Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon Review

Magpie Gabbard and the Quest for the Buried Moon
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I like fantasies about princesses and British wizards as much as the next person, but it was wonderful to meet up with Magpie Gabbard and follow her breathlessly on her daisy chain of quests through the Kentucky mountains. Though you won't find the word "hillbilly" in the book, Magpie and her clan have a Hatfield-and-McCoy-worthy feud going on with the clan down the mountain. The feud is only one of a number of deftly intertwined plot lines--read this rollicking tale to learn about everything from the the spot on a time-traveling wild boar where the key must be inserted to procedures for handling goblins when they hang around on the porch at night like a bunch of supernatural gangbangers. And then there's the foot: you've got to love a book that starts out, "I mean to visit my brother Milo and give him back his foot." Author Sally Keehn draws on the American tall tale tradition as well as on fairy tale motifs such as the head in the well (who wants his hair combed) and the moon buried in a swamp by goblins. Did I mention that Gabbard honey has teeth-whitening properties, or that Granny Goforth has a prophesying kettle? Face it: we are living in a time when there's a real glut of fantasy on the children's literature market, and many of the books seem to blur together into one big blob of mediocre language and laborious plot construction. But not this book, fortunately--Magpie Gabbard is a standout.

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Things Left Unsaid: A Novel In Poems Review

Things Left Unsaid: A Novel In Poems
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This is a remarkably sensitive, engaging, and ultimately deeply moving book. It explores female friendship, a topic which often doesn't get explored with much depth or complexity, and it does so in an honest and often surprising way. The voice, and the images, haunted me for days after I read it. I definately recommend it to teenagers, or to anyone who remembers being one.

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I Can Play It Safe Review

I Can Play It Safe
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This book is simple and powerful at the same time. It is a great book with non-threatening tips on how kids can keep themselves safe. It very simple states that no one should touch you where your swimsuit covers. It's not scary, just plain, every day rules. It also covers other safety measures...an adult should never ask you to keep a secret, just a surprise. There is also a great section for parents about WHY the specific safety measures are in place...for example, the "secret" rule. Surprises are fine...birthday gifts, a treat for dinner, etc. If an adult is really asking a child to keep a secret it probably isn't good.
This book should be read to every child of every age and gender. Every parent should also be reading this book, too.

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Here's help for all adults who want to talk to young children about personal safety. Written by an expert in child safety, this full-color picture book teaches kids (and helps adults reinforce) seven important rules to personal safety in a nonthreatening way. It covers topics like safe versus harmful secrets, safe versus harmful touches, and the importance of having a community of trusted adults to turn to for help. Emphasizing the "check-in" rule and teaching kids to trust their gut instincts, this book gives children the knowledge and confidence they need to make smart choices about their personal safety every day.

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Hip, Hip, Hooray for Annie McRae Review

Hip, Hip, Hooray for Annie McRae
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What a wonderful children's book! Not only is Annie McCrae fun to read, beautifully illustrated, and refreshingly positive, but it is also a teaching tool. What parent or teacher would not want to sit down with a child and read the story of Annie McCrae--a little girl who learns to become her own best cheerleader? Children's books are wonderful, and there are a ton of well-illustrated, fun-to-read children's books out there. Classic children's books, however, go a little deeper and teach lessons for life. Annie McCrae is one such book. Hip, Hip, Hooray for Brad Wilcox and the classic tale of Annie McCrae! I can't wait to see what Annie learns next.

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Hold on to your hats, cause there's a new cowgirl in town whose pistols are packed with positive attitude! Eight-year-old Annie McRae is irresistible-with her toothless grin, turquoise-blue cowboy boots, and her upbeat twist on life, she spends most days surrounded by cheers of "Hip, hip, hooray for Annie McRae!" from Mom, Dad, Mr. Garcia, and Grandma C. But what happens when the grownups are too busy to cheer? Don't you worry-Annie pulls herself up by the bootstraps and realizes that the best "hip, hip, hoorays" come from herself and caring for others.As an added bonus, readers can try to spy the "hidden" horseshoes in each illustration! Brad Wilcox teaches literacy classes at Brigham Young University. He is the author of many books for young people including Tips for Tackling Teenage Troubles and Growing Up. This is his first picture book. He lives in Provo, Utah. Julie Hansen Olson graduated from Brigham Young University with a B.F.A. in illustration. This is her first children's book. She lives Orem, Utah.

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Bitter Melon Review

Bitter Melon
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Bitter Melon is an incredible, touching, and inspirational story of one girl's fight to become the person she wants to be rather then the one who mother wants her to become.
Bitter Melon tells the story of Frances, a Chinese-American high school student. All of her life, it's only been Frances and her mother depending on each other, and her mother making the decisions with Frances trailing behind. So, when it comes to Frances' future, her mother has the whole thing planned out: Frances will got to med school and get a life much better than the one her mother received. Though, everything changes the day Frances accidentally walks into a speech class with a teacher who's like no teacher she's ever had before. With Speech class, Frances finds a new talent, a talent of public speaking, and soon enough, Frances builds up the courage to tell her mother who she wants to be, but will she be able to rise to the task in the end? Will she be able to tell the women who's done as much as she possibly could for her daughter that she doesn't want med school? Only time will tell in this tale of mother and daughters and the space and secrets that lies between them.
I'm sure everyone here who reads my reviews has had that one big fight or fights with their mother before, thought I doubt it's ever been as the one between Frances and her mother. Frances and her mother are both interesting characters. Both are headstrong and want what the other one doesn't want, but the major difference between them is the vindictiveness France's mother contains, vindictiveness that not only made her one of the most compelling and perfect villains in the story, but someone who I wanted to yell at several times, because Frances is a lovely girl, as you'll realize if you read the book, but her mother doesn't consider Frances wants at all, instead she takes Frances for granted, even though I'm sure deep down she only means well in a twisted way. This all made the tension between them frightening yet strangely compelling, one of my favorite parts of the book. No doubt about it.
Another one of my favorite part's of Bitter Melon was Frances' speech class and speeches, because through them you got to see a vivid, honest portrayal of Frances. I also liked the way that through her speeches she begin to see people, such as Theressa, Derek, and her teacher, in ways that not only shaped her as a person but her life as well.
Adding to this, I simply loved Cara Chow's writing. At times, I could barley even tell this was her debut novel, because her writing was just that great. It was honest, raw, and addicting, making this one book that calls to be read in one sitting. I also loved the way she not only brought the late 1980s setting to life in this, but thought of so many unique ways to use symbolism in the story.
In all, Bitter Melon is one of the best contemporary books I've read so far this year (2010). It's brutal, honest, and touching; something I'm sure Courtney Summer fans will gobble right up! Lastly, Cara Chow is an author to watch because I feel she has many amazing books in future if Bitter Melon is any indication.
Grade: A+

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You're Different and That's Super Review

You're Different and That's Super
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Carson's book is outstanding, especially for any child growing up feeling differently whether from asthma, diabetes, birthmarks, wheelchair bound, maybe a lisp or even that super smart kid or shy kid who is often viewed as strange or weird. Trumpet is a true ambassador for the young person who feels they just don't fit, or think, or feel, the way the other kids appear. Trumpet proves that different can be mighty super! Yay for the vision of Carson Kressley in addressing this valid and important matter.

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Indescribably Arabella Review

Indescribably Arabella
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Loved this book... its a shame its not in print version for the younger kids.. i loved the message and the illusstrations were awesome.. made the kids giggle..

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Harlem Hustle Review

Harlem Hustle
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HARLEM HUSTLE tells the story of Eric Sampson, a teen-aged boy who has earned the nickname Harlem Hustle. Eric has recently spent time in jail while awaiting trial after being arrested for attemptig to steal a coat. Fortunately, he was able to get off with only probation, but in the process, he has learned that life in jail is not for him. He hasn't had an easy life, at seventeen, he has already spent several years fending for himself after being abandoned by drug addicted parents. Hustling has been a means of survival for him and although he has dreams, it seems, he is too afraid and hurt to aspire to make them reality. As the story develops, Eric is presented with opportunities, his dream of becoming a rapper seems as if it just might come true. Or will it? HARLEM HUSTLE follows Eric through the ups and downs of his daily life, from the highs of success, new love, and hope, to the lows of disappointment and rejection.
Janet McDonald has created an interesting male protagonist who young adult readers will be able to relate to and empathize with. Though his particular experiences may differ from those of readers, his feelings of angst, frustration, fear, and his need for acceptance are universal. HARLEM HUSTLE has good pacing, a carefully developed main character, and an interesting and well thought out group of secondary characters. The book is timely, as many young males aspire to become rappers, and unfortunately, many are wowed by the fast life and the streets. HARLEM HUSTLE conveys subtle messages about the ills of fast-living, while creating a tale that grabs you from the beginning and keeps you invested until the last page.
Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

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I Love You Dude Review

I Love You Dude
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This book had me laughing out loud from the first page and I continued to laugh on almost every page. It is about a doodle named Dude who is on a search for belonging and happiness. It is absurd, childish and at the same time very clever. The illustrations are also hilarious and evocative of Dude's journey and his feelings. I highly recommend it for children and adults alike!


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Time of the Witches Review

Time of the Witches
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Gold Star Award Winner!
Drucilla is an orphan who longs for a family. When the Putnam's of Salem Village take her in, Dru thinks she's found the family she's dreamed of.
But Mistress Putnam's behavior is strange, and when young girls begin to fall ill without explanation, there's talk of witchcraft. Soon the accusations are flying and Dru even makes one of her own. Innocent lives hang in the balance, and Dru must find a way to stop the madness.
Myers does a fantastic job of bringing to life the events of the Salem Witch hunts and trials. Seamlessly weaving historical figures with fictional characters, TIME OF THE WITCHES draws the reader in and makes them feel like a participant in one of history's most tragic times.
I absolutely loved this book and have added it to my re-read pile. Dru's story grabbed hold of me and wouldn't let go as I discovered more and more about her life and times. Though I studied the Salem Witch trials in high school, I got more from this novel than I did from those weeks of study. Thanks to Myers, I better understand the reasoning behind these girls' accusations.
This book would be great for use in a classroom to introduce Salem's darkest times as it gives the reader not only historical information, but also the human connection lacking in the history books. Bravo, Anna Myers. Bravo.
Reviewed by: Joan Stradling


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An orphan named Drucilla has finally has a place to call home with the Putnam family in Salem. Although her adopted mother is strange—haunted by a troubled past—Dru feels drawn to her as the mother she never had. When a new reverend and his family move into town with their servant Tituba, life takes a strange turn as young girls begin to fall ill and accusations of witchcraft begin to swirl. Reluctant to turn her back on the Putnams or her peers and overwhelmed by the power of groupthink among the other girls in town, Dru becomes one of the accusers herself. But when her best friend Gabe is accused, she must find a way to end the hysteria, or risk losing him forever.

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Everything I Was Review

Everything I Was
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This is a great little book; my only complaint is that there should have been more of it. But to be honest with you, I need to read slim volumes once in a while to get a rest from reading books that are 400 or more pages. This book fit the bill.

The writing is simple and straight forward and you could easily figure out what all the characters were thinking. The story was very easy to follow and even though this book may be considered YA but I am a baby boomer and I enjoyed it.

Irene is pre-teen whose father was a corporate VP making a great salary but had just lost his job due to a merger. She lived in a penthouse in New York and went to a private school. Her mother was enjoying the life of luxury and didn't understand what the job loss really meant to her easy go spending habits. There is quite a bit of tension going on because of people not expressing their true wishes.

They are forced to move out into the country in her Irene's grandfather's house. Irene was going through a lot of changes that don't just involve growing up. She has to decide what is most important to her. Her grandfather is a gem. He makes her feel so at home at the farm, fixing up great places for her to escape her parent's constant arguing. You will want him for your own grandfather.

This is a page turner that you will definitely not like to lay down.
I recommend it to people who love to read books about families dealing with change.



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"My walls were stripped, and all that was left in the room was a pile of boxes and my mattress propped against the wall." So begins Irene's journey from an Upper West Side penthouse to--well, she's not entirely sure where. Irene's father, a corporate VP, is "downsized" when his company merges with another. When he can't find work, her family's lifestyle--and her mother's spending--quickly catches up with them. Eventually, they're forced to move in with Irene's grandfather in the family farmhouse upstate. But what begins as the most disastrous summer of Irene's life takes a surprising turn, and Irene must decide what she wants for herself after losing everything she was.

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Last to Finish: A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class (Adventures of Everyday Geniuses) Review

Last to Finish: A Story About the Smartest Boy in Math Class (Adventures of Everyday Geniuses)
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You would have thought that telling my child over and over (and over!)again that other children, and me his mother, have the same struggles with learning math would have made him feel a little less alone in the 3rd grade math world, but it didn't. A parent can only tell a child that everyone learns differently so much. After my son read this book he finally believed me! We talked about how I was when I was a child and how I even have struggle now. Reading this book has opened up this connection with my son that i never thought possible. He saw himself in this book; he made connections that finally turned the switch on for him. Thank you Barb for thinking of our children and creating these great books!

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Megan's Balancing Act Review

Megan's Balancing Act
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Even for the people out there in the world who don't like gymnastics,they will still enjoy this book. The girls go on big adventures. You feel like you are in the story! Take it from me, I know you will enjoy the Magic Attic Club books.

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Beauty Queen Review

Beauty Queen
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Written as a young girl's diary, the book immediately immerses you as Samantha's best friend, the one she will tell everything to. I found myself liking Sam right away, I imaged her as having an innocence, or gullibility to her that was sweet but not annoying; and right away we see that her feelings run deep beneath the surface of her pretty face.
Sam starts her diary immediately following her break up with her boyfriend, who she cared deeply for and who abruptly informed her that he was seeing a woman 15 years his senior. He broke her heart, and so at her psychiatrist's suggestion, she begins to write down her feelings for us. In light of being her only confidant, right away we discover that her mother is a well-off alcoholic, a former model falling into her decline, with a handsome boyfriend who would like nothing more than to get to know Sam a little better while her mother is passed out. Right away we glimpse Kevin Reed's intentions as Sam returns home to find him in her bedroom watching porn flicks and asking her to join him.
Sam knows she needs a change in her life, but her low self esteem tells her she is not smart enough for college, that no one could possibly love her, and that she will never be able to even take acting classes to become the actress she dreams of being. She and her best friend Nicole do find a nice place and move in, taking Sam's diabetic cat with her. Then Sam decides to take a job in a topless club, leaving behind her low paying fast food job. She is very nervous at first, and a fellow dancer turns her onto the "relaxing" effects of heroin, telling her that her modesty and uneasiness will dissolve, making the job more tolerable. Which it does.
And so begins Sam's decline. Still heart-broken over her ex-boyfriend, she meets a man named Angelo who has ties to the mafia but treats her with respect and affection. She also meets Blaine, a handsome and reckless cop who frequents the strip club. I found these two relationships of particular interest in reading Ms. Glovach's story, because Sam is at heart an innocent girl, she readily trusts the cop and not the mafia thug; and the good/bad roles here are reversed, only magnifying Sam's naiveté when judging character. Her desire to be loved is heart wrenching, and manifests in all the love that she pours out to others who become close to her. In the case of her ailing cat, the love is justified. But in the case of Blaine, this love is used against her in a thoughtless and heartless manner by a man who is seeking only his own gratification for his own sick uses.
Finding a release from her pain, boredom, dejection, and feelings of inadequacy with the heroin, her usage increases at an alarming rate while we listen in helpless silence to her denial of addiction. Eventually, she is unable to even finish a diary entry without shooting up, and yet still she offhandedly dismisses her habit as recreation rather than real addiction.
This sad tale of a beautiful girl becomes all the more depressing when you realize that it has truly poured from the heart of Anygirl in Anywhere. Our daughters, our sisters, our nieces, our friends; they all manifest feelings of inadequacy somewhere in their life, and this story could be theirs. On a quick note, the author, Linda Glovach, tells of purchasing and using heroin in order to "get the feel of the book", and found herself addicted and almost dead in a hospital. Her amazingly articulate vocalization of her experience should be noted. Of her own experience with heroin addiction, she said, "In truth, you make a deal with the Devil. He takes away your pain, but he owns you. You live for the next fix."
Poetic and real. Don't be fooled into believing that this is a book only for teens, do yourself a favor, especially if you have a daughter, and pick this up. It's a quick, poignant, unforgettable read. Enjoy!

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Roawr Review

Roawr
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I thought this book was "cute" the first time I read it to myself. I have discovered that not only is it better read aloud, but that it is also better with each subsequent reading. My 3-year-old chimes in with a lot of the words, and my 17-month-old (Liam) likes to ROAWR along, too.

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Little Critter: Just Big Enough Review

Little Critter: Just Big Enough
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In "Just Big Enough," Little Critter finds himself feeling like a lot of kids --- wanting to be bigger. He's tried of being bullied around on the school bus, or not being included in the "big-kid" games.
Yes, Little Critter is serious about wanting to be big, so he starts looking for ways to be bigger. He starts eating healthier and exercising. He even invents his very own "growing machine," but none of it is working. Will Little Critter come up with a way to be bigger? Or will he find something about the size he is now?
"Little Critter" continues, after over thirty years, to be a charming and identifiable picture book series.

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What's so great about being little when it means the big kids take your seat on the bus, eat all of the cupcakes, and won't let you play football? Little Critter wants to grow up -- and quickly. So he builds a growing machine and eats (almost) all of his vegetables, but doesn't grow an inch. What's a critter to do? Just when things seem hopeless, Little Critter's Grandpa shows him that being big doesn't always mean being the best. Fans of all ages will adore Mercer Mayer's classic character as they learn and grow with him

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Something Like Hope Review

Something Like Hope
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I've read quite a few books recently that teachers and librarians should have in their libraries, but Something Like Hope is the first book I've read in a while that, if I had the money, I'd buy for all of my teaching friends to read and include in their libraries. Some of us may not have a student like Shavonne right now (that we know of), but who's to say we won't in the future. Shawn Goodman wrote this poignant novel in response to his experiences working in juvenile detention facilities. Unfortunately, many people across the country have had experiences like Shawn. This is why it's so very important for people to know about Something Like Hope. I hope that many readers (teens, parents, educators, etc) will read this novel.
Shavonne's exterior tough attitude reminded me of some of the students I've had. She's suffered from all types of abuse from when she was living with her mom, living in foster care and living in the detention center. It's no wonder that Shavonne has built up this wall to protect herself; she's constantly preparing herself for fight or flight. The abuse she suffers at the juvenile detention facility is the most haunting of all. Any time something happened to her or to another character, I wanted to bust through those doors and have someone arrested! Thankfully Shavonne finds some solace in Mr. Delpopolo. He's straight-forward and honest with her, which both throws Shavonne for a loop, but is also something she desperately needs. Mr. Delpopolo shows Shavonne compassion, which so many teens-troubled or not-crave. The therapy Shavonne receives from talking to Mr. Delpopolo allows her to feel. She feels more than just pain and fear. She starts feeling sympathy and love and concern for her new roommate Mary. She starts feeling trust for those in the center who have helped her. Like the summary says, Shavonne starts feeling hope.
Knowing that Shawn has experiences like Mr. Delpopolo boggles my mind. I've listened to some of my students' heart-wrenching stories, but I haven't heard anything like Shavonne's story. I had a difficult time not crying while I was reading Something Like Hope. Shawn deserves high-praises for the work he's doing with troubled teens and for writing such a powerful and tragic, yet hopeful novel. It's my hope that Something Like Hope gets the attention it deserves and consequently more troubled teens get the help they so desperately need. This is a five-star debut novel without a doubt!

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