The Key & The Flame by Claire M. Caterer: Book Review

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Holly wishes for more than her boring life in America offers.  When her parents and younger brother, Ben move to an English Village for the summer, Holly receives a peculiar iron key from the cottage's caretaker. The key opens a door in a tree where Holly, Ben and their new English friend, Everett, end up in the medieval kingdom of Anglielle.

Ben and Everett are taken prisoner in the castle and where Holly must learn to use the key which transforms into a wand to rescue them. Magical creatures both help and hinder Holly's progress. While the plot has substance and the characters and mythical creatures spark interest, the action lacks the excitement and suspense needed to carry such a long fantasy novel. Caterer paints a pretty picture but leaves out the crucial step of actually meeting the wizard-like antagonist, saving it for the next book in the series.  The Flame & The Key will captivate the most voracious fantasy lovers, but the more fickle middle grade reader may put it down halfway through.  

Good to Recommended (3 1/2 stars)

Publishing Information:

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (April 2, 2013)

ISBN: 9781442457416

Ages: 8-12

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Book Review and Giveaway: Tiger in My Soup by Kashmira Sheth and Jeffery Ebbeler

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Having an older sister in charge wouldn't be so bad if she actually paid attention to you. 

When a boy is left in the care of his sister, he tries to get her to read his tiger book to him. Instead, she is too busy reading her own book. With ear buds planted in her ears, nothing will distract her. When she finally takes a break to give her brother a bowl of soup, he finds a ferocious tiger escaping with the steam from his bowl. The boy declares war on the tiger using the things in his kitchen while his sister cares only that his soup gets cold.

Bright colors evoke the warmth of Indian fabrics. The image of the tiger cowering on a table from the deluge of kitchen implements coming at him will give the young reader the thrill of victory and keep him glued to the pages long after he reads the words.

Recommended to Highly Recommended (4 1/2 stars)

Publishing Information:

Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (April 2013)
ISBN-13: 978-1-56145-696-3
Ages 4-8

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**Disclosure:  Review copy received from publisher at no charge. No monetary compensation was received. My review is based upon by honest opinion and is not influenced by outside sources.

Giveaway Details: 

Winner will receive a copy of Tiger in My Soup. Use the Rafflecopter form to enter. By entering, you acknowledge you have read the terms on the form and agree to them. Contest ends 5/30/2013 at 11:59 EST.
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Book Giveaway: Cloneward Bound by M.E. Castle

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I love wry and self depreciating humor. That is what makes Cloneward Bound by M.E. Castle so great. Check out my review below this giveaway post. 

Giveaway Details

One of my lucky readers will receive a copy of Cloneward Bound by M.E. Castle. Use the Rafflecopter form to enter. By entering, you acknowledge you have read the terms on the Rafflecopter form and agree to them. Contest ends 5/26/2013 at 11:59 EST.

**Contest is sponsored by the publisher.**

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Cloneward Bound by M.E. Castle: Book Review

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When Fisher Bas cloned himself, he never dreamed his double, Two, would escape to Hollywood to find the actress he believes to be his mother. Fisher must figure out how to find Two before their genetic secret is exposed. A class to see a taping of Strange Science with Dr. Devilish gives Fisher and his pig, F.P., the opportunity to head to Los Angeles in his search for Two.

After Fisher discovers his classmate, Amanda Cantreel suspects his secret, he teams up with her to elude government agents as well as school chaperones. The comedic situations the two find themselves in will have the reader in stitches, unable to stop reading until the fate of Two lies squarely in site. High tech gadgets paired with non-stop action appeal to the adventure lover. Author M.E. Castle succeeds in making a sequel even better than the first and leaves the door open for yet another fun adventure.

Highly Recommended for ages 8 and up.

Publishing Information:

Publisher: EgmontUSA (February 12, 2013)

Pages: 272 hardcover

ISBN-13: 978-1606842331

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 FTC Disclosure: I received the book at no charge from the publisher to facilitate my review. No monetary compensation was received and I am in no way obligated to give a positive review.

The Real Question by Adrian Fogelin: Book Review and Giveaway

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  The pressure Fisher Brown feels to excel academically becomes too much for him. Ever since his mom left, his dad, who is also his guidance counselor, puts pressure on him to keep his grades and test scores up so he can get into an Ivy League school. Fisher nearly has a meltdown when his mind freezes during a chemistry test. Convinced that his brain will do the same during the upcoming SAT, he wonders if his years of studying and getting straight A's will amount to anything.

When Fisher meets his neighbor's deadbeat brother, Lonny, he goes against his better judgment and agrees to tag along on a weekend adventure. 

Far from pleasurable, the trip turns out to be in a window into the world of the working poor in which Fisher must ask himself for the first time in his life some of life's hard questions.  The Real Question by Adrian Fogelin tugs at the heartstrings with an introspective look into Fisher's thoughts through the use of first-person narrative. The wry humor helps lighten the mood. A Recommended+ young adult novel, especially for those overachievers that need to be reminded of the truly important things in life.

Publishing Information:

Publisher: Peachtree Publishing (Sept. 1, 2009)

ISBN-13: 978-1-56145-383-2/ISBN-10:1-56145-383-8

Hardback: 234 pages

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Disclosure: I received the book at no charge from the publisher for review purposes. I do not accept books for review unless I am free to give an honest review.

Giveaway Details:

Winner will receive a copy of The Real Question by Adrian Fogelin. Use the Rafflecopter form to enter. By entering, you acknowledge you have read the terms on the Rafflecopter form and agree to them. Contest ends 5/14/2013 at 11:59 EST.

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