Winterling By Sara Prineas

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 256 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins and Harper Audio (January 3, 2012)

Narrated by Erin Moon
Buy The Book: Hardcover | Audible

With her boundless curiosity and wild spirit, Fer has always felt that she doesn’t belong. Not when the forest is calling to her, when the rush of wind through branches feels more real than school or the quiet farms near her house. Then she saves an injured creature—he looks like a boy, but he’s really something else. He knows who Fer truly is, and invites her through the Way, a passage to a strange, dangerous land.

Fer feels an instant attachment to this realm, where magic is real and oaths forge bonds stronger than iron. But a powerful huntress named the MÓr rules here, and Fer can sense that the land is perilously out of balance. Fer must unlock the secrets about the parents she never knew and claim her true place before the worlds on both sides of the Way descend into endless winter.

I listened to half the book on audio but the other half I actually read. I'll talk about the audio first. The reader, Erin Moon, was really good, she really sounded like a little girl when she did Fer's voice, and she sounded like an old lady when she did Grand-Janes's voice. So the audio was easy to go through, and fun to listen to. I think I like it best when she did Rooks voice because it was rough like it was supposed to be and deep like a boys is.  Listen to a sample here!

Now I'll talk about the book. The book had no errors as far as I know which was a relief! And it had no bad language or romance, but a little violence. I enjoyed the reading part almost as much as the listening part! Almost. I think it it was slower for me reading than listening. It took me like a week to read this book though, if that counts for anything.  I didn't realize that the author of this book, Sara Prineas, also is the author of The Magic Thief series! (See my review of the Magic Thief HERE) So as I also enjoyed her writing in the Magic Thief I enjoyed the writing here, it was really excellent. The names were very creative, cute, and I liked them all. I think my favorite character is Rook, the mischievous puck boy who can shift into a horse and a dog. He's funny (at least I think so....:)) , and I imagine him cute. But that's just me lol. I think my second favorite character is Fer, cause she's brave always, never scared (which is just plain weird but admirable). I also liked Fer's horse. Can't say his name here! I'm giving too much away already lol. I think if you like books for brave girls, fantasy, and hunting, this is the book for you!!!

Bone #1 Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith

• Reading level: Ages 11 and up
• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• Buy The Book: Amazon

 The cornerstone of GRAPHIX, our new graphic novel imprint, BONE is the incredible comic book saga of the unwitting hero who must save an idyllic valley from the forces of evil.

The BONE adventures tell the story of a young bone boy, Fone Bone, and his two cousins, Phoney Bone and Smiley Bone, who are banned from their homeland of Boneville. When the cousins find themselves mysteriously trapped in a wonderful but often terrifying land filled with secrets and danger - and special new friendships - they are soon caught up in adventures beyond their wildest dreams.

     This book is so AWESOME! My friends got me into these books in elementary school, but I didn't finish them until 6th grade, and since then I've read them all three more times! The series has 9 books and a prequel, or maybe 9 including the prequel... oh well. Sometimes it can be a little violent... okay maybe a lot violent, but it's also hilarious and cool. The main characters, Smiley, Fone Bone, and Phoney are the funniest, most adorable little creatures ever, and their friends are awesome too, like Ted the Bug and Gran'ma Ben and Thorn. I especially like how the author makes the book ominous and scary, but then sometimes everything is fine and they're laughing, doing funny stuff, and you're reading and laughing even harder than the characters.

     The things I didn't really like are that some characters smoke (eew). Then sometimes Thorn goes to take a bath in the stream (you can't see her in the pictures, that would be gross) and Fone Bone sees. Then there's the violence, sometimes it's just random fighting, but sometimes it's kinda gruesome, like one guy gets his head cut off and there's blood all over... yeah, gross. Other than that there's no language or anything else.

     My favorite characters are SMILEY! He's awesome and kinda stupid but that's what makes him awesome and funny! He finds a baby rat creature and names him Bartleby, and then after Fone Bone tells him not to bring it with them to the city, guess what he does... brings it with them. My next favorite is definitely Bartleby, he is soooo cute and he looks like a little purple teddy bear! He is brave and smart and he does tricks! Then there are the two stupid rat creatures, they're so funny and stupid, and they're always fighting. One wants to make Fone Bone into a stew, and the other wants a light fluffy quiche. That makes the other creature angry, what kind of monsters are they if they eat quiche?!? I have way too many favorites so I'll just wrap it up now, I love Gran'ma Ben and how she's always flirting with Lucius, and there's Thorn and how she still doesn't know that Fone Bone likes her, even though it's dead obvious! And Fone Bone, he's so cute!

     My least favorite is Briar, she scares me... she's this zombie type lady who was cut in half and then the Locust, her master made her able to float around somehow so that she could free him and he could enslave the world! But I won't tell you anymore, you just have to figure it out yourself and read the book!

                         + 1,000,000,000 x 100!

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The False Prince
Author:  Jennifer A. Nielsen
Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Hardcover: 352 pages
Paperback: 342 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Press (April 1, 2012)
Buy The Book: amazon

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.

As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.

This False Prince is about a boy named Sage who lives at an orphanage who one day is bought by a noble man named Conner. He picks up 3 other boys. His intentions for them aren't good, they are even at the brink of treson! He wants one of them to play the role of the lost prince, Jaron who supposedly died 4 years ago by pirates. Supposedly (*Hint, hint!*). All he tells Conner is "I am your Prince." and nothing else. Even if he loses all he will say is "I am you prince.".

I LOVE THIS BOOK!

<3<3<3<3

I love it cause it's really epic! And it's violent! Most of what I love is a spoiler, but trust me, it's amazing.  It's probably my favorite book ever!

My favorite character is Sage (Or is it? *hint Hint!*) He's stubborn (like myself) awesome (like myself:)  He's like me in guy form! THAT MAKES HIM AWESOME!!!!!!!!!

After I got done reading, I couldn't stop talking about it.  I kept trying to tell everyone how amazing it is.  So now my friend Joy (she writes for us sometimes) is going to read it too.  And my brother.

If you like fantasy and adventure and excitement, or if you have a kid, or know a kid, or like kids, or don't like kids and wish they'd shut up and read, you should buy this book!!

It's too good for just 5 crowns

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

TADA!!

The Accidental Hero by Matt Myklusch

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin; Reprint edition (April 26, 2011)
• Language: English
• Buy The Book: Amazon

 All Jack Blank knows is his bleak, dreary life at St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost, an orphanage that sinks more and more into the swampland of New Jersey with each passing year. His aptitude tests project him as spending a long, unhappy career as a toilet brush cleaner. His only chance at escape comes through the comic books donated years ago to the orphanage that he secretly reads in the dark corners of the library. Everything changes one icy gray morning when Jack receives two visitors that alter his life forever. The first is a deadly robot straight out of one of his comic books that tries its best to blow him up. The second is an emissary from a secret country called the Imagine Nation, an astonishing place where all the fantastic and unbelievable things in our world originate - including Jack. Jack soon discovers that he has an amazing ability--one that could make him the savior of the Imagine Nation and the world beyond, or the biggest threat they've ever faced.

 This is another guest review by my sister Joy~

I liked this book because it was kinda like Percy Jackson and the Olympians with action packed pages and adventures.I liked how much detailed the author's settings were. The battles were pretty cool too.

There was nothing really bad like no cussing and stuff like that but there was a crime seen for after a battle and the explanations of a dead person was a little icky and freaky, at least to me.

My favourite character has got to be Jazen, the emissary who came to get Jack from St. Barnaby’s because he was cool and heroic.

My least favourite character is probably Jackson Smart because he was so cruel to Jack and almost everyone else too.

*Sigh* It wouldn't be right without the bunny:

A Hero For WondLa by Toni DiTerlizzi

• Hardcover: 464 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (May 8, 2012)
• Language: English
• Buy The Book: Amazon

Before the end of The Search for WondLa, Eva Nine had never seen another human, but after a human boy named Hailey rescues her along with her companions, she couldn’t be happier. Eva thinks she has everything she’s ever dreamed of, especially when Hailey brings her and her friends to the colony of New Attica, where humans of all shapes and sizes live in apparent peace and harmony.
     But all is not idyllic in New Attica, and Eva Nine soon realizes that something sinister is going on—and if she doesn’t stop it, it could mean the end of everything and everyone on planet Orbona. Three illustrations trigger a 3-D Augmented Reality flying game that mimics action in the novel.
     Featuring an abundance of lavish two-color illustrations and spot art throughout and introducing a host of remarkable characters that reinforce the importance of friendship, A Hero for WondLa has all the hallmarks of a classic book—of the future.

 This book was AWESOME! Even better than the first one! It had aliens and world conquest, but the conquering was being done by humans instead of aliens. Eva Nine finally meets another human who she likes and he takes her to a human city, but the human leader is planning something evil. (Shifty eyes "mwahahaha") Eva Nine and her sister Eva Eight escape the city with Rovender and his friend, Nadeau and a new alien, Huxley. I liked how the author added some new things in this book, so it wasn't just like the first one. Hailey was awesome, but by the end he was bald... he doesn't look that great bald. In one picture he doesn't look that great period. But he's still awesome.

I didn't like... I didn't not like much, but one of the characters cursed at least once or twice.

My favorite characters are still Eva, Rovender, and Otto, but my new favorite from this book is Hailey. Hailey is cool, and he's pretty smart too.

My least favorite was Cadmus, he was decieving all his people and he was going to kill all the aliens, who are awesomer than the humans and they deserve to live.

Warriors: Manga: SkyClan And The Stranger The Rescue

Reading level: Ages 10 and up
Paperback: 112 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins; Original edition (July 5, 2011)

Buy The Book: Amazon

Newleaf is coming, and Leafstar is proud to see SkyClan thriving under her leadership. The woods are brimming with prey, the warriors den is full, and Leafstar is expecting kits of her own. But a stranger is lurking near SkyClan’s territory, and Leafstar’s newborn kits—and the rest of the young Clan—could be in serious danger.

I really liked this manga. I think it's the best out of all of them because it's more in detail and better writing, more exciting then the rest. My favorite character is most likely Billystorm, Leafstar's mate.

Warriors Of The Black Shroud By Peter Howe

Reading level: Ages 8 and up
Hardcover: 272 pages
Paperback: 266 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (January 31, 2012)
Buy The Book: Amazon

The night is here, but the dark is coming. . . .

Deep in the underworld lies the kingdom of Nebula. Although it is always everlasting night there, Nebula is never dark because all of its people, buildings, and creatures glow with an inner light source protected by the Lightkeepers. But true darkness—the kind that is malicious and blinding—lurks just beyond the kingdom’s gates.

There, the deadly Warriors of the Black Shroud are on the move, destroying and engulfing every outpost with their relentless evil and black despair. And this time, they have a weapon deadlier than anyone has ever encountered before.

Only a Chosen One, someone with the mark of the king, can help save Nebula from destruction. Astonishingly, that Chosen One is discovered in the Outerworld far above Nebula. But he is the unlikeliest of heroes, living in a dark of his own making. Can he accept who he is and lead the forces of the Light against the Warriors of the Black Shroud?

This book is about a boy named Walker. He's a ordinary 11-year-old with a star shaped birth mark on his cheek. Then when a boy named Eddie shows up saying it's the mark of the chosen one everything changes. Eddie brings Walker to his home, Nebula, It is a whole new world filled with monsters, nightmares, and peace in some citys. But Nebula has a problem. The King of the city knows that the warriors of the black shroud are rising, but his kingdom disagrees. The King is getting old and he has no heir. They have always followed the chosen one, the one with the star shaped birth mark on their cheek. They also want Walker to be their King once the current King dies.

Walker- The main person in this book, the chosen one. Eddie- The prince, his past is a mystery. His real name is Prince Edward Frankie- The new girl in town. Fussingham- Not much in the book, he writes the book of the kingdom. Jevon- A light keeper, a knight King Leukos- the king, The chosen one Lumina- The oldest Light Keeper Black Count- The Top evil guy Astrodor- the page

I loved It! It was very creative and fun to read! It had a lot of action, and jokes. I think my favorite character is Eddie. He's funny and he's really cool.

ENJOY BIG ME!! (But I don't thing thats the actual size..... AND I GOT MY HAIR CUT SO IT"S REALLY SHORT NOW!!!)

On the Bright Side by S.R. Johannes only $0.99!

Gabby is a disgruntled tween angel who has just been assigned to protect her school nemesis and ex-beffie. Problem is her ex-beffie is dating Gabby’s longtime crush. Instead of protecting Angela, Gabby pranks her (since when is sticking toilet paper to her shoe or spinach in her teeth a sin?) Soon, Gabby gets out of control and is put on probation by her SKYAgent, who has anger management issues of his own.

Determined to right her wrongs, Gabby steals an ancient artifact that allows her to return to Earth for just one day. Without knowing, she kicks off a series of events and learns what can happen when you hate someone to death.

From the author:


This book is very different from Untraceable and is appropriate for girls ages 10-14. The ebook is on sale for 99 cents until Valentine's Day. After that, it will increase to it's normal price of $2.99. The paperback is scheduled for mid February.

TO PURCHASE THE BOOK

* To buy the Kindle ebook - click here

* To Buy the Nook ebook - click here

TO RECEIVE AUTHOR NEWS

If you'd like to get periodic author news on any new release dates of future books, please register your email address here. I do not expect to send more than one email a month.

Witch & Wizard By James Patterson: Graphic Novel

Paperback: 256 pages
Publisher: Yen Press (September 20, 2011)
Language: English
Buy The Book: Amazon

Imagine waking up to find that the world around you - life as you know it - has changed in an instant. That's what happens to Whit Allgood and his sister, Wisty. They thought that they were just a couple of normal teenagers, until their rude awakening at the hands of a dozen armed police! Charged with being a wizard and a witch, accused of having incredible powers they never dreamed possible, the siblings find themselves the targets of an upstart political regime, The New Order, which has swept the country and vowed to wipe "their kind" from existence. Now Whit and Wisty must fight for both their freedom and their lives as they unlock the powers burning inside of them!

This is about ordinary teenage kids named Whit and Wisty. At least they where until the new order was made. They are captured and put into a trail with no lawyer and no chance to talk. They are accused of being a witch and a wizard. Then they find out it is true. As they discover new powers they uncover new things about the world and what it holds. They are imprisoned at a children's hospital that has been turned into a evil prison. They are forced through tests that always threaten their lives with no way of escaping.

I really loved it!! It was action-packed and magical, which I really love. I think my favorite character was Wisty. In the comics she was always making funny faces and doing funny things.

Redwall #1 by Brian Jaques

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Puffin/Philomel Books; 1ST edition (September 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• Buy The Book: Amazon

 When Redwall was published in 1987 it catapulted author Brian Jacques to international stardom. And small wonder! This enthralling tale is jam-packed with the things we long for in a great adventure: danger, laughter, hairbreadth escapes, tragedy, mystery, a touch of wonder, a truly despicable villain, and a hero we can take to heart.

That hero is Matthias, a young mouse who must rise above his fears and failures to save his friends at Redwall Abbey. The villain is Cluny the Scourge, one of the most deliciously despicable rats of all time. The unforgettable cast of supporting characters includes the stalwart badger Constance, an irrepressible hare named Basil Stag Hare, and the elderly wisemouse Brother Methuselah.

But most of all there is Matthias, seeking his true destiny in a journey that will lead through danger and despair to true wisdom.

 When I first heard about this book it didn't seem quite that interesting, even though it turned out to be exactly what I liked. I started reading and it was like, yeah, this is okay. Then all the action, adventures and fighting started and I was sucked right in. I like that the characters are little mice in habits, it's really cute, and the way the author describes them, it makes you want to see it. I haven't really ever read anything quite like it, there's warriors, yeah, but those are just cats. This is a total personification, the mice stand up and walk around, wear clothes and stuff. I liked that some characters were perfect little church mice, then there were characters like Constance the badger who wanted to beat the enemy to a pulp.

My favorite character was definitely Constance! She's awesome because she takes action, beats stuff up! Not like The Father Abbot, who wants to do things as peacefully as possible. Then there was Basil Stag Hare, he is the best dude character. He has this funny way of talking, and he's like Constance, take action, beat up the bad guys, and he's a real drama queen too. The best character for cuteness was Silent Sam, he is a baby squirrel who doesn't talk. He's just the most adorable thing, and he ends up fighting the rats with the best of them!

My least favorite was.... Chickenhound the fox. His mother is all clever and smart, then he is just a fool. He escapes the rats and then doesn't watch himself and gets himself killed.

This book was pretty clean, I don't remember there being any language or anything. Just violence.

Maximum Ride (Manga) #1 by James Patterson

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Yen Press; 1ST edition (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• Buy the Book: Amazon 

 Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of her "flock" - Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman, and Angel - are just like ordinary kids, except they have wings and can fly! It may seem like a dream come true to some, but for the flock it's more like a living nightmare. When the mysterious lab known as the "School" turns up and kidnaps their youngest member, it's up to Max to organize a rescue, but will help come in time?

 This book is AWESOME!!! I know Reagan did a review on the novel, but this is the manga, it's different. Anyway, this book was even better than Reagan described! From the very beginning there was action and danger, and it kept me on the edge of my seat. The setting is always changing, and with the whole manga thing you get to see all the different places. It's pretty cool. You should read this book.

My favorite characters were not what everyone expected. Reagan always says that I pick the hottest dude, and she is way in love with Fang so she thought I would pick Fang. I picked Iggy. As soon as he told Gasman, "Bombs are good, I love bombs." I loved him! He is blind, but really smart, and cool. I also like Gasman, he's awesome because he came up with the idea of blowing up the bad guys. And of course, who couldn't like little Angel? She is soooooo cute!

I didn't like Ari so much, he was cool and had big muscles and he looks good in a suit, but dudes that ripped creep me out. I didn't like Fang as much as everyone told me I would, he seemed kinda weird, and he needs a haircut.

There was some language in this book, just two things, but other than that the book was pretty clean. *Puts on hypnotizing eyes* You mussst read thissss book!!

The Book Of Wonders by Jasmine Richards

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
• Hardcover: 416 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins (January 17, 2012)
• Language: English
• Buy The Book: Amazon

Thirteen-year-old Zardi loves to hear stories about fantastical beings long banned from the kingdom of Arribitha. But anyone who is caught whispering of their powers will feel the rage of the sultan—a terrifying tyrant who, even with his eyes closed, can see all.
When her own beloved sister is captured by the evil ruler, Zardi knows that she must risk everything to rescue her. Along with Rhidan, who is her best friend, and an unlikely crew of sailors led by the infamous Captain Sinbad, Zardi ventures forth into strange and wondrous territory with a seemingly impossible mission: to bring magic back to Arribitha and defeat the sultan once and for all.

     At first I kinda had a hard time getting into this book, but then when events started to unfold, I wouldn't put it down. This book is awesome because it had pirates AND magic! I liked that the author put Sinbad in the book, I'm a big Sinbad fan and in this book he was as awesome as always. This book is- I'm pretty sure- set in some kind of fictitious Arabic country, because the name of the country is Aribitha, and the ruler is the sultan....

     My favorite character in this book was probably Rhidan, because he's cool. He is the main character, Zardi's best friend who is different than everybody else, he has paler skin and violet eyes, topped with a shock of silvery hair. I think Rhidan and Zardi should end up together because they're best friends and they're always trying to protect each other. I also liked Zardi, she's my age (Not for long!) and she's brave, kind, helpful, and smart. She's a really cool heroine in the story. The best baddie of this story was the Serpent Queen, she was so cool, I pictured her in my head and thought, I love it! She is a woman with scales and a snake head or something like that, but it's cool. She was really powerful and sneaky.

     My least favorite character was probably Nadeem, he is a traitor and a fool. I mean, sure he turns good at the very end, but he betrayed his crewmates, whom he said were his family, and caused them to be imprisoned by the Serpent Queen while he is dressed in fine robes as her adviser. I also didn't like the sultan, he was completely raving mad, killing everybody who disobeyed any tiny rule.

     There was definitely violence in this book (When do I not read violent books?) But nothing too graphic, just some fight scenes. Otherwise there were no real romance or language problems.