Archives

Lois Lane: Fallout, by Gwenda Bond (book review) – Metropolis, new reporter, online dangers

Jun22

book cover of Lois Lane: Fallout by Gwenda Bond published by Switch PressStay out of trouble,
don’t get involved…
when a friend is being bullied?
Yeah, right.

Lois Lane is a born investigator, and her Army dad’s latest move puts her into a virtual reality mystery at her newest school – yes, that Lois Lane and the Daily Planet  and an online-only friend who calls himself SmallvilleGuy.

Read the free prequel short stories here (look below the book cover on left), then head to your local library or independent bookstore to get Lois Lane: Fallout.

When have you stood up against bullying?
**kmm

Book info: Lois Lane: Fallout (Lois Lane, book 1) / Gwenda Bond. Switch Press/Capstone, 2015.  [author site]  [publisher site]  Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: Unnerved by the tech gang at her newest school, fledgling reporter Lois investigates its hush-hush ‘field trips’ and uncovers dangers that her online pal SmallvilleGuy and her Army general father can’t ignore.

She promised herself to fly under the radar at Metropolis High, but Lois can’t stand bullies. The Warheads move in unison, finish each other’s sentences, and work on a special virtual reality project off-campus. Now, they want to ‘assimilate’ computer whiz Anavi who feels them pressing on her mind.

Recruited by editor Perry White for the Daily Planet’s new teen reporting team, Lois investigates the Warheads, finding weird connections between the principal and a local research lab.

While new friends on the Scoop team back her up during her research, her online friend SmallvilleGuy (who is he, really?) warns Lois about ARL and its virtual reality plans.

Can Lois keep Anavi safe from The Warheads?
Are their minds truly connected?
Will she ever meet SmallvilleGuy outside the virtual reality game worlds?

A smart and subtle prequel to the Superman saga that we all know so well, Lois Lane: Fallout  balances high-tech gone wrong with friendship done right.  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

Disappearance of Emily H., by Barrie Summy (book review) – secrets sparkle, uncovered threats?

Jun10

book cover of The Disppearance of Emily H. by Barrie Summy published by Delacorte PressSparkling puffs of others’ memories,
easy to find, irresistible to grab,
but what if the memory is filled with threats?

Raine has inherited the family ability to read and replay others’ memories from the “sparklies” that remain, especially after strong emotions. Grabbing a sparkly looks too much like trying to take something, so her grandmother warned her against it.

But Raine’s fingers are just itching to get more after she discovers that she’s now living in the house that Emily H. vanished from…

For a peek into the mystery facing Raine in her new town and middle school, enjoy this book trailer created by the Mooresville Public Library (Indiana):

If you could access memories just by touching them, would you?
**kmm

Book info: The Disappearance of Emily H. / Barrie Summy.  Delacorte Press, 2015.   [author site]  [publisher site]  [book trailer] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: If eighth grader Raine had followed advice to not pick up ‘sparklies’ – shards of others’ memories that she can view and replay – then she’d never have discovered the mean girls’ conspiracy at her new school or looked into the fate of Emily who lived in this same house and disappeared…

After yet another move with her mom, Raine didn’t expect to make a new friend on the first day of school (homeschooled Shirlee has a hard time tuning out Jennifer and her mean girls, but Raine is a pro). Having to prove her cross-country running to Coach is a given, but snooty Jennifer’s behavior at practices is over the limit.

Everyone at school is still talking about the recent disappearance for Emily, who was frequently picked on by the mean girls, but the police have few leads. The few sparklies that Raine has quietly grabbed at school hint that the mean girls know more than they’re telling.

Unexplained fires keep flaring up – is there a firebug in the small New York town?
Raine’s nosy neighbor accuses her of sneaking back into the house nightly – but it isn’t her…
Does she dare search for more memories sparkling on Jennifer’s belongings to discover the truth?

Bullying and belonging, friendship and family – middle school with a dangerous mystery! (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

Scarlett Undercover, by Jennifer Latham (book review) – teen investigating suicide & King Solomon’s legacy?

Jun8

book cover of Scarlett Undercover by Jennifer Latham published by Little Brown Books for Young ReadersNot a suicidal teen,
not a real-estate financier,
not a homeless woman –
is anyone in her town what they appear to be?

This is a teen detective tale with twists, as Scarlett’s routine investigation into a suicide turns up an online game gone deadly in the real world, mystical objects from King Solomon‘s days, and strange connections to her Muslim community.

Read the first 3 chapters here free – I know that you’ll want this May 2015 book ASAP!

**kmm

Book info: Scarlett Undercover, by Jennifer Latham. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015.  [author site]  [publisher site]   Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher, via NetGalley.

My book talk: When a young girl asks Scarlett to investigate her big brother’s connection to a recent suicide, the 16 year old uncovers local California teens lured into locating talismans belonging to King Solomon, unaware of their mystic powers or history in her Muslim community.

After their father was killed and a family heirloom statue stolen, Scarlett worked with area police in vain, then graduated early from high school, bored. Following their mother’s painful death from cancer, big sister Reem donned the hijab and went to medical school.

Now Scarlett is trying to find out if Gemma’s big brother made Quinn jump off the bridge, what the strange pattern on his wrist means, and why her sweet Decker has the same design on his chest.

Threats to a philanthropic building project, trying to keep Gemma safe, that symbol appearing again and again – Scarlett can’t stop looking for the answers.

Being followed on the street, ducking questions from her self-appointed guardian angel at the laundromat, summoned by a Muslim tattoo artist (when tattoos for Muslims are haram, forbidden) – someone wants Scarlett to stop looking.

A mystic quest, well-meaning family friends who urge her to leave now for college, kidnap attempts – Scarlett has her hands full and won’t back down till she solves this!  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

Who’s missing? Mysteries & frights to read with your ears!

Jun4

Time to download this week’s eerie pair of free audiobooks from SYNC so you can read with your ears!

Yes, these are complete audiobooks available from Thursday through Wednesday, and they’re yours until you delete them from your computer or electronic device.

If you miss the free download time for any works mentioned, you can find buying info at http://www.audiobooksync.com/  Check your local library, too!

CD cover of A Corner of White by Jaclyn Moriarty | Read by Fiona Hardingham, Andrew Eiden, Kate Reinders, Peter McGowan Published by Scholastic AudioA Corner of White
by Jaclyn Moriarty
Read by Fiona Hardingham, Andrew Eiden, Kate Reinders, Peter McGowan
Published by Scholastic Audio

Missing persons, interconnected worlds with uncrossable barriers that Madeleine and Elliott somehow get past! I recommended this first book in trilogy on BooksYALove here in 2013.

DraculaCD cover of Dracula by Bram Stoker | Read by David Horovitch, Jamie Parker, Joseph Kloska, Alison Pettitt, Clare Corbett, John Foley, David Thorpe Published by Naxos AudioBooks
by Bram Stoker
Read by David Horovitch, Jamie Parker, Joseph Kloska, Alison Pettitt, Clare Corbett, John Foley, David Thorpe
Published by Naxos AudioBooks

The vampire tale that started it all, read by an outstanding actor cast, complete and unabridged!

Have you read either of these changed-world titles before?
**kmm

Book Scavenger, by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman (book review) – books, puzzles & mysteries in San Francisco

Jun2

book cover of Book Scavenger by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman published by Holt Books for Young ReadersMoving again? Another new school?
Oh, well – more places to hide books…
and to find the most unique book of all!

Emily wishes that she could be as laid-back as her big brother about her family’s constant moves, but at least San Francisco is headquarters of her favorite books-puzzles-searching game. Maybe she’ll find someone to search out hidden books with her, too.

Happy book birthday to Book Scavenger, filled with puzzles, books, bad guys, and the joys of friendship!

I’m happy to see that the author was inspired by Book Crossing, which encourages readers to ‘release books into the wild’ with BookCrossing ID labels so their travels can be logged in (fun and free!).

Read an excerpt here at publisher’s site for free, then go get your own  copy – anyone can play the Book Scavenger game (learn more here)! Let me know if you’ve been lucky enough to find one of the copies hidden in each of the 50 US states already!

What other book are you intent on sharing?
**kmm

Book info: Book Scavenger / Jennifer Chambliss Bertman, with illustrations by Sarah Watts. Holt Books For Young Readers, 2015.  [author site]  [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: If Emily’s family hadn’t moved to San Francisco, the 12 year old puzzle fan would never have met James or found The Gold-Bug book – or been chased by bad guys who attacked the creator of her favorite book game and will do anything to get that book!

Blame it on her parents’ blog about living in all 50 states – here Emily is in another new school. At least she can solve the Book Scavenger puzzles and find hidden books in beautiful San Francisco.

Luckily, James next door goes to her school and gets interested in Book Scavenger, so they team up with her big brother to find out who attacked the game’s creator Mr. Griswold, following puzzle clues all over town.

What’s different about this copy of The Gold-Bug?
Why do those non-literary thugs want it so badly?
Can they solve the mystery in this book before it’s too late for Mr. Griswold and before Mom and Dad decide to move again?

Filled with puzzles, tributes to authors in the City by the Bay, and lots of action, this adventure-mystery will have readers itching to disguise and hide books like Emily and James do. (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

Jesus Jackson, by James Ryan Daley (book review) – death, atheism & Jesus in a linen suit

May18
book cover of Jesus Jackson by James Ryan Daley published by Poison Pen Press

Big brother dead,
terrible rumors at school,
surely answers can be found… somehow.

Jon idolizes Ryan and thinks that going to Catholic high school will be less bad because his big brother is there.

But Ryan’s death on orientation day leaves Jon with a huge hole in his heart and no faith to ease his pain.

Jesus Jackson – “spiritual contractor – 100% faith guaranteed – call for free estimate” – promises to help him out; just a few questions to answer.

The book trailer here is great – don’t miss it.

Ask for this October 2014 release at your local library or independent bookstore, and travel with Jonathan through his landscape of grief and the questions that Jesus Jackson asks him to ask himself.

Have you ever found it easier to accept the crazy theory than the true answer for a difficult problem?
**kmm

Book info: Jesus Jackson / James Ryan Daley. Poison Pen Press, 2014.  [author site]  [publisher site]  [book trailer] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: Jonathan’s big brother left this life too early, before they’d finished examining all religions to find one that is true, and now a guy who looks like Jesus offers to help the 14-year-old atheist find some meaning in life.

Following in Ryan’s footsteps at St. Soren’s would be easy for Jonathan if he were athletic or cute or good at pretending that Catholic school made sense. When Ryan is found dead below the school’s steep running path, Jon is devastated.

On the day of his big brother’s funeral, a guy named Jesus Jackson offers to build him new faith in a god, but Jon clings to atheism like a life raft.

Jon and his new friend Henry find suspicious shoeprints at the accident site and decide to investigate Ryan’s friends and classmates when the police ignore this new evidence.

Jesus Jackson shows up here and there, asking just the right questions to get Jon pondering life and faith and whether anything matters at all.

What can Ryan’s girlfriend share about his behavior?
How can Jon get evidence that jealous Alistair pushed Ryan?
Can a ‘spiritual contractor’ really build Jon’s faith in something?

Jon’s divorced parents are dealing with grief in different ways, his school counselor won’t leave him alone, and weird details about Ryan’s time at St. Soren’s keep popping up – freshman year can’t get any worse, can it? And Jesus is just around the corner, with more questions about Jon’s questions.

Girl Defective, by Simmone Howell (book review) – summer of music, mystery & weird

May15

book cover of Girl Defective by Simmone Howell published by Atheneum Books for Young ReadersScary-sad missing girl mystery.
Little brother thinks he’s a super-detective.
New guy at their vinyl shop has a secret.

Sky isn’t sure what’s worse – Dad ignoring the eviction notice, seeing friend Nancy drift away, or her dreams of drowned Mia.

Watching Gully all summer will be dreadful, since the 10 year old wears his pig-snout mask always and logs every scrap of conversation like a secret agent – can’t Sky just work at the family record shop and go to concerts like everyone else?

Snag a free excerpt of the book here, then ask for Girl Defective  at your local library or independent bookstore.

Did family expectations every make you defer a dream job?
**kmm

Book info: Girl Defective / Simmone Howell. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2014.  [author site]  [publisher site] Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: This summer, Sky just wants to run her family’s vintage vinyl shop and fall in love, but dire secrets percolate up in their scruffy Australian neighborhood, and her social-skills-lacking little brother Gully keeps calling the police with clues.

After Mom left them to “follow her art” and Dad crawled into his homebrew bottle, it’s been up to Skylark to take care of 10-year-old autist Gully (who melts down when everything isn’t just-so) and keep the doors of their vintage vinyl record shop open for collectors.

Stylish pal Nancy tries to get Sky out for concerts before a developer razes local venues (“progress” – ha!),  a missing person case is deemed suicide (who’s making those memorial murals?), and Dad hires new guy Luke to work in the shop (very cute, in a hidden-sadness way) – quite enough happening in St. Kilda before the eviction notice arrives.

What will become of the vinyl shop?
Did Gully really find clues about Mia’s death?
Could Luke really be interested in Sky?

Music, dreams, lies, love, death, and clues – not quite the summer holiday that Sky had envisioned! (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)

Dickens’ London comes alive with free SYNC audiobooks!

May14

Time to download this week’s free audiobooks from SYNC so you can visit London of bygone days as you read with your ears!

Remember that although these complete audiobooks are only available from Thursday through Wednesday, you have free use of them as long as you keep them on your computer or electronic device. The free Overdrive app you need is available through the Download Prep page.

Click on each title to go directly to its download page, or bookmark the SYNC site here so you can download great audiobooks all summer long.

CD cover of Dodger by Terry Pratchett | Read by Stephen Briggs Published by HarperAudio Dodger
by Terry Pratchett
Read by Stephen Briggs
Published by HarperAudio

Dodger lives on (and below) the streets of London, encountering mad barber Sweeney Todd, writer Charles Dickens, prime minister Disraeli, and an unforgettable girl.

 

Great ExpectationsCD cover of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens | Read by Anton Lesser Published by Naxos AudioBooks
by Charles Dickens
Read by Anton Lesser
Published by Naxos AudioBooks

An anonymous benefactor enables Pip to rise from his humble beginnings as an orphan in this classic tale of a young man facing challenges and misunderstandings.

Would you want to live during this era of British history?
**kmm

Book-to-movie chillers from SYNC – free audiobooks summer begins!

May7

Time to download this week’s free audiobooks from SYNC so you can read with your ears!

Every Thursday from May through mid-August 2015, I will introduce each pair – 1 contemporary young adult novel with 1 corresponding classic tale – with direct links. You can also bookmark the SYNC site now so you can download great audiobooks all summer long: http://www.audiobooksync.com/ The Overdrive app that you’ll need for listening to these high-quality audiobooks is also available free there.

Click on the CD title to go directly to its download page (free during stated week, source links provided for buying at other times) where you can listen to a clip before downloading (new feature this summer!). Most titles are available to listeners worldwide; check this page for details, if you live outside the USA.

Remember that although these complete audiobooks are only available from Thursday through Wednesday, you have free use of them as long as you keep them on your computer or electronic device. The 2015 program runs from May 7 to August 13, so there will be 28 titles for you!

CD cover of Beautiful Creatures by by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl Read by Kevin T. Collins, Eve Bianco Beautiful Creatures
by Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl
Read by Kevin T. Collins, Eve Bianco
Published by Hachette Audio

In a small Southern town where everyone knows everything about everybody else, two teens unwittingly expose a hidden family curse.

 
RebeccaCD cover of Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier | Read by Anna Massey Published by Hachette Audio
by Daphne Du Maurier
Read by Anna Massey
Published by Hachette Audio

Her whirlwind courtship and marriage to a wealthy widower cannot prepare a young woman for her predecessor’s influence from beyond the grave.

Both these eerie titles were made into movies, but have you read the books before?

**kmm

R for road trip Finding Paris, by Joy Preble (book review) – big sis gone? little sis searches!

Apr21

book cover of Finding Paris by Joy Preble published by Balzer + BrayA scavenger hunt!
In Las Vegas!
For sister who doesn’t want to be found…

It’s always been just-younger Leonora who’s watched over Paris as their mother’s rapid job turnover so often let the sisters loose wherever they lived.

Now Paris has set Leo on a scavenger hunt to find her – seems more like a wild-goose chase – and is promising to take care of Leo??

Happy book birthday to Finding Paris! (yes, most US books/movies/music are published on Tuesdays)

Ever have a scavenger hunt that was just perfect? Share, please!
**kmm

Book info: Finding Paris / Joy Preble.  Balzer + Bray, 2015.  [author site]  [publisher site]  Review copy and cover image courtesy of the publisher.

My book talk: When artsy Paris disappears, the clues she leaves for little sister Leonora send the high school junior all over Las Vegas and beyond, accompanied by cute Max she met at the diner and a growing sense of dread.

Moving from Santa Monica to Las Vegas was Mom’s idea, sure that marrying so-so gambler Tommy would stabilize their lives.

Leonora just saves her money from work, studies for SAT, and counts down until she can leave for college, med school some day. Big sister Paris creates found art, fascinating jewelry, would do anything for Leo.

Then Paris abandons Leo at an all-night diner and sends her on a scavenger hunt. Max has time before work to help Leo find her sister, so they follow clues all over Las Vegas.

The clues get frantic – what trouble is Paris escaping from?
A road trip? That far? Will Max really help?
Something important has been taken from Leo – can she get it back?

Love and loyalty are tested as secrets peel away and the miles add up.  (One of 6,000 books recommended on www.abookandahug.com)