Duo Review of Vlad the Worst Vampire and Fang-tastic Friends by Anna Wilson, illustrations by Kathryn Durst

Vlad The World's Worst Vampire by Anna Wilson, illustrations by Kathryn Durst 
Format:  Paperback

Publisher:  Kane Miller Publishing
Number of Pages:  160
Published in US:  2020
Source:  Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Line:  " A full moon was rising above Misery Manor."

Vlad lives at Misery Manor with his father, Count Drax, mother, Countess Mortemia, Grandpa Gory, their butler Mulch and Vlad's pet bat Flit.  Being the youngest member of the family, Vlad has a lot of pressure to live up to the Impaler family name and so far, Vlad hasn't been doing a very good job, he's failing in all of his lesson's.  Vlad hasn't been able to fly and  can't even muster an evil laugh yet.  What will his parents do?  Poor Vlad has a dream of his own, one that doesn't involve sleeping in a coffin or drinking blood, he wants to attend a human school and make some real friends.  His parents have warned him that it is too risky to go out during daylight, that he'll get burned up.  He knows the rule about never, ever encountering a human, but the draw to going to a human school is just to strong for him to avoid.   

Vlad the World's Worst Vampire is an adorable book for Halloween, the illustrations by Kathryn Durst are just wonderful.  It kinda reminds me of a gentler Addams Family, nothing spooky or scary at all.  It's just a cute story about a little vampire who isn't happy being a vampire and wants to make some human friends.  So Vlad does what any kid in this situation might do and sneaks out while everyone else is asleep.  School turns out to be much more challenging than Vlad thought, teachers want notes from parents and require documents to be filled out, and his first encounter with Boz,  a bully leaves him second guessing about coming back again.  But then Vlad meets Minxie, a young girl who is very interested in being his friend and Vlad starts to see the benefits of coming to school.  Vlad works really hard at home trying to please his parents expectations and sneaks out every day to spend time with Minxie.  In the end, he even learns how to be a better vampire.       

Fang-tastic Friends (Vlad The World's Worst Vampire) by Anna Wilson, illustrations by Kathryn Durst 
Format:  Paperback

Publisher:  Kane Miller Publishing
Number of Pages:  160
Published in US:  2020
Source:  Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Line: "Vlad had been working on his vampire skills since dusk on Friday, under the strict guidance of his mother, Mortemia."

Fang-tastic Friends takes place shortly after the first book.  Vlad is still struggling with living up to his mother's expectations, with so little progress being made, she threatens to send him to Translyvania for lessons.  Concerned about leaving his new friend, Vlad concocts various excuses for why he can't go, but nothing seems to be working.  Then Grandpa Gory steps in and convinces his parents to go ahead to Translyvania without him.  Grandpa Gory plans to take Vlad under his wing and will make sure that he finishes his mother's list of lessons before they get back to the Manor.  But each new task turns out more difficult for Vlad to master.  

Again the illustrations by Kathryn Durst make these stories so enjoyable to read.  Filled with bats, spiders and a good old Halloween vibe.  This time around Vlad has to conquer two of his deepest fears,  learning to fly in the dark and collecting one hundred different types of spiders.  And if that wasn't hard enough, he also has to master his mind-control skills.  But having Minxie as his new best friend makes it all worth it and somehow together they find a way to make things happen.  I really liked Vlad's Grandpa in this one, and how Grandpa Gory and Mulch were on to his sneaking out of the house.  They were sweet in sharing hot chocolate with him and didn't even mind when Vlad snuck Minxie into the Manor.  I do have to say the tiny thing that makes me like this one a little less is the bully Boz and how Vlad kind of gets even with him after Boz bullies him first.  Bullying should never be tolerated, which their teacher never does, but Vlad then retaliates.  While I know it's realistic to want to get even with someone who embarrases you, I would have personally loved for Vlad and Boz to have resolved things in a different way.  Vlad does realize his actions may cause Boz to dislike him even more, and in a lot of ways he also seems to feel bad, I guess I just hoped that somehow he would apologize for dropping spiders on Boz's head.  Hopefully, in a future book they can patch things up and like Minxie, Boz can be okay with Vlad being a vampire and maybe they can be friends too.     

  

                         **Thank you to Kane Miller Publishing for the review copies.**

Blog Tour for ORPHAN ELEVEN by Gennifer Choldenko with Audio Excerpt + Giveaway

I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ORPHAN ELEVEN by Gennifer Choldenko Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About the Book:

Title: ORPHAN ELEVEN

Author: Gennifer Choldenko

Pub. Date: May 26, 2020

Publisher: Wendy Lamb Books

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 320

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Four orphans have escaped from the Home for Friendless Children. One is Lucy, who used to talk and sing. No one knows why she doesn't speak anymore; silence is her protection.

The orphans find work and new friends at a traveling circus. Lucy loves caring for the elephants, but she must be able to speak to them, and to warn others of danger. If Lucy doesn't find her voice, she'll be left behind when the circus goes on the rails. Meanwhile, people are searching for Lucy, and her puzzling past is about to catch up with her.

Audio sample from Chapter 1 of Orphan Eleven:

PRH Audio · Orphan Eleven by Gennifer Choldenko, read by Renee Dorian

About Gennifer:

With more than 2 and a half million books sold, Choldenko’s best known Tales from Alcatraz series, has been called “A cornerstone series in contemporary children’s literature.” Al Capone Does My Shirts—the first book in the series—was a Newbery Honor Book and the recipient of twenty other awards. All four books in the series were Junior Library Guild selections and garnered many starred reviews. Gennifer’s newest novel: Orphan Eleven will be out May 26. Publisher’s Weekly has said this about Orphan Eleven: “This uplifting tale of hope, survival and belonging has all the ingredients to become a beloved middle grade book.” Gennifer lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her loyal husband and naughty dog.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of ORPHAN ELEVEN, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/13/2020	Twirling Book Princess	Excerpt
7/13/2020	Forever Lost in Literature	Excerpt
7/14/2020	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
7/14/2020	Trapped Inside Stories	Excerpt
7/15/2020	Little Red Reads	Review
7/15/2020	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt
7/16/2020	JaimeRockstarBookTours	Instagram Stop
7/16/2020	Jaime's World	Excerpt
7/17/2020	TheReadingCornerforAll	Review
7/17/2020	Two Chicks on Books	Interview

Week Two:

7/20/2020	Lifestyle of Me	Review
7/20/2020	popthebutterfly	Review
7/21/2020	Do You Dog-ear?	Review
7/21/2020	Krisha's cosy corner	Review
7/22/2020	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
7/22/2020	BookHounds YA	Interview
7/23/2020	Two Points of Interest	Review
7/23/2020	Log Cabin Library	Excerpt
7/24/2020	Books and Zebras @jypsylynn	Review
7/24/2020	Hurn Publications	Excerpt

MG Realistic Fiction review of Dan Unmasked by Chris Negron

Dan Unmasked by Chris Negron
Format:  ARC Paperback

Publisher:  Harper Collins
Number of Pages:  368
Publishing:  July 28th, 2020
Source:  Blue Slip Media and publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Line:  "I almost miss it."

Dan and Nate are best friends, they both love baseball, George Sanderson's Captain Nexus comic books, and superheroes.  They even host special release day readings with their baseball team in Nate's basement when each new comic book comes out.  Then one day during practice,  while Nate and Dan are talking, Nate is struck in the head by a baseball.  Nate is seriously injured and is placed into a medically induced coma so that the swelling on his brain can be controlled.  The prognosis is bleak and dependent on whether he regains consciousness once the sedation is removed.  Dan blames himself for his friend's injury but is determined to find a way to help Nate.  

Courtney is Dan's younger brother, Ollie's new friend.  She's just started to hang out at the release day readings and hasn't learned all of the rules yet but after Nate's injury, she tries to rally Dan and Ollie into working on a comic book project.  She observes how they need each other at this time and pressures them to work together.  Ollie will do the illustrations, Courtney will develop the story and Dan will add the lettering.  Dan sees the project as a way to help Nate find his way back home by putting Nate into the story as a superhero inspired by the Captain Nexus comic books.  They hope to finish the comic for Nate's birthday, and in time to enter a Fan Art competition hosted by Captain Nexus with the grand prize of meeting George Sanderson.  After their entry wins, the group tries to get advice from Mr. Sanderson on how to help Nate return home, but Mr. Sanderson has his own past traumatic event to overcome before he can be any help to Dan and his friends.  Maybe together they can find the answer.    

I wasn't into superheroes growing up, only occasionally read comic books, and played softball just that one summer for the YMCA, but Dan Unmasked sounded like such a unique book and so I was excited to be able to read it.  Plus a bonus, that cover is gorgeous.  There are a lot of pieces to this story and I really liked how Negron blended the comic books with baseball, two things that instantly grab at your attention.  I did feel quite sorry for Dan when Nate is injured, he takes all the blame on himself.  He's convinced that his friend is somehow stuck in an alternative world after entering this sort of portal (the Nexus from his favorite comic book) and he needs to help him find his way back home.  Dan's continuously searching for answers, be it getting in contact with George Sanderson to discuss the Nexus to developing his own comic book with Ollie and Courtney.  Then Dan learns about Familiar Auditory Sensory Training or (FAST) a neurorehabilitation approach that uses stories told by those familiar to Nate as auditory stimulations and Dan is again convinced that this will be the answer to reaching his friend.  I was surprised though that Dan didn't spend more time telling his friend stories throughout rather than waiting until the very end of the book, but it's really a small quibble.  Given my background in speech pathology and TBI, I think it boils down to that I was looking at the medical pieces of a TBI, the coma stimulation, physical and occupational therapies, and the story was more about the emotional and friendship aspects, Dan searching for answers, the comic book, Dan's relationship with his mom and father and even the upcoming championship game to name a few.  How those things changed while Nate was in the hospital and how Dan felt about his role in Nate being injured.  There's even the side story of George Sanderson which reminded me of James O' Barr writing the Crow to deal with his own personal tragedy.  This is Negron's debut novel and it's a very strong one, I've seen it compared to John David Anderson's work and totally can see this.  I'm looking forward to seeing what he writes next.       

** A huge thank you to Blue Slip Media and Harper Collins for the ARC **

Duo Review of Hotel Flamingo & Holiday Heat Wave by Alex Milway

Hotel Flamingo by Alex Milway
Format:  Paperback

Publisher:  Kane Miller Books
Number of Pages:  192
Published:  2020
Source:  Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Line:  "Anna Dupont stepped out of the taxi and saw Hotel Flamingo for the first time."

The Hotel Flamingo is the first book in the series.  It's been three years since a guest has checked in at the Hotel Flamingo, but the new owner, Anna Dupont has plans to change things around.  There's a glitzy new hotel on the hill that seems to have taken all of her business away, but T. Bear and Lemmy have stayed on at the hotel tending to their one guest, Mrs. Turpington, whose been in hibernation for the past three years.  Despite everything, Anna is sure that with a little hard work, hiring some new staff, and lots of elbow grease, the Hotel Flamingo can regain its past glory.  Anna has a vision of remaking the hotel into the go-to spot for the city, a place that welcomes all.  This is really a fun introduction to the series and the black and white illustrations by Alex Milway with pink hues really make the story.  I would have loved if they all were in color like the cover, but they are so lovely either way.       

Holiday Heat Wave by Alex Milway

Format:  Paperback

Publisher:  Kane Miller Books
Number of Pages:  192
Published:  2020
Source:  Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Line: "In the blazing heat of summer, a long black limousine pulled up outside the Hotel Flamingo."   

Holiday Heat Wave is the second book in the Hotel Flamingo series.  Anna has been successful with running the Hotel Flamingo so much so that the King and Queen Penguin want to make reservations to stay at her hotel.  That is if she can adhere to their strict list of demands.  They want to be greeted with a red carpet, be serenaded by a string quartet, their room must be decorated in a specific way, and there just must be an iceberg in the pool.  Can Anna and her staff live up to their demands for perfection?   

I really enjoyed the summery feel of Holiday Heat Wave.  It's quite amusing to have penguins showing up at a hotel in the middle of a heatwave expecting to have an iceberg in the pool.  Anna is quite industrious and ultimately gets them what they want, with a few mishaps due to sabotage from someone trying to undermine the hotel and make them look bad in front of their first royal guests.  I quite enjoy the illustrations by the author, Alex Milway.  They're lively and the pink hues do match the theme of hotel flamingo.  This would be a fun series for summer reading and especially for someone who enjoys animal stories.  I'm excited to be able to donate it to my public library for kids to enjoy.   

**Thank you to Kane Miller Publishing for the review copies.**

Blog Tour for BRITFIELD & THE LOST CROWN by C.R. Stewart with an Excerpt + Giveaway

I had the pleasure of reading and reviewing BRITFIELD& THE LOST CROWN by C.R. Stewart back in February and was excited when Rockstar Book Tours announced it's upcoming Blog Tour.  I hope you will take a look at the excerpt and enter the giveaway at the end of the post!

About the Book:

Title: BRITFIELD & THE LOST CROWN (Britfield Series, Book I)

Authors: C.R. Stewart

Pub. Date: July 1, 2019

Publisher: Devonfield Publishing

Formats:  Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 394

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Britfield & the Lost Crown is the first book in a thrilling seven-part series for middle school and young adult readers. It will inspire children to engage both their creativity and their critical thinking skills as they encounter actual places, authentic characters, and exciting but realistic events in seventeen action-packed chapters.

Based on family, friendship, loyalty, and courage, Britfield & the Lost Crown and its hero, Tom, take readers on an epic adventure across England – from the smoldering crags of Yorkshire to the heart of London and, finally, to the magnificent shores of Dover.

With help from his best friend, Sarah, and a hot air balloon, Tom flees Yorkshire, escaping from Weatherly Orphanage and the clutches of a relentless detective, in pursuit of the truth about himself and his heritage: Are his parents still alive? Is he the true heir to the British throne? As Tom and a memorable cast of both heroic and dastardly characters unravel a royal mystery that could change the course of history, readers are taken on a breathless journey to a surprise ending that will leave them clamoring for more.

Built on more than seven years of extensive research and development, Britfield & the Lost Crown creates a real-world that readers can embrace as it weaves accurate geography, literature, architecture, and history into its fast-paced story. With stimulating language and active writing, Britfield engages the reader from the first pages and doesn’t let go until it reaches its exciting conclusion.

Reviews for BRITFIELD & THE LOST CROWN

"The story was everything the cover promised. I felt like I was in a kid version of Mission Impossible. I was on the edge of my seat with narrow escapes, daring plans, and unexpected adversaries."- Reader Views Kids, Autumn, Age 14


"Along with its relentless action and suspense, Stewart's novel provides young readers with a wealth of information about British culture (with frequent references to literary classics) and the history of the Monarchy and the Anglican Church. Highly recommended, Britfield and the Lost Crown will appeal to both young readers and their parents."- Parents' Choice Awards - Gold Medal


"In this series opener, Stewart offers nearly nonstop action, with escapades both perilous and amusing, and exhilarating hairsbreadth escapes. The conspiracy is bold and compelling while the plot folds in intriguing facts about British culture, history, and famous sites."- Kirkus Reviews


"A perfect mixture of fast-paced excitement, heart-stopping surprises, fascinating history, and endearing characters with historical references scattered along the way. Stewart's clever narrative draws you in and doesn't let you go till the end!"
- Reader's Favorite Book Reviews, Dawn Weaver - 5 Stars


"A joy to read to the very last page, Britfield & The Lost Crown is a high-spirited saga, enthusiastically recommended for personal and public library young adult fiction collections."- Midwest Book Review

"An Intriguing first-in-series read that is sure to capture the attention of the middle grade and young adult crowd. Britfield weaves plot, texture, storytelling, and fascinating characters into a winning combination and enriching experience."- Chanticleer Book Review - 5 Stars

"This fast-paced, vivid tale has many twists and turns which keep tween readers turning the pages,"- Eric Hoffer Award

"A thrilling tale with loads of adventure and unexpected twists that will captivate youth audiences. Recommended for home and school libraries."- Children's Literary Classics - Gold Medal

"This is a far-flung adventure story that will readily interest the target audience. Stewart writes in clear, descriptive prose and integrates alluring and novel details that at times harkens back to an earlier era, an effect that offers an element of timelessness to the storytelling."- The Booklife Prize

"Such a thrilling book  filled with so much awesome history about England, crazy mysteries, and truly amazing characters. It had me hooked every second of reading it!!
-Hannah, Age 13, Kids' Book Buzz - 5 Stars

"Narrator Ian Russell carries listeners along for a thrilling, fast-paced adventure about two kids, Tom and Sarah, who run away from a bleak Yorkshire orphanage. Pursued by a determined police detective, they face even more danger when Tom discovers a clue about his ancestry that may link him to the royal family and a plot to eliminate his bloodline--including him. With varied accents and voices, Russell transports listeners to England and brings each character to life. As hot-air balloon crashes, several narrow escapes, and a white-knuckle chase through London ensue, Russell ramps up the pace of his narration, making the danger all the more palpable."- Audiofile Magazine

 Tom and Sarah's adventures are masterfully narrated by award-winning voice actor Ian Russell, who provides memorable voices to all the tale's characters. Along with its relentless action and suspense, Stewart's novel provides young readers with a wealth of information about British culture (with frequent references to literary classics) and the history of the Monarchy and the Anglican Church. Highly recommended, Britfield and the Lost Crown will appeal to both young readers and their parents."
- Parents' Choice Foundation - Gold Medal Award

Book Trailer:

Excerpt from BRITFIELD & THE LOST CROWN

A strong breeze shot across the sky as Sarah and Tom followed the pack of balloons over Oxfordshire. Known as the Thames Valley, this lush countryside was a multicolored patchwork of square farmlands crisscrossed by hedgerows and rock walls. The Thames River gracefully snaked through the open fields covered with extravagant mansions built centuries ago. Although most of the balloons headed toward Canterbury, some floated off in opposite directions. By mid-afternoon, most of them had vanished. Tom and Sarah followed behind a few but soon lost them in the hazy clouds. Every so often, Tom gave the balloon a long blast of hot air to maintain its altitude. While they drifted southeast toward London, their main concern was Gowerstone. Peering through the binoculars,

Tom searched for the helicopter.

“I don’t see him.”

“Do you think he gave up?”

“No,” he replied quickly. “He’ll never give up.”

“We seem safe for now.”

“For the moment,” he added with caution.

As Sarah admired the scenery, Tom reached into his pocket to retrieve her locket.

“This really does bring me luck,” he concluded, handing it to her. “Thanks for letting me borrow it.”

“It’s yours, silly,” she smiled, pushing it back. “Just promise you’ll always keep it with you.”

“But —”

“Promise.”

“All right . . . it’s a deal.” Stuffing it back in his pocket, he felt the piece of paper Patrick gave him and removed it.

“What’s that?” she inquired curiously.

“Before we left, Patrick broke into the Grievouses’ office and looked through my file. He wrote something down.”

“Let’s see.”

Tom opened it. Scribbled across the page was just one word.

“Hmm,” he grunted, expecting detailed information.

“What does it say?” she demanded.

“Britfield.”

“Britfield? What the heck does that mean?”

“How am I supposed to know?”

“There must be more.” She snatched the paper from his hand and thoroughly examined both sides. Dissatisfied, she shook her head. “So Patrick breaks into the office, sneaks your file out, and writes only one word on it — is he mad?”

“I’m sure he was in a hurry,” his voice deepened, “given that we were planning to rescue you and everything.”

“Then it’s a clue?”

“It’s a name.”

“Maybe it’s your last name,” she suggested encouragingly.

This comment caught Tom off guard. After all these years of having only a first name, it was a lot to digest and felt rather strange.

“Maybe,” he shrugged, not sure what to think

About C.R.Stewart:

Born in Newport Beach, California, C. R. Stewart has twenty years of experience writing fiction, nonfiction, and movie screenplays. His areas of expertise also include film and media production, global strategy, and international marketing.

“Britfield & The Lost Crown was conceived as an idea over 10 years ago while enduring a boring finance seminar. It started as a sketch of a hot air balloon with a young boy and girl trapped inside. From this simple drawing sprang the entire concept and story for Britfield.”

C.R. Stewart received a Bachelor of Arts in British Literature and European History from Brown University; did post-graduate work at Harvard University; earned an MBA from Boston College; and is pursuing a Master of Science in Advanced Management and a Ph.D. in Strategy.

Now based in San Diego, C.R. Stewart is a strong supporter of education and the arts. He enjoys world travel, reading, riding, swimming, sailing, tennis, and is currently on a National School Book Tour with Britfield & The Lost Crown speaking to students on the importance of creativity!

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

5 winners will receive a signed finished copy of BRITFIELD & THE LOST CROWN & a poster, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/6/2020	Log cabin Library	Excerpt
7/6/2020	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
7/6/2020	JaimeRockstarBookTours	Instagram Stop
7/7/2020	Day Leitao	Excerpt
7/7/2020	Jotted by Jena	Excerpt
7/8/2020	that_little_bookowl	Excerpt
7/8/2020	Book-o-Craze	Excerpt
7/8/2020	Book-o-Craze	Instagram Stop
7/9/2020	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
7/9/2020	Rajiv's Reviews	Instagram Stop
7/9/2020	Miss Elizabeth	Review
7/10/2020	Little Red Reads	Review
7/10/2020	She Just Loves Books	Review