of Bruce who does not want to become a butterfly. Bruce is the butt of jokes among other caterpillars because of his fear of heights and his reluctance to become a butterfly. Unable to take it anymore, he runs away from his home. Along the wa...){kind=link}
Bruce and the Road to Courage
The Adventures of Bruce and Friends - Volume 1
Gale Leach
2016 Bronze Medal
192 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Mamta Madhavan for Readers' Favorite
Bruce and the Road to Courage - (The Adventures of Bruce and Friends) (Volume 1) by Gale Leach is the story of Bruce who does not want to become a butterfly. Bruce is the butt of jokes among other caterpillars because of his fear of heights and his reluctance to become a butterfly. Unable to take it anymore, he runs away from his home. Along the way, he meets other creatures and makes friends with them. The young moth caterpillar whom he befriends is captured by a bat. Bruce is determined to rescue her. He asks the help of a few friends: a mockingbird, a spider, and an aging firefly. They are captured by the bats' cruel leader, Stang, when they try to enter the cave and all hopes of escaping seem to be impossible. But Bruce rises above everything and decides to save all the captives in that cave. Will Bruce's plans work out? Will everyone inside the cave join him in fighting the evil leader, Stang?
The story is an exciting and lighthearted adventure that is very cheerful and endearing. It exposes a child to not only their surroundings, but also encourages them to deal with unexpected situations and problems in their lives. Bullying, true friendships, and doing the right thing even during times of adversity are highlighted. The book is exciting because of the many subtle and positive messages it gives to young readers. It is a beautiful classic story, rich in language and with some wonderful imagery. The story, the language, the imagery, and the concept are all perfect for children.
Bruce and the Road to Courage - (The Adventures of Bruce and Friends) (Volume 1) by Gale Leach is the story of Bruce who does not want to become a butterfly. Bruce is the butt of jokes among other caterpillars because of his fear of heights and his reluctance to become a butterfly. Unable to take it anymore, he runs away from his home. Along the way, he meets other creatures and makes friends with them. The young moth caterpillar whom he befriends is captured by a bat. Bruce is determined to rescue her. He asks the help of a few friends: a mockingbird, a spider, and an aging firefly. They are captured by the bats' cruel leader, Stang, when they try to enter the cave and all hopes of escaping seem to be impossible. But Bruce rises above everything and decides to save all the captives in that cave. Will Bruce's plans work out? Will everyone inside the cave join him in fighting the evil leader, Stang?
The story is an exciting and lighthearted adventure that is very cheerful and endearing. It exposes a child to not only their surroundings, but also encourages them to deal with unexpected situations and problems in their lives. Bullying, true friendships, and doing the right thing even during times of adversity are highlighted. The book is exciting because of the many subtle and positive messages it gives to young readers. It is a beautiful classic story, rich in language and with some wonderful imagery. The story, the language, the imagery, and the concept are all perfect for children.
Recommend this book:
, fearing she won’t fit in or know anyone. She takes solace in the beauty and peace of nature and the beach, and finds an anci...){kind=link}
Nelson Telson
The Story of a True Blue Blood
Heidi Mayo
2016 Gold Medal
218 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite
Nelson Telson: The Story of a True Blue Blood by Heidi Mayo is a charming, perceptive story for children. Eleven-year-old Mariah is dreading starting yet another new school (her father’s work means they move every year), fearing she won’t fit in or know anyone. She takes solace in the beauty and peace of nature and the beach, and finds an ancient spearhead which appears to have magical powers. When she holds it she is able to communicate with the different sea and shore-line creatures she comes across – especially a horseshoe crab called Nelson. As she struggles to cope with a new, and at first horror of a teacher, her painful shyness, her unkind cousin who comes to stay, and her father’s illness diagnosis, Mariah retreats into different “nows,” both past and future, where she finds friends in the creatures who believe in her, and learns much about herself and others.
I loved the way this gentle and insightful story unfolds as it explores the inner world and struggles of Mariah. Readers will empathize with her feelings of loneliness and anxiety, and lack of control over what happens to her. Heidi Mayo shows great insight into her character’s emotional states. The world that Mariah is able to enter is where she feels safe and has a sense of relief and comfort, and this is where she develops her own resilience and wisdom that helps her when she returns to her everyday life. The message of the story is that we have more inner strength than we might at first know, and that facing what we fear and changing the way we view situations can lead to change and growth. The plot has a gentle pace that seems to grow in step with Mariah’s own personal growth – with plenty of intrigue and magic along the way.
I loved the information about the different sea creatures and references to ancient and historical ways of life that weave themselves so naturally into the story too. Nelson Telson is a well-written and wise story that looks beneath our views of the everyday and finds a perceptive truth and beauty about life and relationships. And there is something very special about a book that can convey that to children at the same time as telling a good and entertaining story. Recommended.
Nelson Telson: The Story of a True Blue Blood by Heidi Mayo is a charming, perceptive story for children. Eleven-year-old Mariah is dreading starting yet another new school (her father’s work means they move every year), fearing she won’t fit in or know anyone. She takes solace in the beauty and peace of nature and the beach, and finds an ancient spearhead which appears to have magical powers. When she holds it she is able to communicate with the different sea and shore-line creatures she comes across – especially a horseshoe crab called Nelson. As she struggles to cope with a new, and at first horror of a teacher, her painful shyness, her unkind cousin who comes to stay, and her father’s illness diagnosis, Mariah retreats into different “nows,” both past and future, where she finds friends in the creatures who believe in her, and learns much about herself and others.
I loved the way this gentle and insightful story unfolds as it explores the inner world and struggles of Mariah. Readers will empathize with her feelings of loneliness and anxiety, and lack of control over what happens to her. Heidi Mayo shows great insight into her character’s emotional states. The world that Mariah is able to enter is where she feels safe and has a sense of relief and comfort, and this is where she develops her own resilience and wisdom that helps her when she returns to her everyday life. The message of the story is that we have more inner strength than we might at first know, and that facing what we fear and changing the way we view situations can lead to change and growth. The plot has a gentle pace that seems to grow in step with Mariah’s own personal growth – with plenty of intrigue and magic along the way.
I loved the information about the different sea creatures and references to ancient and historical ways of life that weave themselves so naturally into the story too. Nelson Telson is a well-written and wise story that looks beneath our views of the everyday and finds a perceptive truth and beauty about life and relationships. And there is something very special about a book that can convey that to children at the same time as telling a good and entertaining story. Recommended.
Recommend this book:
Lucy in Her Secret Wood
A Story Inspired by Wordsworth's wild child Lucy Gray
Christina M. Pagès
2016 Silver Medal
272 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Lucy’s step-father didn’t like her. In fact, he called her Nuisance. Never Lucy, just Nuisance. He even locked her in her bedroom, not allowing her outside. It was like a prison. So when her step-father took her deep into the woods and left her there, Lucy felt like she had just been set free. Just like the trees and the meadow full of wildflowers, even the fresh running brook – Lucy was now free. She was no longer afraid because she knew that the woods would take care of her. And it did, as did Will, a boy just little older than Lucy, who befriended her and brought her much needed supplies of food.
All was well in Lucy’s world until others discovered that she was living alone in the woods. The police came and took her away. They tried to convince her that it was for her own good. The woods was not a safe place, or so they said. But Lucy knew better. And so did Will. When Lucy was trapped in an orphanage, Will found her and helped her realize that she, Lucy, the Wild Child as he called her, needed the woods as much as the woods needed her.
This story is absolutely beautifully written, tender and compassionate. I haven’t read such a touching story since my mother gave me a copy of Gene Stratton-Porter’s A Girl of the Limberlost. Christina M. Pagès’ Lucy in Her Secret Wood is a real classic, a story that gently opens the reader’s eyes to the powerful connection between humans and nature, as well as the power of music that is like a delicate web that intertwines between all of life. Powerful and unforgettable.
Lucy’s step-father didn’t like her. In fact, he called her Nuisance. Never Lucy, just Nuisance. He even locked her in her bedroom, not allowing her outside. It was like a prison. So when her step-father took her deep into the woods and left her there, Lucy felt like she had just been set free. Just like the trees and the meadow full of wildflowers, even the fresh running brook – Lucy was now free. She was no longer afraid because she knew that the woods would take care of her. And it did, as did Will, a boy just little older than Lucy, who befriended her and brought her much needed supplies of food.
All was well in Lucy’s world until others discovered that she was living alone in the woods. The police came and took her away. They tried to convince her that it was for her own good. The woods was not a safe place, or so they said. But Lucy knew better. And so did Will. When Lucy was trapped in an orphanage, Will found her and helped her realize that she, Lucy, the Wild Child as he called her, needed the woods as much as the woods needed her.
This story is absolutely beautifully written, tender and compassionate. I haven’t read such a touching story since my mother gave me a copy of Gene Stratton-Porter’s A Girl of the Limberlost. Christina M. Pagès’ Lucy in Her Secret Wood is a real classic, a story that gently opens the reader’s eyes to the powerful connection between humans and nature, as well as the power of music that is like a delicate web that intertwines between all of life. Powerful and unforgettable.
Recommend this book:
 by Mark H. Newhouse centers on young Brodie Adkins, who is sent to spend a vacation with an uncle he has never met. He thinks he is going to Key West, Florida, but he arrives in Monstrovia instead, where his uncle is a hero and a defense lawyer for the inhabitants of the fantasy land. He has big...){kind=link}
Welcome to Monstrovia
Tales of Monstrovia, Volume 1
Mark H Newhouse
2016 Bronze Medal
320 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite
Welcome to Monstrovia (Tales of Monstrovia, Volume 1) by Mark H. Newhouse centers on young Brodie Adkins, who is sent to spend a vacation with an uncle he has never met. He thinks he is going to Key West, Florida, but he arrives in Monstrovia instead, where his uncle is a hero and a defense lawyer for the inhabitants of the fantasy land. He has big case he needs to work on and makes Brodie his legal assistant. Can young Brodie handle Monstrovia’s oddball citizens?
The cover art is eye-catching, and the concept and plot are solid. However, I’m ambivalent about the pacing. It’s a tad too fast for my liking. On the other hand, as this book is targeted at middle graders, my nephew (who read the book on his own) and my niece (who read it with me) had no complaints about the pace of the story – as an adult reader, I can’t argue with their views.
It is undeniable, however, that the story is highly imaginative and I couldn’t find a single dull moment. Welcome to Monstrovia is action packed and full of surprises. It also serves as an early means for kids to understand court proceedings, or perhaps influence them to consider being a lawyer as a profession in the future. All in all, in the words of my young relatives, Welcome to Monstrovia is ‘fast, funny and entertaining.’
Welcome to Monstrovia (Tales of Monstrovia, Volume 1) by Mark H. Newhouse centers on young Brodie Adkins, who is sent to spend a vacation with an uncle he has never met. He thinks he is going to Key West, Florida, but he arrives in Monstrovia instead, where his uncle is a hero and a defense lawyer for the inhabitants of the fantasy land. He has big case he needs to work on and makes Brodie his legal assistant. Can young Brodie handle Monstrovia’s oddball citizens?
The cover art is eye-catching, and the concept and plot are solid. However, I’m ambivalent about the pacing. It’s a tad too fast for my liking. On the other hand, as this book is targeted at middle graders, my nephew (who read the book on his own) and my niece (who read it with me) had no complaints about the pace of the story – as an adult reader, I can’t argue with their views.
It is undeniable, however, that the story is highly imaginative and I couldn’t find a single dull moment. Welcome to Monstrovia is action packed and full of surprises. It also serves as an early means for kids to understand court proceedings, or perhaps influence them to consider being a lawyer as a profession in the future. All in all, in the words of my young relatives, Welcome to Monstrovia is ‘fast, funny and entertaining.’
Recommend this book:
Along Came a Wolf
The Yellow Hoods #1: Steampunk meets Fairy Tale
Adam Dreece
2016 Honorable Mention
230 Pages
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Children - Grade 4th-6th
Reviewed by Jack Magnus for Readers' Favorite
Along Came a Wolf: The Yellow Hoods #1 is a young adult fantasy novel written by Adam Dreece. Tee and her two fellow Yellow Hoods, her best friends, Elly and Richy, have been having a marvelous time in their mountainside tree house, which mysteriously seems to get the most useful upgrades, such as a system of pulleys, ropes and weights for easy access to and from the small village of Minette. Their adventures and explorations take a more serious turn when Andre LeLoup, a sinister stranger claiming to be on official business and carrying an urgent message, comes upon the Cochan brothers and Tee in the woods. He's looking for Tee's grandfather, Nikolas Klaus, a renowned and reclusive inventor, who's adored by his granddaughter. LeLoup is nothing but trouble Nikolas fears and, indeed, he's been sent by Klaus' rival, the equally sinister Simon St. Malo. If LeLoup doesn't find what he's come for, there will be trouble.
In his young adult fantasy, Along Came a Wolf, Adam Dreece adroitly weaves fragments of classic fairy tales into his original and exciting steampunk fantasy story. Tee and her fellow Yellow Hoods are marvelous characters and I enjoyed seeing how the three of them work together to evade the clutches of the dastardly LeLoup. Dreece's nod to steampunk is fantastic and filled with odd and exciting devices that delighted this reader as much as they do Tee and her friends. I definitely want a sail-cart and wouldn't mind having a few shock-sticks around in case of emergencies. In Along Came a Wolf, Nikolas' imaginative and clever devices reminded me just how much I love the steampunk genre. Along Came a Wolf is highly recommended.
Along Came a Wolf: The Yellow Hoods #1 is a young adult fantasy novel written by Adam Dreece. Tee and her two fellow Yellow Hoods, her best friends, Elly and Richy, have been having a marvelous time in their mountainside tree house, which mysteriously seems to get the most useful upgrades, such as a system of pulleys, ropes and weights for easy access to and from the small village of Minette. Their adventures and explorations take a more serious turn when Andre LeLoup, a sinister stranger claiming to be on official business and carrying an urgent message, comes upon the Cochan brothers and Tee in the woods. He's looking for Tee's grandfather, Nikolas Klaus, a renowned and reclusive inventor, who's adored by his granddaughter. LeLoup is nothing but trouble Nikolas fears and, indeed, he's been sent by Klaus' rival, the equally sinister Simon St. Malo. If LeLoup doesn't find what he's come for, there will be trouble.
In his young adult fantasy, Along Came a Wolf, Adam Dreece adroitly weaves fragments of classic fairy tales into his original and exciting steampunk fantasy story. Tee and her fellow Yellow Hoods are marvelous characters and I enjoyed seeing how the three of them work together to evade the clutches of the dastardly LeLoup. Dreece's nod to steampunk is fantastic and filled with odd and exciting devices that delighted this reader as much as they do Tee and her friends. I definitely want a sail-cart and wouldn't mind having a few shock-sticks around in case of emergencies. In Along Came a Wolf, Nikolas' imaginative and clever devices reminded me just how much I love the steampunk genre. Along Came a Wolf is highly recommended.
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