Apocalypse Meow Meow MG

This was a very cute graphic novel and a the second of the series.  Even though it is cute and just a story about some animals trying to survive after a apocalypse there is more to the story if you look for it.  In this book the dogs need to beat the large kitty to win the twonkies all for themselves and their friends.  Can the dogs do it by themselves or will they need some help from their friends?  This really is a good book and all the animals have such great personalities, the way some of them have banded together to survive this dreaded circumstance, especially for house pets.  But I suggest you first read book one Apocalypse Bow Wow as some of the things in this book where a little confusing since I had not read the first one, but you can get the main story ok without the first book, there are just a few things that pop up that are strange without the first book.  Still loved the book and thing you all will too.

5 STARS

We'll Never Be Apart YA

This is a very well thought out psychological thriller for young adults.  Poor Allie is back at Savage Isle mental hospital after her twin Celia set fire to a barn and burns her and kills her boyfriend Jason, after escaping from their first stint at Savage Isle.  Allie and Celia, along with Jason, when he could be assigned to the same foster home, have all had tough lives.  So the first time Allie and Celia get sent to Savage Isle is for robbery, no surprise there, but Jason get sent to detention for almost beating the station clerk to death.
The characters are all incredible and well thought out, there is no way this book would work without giving everything away if it didn't.  The storyline is so awesome and well placed I just don't want to give anything away, so, I am going to stop now and just say read it, you'll love it.

5 STARS

Fires of Invention MG

Mysteries of Cove is an awesome new series by Scott Savage.  Fires of Invention is so action packed it is like a steam engine at full speed from the start all the way to the end.  This is such a cool book I would not have guessed from the start anywhere close to what the book was about and that is good because the book was so much better than I ever dreamed.  This book is so much more than a steam punk type book for middle graders, it has twists and turns that make you think.  If you really want to try and figure it out before the end, well good luck.  The characters all come together very well  to pull off everything throughout the book whether it be good or bad, and even some of that can be a surprise.

How would you like living in a world where you can not draw a picture, write a story, make something new, or modify something for the better without risk of being thrown in jail or retraining, as the officials are more likely to call your time with them.  Trenton just couldn't stop building things, and Kallista was driven to find the truth about her father and that brought the two together in a secret so big it could have ended both of their lives as they know it.  But instead, no matter how it turns out,  they end up saving each other.

 

5 STARS 

Hardwired YA

Lucas tested positive for the warrior gene like his brother before him, I means he possibly predisposed toward violence.  In Lucas' time it means he shipped off to secure government facility to test him thoroughly to make sure he is not one of the ones that will turn violent.  Unfortunately, the tests they put these teens through is enough to turn even the most calmest of the calm violent, but even if they hold it together and make it out they are so changed and the people around them are scared of them just because they carry this gene their lives are now ruined, to the point most often of no return. 
This book is so cool, it makes you think how things can change in our world today as they find new genes and test for this and that and want to do more and more with genetics all the time.  As it is right now, they have half of us thinking whether or not we want or need to have certain medical tests done because what if it shows something off the wall, that in 2 or 3 years might come back to haunt us.  But this  book goes farther and has the government locking kids up and changing their lives forever, until they meet Lucas, Chris and Carly than it all changes in one night.  In one snowy, dark, cold night three kids try to make a difference, the question is do they succeed? 
This book is so action packed and suspenseful, you will think you are locked in the Bake Shop too, where if the guards are the ones out to get you than it is probably your roommate, either way there is nothing you can do.  The characters are perfect together, although there are times you might think why this guy, but keep on going all will become clear.  I really liked this book it kept my interest way past my bedtime, and I think it will become a book that teen book clubs can talk about.

5 STARS

Edge MG

In this sequel to the book Peak.  Roland Smith kept to his style of writing as in his other books, fast, furious, and totally packed with action at every turn.  There are surprises you won't even guess are  coming and twist and turns that will spin you like your on a twisted climbing rope.  This book is just a mile a minute fun!  Peak and his friends are back after only six months for another climbing adventure, this time in Afghanistan, however, this  is shrouded in more mystery and secrecy than Zopa the sherpa turned monk but sometimes climbing master.  The only constant is the help from the mysterious Shen, snow, leopard.  Will this end up being Peak and his mom's last climb?

5 STARS

Max The Brave PB

Max is a fearless kitten. Max is a brave kitten. Max is a kitten who chases mice. There’s only one problem—Max doesn’t know what a mouse looks like! With a little bit of bad advice, Max finds himself facing a much bigger challenge. Maybe Max doesn’t have to be Max the Brave all the time…

Join this adventurous black cat as he very politely asks a variety of animals for help in finding a mouse. Young readers will delight in Max’s mistakes, while adults will love the subtle, tongue-in-cheek humor of this new children’s classic.

 This is one of the best picture books I have seen in a while, of course I read it as soon as I got it, than had to run and show it to our children's librarian so she could get her order in right away because I know Max is going to be a big hit with our younger readers.  Characters standing up to and dominating monsters and fears are always a huge hit with parents of the younger children and the children as well.  Max this tiny black kitten who portrays this unknowing, innocent, and one track hero knows what he wants and won't stop until he reaches his goal, there are so many things we can learn from this little ball of black fluff if we just open our minds to the story because each time I read the book I learn something new.  This is such a awesome book on so many levels don't miss out. 
5 STARS

About the Author:

Ed Vere is an author, artist and illustrator with a long track record of success in the picture book category. Max the Brave was named one of The Sunday Times’s 100 Modern Children’s Classics. His book Bedtime for Monsters was shortlisted for the 2011 Roald Dahl Funny Prize and Mr Big was chosen by Booktrust as the official Booktime book for 2009 (and was distributed to 750,000 British schoolchildren making it the largest single print run of a picture book). Vere was the World Book Day illustrator for 2009.

Social Media:

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GuNbrpUVunE

Website: http://books.sourcebooks.com/maxthebrave/
Activity Kit: http://sourcebooksftp.com/Email/MaxTheBrave/MaxTheBrave-ActivityKit.pdf
Educator guide: http://sourcebooksftp.com/Email/MaxTheBrave/MaxTheBrave-EduGuide.pdf
Twitter @ed_vere, @jabberwockykids

 

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Beautiful Star of Bethlehem (Adult)

* If you read my blog a lot than you know I don't usually do adult books but this was a special request from my mom, and it is a Christmas book (and you just thought I was only a sucker for AI books) and it was clean so what the heck.

This is not your typical warm fuzzy all the way through Christmas book.  This book will run through the whole gambit of your emotions at one time or another during the span of this book.  Even though there are sad and disturbing part in this book that might make you mad there are also many warm loving and funny parts the make this book the beautiful gift to us the reader I believe it was meant to be.  It is a awesome and powerful read the kind that will want you to slow down and appreciate what you have and tell the people you love that as well.  Take the time now to give this book a try especially if you have never tried  Traci Copeland before this is a good quick read from her to get you started.

5 Stars