Grounded: The Adventures of Rapunzel by Megan Morrison

from goodreads

5 stars

This year we decided to give Miss G quite a few books for Christmas. Man, picking them out was so hard to do. My husband and I had a limited time to be out together getting gifts and by the time we got to the bookstore Mr. S was done. I mean for a kid who usually makes no noise and is chill, he was starting to fuss a bit and we knew we had about 10 minutes before total meltdown. There are so many cool looking books out right now that it was hard to choose. You need to pick a book that is not too easy but not so long or difficult otherwise they will get frustrated. You need to make sure it is about something they are interested in, but that you wouldn't mind reading aloud to them with out going insane.

In the end I went with some classic children's stories. You can't go wrong with books that have stood the test of time, right?

Synopsis

Rapunzel is living an idyllic life up in her tower. When a young man climbs her tower and steals a flower from her she decides to leave and get it back and protect Witch.

My Thoughts

I think the majority of the world would agree that Harry Potter is one of the best if not the best kids series of all time. Well, this new Tyme series by Megan Morrison is going to give Harry Potter a run for its money. Morrison has created a well thought through, rich world.

I love how this is not just a retelling of the same old story. Morrison puts her own twist on things as she tells the story of a girl who has lived in a tower, who has been loved by witch. You see from her perspective how witch wasn't the evil person everyone thinks she is. You see how Rapunzel truly loved her, she knew no different. You see how the world is so much bigger than Rapunzel's tower. The land of Tyme is truly interconnected.

Rapunzel and the character Jack were the perfect combination. Witty dialogue, they could be silly but also serious when necessary. The dimensions of these characters were amazing.

I like how Morrison takes care of possible plot holes. For example. Rapunzel had a ton of hair. Hair is heavy. How would she be able to walk around through the woods with all that hair and not get it all messed up and crazy. Well Morrison had a great answer that made sense. So smart. There were some other things like that were taken care of easily and believably. See, what I mean about a well thought out world. I also loved the acorns. Read the book and you will see what I mean.

This is a book of adventure, discovery, resourcefulness, trickery and ultimately love. This is a fantastic debut to what is sure to be a fantastic series. My words cannot do justice to how great these books are. Don't let the childish cover fool you. This is a book that any YA reader or adult would love. Pick it up. Read it. You will not be disappointed.

Seconds by Bryan Lee O'Malley

from goodreads

5 stars

I am not a big art person. Like, I like looking at nice pieces but I wouldn't say, " I get it". I don't look at it and analyse it. It is just a picture. What I do find amazing is how much a picture conveys. Without words you can get a sense of what is happening in a certain time frame or in a job. You can get a glimpse to what matters to the artist, what landscapes they enjoy or perhaps what their favourite colour is.

I guess that is the nice thing about art. You don't have to be an analyser, you don't have to collect it or try to be deep about it. You can just enjoy art because it is there. You can enjoy art just for you. You can let the pictures speak to you or be whatever you need it to be for you at a particular time. That's awesome.

Synopsis

This is a graphic novel that revolves around a woman named Kate. She is opening up her own restaurant while still living above the one where she used to work. When a worker gets injured the "house spirit" shows Kate a way to change things to help the injured worker, but now Kate wants to try and fix everything.

My Thoughts

I haven't read a lot of graphic novels but this is an art form I am going to have to explore a lot more. I love how you don't get bogged down with detailed descriptions. You can just get on with the story and you see what is happening instead of trying to imagine it. The story was pure and was not shrouded in adjectives and adverbs. I think that is the great thing about this genre, it is more dialogue driven, but you know exactly what is happening and you know exactly what the character is like.

I loved the idea that this book explored, the idea of trying to fix things. We often feel we need to fix things when really we just need to let it be. Sometimes the more we try to make things perfect the worse it can sometimes be. And the people we are trying to make happy won't become so. In this story it shows how one change which seems small has ripple effects that could make other things change, and the more you try to change things the more things get changed.

I loved how flawed Kate was. She wasn't trying to put on airs, she wasn't trying to be likeable. She had her own sense of right and wrong, her own sense of self. I love the other characters too. Everyone has something about them that makes them intriguing, even if they are only a minor player.

This would be a great book to try the graphic novel genre. I plowed through it in less than a day. The story is out there but not too out there and it does give you a lot to reflect on. I really enjoyed it!

Geek Parenting: What Joffrey, Jor-El, Maleficent and the McFlys Teach Us about Raising a Family by Stephen H. Segal and Valya Dudycz Lupescu

from goodreads

5 stars

Parenting is a hard gig. Even if you think you know what you are doing or feel like you have a lay of the land, something inevitably comes along to make things seem crazy again. The one thing that never changes with parenting, no matter what the age of your children, is that mom is always wrong. For example, you make tacos because you know your kids love tacos, they ate them up two weeks ago so they will for sure love and eat them tonight right? Wrong!!! Tonight tacos will become the most vilest of foods. How could you even think this would be acceptable to their discerning palates? Are you trying to poison them?

Often times we feel like we are alone in this great struggle. That all the other parents never have issues like this. That they have some secret magic wand that allows them to have children who always eat whatever is served with gusto and children who are always polite and brush their teeth and hair without being reminded. Isn't it a relief when we find out that all the other parents have some sort of struggles, whether they are the same or not. Your fellow parents are the best ones to commiserate with. They get it! No need to hide your parental short comings from them because they have short comings too. If they say they don't have any they are lying. Parenting. We're all in this together.

Synopsis

This is a book of parenting advice. The advice given comes from our favourite sci-fi, fantasy and comic heroes and families.

My Thoughts

I loved it! I am not a complete geek. There were many characters talked about that I had no clue who they were, but, that didn't matter because the advice or situations were so relatable.

This book of mini-essays touched on everything.

• accepting children's differences
• helping them learn for themselves
• knowing when to swoop in and protect them and when to let them be and figure it out themselves
• weird friendships
• allowing them to grow
• and more

This book helps us know that we are not alone in the parenting realm as these themes seem to be universal. The book shows us what sci-fi does best. It looks at the state of humanity, but with an other worldly lense, which allows us to look at situations at an arms length and helps to make connections about society you might not have made otherwise. 

I am really tempted to buy a copy of this book so I can always have their words of wisdom close at hand. This book is like your very own cheerleading section helping you feel like you can do this and you will do great!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

from goodreads

4 stars

I can't believe it is already past the half-way mark of September. Seriously, where did the time go. Since school has started I am starting to get into a bit of a familiar groove. Having two little ones at home is a nice change, though I do miss my older ones. During the day I only have one child coming with me with demands and desires instead of three. (The baby doesn't count, while he likes to eat he isn't super demanding.)

Now I just need to get into the groove of doing things for me again. Get into my schedule. I am looking forward to that!

Synopsis

Jacob loved hearing the stories behind his grandfather's pictures but that is what they were to him, stories. When his grandfather is horrifically killed Jacob decides to go to the orphanage, on an island off the welsh coast, where is grandfather grew up to find out more about him. What he finds is not what he expects.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure I would. The cover made me think it might be more creepy or more of a horror genre, which I am not into, but it wasn't and I was able to really get into the story.

The story was simplistic but there was a depth to it. You didn't get lost in details but there was a depth in character and story line that I liked.

I loved the concept that the author used of taking old pictures and then putting a story around them. Some of the photos were incredible and even though they didn't seem that they were connected Riggs was able to do it in such a clever interesting way that made complete sense.

Jacob's father was an interesting character, definitely an anti-hero. He was a good juxtaposition against Jacob.

The time loop thing was a bit wonky. I got confused by it a little bit. But I'm sure, if you are into time loops and know a lot about them it would make complete sense.

There are two more books in the series and I am excited to read them... I will have to stick them into my never ending to read list!

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

from goodreads

4 stars

When you were younger did you ever see other kids' parents and wish they were yours? It might have been the cool mom, or the industrious mom. It might have been the kid who had the coolest clothes or had their hair crimped. (Remember the crimping phase?) The briefest glimpse we got of other people's mothers made us envious and wish our mom was as awesome. For surely those moms never made their kids eat their vegetables or tidy their rooms. It was probably all fun and giggles.

As we grew up and as a parent ourselves we realise that there is no perfect mom. They all have issues and struggles. They are all going to insist on eating vegetables and tidying rooms. Sometimes when we see kids with all the cool gadgets that is often a way for the parent to make up for time away or feelings of guilt or to make the kids be quiet while the parent gets on with their life.

We all have our moments of parenting glory and parenting embarrassment. I know I will not be honoured for the mom of the year award... probably ever. And you know what that's okay. I know I am trying the best I can in the moment and that's all that can be asked of me or anyone. And I know, or at least hope, that someday my kids will understand that and then in their eyes I will be the awesome mom they always wanted.

Synopsis

Coraline feels a bit neglected by her always working, weird food eating parents. She discovers a mirror world with the perfect mother... or so she thinks.

My Thoughts

I really enjoyed this book. I am a bit late on the Neil Gaiman scene, but I definitely need to read more from him.

As a parent reading this book it helped to show life through a child's perspective. Sometimes when we become an adult we forget what it was like to be a kid, or sometimes adult concerns overwhelm us that we forget to take a moment and just be and let our kids be kids. This book helped me think about the actions I do each day and ask myself, Am I being neglectful? Am I meeting their emotional needs?

This book was a great way to show kids and adults alike that things that seem perfect aren't always what they seem. We all have problems, some just show more than others.

I liked the whole quest part that Coraline must go on. The goal she had kept her focused and kept her from getting distracted. The rock with the hole in it that helped her see clearly helps us know that when we are unsure about something there is always a way to see clearly.

This book offers great insight to the modern family. Yes work is important, yes our own interests are important, but kids and their likes and dislikes are just as valid an important. We need to find a balance so that everyone can feel loved and heard.

This is a great book. I would think kids 9 and up would enjoy it. Their are some creepy bits and some of the pictures in my copy where a bit creepy (even for me), but it is definitely worth the read.

Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta

from goodreads

3 stars

As a mom I get a lot of things wrong. Just ask my kids. Even when I think I am doing the right thing inevitably it turns out to be the wrong thing, at least in the eyes of my lovely daughters. But this summer I got one thing right, not sure if the kiddos agree, but this thing has saved my sanity.

After Mr. S was born and even now, each day feels like a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants day. I don't have too much planned. That mostly happens because I have no idea how my night will be and how I will feel in the morning. This boy likes to eat! So, while I could have the intentions of doing something epic that doesn't always turn out. I knew this would happen, but I didn't want my kids to be zombies and just sit in front of the screen. So, I made a list of things they had to do before they watched or played something on the screen. That has saved me such a headache of keeping track of screentime or figuring out if they should go on or not. They ask to watch a movie, I ask, "have you done your list?" and bam! the answer is made. Life is blissful. One of the items they have to do is read for 15 minutes. Well, usually they start reading and then they keep going and it isn't until late afternoon that they even think about screen time. Yay for reading and yay for less screen time!!!

Synopsis

The Kingdom of Lumatere has been over run, the royal family is dead and an impostor king is on the throne. When a curse was put upon the land a force kept those who were in the land in and those who were out of the land out. Many years later Finnikin and his mentor Lord Topher travel to find the lost guard and the lost prince so they can undo the curse and get their country back.

My Thoughts

This was an okay fantasy but definitely not my favourite.

I felt like I was just plunked down in the middle of the story that was already going on. There was not a lot of background or set up. You learned of things as you went along, sort of like piecing together a puzzle, but that caused the story to be a bit disjointed. Sometimes it was assumed you knew things and you didn't, or the characters felt some urgency for things, but you didn't get why. Because of this I didn't really engage with the characters until the last third of the book. I didn't know them earlier so it was hard for me to care about their plight.

I found the character Jalin annoying. Sure she had a method to her madness but seriously, communication would be nice and would have alleviated a lot of stress. She wants those around her to trust her but then she keeps doing things that betray their trust. It was quite weird.

I did like the world that they created. It was interesting and I liked the different countries and how you learned the plight of each one. Yet, it seemed to be only a 2-D rendering instead of the fully fleshed out version. Though, what I saw I liked.

This is the first of a series. It looks like the other books in the series have different protagonists so it might help with some of my criticisms. On a whole this was an interesting book, I just wished I had a bit more build up in the beginning instead of just being plunked in the middle of a story.

The Siren by Kiera Cass

from goodreads

4 stars

The expression "when it rains it pours" definitely describes my life the past week. It seemed that if one more thing was thrown at me I was going to go crazy. I had to have extra appointments, and those needed to be squeezed in around Miss G's spooky tea birthday party and a day off school. My hip started acting up which meant walking sucked and since walking sucked I didn't get done all I wanted to in Miss G's new room. This week is looking up a bit but I feel so behind and I don't have time to fall behind.

What got me through this? Having some good things to read. Thank goodness for books. They truly are an escape and sunshine on our rainy days. Now it is time to breath easy, get caught up and continue to read.

Synopsis

Kahlen was rescued in a drowning accident and became one of the ocean's sirens. These girls are beautiful but their voice is deadly. They must serve the ocean for a hundred years, luring ships for the ocean to consume. When they aren't doing that they live their lives how they please, but they cannot talk to regular humans.

Kahlen is almost done her time when she falls in love with a mortal. Will she be able to risk it all for love?

My Thoughts
This was a really interesting take on the whole idea of sirens and the ocean, the inter-connectivity of people and the strength of love.

Kahlen was an interesting character in the fact that the deaths that her voice caused on the ocean affected her so much, where as the others were more immune. It is kind of a morbid thought. The ocean needing to feed and the way it does that is through drowning victims. The premise, I grant you, is a bit weird, yet it worked.

I liked the story. I liked how Kahlen made things worked. I liked how the siren's were there for each other. I liked how this wasn't just a sappy romance but showed how people really can feel connections and work around perceived obstacles. I liked how it showed the power that love really can be.

This book is nothing like Cass's Selection series. This has a deeper feel to it and a bit of a darker tone. It is still a great book "fluff" book. One you can read without making your brain work too much. But the characters were more real and relatable, it was not silly, it was just a great story to be a part of.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

from goodreads

3.5 stars

When it rains it pours. I don't know what it is but no matter how well I usually manage my holds in the library system there seems to come a time when I am deluged in books. Now being deluged in books isn't really that much of problem, unless you have to have them read in a certain amount of time or be doomed to be put to the end of the list! Of course this usually happens at the most inconvenient time, such as, a big project due, trying to get work done around the house, or some other life event.

Right now I am in the middle of that deluge. And of course I am in the middle of some house projects so trying to find the balance of needing to get these books read and organizing my house is pretty tricky, and I will admit I probably pick reading over organizing more than I should, but I know I will get through it. Both things will get done. Especially after I finish just one more chapter.

Synopsis

Enter a magical realm where people have super human gifts, or graces. Katsa is one of those. She has two different coloured eyes which means she has a grace. Her grace haunts her and is dangerous, she is a lean mean can kill/mame machine.

When she is sent a mission to save a man from prison her life changes unexpectedly. She learns more about her gift, and more about a secret that could poison the seven kingdoms of the realm.

My Thoughts

This was a great fantasy. This is the perfect book to start on your fantasy journey. It wasn't too weird and it was just fantastical enough. Some fantasy books are extreme and throw every mythical creature at you. This book just dealt with differing powers and no elves or fairies, so it was great. (Nothing against elves or fairies they just can be a bit hard core for the novice fantasy reader).

I liked that the characters were real, dealing with real issues. The adventure was believable and the outcomes didn't seem overly contrived.

This book did suffer from some first time author, not blunders, but issues. There were bits in the story that just seemed too jumpy or went from one extreme to the other. An example was, Katsa realized something about Prince Po, and while it may have been a bit upsetting she totally freaked out and I didn't get where this extreme anger came from. She seemed fine one minute and then was totally hating on him the next. It was hard to wrap my brain around. Another thing that was a bit weird was the climax of the story. It seemed almost too short and everything got wrapped up a little too neatly. I know that is better than a long drawn out story, but it almost seemed too quick.

All in all, I did enjoy the story. I really liked the world that Cashore created. There were some really neat ideas and dealt with some pretty cool moral dilemmas.

There are two more books in the series which I hope to get to at some point soon. From what I understand they are stand alone books that are set in the same realm. They focus on different characters but there are appearances from familiar characters from other books. I definitely recommend this book.

The Boundless by Kenneth Oppel

from goodreads

4 stars

I cannot believe it is March already. While time sometimes seems to be going slowly, the days just fly past.

On Sunday I watched the Oscars with one of my book club friends. It was so much fun. I don't know what it is about award shows but I love watching them. I don't care about the dresses, or the speeches, or about the celebrity of it, really. Perhaps I like seeing people who have worked hard at their craft be celebrated and in awe and humbled by their achievement.

While watching it we were excited about seeing the film Mad Max: Fury Road win so many Oscars. When you think of the Oscars you think of more artsy and make you have to think movies receiving attention. No matter what type of movie is made, every one on them are working hard to do their best for it.

Do you like watching award shows?

Synopsis

I am taking the synopsis from goodreads as it is better than anything I could come up with to capture the fun and intensity of this book.

The Boundless, the greatest train ever built, is on its maiden voyage across the country, and first-class passenger Will Everett is about to embark on the adventure of his life!

When Will ends up in possession of the key to a train car containing priceless treasures, he becomes the target of sinister figures from his past.

In order to survive, Will must join a traveling circus, enlisting the aid of Mr. Dorian, the ringmaster and leader of the troupe, and Maren, a girl his age who is an expert escape artist. With villains fast on their heels, can will and Maren reach Will's father and save The Boundless before someone winds up dead?

My Thoughts

This is my first Kenneth Oppel book. I am definitely going to have to check more of his stuff out.

I love the idea of this monstrously long train full of secrets, deceptions, mythical creatures, different kinds of people with different stories. It was really cool to see the people from the caboose all the way up to the engine.

I love that there is a sense of normalcy, that things are familiar, but, there is enough fantasy to let your imagination go. It is a dark and mysterious story, it can be intense at times, but it is fun. Because of all the different aspects of the book you really can't pigeon hole it into a certain genre. There is history, adventure, mystery and fantasy. It is all delightfully mishmashed together.

I would love to see what happens to Will and Maren after their adventure on The Boundless. I think they would lead really interesting lives.

This is definitely a book that I would recommend for ages 13+. It does deal with some nefarious characters that might not be the best for younger audiences.

The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald

from goodreads

3.5 stars

I have mentioned before how I grew up in a house filled with books. While there were many bookshelves everywhere we did have a dedicated room we called the library which had floor to ceiling book shelves. The books were even divided into sections.

I loved going in there and looking at all the books and thinking about what it would be like to read certain books or not.

One book that always caught my eye but I never picked up was The Princess and the Goblin. It was one of my mom's favourites, but I never got around to reading it. When I made my list of books for the year I put it on. It had been on my to read list for so long it was ridiculous. The time was now. Well, I finally read it and I am so happy that I did. Now on to the next!

Synopsis

Princess Irene lives in the mountains, but can not be out at night. That is when the goblins come out. Curdie is a miner, he has learned of a plan the goblins have. Curdie's and Princess Irene's story lines weave together for a magical fairy tale.

My Thoughts

This was a cute story. It was a story that allowed magic to happen without it feeling weird. It had adventure, magic and love.

While it was a bit slow at some parts it was still a fun story. I love the character of Curdie. He seemed so brave and sure of himself. He was cool. I also liked Princess Irene. She was strong willed but also cared for those around her, and she had this naive kind of trust that was lovely.

As with anything written over 100 years ago the cadence of words, the choice of words and pacing of the story was odd and could make this story hard for some readers to enjoy. With classics, either you like it or you don't, it is really a style preference, or more, a style "I can put up with it".

This is and was a children's book. Do not expect a deep Tolkein type novel. It is just a fun story. A story for story sake. If you read it to your kids, I'm not sure what their reaction would be, if they would like it or not. I think my kids would listen to being read aloud but not absorb it. This might be better for 12 and over. But, it is delightful, definitely worth the read.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

from goodreads

2.5 stars

Classics are a funny breed of book. It seems when you read them either you love them or you hate them. Very rarely do you fall in between, though it does happen on occasion.

Usually when I look back on the classics I have read I feel a great love and happiness come over me. I love thinking of sweet Jane Eyre and my heart still aches for her sadness but then rejoices at the happiness of her life. I remember the first time I read Great Expectations. I can still remember my exact location when I was reading the final revelations at the end of the book of the connection between the characters. (It was in the back of our car and we were driving back from Owen Sound and we were just passing the turn to Haliburton that is found in the little blip on the map called Tory Hill.)

I don't know what it is about classics that speak to us so much. Is it the wordiness? Is it the fact that they have stood the test of time and these are the books that we still know about in today's day and age? I don't know. Perhaps it is the difference in the language. The need to actually think about what the author was trying to say that makes them so enjoyable, or unenjoyable, to read.

All I know is I haven't read nearly as many classics as I wish to and I am looking forward to reading more.

Synopsis

This book follows the life of Dorian Gray. He is young and impressionable. He has his portrait painted and when he sees the beauty of it he makes a wish. He wishes that he would remain beautiful and young and that the portrait would age. As his life unfolds he begins to realize that that was not just some idle wish.

My Thoughts

I so wanted to like this book more than I did.

The actual story line was great and interesting and some of the social issues of the time that were dealt with were rather intriguing. Yet the execution of the story just wasn't there.

I found the monotonous and contradicting monologues rather tedious. I think you have to be in the right mood for the ridiculous and I was not in the mood when I was reading this. I also found the pages and pages of descriptions of embroidery and jewels almost unbearable. I almost quit reading then and there. During the monologues and descriptions I will admit that my eyes glazed over a bit and I did quite a bit of skimming. I know that you shouldn't skim but it was the only way I could get through it.

If the book was just the story of the painting and Dorian it would have been so great. When there was action happening in the book I loved it and couldn't wait to figure out what was going to happen. If only Mr. Wilde could have stuck to that type of narrative instead of having to put in his "witty" banter and descriptions, because the idea behind the book was quite awesome.

So all in all, I guess I am sort of glad that I read it but I was left unimpressed. It could have been so much more than just a "when is it over" book.

The Golem and the Jinni by Helene Wecker

from goodreads

4 stars

While I do not consider myself to be a "Trekkie" I do really enjoy the Star Trek franchise of shows. I love how it can deal with social issues such as racism, sexuality and identity without it being in our face. Because it is dealing with alien races and cultures those topics seem to be less taboo then if it were on other shows.

I particularly enjoyed how TNG dealt with the character of Data. He was an android that was very human like and wanted nothing more than to be fully integrated into human life. Many times during the series the talked about questioning what was human and what wasn't. Did Data have humanity? Did he have a conscience? Were his emotions any less valid than that of a flesh and blood human? These kind of questions can be posed in various ways in the non Star Trek world too, but the concept of what makes us human is a very interesting topic to explore. Are we as human as we really think we are?

Synopsis

It is near the turn of the twentieth century. Chava is a Golem, a woman made of clay, whose soul purpose in life is to serve her master. When her master dies shortly after she is awoken, Chava finds herself in New York City. A city full of people's desires that she feels drawn and overcome to fulfill.

Ahmad is a Jinni who was set free by a tinsmith and has to come to grips with being bound to human form and not be as free as he is used to.

Both creatures have to figure out how they will fit into this new world they are in. When they meet they learn things from each other that help them find their path.

My Thoughts

This was a really interesting book. I really enjoyed the question of humanity. Does the golem have a conscience. Can she be empathetic and can she think for herself despite the limitations and drawbacks that being a golem has. It was interesting to see the struggle the rabbi had when he was helping her and trying to figure out what he should do about her. I really loved the character of Chava. My heart went out to her and I was hoping that she would be able to find her way and find happiness at the same time.

The book also discussed the topics of free will, thinking for yourself and things that are pre-destined or inherited. It also discussed the concept of "just because you can doesn't mean you should." How we need to overcome our selfish desires and look outside ourselves to help with our own contentment.

The book itself was sort of a mishmash of a lot of things. It was a fantasy type book with characters like the golem and the jinni. But it also seemed to be part historical novel as the setting of New York at this time was almost a character unto itself. It was obvious that a lot of research went into New York at the turn of the century and I learned a lot more about it then I thought I would ever know. Because of these many differences in genres at play there were times when the story sort of lagged a bit. Other parts seemed to speed ahead. I am glad that I persevered to the end. It was definitely worth it.

There were jumps between timelines. When it first happened it was a bit awkward because I didn't know what was happening and if other parts were connected or what. Everything made sense in the end but some of the transitions were a bit awkward. And some of the things in the desert kind of went on and on. I'm glad that I got some background knowledge on the jinni but some of it could have been a bit better edited to make the story a bit tighter.

There were also a few characters that I wasn't sure what the point of them was. They could have been out of the story and it would have flowed just fine. They didn't detract from the story, but their impact on either of the two main characters didn't enhance the story very much and the plot could have been changed to go around their absence. But that was really a minor thing.

All and all I did enjoy this book. I enjoyed the main story more than the fringes that it sometimes went off on. I found the character of Chava to be quite lovely and I thoroughly enjoyed her development. Ahmad was a bit harder to like but by the end you love him and find him actually quite admirable. When I started this book I really didn't know what to expect but what I got was great. Definitely worth the read.

The Lost Island of Tamarind Nadia Aguiar

from goodreads

4 stars

Well summer is definitely winding down. The weather this week has been cooler, summer outings are becoming less frequent, and the back to school craziness has begun. The kids are also beginning to be a bit restless. I think they are ready to go back to school and make some awesome scholarly discoveries there.

I am also looking forward to the change in season reading wise. I seem to change the types of books I read with the seasons. Summer I prefer something light and fun. Winter I prefer to read more heavy books (literally and figuratively). Not that I am a purist in that regard. It just seems to be how things work out.

My to read in 2015 list is starting to dwindle down. I only have 12 left and three of those are book club reads. I have been reading a lot of books not on the list but I am excited to have made such a significant dent in books I have wanted to read for a long time and now am finally getting to. I am not sure if I will make a list for 2016. Maybe I will, I don't know. Do you ever make lists for a year or do you just read whatever seems to tickle your fancy in the moment?

Synopsis

Maya lives on a boat with her marine biologist parents and her brother Simon and little sister Penny. Maya desperately wants to be a normal teenager, go to a normal school and have friends instead of being on a boat floating around the Caribbean. When a storm comes and settles Maya and her siblings on a strange island Maya has the adventure of her life as she tries to figure out the islands secrets and find her parents again.

My Thoughts

This is one of those book that I just picked up on a whim at the library. The cover kind of intrigued me and I thought why not. I am so glad that I picked it up.

This is a great adventure story. The characters are believable and I even liked them. The island was a great mix of reality and whimsy. The adventures and predicaments the children found themselves in seemed plausible and not so utterly fantastic. It was just a great story.

At first when I found out that Penny, who is like a year old, was going with them on the adventure I was like, man, how are they going to deal with this in a realistic way? Sometimes authors add these elements but then the story goes in a direction where the kids seem almost forgotten and neglected making it not very realistic to life. This author got it bang on. Penny was always part of the mix, was not lost or forgotten and the author showed how they had to deal with the realities of diaper changing and food foraging for her. It was thought out and I really appreciated that.

I think of the older kids and tweens in the crowd who read this will love the sense of adventure, will love the different locations through the island, and will love how the kids are truly the heros and are not just waiting for the adults to come around and save them.

The only thing that prevented me from giving it a full five stars is the flat ending. Not all the questions were answered and it just felt incomplete. Also it was hard for me to figure out if the island was really primitive or had industries. Also, I relied on the map in the front of the book a lot, sometimes things weren't located where I thought they would be on the map and the story and the map didn't always make sense when it came to the distance or sense of things.

There is a second book that I think I will take out and read at some point. Perhaps some of my questions will be answered then.

This book would be great for kids 10 and up. It is just a great adventure.

The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black

from goodreads

3 stars

What a lovely day. The weather is warm the sun is out and the market was not super busy. Nothing is more icky then when the market is jammed packed with people and you can't find a parking spot! It was so leisurely. I bought some honey and beautiful tulips. (I gave the tulips to my friend, she just had a baby #4 and I wasn't sure what else to get her.)

They had a fire going there to help warm people up from the wind. Though, I didn't find the wind cold. It was really quite delicious. As I sit typing this I can still smell the a faint whiff of the smoke in my hair and on my sweater. Lovely. Don't you love it when days turn out so great!

Synopsis

Fairfold is a town that is full of faeries and wood folk. The mortals who live there have charms and leave offerings to appease the folk. In the woods there is a boy in a glass coffin. He has been there for a very long time. One day he wakes up and the town fears what will happen next.

My Thoughts

I found this book baffling. There was so much in it that was awesome and yet so much that just left me scratching my head. In the acknowledgements even the author said it was a hard and sometimes confusing book to write... well to me, it shows.

The protaganist is a girl named Hazel. The Hazel we are introduced to in the beginning of the book doesn't seem to be the same Hazel that we are left with at the end. The book covers only a few days worth of time so a complete character metamorphosis can't really happen. At the beginning she seems more or a partier and moody and apathetic teen. Really it turns out she is a warrior with a heart of gold. It was really confusing and hard to get to know her. It was kind of like that for all the characters.

There was also a lot of flashbacks and set ups so that what happens near the end of the books made sense. This made the beginning and middle parts rather boring and dull. The story just didn't move as well. That said, once the action started to pick up it got really good and interesting. The story almost moved too well and the book was over a bit too quickly.

While this is a stand alone book I could see these characters being part of a series, and I think the second book would go a lot smoother and be more action driven as all the explanations had already been done.

So, while there were parts that I found confusing and hard to get, it was still an interesting read. I think the faerie loving teen in your life will like this book.

Spells by Emily Gravett

from goodreads

3 stars

The past few days have been epic. Epic in sickness that is. It is amazing how fast bugs can travel, especially when enclosed in the school system.  First Miss G. was sick then a later week Miss V. and Miss P. got sick. Then I got sick yesterday, hence the delay in the post, and now Miss G. is sick again. My husband hasn't gotten it yet. Hopefully he is able to stay strong so he can nurse the rest of us. Though, it seems to be a 24-hour bug, so it's not too bad.

The upside of all of this is I am getting quite a lot of reading done. I was able to finish one book on the weekend and I am 2/3 of the way through another. I definitely won't be missing too many blog posts for the next little while due to not reading enough, that's for sure!

Synopsis

Frog finds a book and wishes it was a different kind of book and wishes he was a different kind of being. When he discovers it is a magic book he decides to try out some of the spells.

My Thoughts

I'm still not sure what my thoughts actually are about this book. Though I will admit, the more I read it the more I like it.

I like the illustrations. I like the use of black as the background. It makes everything seem that much more magical.

I am beginning to like the split pages now that I understand that you are supposed to play around with them to see what different things you can create with the spells. At first I wasn't sure if I was supposed to go in order or not and I was really confuddled. I think that's why I didn't like the book as much at first.

I don't get the ending. Was the magic only good for so long? Why couldn't he get the kiss he wanted at the beginning. The ending was rather abrupt and I felt left hanging.

I would recommend this book, simply for the fun of creating different creatures with the flip pages. But if you are looking for an engaging story, this isn't the book for you because there really isn't that much of an actual story.

The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch Illustrated by Michael Martchenko

from goodreads

5 stars

One month until Christmas! And I am actually feeling pretty good about it. I have a handle on the presents that I am making myself. I feel confident that my kids aren't going to be sad come Christmas morning, and I won't be sad with more junk. I think it will be good. Now we just need to figure out where we are going to put our tree.

This will be our third Christmas in our house and each year we have had to change where we put the tree. Our first Christmas we only had three chairs in our living room. This meant it was pretty sparse and we cold put our tree wherever we wanted. Then the couches came so we had to move the tree from one corner to another. This year we brought in a piano so now that corner is no good. I am thinking of putting it right in the middle of our front window. I think it will look pretty from the inside and the outside as well. Now we just have to figure out when we are going to cut it down. Since we moved and have no carpet we have been going to a tree farm and cutting our own down. It has been so much fun. My husband was skeptical of the whole real tree thing, but I think we have made a convert out of him.

How is your Christmas looking with a month to go?

Synopsis

Princess Elizabeth has it all; a castle, an awesome wardrobe, and a handsome prince named Ronald. But all that changes when a dragon comes and smashes her castle burns her clothes and carries off Prince Ronald. What's a girl to do?

My Thoughts

This book is a classic. I loved it when I was a kid and I love it now. If you are looking for a strong female role model, Princess Elizabeth is it. She strategizes she is brave, and she can make a paper bag work, fashion-wise.

This book totally shows us that we need to make lemonade out of the lemons in our lives. It also shows us that sometimes we need to take stock of our life and be honest with ourselves. For Elizabeth it took the whole dragon thing for her to see Ronald in his true light. We don't have dragons to do that for us, but sometimes we to figure out how we can do that, even when we might not want to know the truth.

This book is great for kids. It isn't that deep and it isn't beating the kids over the head with morals. It is just fun. Here is the link to listen to the author read the story. Some find him annoying, but as a kid, I loved listening to him tell this story. To be honest, I still do.

The illustrations are awesome. I love Martchenko's work. He captures the the emotions of it so well. Love it.

Some of his books are crazy and not as good, but this book is stellar. If you read only one Munsch book this is the one you have to read. You will love it.

The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering

from goodreads

4 stars

So I can probably already hear what you are saying. "Hey where the heck are the picture books?" I promise next week I will be back with the picture books. But this book did have pictures throughout and it is a great one to read out loud, so to be fair, this is kind of like a picture book.

At the tail end of summer it was reading crazy here. I got through so many books. I want to post about the books I read before they get too far away from my memory. I do write down some of my thoughts but when I go to write my posts the book I write my thoughts in always seems to be missing. Seriously, I have elves in my house.

So next Tuesday I promise I will get back to the picture books.

Synopsis

Since his birth there has been something odd about Despereaux. When he falls in love with a human princess named Pea, the rest of the mice feel they must deal with him. It is truly a tale of love, kindness and being accepting of others.

My Thoughts

This has been on my list for quite awhile and I am so glad that I picked it up. It was on the feature wall in our library and I thought, why not. I will be reading this to my girls when they get a little older.

I loved the fantastical world that DiCamillo created. It's like it could be real life but there were some silly parts that made it seem other worldly. Such as, humans not thinking it strange that mice and rats could talk and that they knew the animals could understand them when they talked to them.

I loved the whole conflict of trying to be the same as everyone else, but then staying true to who you are. Despereaux, loves to read the books instead of nibble them. He loves staring at the light through the window instead of quickly running into the mouse hole. He finds love in unlikely places. All this causes conflict with the other mice, as they don't know how to deal with his oddities. This is a great story to introduce the concept of acceptance of those who do and see things differently.

The same for the rat Roscuro. He lives in the dungeon. As a rat he is not supposed to like light, and is always supposed to be mean to those who are thrown into the dungeon. Well one day he sees light, and it changes him.

It was interesting to see how being different affected Despereaux and Roscuro differently.

This book also demonstrates human cruelty in away that doesn't hide it but presents it in a kid friendly way. The character Miggery Sow makes me want to scoop her in my arms and love her.

I love how the author uses big words, stops the story and then either asks you to go look it up in the dictionary or explains it herself. Very cool. It's learning but in a fun and inviting way.

This was a fun book, a light book, a book that will make kids and adults think. This would be a great book to read out loud together. I think if you read it out loud it would be good for ages eight and up. If you were going to have your child read it by themselves I would suggest ages ten and up.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

from goodreads

4 stars

I hate to admit it, but, there are times when my children are nothing but t.v. zombies. We are not constantly cuddling on the couch with stacks of books around us, and the children smiling and excitedly saying, "read us another one Mommy!" There are days when they merely endure the story so they can watch shows on youTube or a movie on the t.v. (We don't have cable so they are kind of limited to what they can watch. Best decision ever, and way cheaper too!)

So, sometimes they have seen the movie before knowing it was a book. My one friend has a rule for her kids. When they read the book they can watch the movie. I think that is a pretty cool rule. It encourages the habit of reading but still lets them enjoy the movies that their friends are probably watching. The only thing with that rule is that sometimes we aren't always aware that some movies are based on books. Example for that is the movie Rise of the Guardians, I realize it was based on a series of books by William Joyce months after we had seen it.

What do you do to encourage reading in your children? Do they see the movie before they read the books too?

Synopsis

Charlie Bucket is a poor boy from a family that is poor in money but rich in love. There is nothing he loves more in the world than chocolate. When Willy Wonka open's his factory for the first time in years Charlie can't wait to see the marvels that are in store.

My Thoughts

This is a fun and whimsical tale. This is the first chapter book I read aloud to my children, ages 7 and 5, and they loved it. It even held the 5 year-olds' attention. I am not sure if they loved it because they reminded of the movie (the Tim Burton version) or if it is the whimsical nature of the story.

I love the songs the oompa loompa's sing. They are like little mini parenting sessions that remind us of the ills of having greedy children. They gently remind us, sometimes not so gently, that what children need are love, rules and ways that they can help others.

Their is almost a magic quality to the book. How did Willy Wonka know that only one child would make it through his factory? How did he know four greedy children would get tickets and one nice one would get one. And how did he know they would be found before the appointed day? The only answer I can come up with is magic.

Dahl's writing is not always to everyone's taste. I started reading Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator to my kids and quite frankly, I don't know if I will be able to continue. It is not the same or as good as the first one. Dahl writes in a world where anything truly can happen, which is refreshing but also sometimes hard to read. I think you have to be in the right mood for some of his books. One of my friends can't stand his writing and has never read any of his books, her husband on the other hand read them all to their children.

So, if you want to try out Dahl's writing give Charlie and the Chocolate Factory a try. I think it will be a good one to ease your way into his writing. And after reading you want to watch the movie, the Tim Burton movie version of this book is pretty good. I find it more believable than the other one made in the 70s. I feel that Burton gets, Dahl and what he was trying to get across.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

from goodreads

3.5 stars

This is the first book in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I have wanted to read this for a long time. My brother in-law loves the series. Every time I went to the library to get it, it was out. I could have put it on hold but, there was so many other things to read I didn't bother. Finally I saw it at my moms house and I nabbed it. Gotta love Mom's library!

Synopsis

This book is about a 12 year old boy named Percy. He is sent to different boarding schools, and when he is home, his step-father makes life miserable. Through a series of crazy events Percy finds out that he is really the son of an Olympus god. With this knowledge Percy sets out on an adventure to get back Zeus' master lightning bolt that was stolen and save the world from WW III.

My Thoughts

This was an enjoyable read. It was a nice and clean adventure book, with no innuendoes. I think children ages 10 and up would enjoy this book, as well as their parents.

While I was reading I kept picturing Percy as being older, around 14. I kept having to remind myself that he was only 12. So, some of the plot lines were a bit less believable because of the age discrepancy but it wasn't that much of a big deal.

The pacing of the story was a bit odd for me. Some parts seemed to move quickly and felt rushed. Other parts were long and drawn out. There were also scenes that occurred that did not enhance the story and seemed to only be there for filler. Las Vegas, I am thinking of you.

I like the idea of greek gods not leaving the world but just moving their "capital" to be where the ruler of the west currently was.

I think I will read the rest of the series at some point. It is no Harry Potter, but it is still pretty good.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

from goodreads

4 stars

There was a really good post on Reading for Sanity about how we like books differently depending on the time and place we are in our lives. That is so true. There are some books that I loved as a kid but now as an adult I don't find them as great. Or, I could not read them at all as a kid but now I love them. Books, and our enjoyment of them, are so dependent on what is happening in our lives, what our family situation is, what our time situation is, what else we are reading at that moment. I guess that is why you feel you put yourself out there when you recommend a book or rate a book. Not everyone is going to agree with you. We are all in different places. You can't generalize with books. When you recommend books you are showing that person a glimpse into your soul, your inner workings. Books you love speak to you about a certain time and place in your life.

As part of the post there was a great link to an article which gave reading suggestions based on books you liked as kids. It was a fun article, and I now have many more books to add to my list. You can check out that article here.

Synopsis

Meg's father has been missing for a long time. He was a leading scientist working on something top secret for the government and one day just vanished. That has been hard on Meg, who doesn't like the knowing looks and the taunts that are said.

One night during a storm and interesting woman called Mrs. Whatsit comes to the Murray home. That meeting changes everything. Mrs. Whatsit and her friends take Meg, her brother Charles Wallace, and new friend Calvin on a rescue mission to get Meg's father back.

My Thoughts

This has been a favourite of mine since I first read it when I was twelve. It is science fiction and fantasy at it's finest. So if you are looking for a book to make complete scientific sense, this book is not for you. But if you are willing to let your mind bend a little and take in possibilities, I think you will enjoy it.

The writing is simple, descriptive, yet sometimes forgettable. I just finished reading this last week, and I remember the gist of it, yet some of the pictures are not as clear in my mind as they are from other books I read longer ago.

What I love the most about this book is the whole exploration of agency, our ability to make choices for ourselves, and with those choices the possibilities of making mistakes. That gift of agency is so important. While it may be easier to let someone else make all your decisions for you, you will not grow, you will not learn and you will not love. L'Engle does a great job of showing us that, and making it fairly easy to understand.

As an adult reading this book, I got so annoyed with Meg. I found her at times to be whiney and pessimistic. As a teen I was able to understand her a bit more and found her less annoying. As an adult I grew to like Calvin's character more, but was left thinking "you seem so nice and normal and you want to get together with whiney Meg?" Oh well, times and seasons.

This is one of those books that you should read at least once in your life. This is the first of a series with the same family of characters. I think I will reread those soon to see if my thoughts of them have changed. But, from what I remember, it was an excellent series, great for age twelve and up.