Book Reviews can be a great way to learn a little more about a book that you might find interesting. Remember to keep in mind that many book reviews are done by everyday people just like you and me and that not every book will appeal to every reader in the same way, but it's a great place to start!
Here are a few reviews of books that you might find interesting or would like more information about:
The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray by E. Latimer Bryony Gray is very quickly becoming a well-known painter in London, but her life is anything but glamourous. Her wicked uncle keeps her locked in the attic, making her paint portraits for his wealthy friends. Something bizarre is happening now and her paintings are strangling coming to life. While researching her family history, Bryony uncovers some disturbing family secrets and, in the process, unlocks an old, horrifying family curse.
With the help of her friends, Bryony is determined to discover why her clients are suddenly disappearing under mysterious circumstances. Can she find the answers she seeks before her treacherous uncle silences her forever?
Laura Monster Crusher by Wesley King Laura Largebottom, Laura Lardo, Laura Lumpy...she's heard 'em all. Eighth-grader, Laura Ledwick has always been a target for the bullies at school but she's hoping things will be different at her new school in Riverfield. A new house, new school, and new friends are all bright possibilities that she's looking forward to until she actually makes the move. It turns out that Riverfield has bullies of its own and the new house has got a definite creep factor she wasn't counting on. Yellow, snake-like eyes watch her every movement from the deep, dark forest behind her house and what's with the mysterious rattling sound coming from her bedroom closet?
When Laura finally discovers the secrets her that new house holds, she's thrust into a world she knew never knew existed. A world of monsters, goblins, trolls, and enormous furry black spiders. And they’re coming for her!
Laura quickly discovers that she has just been given the most important job in both her world and the Under Earth; to become a powerful monster crusher and save humankind. If the training doesn't kill her first, the job just might. Who knew that Riverfield and the 8th grade were going to change her world forever?
Nominated for the OLA Red Maple Award, Laura Monster Crusher by Wesley King is sure to capture your imagination and keep you cheering for Laura from the first page to the last. A fun, light-hearted story that speaks to more serious issues of responsibility, self-acceptance, bullying, and body image in a way that will engage and entertain you.
The Friendship Bracelet by Arlene Stewart Oh no! 11-year-old Olivia’s BFF, Alex is moving to Paris…Paris, France. How on earth can she possibly survive 6th grade without her? All of their planning was for nothing and now Olivia, Ollie to her friends and family, is left to face middle school without her oldest friend and strongest ally.
After finding an old friendship bracelet in her mom’s dresser drawer, Ollie thinks she may have discovered a way to make new friends, stay busy, and keep her connection to Alex strong. Ollie’s mom says there’s an old saying that if you wear your friendship bracelet till it falls off, your wish will come true. With the help of her mom’s craft shop Katonah Crafts, Ollie and her friends set out to bring friendship bracelets to patients in the hospital. It’s a perfect way to help people pass the time and to relieve some of Ollie’s middle school anxiety. Ollie soon comes to realize her strength, humor, and compassion for others are her strongest assets.
A fun, new series that many middle schoolers can easily relate to. Bonus instructions on how to create your own fabulous friendship bracelet are included at the back of the book. Those awkward years of friendship, change, crushes, and cliques are never easy but author Arlene Stewart reminds us that we’re not alone and we will indeed, survive!
The Tiny Hero of Ferny Creek by Linda Bailey Eddie just might be the tiniest, shiniest, greenest hero you’ve ever met and he’s on a mission to save the Ferny Creek Elementary School library from disaster. Eddie, his parents, his 53 brothers and sisters, and dear old Aunt Min all live in a crack in the wall behind the grade 4 classroom chalkboard in Room 19. It’s the perfect home for a bug family like theirs.
Eddie makes the hazardous trek through the treacherous hallways to the library only to find Aunt Min with two broken legs, starved, and half dead. While planning their return to Room 19, the two overhear the substitute librarian making reprehensible plans to get rid of all the books and turn the library into a testing centre. She dislikes children, bugs, and most of all, books!
Follow Eddie and Aunt Min as they hatch a brilliant plan to save the library and return safely home to their anxiously-waiting family. Aunt Min inspires Eddie with tales of bravery and courage as she recounts the brave deeds of the tiny heroes from classic children’s stories like Charlotte’s Web, Stuart Little, Horton Hears a Who, and many more.
The Gamer's Guide to Coding: Design, Code, Build, Play by Gordon McComb The Gamer’s Guide to Coding: Design, Code, Build, Play is a clear, concise guide to learning the basic concepts of coding and designing your own 2-D games.
Thoughtfully designed, each chapter illustrates step-by-step examples and builds upon concepts learned in previous chapters; leading the reader to discover and understand the essential building blocks of coding and game design. Author, Gordon McComb thoughtfully provides links to free online support, bonus games, references, tips, and how-to advice. Suggestions for where to play and how to publish the games you’ve constructed are also included. Excellent resources all the way around for the beginner game coder.
The Gamer’s Guide to Coding: Design, Code, Build, Play is perfect for teens or anyone with an interest in game coding and was designed for readers with little or no previous knowledge in JavaScript/coding. What better way to learn about game coding than designing and sharing your own 2-D games?
This book offers a great introduction to the subject of game coding and the knowledge and skills you develop are sure to help build a solid foundation for understanding the more complex code designing of websites, computer engineering, and professional level games development.
A Bedtime Yarn by Nicola Winstanley A Bedtime Yarn is a delightful bedtime tale of comfort and a mother’s ingenuity. When young Frankie has trouble falling asleep at night, his mother devises a creative solution to help him relax and drift peacefully into dreamland.
Each night Mama Bear gives Frankie her ball of wool to hold as he snuggles in his bed and she sits by the fire to knit. The click, click of her knitting needles lull him to sleep as the balls of wool slowly unravel in his paws. Each yarn color holds its own story and Frankie dreams sweet dreams of foamy green seas, ice-cold balls of snow, yellow dandelions, and marmalade kittens as Mama softly knits into the night. When Frankie announces one day that he’s a big boy now and no longer afraid of the dark, Mama Bear has one last sweet surprise in store for her little one.
Calming, soft illustrations and soothing colors throughout combine to make this a story that warms the heart and reminds us of the power of a mother’s love for her child. A Bedtime Yarn is sure to become a bedtime favorite with little bears everywhere and may even have some Mamas picking up the art of knitting to create sweet surprises for their own little bears!
My Journey to the Stars by Scott Kelly Astronaut, Scott Kelly's book, My Journey to the Stars, is an engaging, child-friendly autobiography that is sure to capture the imagination of every child who has ever gazed at the stars and dreamed of becoming an astronaut. Scott shares a fascinating glimpse into his family life as a child and the challenges he faced in pursuing his dreams.
The combination of simple text, illustrations, and remarkable photographs that document Kelly's home and career life, make this autobiography relate-able and understandable for children everywhere. Its inspirational message to fight to overcome life's challenges and to never give up on your dreams.
Like Vanessa by Tami Charles At 13, Vanessa Martin has experienced more hardship in her short life than any girl her age should ever have to and she’s “surviving on empty, waiting and hoping to be filled again.” Poverty, racism, alcoholism & family dysfunction are all too familiar to Vanessa and her family in 1983 Newark, New Jersey, but Vanessa is determined to rise above the hardships and shoot for the stars.
In this inspirational coming of age story, Vanessa, her grandfather, Pop Pop, and cousin, TJ watch Vanessa Williams crowned as the first black Miss America and this momentous event plants a seed of hope in Vanessa’s mind that maybe, just maybe, her dreams can come true too. When Mrs. Walton, the new music teacher at school announces that she’s going to run the school’s first ever pageant, Vanessa begins to consider that this may be her opportunity to re-examine everything she’s ever believed about herself, her family, and her future.
Follow Vanessa’s moving journey as she rises to meet each and every challenge that comes her way with grace, courage, and determination. Author Tami Charles challenges us to re-visit our own concepts of beauty, self-esteem, and friendship. An important, relatable story that is sure to appeal to a wide range of readers from every walk of life.
Wolfie and Fly: Band on the Run by Cary Fagan Wolfie and Fly are back, and true to form are heading into their next great adventure. “I like being in my shell”, Wolfie proclaims as her mom and dad try to convince her to perform in her school’s annual talent show. Little does she know, her next-door neighbour, Fly, aka Livingston Flott, has other plans for her; plans that don’t include Wolfie hanging out at home alone all the time!
Author, Cary Fagan delivers another young reader’s chapter book filled with adventure, friendship, and imagination. Charming black and white illustrations and ideal font type and size contribute to the book’s easy readability.
A fun, uncomplicated read for beginning and reluctant readers alike, Wolfie & Fly: Band on the Run sends a warm message of the importance of friendship and courage and that sometimes stepping out of your comfort zone can result in grand adventures. Wolfie and Fly are sure to entertain. What will they do next?
Harry and Clare’s Amazing Staycation by Ted Staunton: With no plans for travel, and long rainy days to contend with, Harry and his big sister, Clare are at home having a staycation. Their living room becomes Mars, complete with lava spewing volcanoes and the playground becomes a dangerous, wild animal filled jungle. In typical bossy, big sister fashion, Clare takes charge as the pirate queen making Harry walk the plank at the pool, as the lion tamer making him jump through hoops, and of course, being the oldest, she drives the Pasta Linguini car at the supermarket.
Clare takes charge of everything, including the snacks, which she conveniently doesn't share with Harry. ""Quietbut!" said the principal, whose mouth was full. "Or there will be extra homework." Harry soon learns that he has to take the snack situation into his own hands or risk going hungry the rest of their adventure-filled vacation.
Soft watercolor illustrations bring Clare and Harry to life and add to the story's appeal. Anyone who has grown up with a sibling, older or younger, will be able to relate to this humorous story of the complicated relationships we have with our siblings!
Benny the Biplane by Fritz Carmichael: Benny loves to fly and is saddened when circumstances change and he loses his job. He remains grounded until his unique appearance is spotted and he's returned to the sunny skies he so loves. Author Fritz Carmichael delivers an important message to young readers by reminding them that perseverance, hopefulness, and a positive outlook are valuable traits to have. In a world of uncertainty and instability, many children can unfortunately relate to concepts of unemployment, sadness, and loss. A timely hero, Benny reminds us all to have hope as he delivers positive messages of encouragement, resolve, and optimism.
Using simple text, historical photographs, and repetition, Benny the Biplane, Book 1 is a perfect reminder that there is always hope for tomorrow. The use of historical photographs is brilliant and provides additional discussion and learning experiences outside of the story's intended message. Children and adults alike are sure to enjoy viewing the old-time photographs contained within this short story. A list of illustration credits for biplane buffs who will want to seek out additional information on these vintage beauties is included.
Gertrude and Toby Meet the Wolf by Shari Tharp: The moment Farmer Sam leaves the farm to go shopping in town best friends Gertrude the goat and Toby the tortoise set off on their Friday adventure. Plans for a relaxing fishing trip to Trout Lake are forgotten when the friends see a young boy being carried off by a hungry wolf. They rescue their new friend and keep him from becoming the wolf's lunch but their adventure doesn't end there. Mr. Lobo is determined to get his lunch back and follows the friends to the red brick house of a very familiar trio.
Will they outsmart the hungry wolf or become his next dinner? Gertrude and Toby Save the Gingerbread Man by Shari Tharp: Best friends, Toby the tortoise and Gertrude the goat have an adventure filled day when Farmer Sam leaves the farm to take his prize pig to the county fair. Before long, the two friends are caught up in a daring rescue as they help their friend, the Gingerbread Man escape from the clutches of an ill-tempered giant.
Can the fearless duo save their tasty friend or will their attempts to save him crumble before their very eyes? Yitzi and the Giant Menorah by Richard Ungar: When the Mayor of Lublin presents Yitzi's little of village of Chelm with the biggest and most magnificent menorah anyone has ever seen, the villagers try to think of a fitting way to say thank you.
Night after night, they think of the perfect gift but each time they try to deliver it, something goes awry. Finally, on the last night of Hanukkah, Yitzi leads his fellow villagers into the blue-black night to deliver the most wondrous gift of all. Beautiful illustrations and a charming story make this a perfect Hanukkah story.
Jungle Land by Eric Walters: DJ loves spending time with his grandfather, even though it means facing one of his biggest fears, flying. Together, they fly his Grandfather's small 4 seater Cessna to Central America in the hopes of reconnecting with an old friend of his grandfather's. DJ soon learns that nothing is ever as it seems and things quickly take a turn for the worse.
DJ and his new friend, Alejandra soon find themselves driven deep into the unforgiving jungle when they are relentlessly pursued by a group of angry, gun-wielding kidnappers. Gunmen, jaguars, poisonous snakes and crocodile infested waters keep DJ and Alejandra surviving by their very wits as they run for their lives. With danger at every turn and the kidnappers closing in, DJ soon learns that he is stronger than he knew, and the secrets that his Grandfather keeps are much deeper than he could have ever imagined.
An adventure packed story for young readers in grades 5-7. A quick read from the Seven prequels series.
Sea Change: A TOON Graphic by Frank Viva: Eliot is certain that this is going to be the worst summer break ever after his parents send him to stay with relatives in Port Aconi, Nova Scotia. Early mornings, rough seas, strange food and even stranger local folklore combined with new friendships and an innocent love interest all contribute to Eliot's change of heart as he learns more about himself, his family and the amazing people of Port Aconi. He soon discovers that life in this remote fishing village isn't as bad as he had first envisioned and finds himself learning new skills, making new friends and rising to challenges with an inner strength his didn't know he had.
This is a great Canadian coming of age novel with an engaging story line, characters and an abundance of unique, graphic novel style illustrations. Perfect for grades 4 or 5 students, particularly in September after experiencing summer breaks of their own!
The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner: A year in the life of three southern US high schoolers. They are close friends, social misfits and each with a unique, compelling story of their own to tell. Life in this small, Tennessee town has been difficult for Dill. His father, a former Pentecostal minister, has disgraced his family, destroyed their reputation and now spends his days in a nearby prison. Dill and his mother struggle to make ends meet and as graduation day approaches, he dreams of the day he'll go away to college and escape the poverty, bullying and disgrace.
Lydia's well to do family supports her eclectic style and plans of college in New York. Her love of fashion and dedication to building her "Dollywould" blog are as much a part of her unique personality as the clothes she wears. Travis brings hope, determination and the will to move forward despite seemingly overwhelming odds. His calm nature, love of fantasy and deep inner strength are integral to the story line.
This is a well-written coming of age story. A story of deep friendships, family, poverty, religion, mental illness, obligation and abuse. Jeff Zentner brings this story to life in a very real way. The setting, characters and story line are so relatable that you'll quickly find yourself caught up in their struggles to live in the moment, plan for the future and escape from the past. You'll find this YA novel in our mature read section.
The Skeleton Tree by Iain Lawrence: Chris has finally has a chance to going on a sailing trip to Alaska with his beloved Uncle Jack. Once on board, Chris meets another boy, Frank who seems distant, argumentative, and disagreeable. Uncle Frank doesn't get a chance to explain the relationship between the boys before their boat sinks and he drowns. Chris manages to save Frank's life and the boys struggle for survival after they barely make it to shore alive.
The adventure, mystery and suspense continue to build throughout the story in very real, believable ways. Lawrence does an excellent job portraying the relationship between the two boys and anyone who knows teenage boys will recognize the accuracy of dialogue between them!
This book was an interesting read; using a variety of unique twists, turns, situations and sub plots to keep the story line spooky, suspenseful and moving forward.
Unleashed by Sigmund Brouwer: On the surface, Jace is one cool dude. Everyone thinks he has it all; fast cars, money to burn and pretty girls vying for his attention, but things are seldom what they seem. No one knows that Jace leads a double life trying to lead his life on his own terms; spending his days plotting revenge against his abusive father & using a false name, learning how to box at a nearby gym. His plans and life take a turn when he reluctantly teams up with two girls who have an agenda all their own.
This book is a quick read and one of a three book series that can be read in any order.
My Life Before Me by Norah McClintock: Following the lead of the successful series “Seven: the series” and “Seven: the sequels”, 7 of Canada’s best - loved Young Adult authors have joined together to create the exciting new series, “Secrets”.
“My Life Before Me” by Norah McClintock is one of seven books; each following the life of an individual girl who’s world is forever changed after the orphanage she grew up in burns to the ground.
The beauty of this series is that the books do not follow any specific order and can be read in any sequence, making it easy for young adult readers to enjoy these exciting adventures in any order. Each book masterfully takes the reader on a believable journey of discovery as it’s female protagonist searches for clues to her past and the deep, dark secrets of how she came to be.
“My Life Before Me” begins in the summer of 1964, introducing us to 16 year old Cady Andrews who dreams of becoming a world class reporter, just like her idol, Nellie Bly had been. Cady has spent her entire life in the Benevolent Home for Necessitous Girls and after it catches fire and burns to the ground, she and 6 of the Home's oldest girls are forced to start new lives on their own.
Cady leaves the orphanage and all she has ever known with one small suitcase in hand and an envelope containing an old, yellowed newspaper clipping of a photograph showing a tombstone and the name of a man she has never met.
Follow Cady as she dangerously ventures into mystery and intrigue, murder & mayhem; uncovering racism, prejudice, lies and deceit and discovers her own deep, dark family secrets that the tight-lipped town of Orrenstown thought were safely buried long ago.
Check out http://www.readthesecrets.com/ for novel excerpts and more information!