The Choice by Cindy Cipriano

Date Published: June 9, 2015 

ISBN: 9781922200181
Genre: Middle grade, fantasy
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Themes: friendship, family, home, loyalty
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble

The is the second book in The Sidhe series, see my review of the first, The Circle, here.

About The Book: For Calum Ranson, seventh grade brings changes in his relationship with his parents and his friends, and a confrontation with his bully. Calum’s talents have also developed to a level unheard of in the Sidhe world, and he surprises everyone when he cleverly catches the person responsible for casting Finley out from the Otherworld.
When Calum goes against everything he knows is right, he makes a choice that may cost him his friendship with Laurel. An old friend steps in, but her mysterious ways leave Calum questioning her motivation.
  
In the second book of the Sidhe Series, Calum, Laurel, and Hagen reunite in their search for Finley. And while many things have changed, Calum remains steadfast in his belief that Finley is still alive and that Calum will bring him home. —Goodreads

First Line: " Are you sure you saw it?" Calum asked, running his hand through his light brown hair. "You saw the glowing?"

What Others Are Saying: 
"The Choice is filled with lessons about friendship, morals, love, and loyalty. And written in such a deep and profound way that I find lacking among most YA authors today. With this book, itself, I already wanted to know about what will happen to Finley. The Choice is an engaging read and the description of the Sidhe’s world was vivid in my mind. And I wanted to be part of it." —Plethoric Thoughts

"...rarely will you find a story so involved, so deep and mysterious. Cipriano didn't "dumb down" anything, as some YA authors are known to. She assumed that teens would understand or strive to understand every emotion, every name and every element of the story." —Kelly Smith Reviews


What I Thought: Again, Cipriano doesn't disappoint as she weaves her fantasy involving the Gaelic myth of the Sidhe, a fae population living among humans. I love the characters and their seeming normalcy even with their extraordinary powers they are struggling to balance. The estrangement that the knowledge of their difference creates between Callum and Laurel due to Laurel's parents inability to accept Callum and his family is palpable. I'm sure any tween or teen that has experienced that kind of prejudice when a parent has difficulty trusting and at the same time protecting their child can relate to Callum and Laurels experience. This is a great read and I highly recommend it!

About The Author: Cindy Cipriano
Website
The Sidhe Series
Twitter
Interview on Writer And Authors
  
Who: Cindy Cipriano lives in North Carolina and has taught middle school science since 2001. She was named a North Carolina Outstanding Science Teacher in 2009 by the North Carolina Science Teachers Association. In 2012, Cindy received the Burroughs Wellcome Fund PRISM award for innovative teaching. Cindy has a M.Ed. and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She is also a North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator. Cindy is a member of the Drawbridge Writers Group, and the Triad Writers Group. Cindy enjoys speaking at conferences and is available for conference presentations, book club meetings, or other author visits.

Author To Author: Malia Ann Haberman

Today we have middle grade writer, Malia Ann Haberman. She lives in Seattle with with her three ferrets, Sunny, Cinnamon, Coco and Wyatt. (Sweet little Wyatt died on September 10th, 2013. He'll always be missed.) They love to play, sleep, crinkly bags and shoes.

Malia's Ferrets

Where You Can Find Malia:

Website

Facebook

1. Did you know immediately that the story you were writing was for children?

I did know. One night I dreamt I was living in a huge magical house. The next day I talked it over with my daughter and started throwing a bunch of ideas together for Chase Tinker's story. We both knew right away it was going to be perfect for Middle Graders and Tweens.

We also knew we would need loads of superpowers for the several hundred rooms in the house. I spent a lot of time asking everyone I knew, "If they could have just one magical ability, what would it be?" I really got some interesting answers. Some even made it into my books. :)

2. What do you like about writing for children and why do you write for them?

I like writing for kids because they're open and engaging, and they love fun, adventure and silliness as much as I do. :) They also have such amazing energy and enthusiasm and, of course, imaginations. I have such a good time coming up with ideas for my books that I hope they'll really get a huge kick out of.

3. Tell us a little about yourself and how you became a writer.

Well I live a little north of Seattle in a cute duplex with my three ferrets. (So of course, there's a ferret in my book. His name is Maxwell.) I teach Ballroom Dancing as my "day job." Two of my favorite dances are Salsa and Swing.

As for becoming a writer, it was around the time I turned 14 I realized, since I'd read so many terrific books, that writing was my calling. I just had this crazy urge inside of me to write. Though, during my teens, I spent a lot of hours writing sappy love poems and dreadful romance stories. :) I was in my mid-twenties when I realized I wanted to write kid lit.

4. Which comes first, character or plot? Why?

I always have plot ideas first and then I imagine the characters who will fit into the world I'm starting to build. I just find it a lot easier to work things that way.

5. Of all your characters, which one would you be least willing to kill off or have die?

I think that would be Maxwell. He's Chase's Cousin Janie's ferret. I would definitely never let anything happen to Maxwell. He started out as just the troublemaking pet, but his role has grown until the whole series just wouldn't be the same without him.

6. What advice would you give someone who is just beginning the world building process? Any tools or books you found most helpful?

I'm really not much good at giving advice, but I think anyone who wants to write needs to read. A lot! Especially in the genre you wish to write in. This will definitely help you learn about world building, characters, writing styles, grammar, etc.

I did read some how-to-write books that I really liked, but not everyone likes the same books, so I would say Google "books on writing" and read a few to decide for yourself which ones have the best information for you.

7. What was the inspiration for your character Chase Tinker?

I actually put some of myself, and some of my two daughters into Chase's personality. Like me, he's impatient, a bit on the cranky side, kind of dorky, hates onions and is bad at math, but he would do anything in his power to help his family and keep them safe. He's also independent, brave, and caring, which are great and inspirational (I think) characteristics that both my daughters have.

8. Tell us about your process.

When I first started writing my first book in my Chase Tinker Series, "Chase Tinker and the House of Magic," I had ideas, but no clear outline to follow. I would just let things come to me as I wrote, and it worked out really well. But then, my then-agent, wanted me to outline the rest of the series. I thought, What?! Write everything down? Now that's just crazy talk! But I put on my thinking cap and got to work, and it's a good thing I did or I would've forgotten and missed out on loads of great ideas. So now, I guess my process is being both a "pantser" and a "plotter." :)

9. What does a typical writing day look like?

I have a varying work schedule so I don't have a typical writing day. Though, I do try to write for at least an hour or two everyday in-between things.

10. Where is your favorite place to write?

My favorite place to write is in my living room using either my dining table or my coffee table as my desk, my laptop in front of me, and my TV going as background noise.

11. What did or do you find most challenging about the publishing process? What advice would you give authors?

Before I had a publisher, finding an agent and then getting a publisher were the most challenging, but since that's done, the most difficult things now are the marketing and getting the word out about my books; especially with no marketing budget.

The only advice I can give is to write and write and write and don't give up. If you have the talent and drive then hopefully things will begin to happen for you. It's a lot of hard, yet satisfying, work.

12. What is the best writing advice you have ever received?

I'd say it was work at finding your own unique voice and write what makes you happy.

You can find Malia's books on the following online sites:

Indiebound
Amazon

Barnes And Noble
Add her books on Goodreads.

Thanks Malia for joining us! 

Rose And The Lost Princess Blog Tour

On April 1st the second book in the Rose series was released. I'm still reading and will review both books later down the road. Suffice it to say, so far I'm enjoying getting to know Rose. She's a wonderfully rich character and look forward to seeing what happens next.




About The Book: Rose isn't like the other orphans at St Bridget's Home for Abandoned Girls. Instead of dreaming of getting adopted by loving, wealthy parents, Rose wants to get a job and be independent. She doesn't need anyone but herself. She finds her escape working as a maid for Mr. Fountain, an alchemist. Unable to ignore the magic that flows throughout the grand residence, Rose realizes that just maybe; she might have a little bit of magic in her too. This new series featuring magicians, witches, talking cats, mist-monsters, and friendships will have young readers in a trance!
Praise for Rose:   "A marvelous mystery... This book is suspenseful and funny and full of colorful characters." - The Buffalo News

"Rich vocabulary and a particularly scary encounter with a powerful witch set this title apart from other books in the genre. Fans of light fantasy and mystery will devour this intriguing story and eagerly await the sequel." - School Library Journal

"The start of a promising new series, English author Holly Webb spins together a shrewd and resourceful main character, a comfortingly familiar plot and writing that shines all the brighter for its simplicity... a book as satisfying and familiar as a cup of hot cocoa." - Shelf Awareness

"Rose is sympathetic and a pleasure to root for, the secondary characters have room to grow, and the ending can be read as a new beginning, leaving plenty of room for a sequel. Character and the day-to-day workings of a wealthy household overshadow magic and plot in this engaging tale of an orphan servant-girl." - Kirkus

About The Book: Now an apprentice magician, Rose is asked to help find a very special missing person.

Turning the worn pages of her spell book, Rose can't believe how much her life has changed. Once a poor orphan, she is now an apprentice to the king's chief magician. But when the country's beloved princess vanishes, everything changes. As rumors of dark magic fly through the city, the king asks Rose for help. She must find the missing princess, before all is lost.

About The Author: Holly Webb

Who: Holly Webb is the author of Dog Magic, Cat Magic, and Lost in the Snow. She has always loved animals and owns two very spoiled cats. They haven't said a word to her yet, but she's always listening, just in case! She lives in England.

Now In Paperpack: Wonder Light by R. R. Russell

About The Book: Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for "troubled" girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible — someone who needs her.

Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn.

A baby unicorn.

Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island's mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig's to care for. That she needs Twig's love and protection. Because there's something out there in the deep, dense shadows that's hunting for them... — Goodreads

First Line: Keely turned off the ignition and pointed at the haunted island.

Great Passage: "Mrs. Murley hadn't expected Twig to say anything back. Not like her teachers. She'd stopped talking to them when Daddy got deployed. She'd gotten so full of stuff on the inside that she made herself blank on the the outside"(53).

What Others Are Saying: "In this atmospheric debut, the unassuming and subtle fantasy elements take a backseat to Twig's growing faith in herself and trust in others.The combination of horses, unicorns, and an offbeat girl is a winning one." -Booklist

"There are far too many tales where a girl is made special because the cool boy chooses her; this is a tale about a girl who regains her sense of being a worthwhile person by her own actions and growth. We need more books like this for girls." —Robin Hobb, International Bestselling author of the Farseer Trilogy, the Liveship Traders Trilogy, the Tawny Man Trilogy, the Soldier Son trilogy, the Rain Wilds Chronic

Bloggers Weigh In:

A Backwards Story

Tales Between The Pages

The Book Cellar

What I Thought: I loved Twig as a character. When she arrived at the island she felt empty and numb, it wasn't until she moved out of her comfort zone and risked following her instincts that she began to grow. Everyone can relate to that kind of  struggle and Russell does a good job of conveying Twig's fears and doubts. The chapters are short and always ended with a question about what was going to happen. This fantasy will keep a middle grader wanting more, but not overwhelmed.

About The Author: R. R. Russel

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Who: R.R. Russell lives with her family in the Pacific Northwest. She grew up traveling the world as an army brat and now travels the country as a coach with a nonprofit judo club. She loves to read and draw, and like Twig, once spent a lot of time sketching unicorns.

Join me on May 9th for an interview with R.R. Russell and the sequel, The Unicorn Thief.

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Author Interview: Dorine White

About The Book: Ordinary tween life turns upside down when Ancient Egypt intrudes on modern middle school life. Twelve year old Sara Guadalupe Bogus reads about adventures, but unexpectedly is drawn into one when a mystical emerald ring that once belonged to Cleopatra becomes stuck on her finger.A series of burglaries spook Sara’s small Ohio hometown. Concluding that the root of all the crimes is the emerald ring, Sara realizes it’s up to her and her friends, Heidi and African exchange student Kainu, to save the town and protect Cleopatra’s legacy. Filled with magic, the ring thrusts Sara into a world filled with nightmares, allows her to shape shift into an Egyptian cat and battle assassins.

Today Dorine White is here for her blog tour for her debut middle grade fantasy, The Emerald Ring.

1) Why do you write for children? I like children's books because they are so full of whimsy. Children are at an age where they can imagine anything is real. I am able to weave in great fantasy and unlikely adventures into my stories.


2) Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you became a writer. Well, I am a stay at home mom of 6 awesome kids. The oldest is a senior and the youngest is in pre-school. I have always loved writing and was the editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper. Writing books just seemed to come naturally and it was something that I didn't mind spending time on. Of course, it is a little hard to find time to write, so I tend to do it in spurts.

3) What was the inspiration for The Emerald Ring? My love of culture and fantasy. I studied Humanities in college and like to mix fun history with adventure.

4) Tell us about your process. I'm one of those weird writers who doesn't write everyday. I think it's adult ADD or something lol. I write in spurts, filling up pages and then setting it aside for awhile.

5) What does a typical writing day look like? I have no typical writing day. It's mostly finding time at night after the kids have done their homework.

6) Where is your favorite place to write? I have a desktop in the living room. It's easiest for me to write there so that I can keep an eye on the kids at the same time.

7) What did or do you find most challenging in creating the story and/or getting it published? What do you wish you would have known? The most challenging thing is the amount of time it takes to get published. It took me over 8 years.

8) What is the best writing advice you have ever received? Write what you love.

9) Are you working on a new project? Can you tell us about it? Yes, I am working on a YA fantasy novel that involves an evil tyrant and his flesh eating griffin.

10) What advice would you give others that write for children? Read! I find that people sometimes try to write for children, but rarely ever read the children's books that are out there. Read what you write.
Connect with Dorine: 

Author Website- http://www.dorinewhite.com/

Blog- The Write Path- http://www.dorinewhite.blogspot.com/

Twitter @Dorinewhite- https://twitter.com/DorineWhite

Facebook Author Page- https://www.facebook.com/dorinewhite

MMGM: The Circle by Cindy Cipriano

Date Published: June 1, 2013 

ISBN: 1922200042
Genre: Middle Grade, fantasy
Publisher: Odyssey Books
Themes: friendship, family, home, loyalty
Add it on: Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes And Noble/ *Indie Bound*

About The Book: Calum Ranson is sure of three things: his cousin Finley is alive, Calum will find him, and no one knows Calum and his family are Sidhe. No one until Laurel shows up at his mother’s bookstore wearing a dark clan’s mark.
      When Calum learns the details surrounding the disappearance of Laurel’s brother, he suspects the evil Hobayeth clan. Calum and Laurel work together in the Realm of Man and the Otherworld to rescue her brother – revealing a connection between Calum and Laurel that may cost Finley his life.—Goodreads

  

First Line:Calum Ranson was sure his cousin Finley was alive, and knew he would be the one to find him. 

What Others Are Saying: “The Circle is full of magic and mystery. Readers will be engrossed in faerie realms, charming characters, and a state of wonder and imagination. The Circle is for those who delight in reading fantasy and exploring mystical worlds.” — LibraryGames.com

"Though the story sometimes gets bogged down with details that don't have any real bearing on the plot, it does help set the stage for a second novel young fantasy lovers will look forward to. An underlying message of the importance of family ties and friendship help round off the solid fantasy novel." —Boys and Literacy

Other Bloggers Weigh In: 

Shannon's View From Here
The Daily Harrel
A Tiffyfits Reading Corner

What I Thought: Cipriano is a gifted storyteller. She weaves a tale using actual Gaelic faery folklore. I loved learning the new words and what they meant. She created a believable world that exists within our own and was able to address real middle grade issues while leading the reader through a fantasy adventure. It started slow, telling us about the characters and setting up her world.The details were enough to keep me reading but may bog down a less skilled reader. It would be a great read aloud. Since the main character, Calum Ransom is a boy it brings an interesting perspective rarely used in fantasies about the world of the Fae. This is a great adventure and promises to be a fun series. 

About The Author: Cindy Cipriano
Website
The Sidhe Series
Twitter
Interview on Writer And Authors
  
Who: Cindy Cipriano lives in North Carolina and has taught middle school science since 2001. She was named a North Carolina Outstanding Science Teacher in 2009 by the North Carolina Science Teachers Association. In 2012, Cindy received the Burroughs Wellcome Fund PRISM award for innovative teaching. Cindy has a M.Ed. and is a National Board Certified Teacher. She is also a North Carolina Certified Environmental Educator. Cindy is a member of the Drawbridge Writers Group, and the Triad Writers Group. Cindy enjoys speaking at conferences and is available for conference presentations, book club meetings, or other author visits.

Give-Away And Series Spotlight

Today I'm spotlighting the Edgar-and Agatha Award-nominated book, The Wizard of Dark Street and its sequel, The Magician's Tower all written by Shawn Thomas Odyssey. These are all part of the Oona Crate Mystery Series.

Since I'm a few days late with my MMGM post I'm also going to be giving away one copy of The Magicians Tower!! How's that for some magic?

About The Book: Oona Crate was born to be the Wizard’s apprentice, but she has another destiny in mind.

Despite possessing the rare gift of natural magic, Oona wants to be a detective. Eager for a case to prove herself, she wants to show her uncle—the Wizard of Dark Street—that logic is as powerful as magic. But when someone attacks the Wizard, Oona must delve even deeper into the world of magic to discover who wanted her uncle dead.

Full of magic, odd characters, evil henchmen, and a street where nothing is normal, The Wizard of Dark Street will have you guessing until the very end. —Goodreads

First Line: On the fourth of November, 1876, the Wizard of Dark Street placed rthe following advertisement in the classified section of the New York Times:

                  WANTED: ONE WIZARD'S APPRENTICE.

What Other's Have Said: *Starred Review* "Odyssey's lyrical descriptions ("It was a place as ancient as the wind, where candlestick trees replaced light posts, and street clocks told jokes as well as time") and consummate world-building result in a wonderfully fresh fantasy-detective story." —Publishers Weekly

Bloggers:

Ageless Pages Reviews

Books For Your Kids

About The Book: Despite her extraordinary magical abilities and sleuthing skills, Oona Crate’s detective agency has failed to take off. But a new challenge captures her attention—The Magician’s Tower Contest.
Held every five years, no one has ever completed the array of dangerous tasks (such as racing on flying carpets or defeating a horde of angry apes). As the competition commences, a case emerges. A rare punchbowl—one with unparalleled magical powers—has disappeared from the carnival surrounding the Magician’s Tower. If Oona can find the culprit, she could use the bowl to answer her question about her mother’s and sister’s tragic deaths so many years ago—was she really at fault?

First Line: One the sixth of March, 1852, historian Arthur Blackstone gave the following speech to the  Historical Society in New York City. "Like the houw hand on a clock, Dark Street spins through the Drift."

What Others Are Saying: This clever sequel to The Wizard of Dark Street (2011) features an admirable heroine and an original plot laced with logic puzzles. Fantasy lovers will have a great time with this one. —Booklist
A traditional mystery structure and word puzzles mix nicely with action-packed magical stunts. Michael Buckley's The Sisters Grimm readers will find this series worth following.  —School Library Journal

Bloggers: 

GEO Librarian (Giving away the same book, only 8 hours left to enter!) 

Escaping Reality
The Hopeful Heroine

What I Thought: Confession; I haven't finished them yet. What I have read, I'm enjoying and love the mystery linked with magic. Odyssey has an incredible imagination and, as you will learn, extremely talented.

About The Author:
Shawn Thomas Odyssey

Website
Blog
Facebook
Twitter
YouTube

Who:For eight mysterious years Shawn Thomas Odyssey labored extremely long hours in a 140-seat (and rumored to be haunted) professional theatre in Santa Barbara, California. There he worked as an actor, a musician, a stagehand, a set builder, a scenic painter, casting coordinator, and was the person they sent into the dank, dark underbelly of the theatre to find rusty old props and spider infested wigs.

Upon his perilous escape from this life of daring stagecraft, he began an equally death-defying career as a music composer for film, television, and video games, creating scores for HBO’s Deadwood, and the Activision/Dreamworks video game Kung Fu Panda.

As if these daunting careers were not enough, he sought out even more fearsome territory by writing all kinds of treacherous stories, plays, and books, and acquired a tireless obsession for research into a subject he likes to call “the Dark Street phenomenon.” He is married to a mysterious dancer whom he met while working at the haunted theatre, and along with a passion for collecting magic wands, he enjoys playing unusually dangerous music in a band whose name to this day remains a tightly held secret.

Shawn lives in California. —Website

And now for the giveaway!

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MMGM: Guardians Inc. The Cypher by Julian Rosado-Machain

Date Published: February 26th 2011ISBN: 1450748589
Genre: Middle grade fiction, fantasy
Publisher: Julian Rosado-Machain
Themes: Honor, family, loyalty, world building
Add it on: Goodreads | Amazon

Guardians Inc.: The Cypher is FREE on Kindle, Nook and iBooks

Praise
USA Book News 2012 Finalist -Young Adult Fiction

About The Book: Guardians Inc.; The Cypher is two stories in one. A glimpse into a multinational company that is in reality the oldest of secret societies, one that spans close to seven thousand years of existence, weaving in and out of history, guiding and protecting humanity from creatures and forces that most of us believe are only mythology and fairy tales.
The other is the story of Thomas Byrne, a young man thrust into secrets he shouldn’t be aware of and dangers he shouldn’t face but, that he ultimately will, for he is a Cypher. The only one who can steer humanity’s future.
  
The ultimate conspiracy theory is that Magic is real. Kept in check by technology but, every five hundred years the balance can shift and, if it does, technology will fail and those creatures we’ve driven into myth will come back with a vengeance.
  
To protect the present, Guardians Incorporated needs to know the future.

  

First Line: Thomas fiddled with his thumbs waiting for his grandfather to emerge from from his meeting with Vice-Principle "Killjoy" Khanna.

  

What Others Are Saying:  "Rosado-Machain is particularly skilled at depicting not only the confusion and uncertainty of a teenage boy facing unexpected challenges and a crush on a much older elf, but also delineating his shifting relationships with the adults around him, particularly his grandfather." —Kirkus Reviews

"Julian Rosado-Machain definitely has a talent for writing characters, and even alone, Thomas was very likable. For a fifteen-year-old, he was surprisingly flexible, and eager to do what needed to be done in order to save the world." —Oktopus Ink

Other Bloggers Weigh In:

Lady With Books

Library Girl: Reads and Reviews

Now Is Gone

What I Thought: This is an amazing debut of middle grade fiction. There adventure is non-stop with characters that are inventive and full of interesting quirks. The fact the he imagined these complicated actors for his adventure and illustrates them too, only adds to its fun. There is humor and mystery throughout. No wonder it's been climbing the Amazon ranks.  

About The Author: 

Julian Rosado-Machain

Website

Facebook

Who: He was born in Washington but raised in Mexico City. He's been drawing strange creatures for most of his life. See a great guest post here: —Girl Who Reads

When: Julian continued to draw and when he reached junior high he learned he could write stories for these characters and has done so ever since.  

Next Week: Wish by Beth Bracken and Kay Frasier
(Faerieground Trilogy #1)

MMGM: Alligators Overhead by C. Lee McKenzie

Date Published: July 1, 2012
ISBN: 1432784730
Genre: Middle grade, fantasy,
Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc.
Themes: fantasy, friendship, magic, ecology, mystery, wildlife
Add it on: Goodreads / Shelfari / Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

About The Book: Alligators, witches and a spooky mansion aren't your average neighbors unless you live at the edge of the Ornofree swamp in the backwater town of Hadleyville. The town's bad boy, Pete Riley, may only be twelve, but he's up to his eyeballs in big trouble, and this time he isn't the cause. This time the trouble arrives when a legendary hundred-year-old mansion materializes next door and the Ornofree alligators declare war to save their swamp from bulldozers. Things only get worse when Pete's guardian aunt and several of her close friends vanish while trying to restore order using outdated witchcraft. Now Pete must find the witches and stop the war. He might stand a chance if his one friend, Weasel, sticks with him, but even then, they may not have what it takes.

First Line: Pete chewed on what was left of his right thumb nail, stared up at the round-faced clock above Aunt Lizzy's and watched it tick off his last minutes of freedom.

What Others Are Saying:  "McKenzie pens a swampy middle-grade story full of humor, hauntings, quirky characters and a mystery that continues to develop to the very end.

"The folksy diction and lyrical, verb-heavy storytelling will leave readers turning the pages all the way to the end, where big surprises await and the real villains are revealed. A short, fun story that will excite both young and old imaginations." —Kirkus Reviews

Book Bloggers Weigh In:
Annie McMahon
Novellarella
There's A Body In The Library
Teach Mentor Texts

What I Thought: I always like to share when I find a great boys read. The action is very fun with lots of twists and turns. I really liked the messages of environmental responsibility and respecting habitats. It was difficult imagining talking alligators but I believe that is just my own weakness in the imagination department. It was a fun read.

My Analysis:

1. POV: Third-person limited omniscience: participant
2. 210 pages
3. The Hook: Mysterious things begin happening, the crowning incident being a mysterious call telling him that said, "Today is the day, Peter Riley."
4. Inciting event: A mansion appears in the vacant lot.
6. Voice: In spite of the fact it is in third person, Pete's voice comes through in the way he describes things and his thoughts.

About The Author: 
C. Lee McKenzie
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Blog

Who:  In her other life--the one before she began writing for teens and younger readers--C. Lee was a teacher and administrator at California State University, San Jose. Her field of Linguistics and Inter-cultural Communication has carried her to a lot of places in the world to explore different cultures and languages. She can say, “Where’s the toilet?” and “I’m lost!” in at least five languages and two dialects.

Her idea of a perfect day is one or all of the following: starting a new novel, finishing writing a blockbuster novel, hiking on a misty morning trail in the Santa Cruz Mountains, saying Namaste after a great yoga practice, sipping a cappuccino topped at a bustling café, reading in front of a fire with snow outside, swimming in an ocean someplace.

Check out the other MMGM reviewers in my sidebar!

Next Week: Joy of Apex by Napatsi Folger

MMGM: Mirage by Jen Reese

Date Published: March 12, 2013
ISBN: 0763654183
Genre: middle grade science fiction, fantasy
Themes: determination, sacrifice, friendship, family, honor
Publisher: Candlewick Press
See my review of Above World, the first book in the awesome series, here.

About The Book: 
A thrilling sequel from an exciting new voice in middle-grade sci-fi tracks two ocean-born children braving the dangers of the Above World.
The desert is no place for ocean-dwelling Kampii like Aluna and Hoku, especially now that Aluna has secretly started growing her tail. But the maniacal Karl Strand is out to conquer the Above World, and the horselike Equians are next on his list. Aluna, Hoku, and their friends — winged Calli and Equian exile Dash — race to the desert city of Mirage, intent on warning the Equians. When they arrive, Strand’s clone, Scorch, has gotten there first. Now the Equian leader has vowed to take all his people to war as part of Strand’s army. Any herd that refuses to join him by the time of the desert-wide competition known as the Thunder Trials will be destroyed. To have any chance of defeating Scorch and convincing the Equians to switch sides, the four friends must find a way to win the Trials. The challenge seems impossible. But if they fail, the desert — and possibly all of the Above World — will be lost to Karl Strand forever.

First Line: Aluna ran toward a patch of rocks and scrubby trees trying to reach it's shade before the next wave of pain struck.

Great Line: "Everyone is weak sometimes. That is why everyone needs friends." —Dash

What Others Are Saying: "A strong, seemingly indestructible warrior, Aluna discovers she must rely on her friends to survive as the battle to save Above World continues. A powerful sequel with sustained themes of friendship and honor." —Kirkus Review

"A science fiction adventure with a martial arts heroine who rides an intelligent horse and has a boyfriend who wields a big sword? What young person wouldn’t love it? Aluna’s two techie best friends are also a couple, one a winged girl from the mountain area and the other a younger boy from Aluna’s village who has followed her across the world. All four are strong and interesting characters that have formed sibling-like bonds as they have traveled, fought, and rescued each other." —Bull Speck
Book Bloggers Weigh In:
Through The Looking Glass
Enchanted Inkpot
LitarariTea

What I Thought: After the Harry Potter series, I wondered who could build another world with such detail and then there was The Hunger Games. Each time I thought, "How could anyone create a world  as believable, expansive or as unique. Last year, I read another original world building novel, Above World and I again, believed that this could be the new series to love. Now after reading Mirage, my hope has been satisfied that another series has picked up the gauntlet. What I love about Mirage is Reese's use of science fiction tech and imaginative fantastical creatures and then braids them into a tight strong rope.   I was lassoed away into the deserts of the Equians and their deep traditions as it clashes against the realities of war with Carl Strand and his clones. The unlikely heroes, Aluna, Dash, Calli and Hoku unite with new friends Tayan, Tal and Nathif, despite their differences in beliefs and traditions, embrace their differences as strengths and travel the higher road. I can't say enough about the themes of family, sacrifice and honor that resonate from the pages. 

My Analysis
1. POV: Third-person limited omniscience participant.
2. 368 pages
3. The Hook: Aluna's tail fin is evolving and they are deep in the dessert.
4. Inciting event: When they finally reach Mirage, they realize it's too late, Karl Strand and the up-graders have already taken over.
5. Plot and Pace: The first 50% of the book pace seemed slow.The main quest didn't really get started until then. That said, I'm not sure how it could have been speeded up because there are important elements needed for the sequel to stand alone and prepare the reader for the characters individual arcs to resonate, even if the reader hadn't read Above World. Challenging, to say the least.
6. Voice: Reese has a strong tech-geek voice that works and adds to the plausibility of the premise.  

About The Author: Jenn Reese
Website
Blog
Twitter
Facebook
Google+

Interview: My interview with Jenn on World Building.

Who: Writer. Martial artist. Geek.

Jenn writes science fiction and fantasy stories about heroes and adventure and lasting friendships. Her short stories have appeared online in Strange Horizons and in a number of anthologies, including the World Fantasy Award-winning Paper Cities. She makes her home in Los Angeles, a sun-bleached desert city of freaks that she absolutely loves. When she's not sitting in traffic, she's studying martial arts, playing video games, and dreaming of rain. (Hey, Jenn come on up to the NW!)

Novels in the Above World series for ages 10+:
ABOVE WORLD (Candlewick 2012) - 2012 Nominee for SFWA's Andre Norton Award
MIRAGE (Candlewick 2013)
TBD (Candlewick 2014) I can't wait!!

Novels for older teens and adults:
JADE TIGER (June 2007)

Have you read the other MMGM reviews? You can find them in my sidebar ---------------->>>>>>>

Next Week: Calvert the Raven and the Battle of Baltimore by J. Scott Fuqua

No Ordinary Excuse by Michelle Adams

Date Published: February 11, 2012

ISBN: 0987232517
Genre: middle grade fiction, contemporary
Themes: Family, honesty, choices, school
Publisher: Odyssey Books
  
About The Book: ‘I put on my imaginary thinking cap. Mine is a hot pink, domed helmet with purple lightning bolts on the sides. It pulls down from a long spring coil above my bed… So with my cap in place, I started thinking of possible homework excuses. Maybe I could tell Miss Haven that I’d spent the last two weeks under alien hypnosis and they’d erased any memory of a school project…’
Meet twelve year old Gemma Martin. She wants to be an actress, but school is getting in the way. Gemma has used all of the usual excuses to avoid her homework, but this time she’s facing serious consequences and must rely on her vivid imagination to create the most extraordinary homework excuse ever. Initially, Gemma’s stolen project story skyrockets her popularity, but it isn’t long before things start to spiral out of control and Gemma is headed for disaster. No Ordinary Excuse is the story of how our biggest mistakes are often our greatest teachers. —Goodreads

  

First Line: I've never been a morning person; especially not a Monday morning person, and I probably would've done things differently if this story had started on another day.

What Other's Are Saying: "Debut junior fiction author Michelle Adams delivers some poignant life lessons without being preachy, and her tween-speak dialogue is simply spot-on." —The Daily Telegraph.

"No Ordinary Excuse was an absolute pleasure to read. Gemma had me laughing hysterically and cringing. Michelle Adams has produced a thought provoking and hilarious novel that teaches us that sometimes our biggest mistakes are our greatest teachers." —Gold Coast Bulletin 

Book Bloggers Weigh In:

Lindsay and Jane's Views and Reviews 

Writing Through Rose Colored Glasses

Polliwog Blog

What I Thought: I've had a repeating dream for years. I'm frantically pawing through my jam-packed locker, papers and books falling on top of me, to find an assignment that is due. The feelings are intense. I totally related to Gemma. I don't know how many times my report card or notes from teachers would read: "Pam is not using her intellectual or creative abilities." So when I read this delightful romp through middle-school with Gemma and her crazy adventure. She creates the most outlandish excuse for not having her homework ready to turn in and I was immediately transported back to my middle grade years. Adam's Tween speak is excellent and I loved Gemma's character. This is a great read about telling the truth but isn't at all heavy handed in it's message. 

My Analysis:

1. POV: First person, Gemma.
2. 168 pages
3. The Hook: Gemma remembers her social studies project is due and she forgot to do the project.

4. Inciting event: Gemma tells Miss Haven that her completed project has disappeared.
5. Plot and Pace: There seems to be too much space between the hook and the inciting event but other than that once the plan has begun the story races and doesn't stop until the end.
6. Voice: Adam's Tween voice for Gemma is incredibly realistic. 

Photo by Katrina Cram Photography

About The Author:

Michelle Adams

Website

Twitter

Pinterest

Blog

Who: Michelle Adams is not of the modern, fast-paced world. She exists in a realm where everyone has enough time to hear a good story, and the joy of growing and cooking your own food is the norm. Neighbours trade things over the fence and a tribe of children trample through the house on a daily basis. Some of them live here, but many others float in and out upon wafting aromas or wandering welcome bubbles. This is a happy place where the magic of imagination is alive and well.—Odyssey Books

Click on over to the other MMGM bloggers listed in my sidebar for some great reads to add to your TBR lists.

Next week:  Mirage by Jenn Reese [Book 2 of the Above World Series.] You can see my review of her spectacular first book here.