Watch Andrew on the drums...

Andrew, one of our book reviewers, also plays the drums. This video was recorded last night. Watch how he twirls his drum sticks... little punk!!! August Burns Red "Internal Cannon"

We Kiddos Remember...

The Familiars: The Secret Of The Crown By Adam Jay Epstein and Andrew Jacobson

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (September 6, 2011)

Buy the Book:  Amazon

When human magic disappears suddenly from Vastia, it falls on the familiars, Aldwyn the telekinetic cat, Skylar the know-it-all blue, jay, and Gilbert the gullible tree frog--to find the Crown of the Snow Leopard, an ancient relic that can reverse the curse. They learn that the only way to do this is by following in the purple paw prints of Aldwyn's father, who'd gone missing while searching for the Crown years earlier. This magical spirit trail extends into the Beyond, where our heroes encounter new enemies and danger, while Aldwyn learns about his mysterious past.

Mad Libs with Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson, Authors of The Familiars

The Familiars has been described as Harry Potter meets Warriors, which are two of our favorite series.  So we've been really excited to read these books, and to be a part of The Familiars:  Secrets of the Crown book tour.  Today we have Adam Jay Epstein & Andrew Jacobson here to play a fun game of Familiars Mad Libs!  Check it out!

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Mad about The Familiars

We don't know about you, but when we were growing up, one of our favorite things to do on long car rides or at sleepovers was play Mad Libs. Of course, this was before iPhones and Nintendo 3DS's. So, with our new book, THE FAMILIARS: SECRETS OF THE CROWN coming out on September 6th, we thought it might be fun to give all the kids who visit Reading Tween a chance to play some Familiars Mad Libs!

Below, you can find a list of Noun/Verb/Adjectives to fill in. Then, when you are finished, you can place them in the corresponding blanks in the paragraph from the yet-to-be-released SECRETS OF THE CROWN. Then read the paragraph and see if your version is better than ours! It will certainly be funnier.

Have fun (and please keep it PG).

1. Plural Noun
2. Noun
3. Plural Noun
4. Past Tense Verb
5. Proper Name
6. Proper Name
7. Noun
8. Plural Noun
9. Adjective
10. Adjective
11. Plural Noun
12. Verb
13. Plural Noun
14. Adjective
15. Noun
16. Adjective
17. Famous Place

Aldwyn had often wondered what it would feel like to have (1. PLURAL NOUN). As the (2. NOUN) blew through his (3. PLURAL NOUN) and his claws (4. PAST TENSE VERB) into the linen collar of 5. PROPER NAME)'s tunic, he was beginning to get a pretty good idea. Led by (6. PROPER NAME)'s outstretched (7. NOUN), loyal and familiar were soaring above the (8. PLURAL NOUN), climbing higher and higher toward the clouds. Back in his Bridgetower days, before he had become the (9. ADJECTIVE) animal companion to a (10. ADJECTIVE) wizard, Aldwyn used his (11. PLURAL NOUN) to (12. VERB) the rooftops and (13. PLURAL NOUN) of some of the city's (14. ADJECTIVE) buildings. But having his (15. NOUN) graze the needles at the top of the (16. ADJECTIVE) pine trees in the (17. FAMOUS PLACE) was something different altogether.

Please leave your version in to Reading Tween in the comments so we can read them!

To learn more about THE FAMILIARS and THE FAMILIARS: SECRETS OF THE CROWN, please visit www.thefamiliars.com.

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Thanks so much Adam and Andrew for creating this fun Mad Libs for us!!  

If you haven't started reading this series, you should pick it up now.  Grab The Familiars now, and be ready for Secrets of the Crown when it releases Sept. 6!  We're reading Secrets of the Crown right now!  Look for our review soon.

 Check out Reagan's review of The Familiars here!  Find your familiar here!

Book Review: Dragon in Chains by Daniel Fox

Reading Level: Young Adult
Paperback: 399 pages
Publisher: Ballantine Books(2009)
Language: English
ISBN-978-0-345-50305-3
Buy the Book: Amazon

Deposed by a vicious usurper, a young emperor with his court to the small island of Taishu. There, with a dwindling army, a manipulative mother, and a resentful  population and his only friend is a local fishergirl as he prepares for his last stand.

In the mountains of Taishu, a young miner finds a huge piece of jade, the mineral whose ingestion can gift the emperor with superhuman powers. Setting to deliver the embattled emperor, Yu finds himself changing into something forbidden.

Meanwhile, a great dragon lies beneath the strait that seperates Taishu and the mainland, bound by chains.When monks are killed by a willful pirate captain, a maimed slave assumes the terrible burden of keeping the dragon subdued.

I really liked this book because it has action, adventure, some comedy, fiction, and plot twists. I felt like Yu is telling the story while being in it himself. I don’t think there's a sequel, but this book makes good for it. When I finished the book, I was so happy that it ended, because I’m new to reading (but non started reading will like it better). I was sad because it was a really good book I couldn't put it away until bedtime. If you want a new book to read think about reading this book.

~ BEN

Aphrodite the Diva Giveaway and This or That Interview with Joan Holub & Suzanne Williams

Hi Reagan,

We’re delighted to be at Reading Tween today. And a special THANK YOU shout out to you for your awesome video-review of Goddess Girls #6: Aphrodite the Diva!

The Goddess Girls series puts a modern spin on classic Greek myths, following the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most privileged godboys and goddessgirls in the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills. Aladdin paperbacks (ages 8-12)

The scoop on Aphrodite the Diva: Isis claims she's the goddess of love? Ha! But to keep the title all to herself, Aphrodite has to find the perfect match for Pygmalion, the most annoying boy ever. (August, 2011)

  

This or That?

Kewl or cool: 

Joan: Cool, occasionally kewl

Suzanne: Definitely cool. 

summer or winter: 

Joan: Winter! I’m a cold weather girl. I once went walking in the snow in Seattle, when the snowflakes were as big as my hand.

Suzanne: Summer. I love feeling the sun on my back and looking up at blue skies. (We get too much gray in Seattle.) 

spring or fall: 

Joan:  Fall! Fall leaves, crisp weather, new beginnings. What’s not to like!
Suzanne: Ditto.  And in Seattle we often have warm weather clear into October.

dogs or cats: 

Joan: Cats. I have two--Scout and Boo--named after characters in To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I love dogs and most other animals too, though.

Suzanne: Dogs. I have one—a very intelligent toy fox terrier named Toby who loves to go for long walks.

Computer or TV: 

Joan: Computer, because it makes editing so much easier.

Suzanne: Computer, though I have a love-hate relationship with mine. I love it when it’s working the way I want it to, but hate it when it does things I don’t expect. (My son tells me I’m “bad at technology.”)

books or nook:

Joan: Books, but I’m eyeing an e-reader.
Suzanne: Books, but I’m open to there being an e-reader in my future someday too.

Hates that Borders is closing or loves that borders is closing: 

Joan: Sorry that Borders is closing. The only good thing about it is that maybe some of those great Indie bookstores will get a boost.
Suzanne: I agree with Joan.

Gmail or AOL mail: 

Joan: Gmail. I started with AOL and graduated to gmail.
Suzanne: Gmail. Love the searching capabilities!

Google or yahoo:

Joan: Google. Google and Wikipedia rock.
Suzanne: What Joan said! But I use Dogpile as my search engine.

Bff or BF/GF: 

Joan: Bff. My bff and I have been friends since 8^th grade.
Suzanne: Bff. I just saw my two bff from high school at a class reunion last weekend.  Fun!

~ Joan & Suzanne

Joan Holub’s blog.

Suzanne Williams’ blog.

Goddess Girls on Facebook. 

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Want to win a copy of Aphrodite the Diva and a bookmark?  Thanks to Joan and Suzanne, you can win one here!

To enter:

• US only
• Leave a comment telling us your favorite Greek God or Hero.
• Must be 13 years or older, or have parent's permission.
• Ends 8/30

Good luck!

Firelight by Sophie Jordan

• Reading level: Ages 13 and up
• Hardcover: 336 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (September 7, 2010)

 

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.
Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.
Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.



I didn't know how to get the blue thing around the first part.... Anyway, my review~

 This book is probably one of the best books I've ever read. It's really well written and detailed, and you feel like you're standing right there watching it all go down! I liked how she made the people half dragon, and that they live in a big community [pride]. I also liked that they weren't just dragons, they had different kinds that learned different things and had different abilities. It was cool how the author mixed the fantasy of the dragon people with the realistic town of Chaparral and the normal teen girl problems and situations.

What I didn't like... let's see.... I didn't like it that they kissed as much as they did. Every two to four pages there was kissing. It was partly to keep Jacinda alive, but I saw no need to go that far with it. Also, I didn't like it that they have to strip when they turn into their dragon. At the end of the book, Jacinda has to go nude for the whole car ride home, which was REALLY disturbing to me. Otherwise, though, it was a great book.

My favorite character was probably Jacinda, because she was so independent and fearless. She wasn't afraid to do what she thought was right, and she stuck up for her friends and her boyfriend when it was really dangerous. She is also really pretty, and a really rare, cool draki.

My least favorite character was definitely Cassian, the pride leader's son. He was basically forcing Jacinda to date him when she quite obviously didn't want to. He only wanted her for her power, and because she was a rare draki that could make his bloodline stronger and better. Cassian's father was also really annoying. He was really into punishing people....

I think this is definitely a girl's book, and probably mostly for teens for reasons listed above. Also, people who like real life stuff probably wouldn't like this book because it is full of fantasy everywhere. So overall, this book was one of the best in my list.

Finally got a new piccy! Yay!

Aphrodite the Diva (Goddess Girls) by Suzanne Williams and Joan Holub

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 220 pages
Publisher: Aladdin; Original edition (August 9, 2011)
Buy the Book:  Amazon

In book 6, after a teeny misunderstanding in class, Aphrodite is failing Hero-ology. To raise her grade, she concocts a brilliant plan--an extra-credit project for matchmaking mortals. This brings her face-to-face with fierce competition--an Egyptian goddessgirl named Isis. Now the race is on to see which of them can matchmake Pygmalion--the most annoying boy ever! Will Aphrodite wind up making a passing grade after all? Or will she end up proving she's a diva with more beauty than brains?

These classic myths from the Greek pantheon are given a modern twist that contemporary tweens can relate to, from dealing with bullies like Medusa to a first crush on an unlikely boy. Goddess Girls follows four goddesses-in-training - Athena, Persephone, Aphrodite, and Artemis - as they navigate the ins and outs of divine social life at Mount Olympus Academy, where the most priviledged gods and goddesses of the Greek pantheon hone their mythical skills.

Heist Society by Ally Carter

Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (February 9, 2010) 
Buy the book:  Amazon

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history--or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

Heist Society looked like an entertaining book on the outside, and it was even better on the inside! This book was about a family of thieves, that go around stealing valuable things like paintings and statues. They are really good at stealing, and after they come in, steal the paintings, and get out, nobody even knows what happened.

The main character, Katarina Bishop, was really funny. In the first few pages it describes her as a Russian princess, even though she isn't Russian. [She isn't a princess either, but she could definitely pass for one] She's sneaky, cunning, and at a boarding school. Yeah, she tries to give up her life for a more 'good' and 'respectable' life. Her family won't let her do that so easily, and they bring her back. More specifically, W. W. Hale The Third brings her back. He frames her for a crime that she didn't do, and she gets kicked out of school and goes back to Europe.

When she gets back, Hale [nobody knows what the W's stand for so they call him Hale] and Kat's cousin Gabrielle are waiting for her. They lecture her on how she shouldn't have left, that thievery is her life, and she can't just walk away. Soon after that, she is visited by a mysterious, Al Taccone. He accuses Kat's father of stealing his paintings, and he wants Kat to get them back to him. She argues that her father did not steal the paintings, but he insists and Kat accepts. But she can't just do it with however much time she needs. She has a time limit to get them back, before he takes her father away.

I liked that the characters were all thieves, it seems like nobody has really ever stopped to tell their story before. It was cool that stealing was a family business, and they all stuck together no matter what. I thought it was funny how they all kind of knew what the others were thinking, and they seemed really close, like they weren't only family, but best friends. There wasn't really anything that I didn't like, except Taccone seemed to be flirting with Kat at the end, which was just a little awkward since he is a grown man, and she's a teenager.

My favorite characters would have to be the Bagshaws, they are definitely the funniest, and they just go ahead and say what's on their minds, even if it's a totally random and strange comment. My least favorite character was probably... I don't know, they were all so cool!

This is definitely one of my favorite books, and I would read it again and again if I didn't have other books to read and review. I think it could be a good read for all ages, because it didn't have any bad content and it kept me excited. One example; I kept thinking that Gabrielle was going to steal Hale away from Kat. Which, I know she probably wouldn't do, now that I've read the whole book.

The only thing about this book was that Kat's cousins kept commenting on her boobs. It was meant to be funny, and it was, but I know some people out there would be kinda weirded out by that. Other than that there wasn't any awkwardness, language or bad stuff in it at all. It was a really good book and I really enjoyed it.

Free Audio Download: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

The COMPLETE Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis – read by Chrissi Hart (Audiobooks)

Here's an amazing find: The COMPLETE seven book Narnia series by C. S. Lewis, in audiobook format. These programs were originally recorded for broadcast on the Ancient Faith Internet Radio station. The readings are downloadable or available as 101 half-hour podcasts, so between the seven books in the series, there's almost 50 hours.

If you have never read these books, this is a fantastic opportunity to start.  And if you have, this is a great way to revisit this amazing series.


Click here to go to the download page for THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA!

Book Review: Sally's Bones by MacKenzie Cadenhead

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Paperback: 176 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (September 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1402259433
ISBN-13: 978-1402259432
Buy the Book: Amazon
Visit the site: MacKenzieCadenhead.com

Sally is a quirky character who loves Death Rock and faded blue jeans. She fits in better with the Addams Family than with a clique of catty sixth grade girls. After her mother's death, grief-stricken Sally begs for death... and death is exactly what she gets: a tail-wagging skeleton dog called Bones. A gift from beyond the grave, Bones is a dreadfully delicious girl's best friend. In this cleverly written, alliterative tale the town's bones go missing and everyone blames Bones. Sally must solve the mystery to save her cadaverous canine from puppy prison.

This book was super fun and funny! I liked Sally Simplesmith's character and LOVED Bones the dead dog. This was a detective book, so I was happy to see that Sally and Bones worked together very well. Bones always knew what to do, he was really the smart one. I loved all the names of the characters in this book like of course, Sally Simplesmith and her father Seymour. Then there's Viola Vanderperfect, haha Vanderperfect. Guess what she wasn't so perfect, kinda bratty. Viola had a dog named Princess Poopsy. Too funny.

Well, if you like a good, who stole what? dedetective mystery, then check this one out. It's a good one!

This or That with Peter Lee, Character from The Detention Club

This book looks like so much fun!  I can't wait to read it!  Today we have one of the characters from The Detention Club with us to answer some fun questions.

Peter Lee, what do you prefer, this or that? (P.S. The fart question is from my dumb brother)

Summer or Fall:

 Either season is perfect for land-skiing.

Bouncy ball or inflatable ball:

Bouncy ball—I’m not a germ freak, but I don’t like to lick things that have been already licked by others if I can help it.

Cool or Jerk:

In theory, “cool.”

Gmail or Yahoo mail:

What’s Yahoomail?

Pop or rock:

I like poppy rock. Or rocky pop, for that matter.

Pants or shorts:

Shorts—bullies don’t feel comfortable giving wedgies to you if you’re wearing shorts for some reason. I think maybe it feels too personal for them or something.

Cats or dogs:

Cats. You have to earn the respect of cats. Plus, compared to dogs, it actually feels nice to get licked by cats.

Fart or burp:

I can burp-talk really well. (I just burped that answer out, in fact.)

Ice cream or donuts:

You have funner dreams if you eat ice cream before bed. Plus, even though I always feel like I could eat a dozen donuts when I first open up a box, I usually crash out after 2-3, tops. For some reason that annoys me about donuts.

Girl or boy:

Well, given that my sister Sunny’s a girl, I’d have to go with…duh--boy!

Mittens or gloves:

You’d be surprised to know that I prefer mittens. They’re not as useful and always make my hands clammy, which then makes them cold because it’s winter, but I like that nobody knows what your fingers are doing when you wear mittens.

Movie or TV show:

The special effects on TV shows are never as good as they are in movies. I respect big budgets—that says to me that the people behind it really care about their art.

Books or concert:

I enjoy watching street magic.

Computer or TV:

Computer. A TV is useless if you don’t have a decent cable-package, which my parents never get.

Music or walks:

I’m 11. I don’t do “walks.”

one wish or ice cream forever:

I do like ice cream (see above), but I’d have to say one wish. And assuming you can’t wish for a million wishes, I’d ask for a time machine.

Fairy or Fairy god parent:

Who wants a third parent?

Be awesome and have no friends or be nerdy and have friends:

Lately I’ve been that first choice so I guess I’d go for the second, just for the change of pace.

parents or friends:

If my answer didn’t result in me never being born, I’d choose friends.

Pink or gray:

Gray, I guess, but that says more about how much I don’t like pink.

Write a book or sing for a living:

I guess write a book since this feels like I had to write a book just to answer all these questions, so it would seem I’m qualified already to-oh, wait, we’re done? Actually, now that I think about it, I figure it might be cool to sing for a living. But not pop.

 I want to be a singer too!!  Maybe we can start a band!  Thanks for answering our questions!  I can't wait to read The Detention Club!

Detention
The best worst thing to happen to Peter Lee?
Peter and his best friend, Drew, used to be so cool (or, at least, not total outcasts) in elementary school. But now they're in middle school, where their extensive mica collection and prowess at kickball have earned them a new label: losers. Then Peter attracts the unwanted attention of the school bullies, and his plan to become popular through his older sister, the practically perfect Sunny, backfires.
Things go from bad to worse when Peter gets detention. But what at first seems to spell his utter doom turns into an unlikely opportunity for making friends and influencing people. . . .