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The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt:Desi Bascomb's job as a princess substitute has gotten a whole lot more glamorous now that she's advanced to Level 2 within the Facade Agency. Magical make-up, roller-skating celebrities, and the chance to see Prince Karl again are just some of the major perks. Not to mention, she's landed the role of Fairy Queen in her school's production of Midsummer's Night Dream (opposite her best friend's crush. Which is a little weird, but at least he wears a donkey head during their kissing scene). Life should be perfect, but Desi can't seem to shake the feeling that there is more going on with the agency's magic than she's told. Like why is this mind-bending power exclusive to royals? Is it possible that there could be a bigger way to make an impact in both parts of her life?
Lindsey Leavitt's Princess for Hire series is so fun. I loved the first book and was not disappointed with the sequel: The Royal Treatment. It is a perfect tween read: cute and clean with a great message.
There was some foreshadowing in the first book that I picked up on and was pleased when this story went the direction I thought it would. Lindsey Leavitt is a great writer. Her books make me smile and I highly recommend them.
If you are looking for a light, fun, quick read look not further than The Princess for Hire Series!
Content: Clean
Priscilla the Great by Sybil Nelson:Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn’t hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, an organization dead set on turning children into killing machines.
Add an older brother annoyingly obsessed with Christina Aguilera, mischievous baby twin brothers who could scare the sin off of Satan, and parents more puzzling than a Rubik’s cube in the Bermuda triangle and expect a smoking page-turner.Priscilla the Great is such a fun middle grade read! I know my children would enjoy this story and it kept me entertained. Sort of a Spy Kids meets X-Men type story.
There really is a lot to like about this book - from the plot to the characters to the humor to the awesome superpowers - this book was a page turner. Sometimes I find my mind wandering while reading middle grade books but this one held my attention and kept me turning the pages.
I'm fairly certain there is a sequel coming and I'll gladly read it if given the chance.
Content: A few instances of taking the Lord's name in vain but otherwise clean
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Source: From author for review as part of a blog tour
Win a Priscilla the Great Prize Pack!
Prize Pack includes:
1 signed Priscilla the Great book,
1 Priscilla the Great t-shirt,
1 Priscilla the Great totebag,
and a $15 iTunes gift card!
That's over a $50 value! All you have to do is comment on one of the posts during the Teen {Book} Scene blog tour March 14th to April 8th and you're automatically entered!
World's Best Origami is an amazing collection of more than 100 of the most unusual and best-loved origami patterns ever created. Expert origami artist Nick Robinson has collected traditional origami patterns as well as his own pieces and those from some of the greatest origami artists in the world- many in print here for the first time ever. • More than 100 pieces-the most comprehensive origami book on the market •Projects rated from beginner to advanced and include everything from boxes, containers, geometrics, and abstracts to figures, birds, animals, and flowers, and more-this unique volume has something for everyone at every skill level •Each diagram clearly displayed with easy-to-understand instructions •The only book to include the works of several masters of the craft, including Edwin Corrie and Francesco Guarnieri, as well as the author.I've always been amazed by the ability some people have to make intricate origami works of art. This book
World's Best Origami explains how to make such creations step by step.
Each project contains a difficulty rating from 1 to 5. My 10 year old daughter and I tried some of these out last night. We only attempted Difficulty level 1 projects. She made a couple flowers and I made a swan. I was able to easily teach my 8 year old son how to make the swan. There some very detailed designs in the high level of difficulty projects.
Chapter 1 of the book is titled Origami Basics that explains how to properly fold the paper, cut the paper to the proper shape and many other techniques that must be learned to master the art of paper folding. The chapters that follow contain instructions for making flowers, people, animals, containers, birds and many other fun items.
The instructions are easy to follow and there are lots of models that show you exactly what to do. The only drawback is that this book is in black and white. It's also quite technical so it's too advanced for young children.
Rating: 4 Stars
Source: Received copy for review
By:
Inspired Kathy,
on 11/10/2010
Blog:
I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
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Tansy Miller has always felt that her divorced father has never had enough time for her. But mistakenly getting caught on the wrong side of the law wasn't exactly how she wanted to get his attention. Enter Chrysanthemum "Chrissy" Everstar, Tansy's fairy in shining, er, high heels. Chrissy is only a fair godmother, of course, so Tansy's three wishes don't exactly go according to plan. And if bringing Robin Hood to the twenty-first century isn't bad enough for Tansy, being transported back to the Middle Ages to deal with Rumpelstiltskin certainly is. She'll need the help of her blended family, her wits, and especially the cute police chief 's son to stop the gold-spinning story from spinning wildly out of control. Janette Rallison pulls out all the stops in this fresh, fun-filled follow-up to the popular My Fair Godmother.
I really enjoyed the first book in this series My Fair Godmother. It's unusual for a sequel to be better than the original book but Janette Rallison managed this amazing feat with My Unfair Godmother.
This book is cute, clean and fun. I laughed out loud more times than I can remember. The references Janette makes to popular culture are hysterical. References from everything from Twilight to popular music are sprinkled throughout. I'm not sure if this book was supposed to make me cry but there is one scene near the end were I had tears in my eyes.
Well done Janette! My Unfair Godmother is a hilarious twisted tale that combined elements from Robin Hood and Rumplestiltskin into one fabulous adventure. If you enjoyed My Fair Godmother I'm sure you'll love this one. It can be read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading My Fair Godmother first.
My Unfair Godmother is scheduled for release on April 12. 2011.
Content: Clean
Rating: 5 Stars
Source: Around the World ARC tour
In Caitlin’s world, everything is black or white. Things are good or bad. Anything in between is confusing. That’s the stuff Caitlin’s older brother, Devon, has always explained. But now Devon’s dead and Dad is no help at all. Caitlin wants to get over it, but as an eleven-year-old girl with Asperger’s, she doesn’t know how. When she reads the definition of closure, she realizes that is what she needs. In her search for it, Caitlin discovers that not everything is black and white—the world is full of colors—messy and beautiful.
Kathryn Erskine has written a must-read gem, one of the most moving novels of the year.
Mockingbird is told through the eyes of 11 year old Caitlin. Caitlin's mother died years ago and her older brother was recently shot. Caitlin has Asperger's, as a result she takes everything literally and has a hard time understanding people's motives and emotions. Dealing with the death of her brother is difficult for her.
This story has a great message about friendship, loss, judging others and the way we treat those who are different.
Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine is a well written tale of a girl with Asperger's Syndrome. Since one of my children exhibits mild Asperger's like tendencies, I really benefited from reading this book.
I would recommend this book to anyone in the mood for a touching story and to those who know someone who is autistic or has Asperger's. There are a few reference to the book To Kill a Mockingbird which is on my to read list but is a book I've not read.
Content: Clean
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Source: I won this book in a giveaway
The children’s TV series Lochie Leonard last night won Most Outstanding Children’s Program at the TV Week Logie Awards. This gorgeous series based on the award winning Tim Winton books for intermediate readers is a more than deserving winner, with perfect casting, wonderful scripting and stunning Western Australian scenery. This was the best Australian children’s series that I have seen in years and I instantly fell in love with it. The charm like Winton’s books is that it is so natural, it is funny, sometimes a little sad, I did have a little cry in one episode, and always exquisitely Australian without being cliched. The books and the TV series are perfect for boys from about 10 years and up, especially reluctant readers but girls will love Lochie also.
Lochie is a surf mad 12 year old who moves to a new town with his father, ‘Sarge’, the town cop, Mum who is beautifully understanding but fighting depression, little brother Phillip who acts older than his years but is still wetting the bed and baby sister ‘Blob’ who likes to eat lino.
Season 1 is available on DVD.
Today I have bought myself a copy of Breath, Winton’s newest adult novel the first in seven years. I can’t wait to go on holidays next week, find a nice sunny spot and devour Breath. It also has one on the most gorgeous jackets on a novel I have seen, it makes me want to jump in.
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By:
Terry Lee Wilde,
on 1/26/2008
Blog:
Wilde Teen Books
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February 4-29, 2008
Engaging the Reader from Start to Finish!!
Instructor: Terry Spear
Cost: $25.00 payable by PayPal
Deadline to Register: January 30th
For more information go to:http://www.pasic.net/classes.html
Slow starts and sleepy endings to scenes and chapters can ruin a manuscript's chance of being published. Conversely, solid hooks can make the sale – as workshop instructor Terry Spear demonstrates, with six publishers currently hooked for six manuscripts. Setting such practical matters aside, what author wouldn't be thrilled to hear someone say, "I couldn't put the book down"? Strong hooks are a vital ingredient in strong writing. In this online class, which features lectures, discussion, practical exercises, and handouts, she'll teach students how to captivate readers with great openings, scene hooks, chapter cliff hangers, and intriguing back cover blurbs. Participants can learn how the hook in all its environments, from the query letter through the novel.
About the Instructor:
Terry Spear has published in many genres, including historical romantic suspense, contemporary, urban fantasy, and under the name Terry Lee Wilde, young adult paranormal and fantasy romances. She's the author of Winning the Highlander's Heart, is a debut paranormal author for Sourcebooks with the urban fantasy, Heart of the Wolf, coming April 1st, Don’t Cry Wolf, April 2009, and The Vampire…In My Dreams is already out. Deadly Liaisons is coming in November, Relative Danger,TBA. She also writes nonfiction for numerous genealogy, WWII, teen,and family magazines, and has had romantic fiction published inmagazines. Currently, she's working on a sequel to Heart of the Wolf, Betrayal of the Wolf.
Her website: http://www.terryspear.com/
Deadline to Register: January 30th
For more information go to: http://www.pasic.net/classes.html
By:
Terry Lee Wilde,
on 11/3/2007
Blog:
Wilde Teen Books
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The online workshop is a success! Very lively group--super discussion. If you missed out on joining the class for the month of November, it will be offered again in February.
Slow starts and sleepy endings to scenes and chapters can ruin a manuscript's chance of being published. Conversely, solid hooks can make the sale. Setting such practical matters aside, what author wouldn't be thrilled to hear someone say, "I couldn't put the book down"? Strong hooks are a vital ingredient in strong writing. In this online class, which features lectures, discussion, practical exercises, and handouts, I'll teach students how to captivate readers with great openings, scene hooks, chapter cliff hangers, and intriguing back cover blurbs. Participants will master the hook in all its environments, from the query letter through the novel.
I have yet to read the first book in this series, but after reading her book, SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD, I am definitely going to! Thanks for the review (:
Good! I'm making my list for when mine hits that age!
S.B. Niccum
Author Website
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hi I`m enjoying all the hopping ;) I would love to read this.
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Thanks for the review and the giveaway!
lag110 at mchsi dot com
Thanks for the great interview! This book sounds great!
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