The Screaming Staircase (Lockwood & Co. #1) by Jonathan Stroud

Apparitions in the forms of ghosts or "visitors" have been appearing all over London.  Most often these visitors appear to linger around a "source," or their place of death.  To manage these apparitions, agencies that specialize in paranormal activity have been cropping up around the city.   Lockwood & Company is one such agency, run by Anthony Lockwood and George.  The agency is run without adult supervision, because children are more attuned to ghosts and have special psychic talents, plus adults just get in the way.  However, realizing that they need an additional field operative, Lockwood and George decide to hire Lucy.   One of their first cases is to locate the Source of a visitor within Mrs. Hope's house.  Yet, in so doing they unavoidably burn down her house and must then figure out a way to pay for the damages. Things appear to be looking up when Lucy locates a locket and the trio stumble onto a murder case.  Relief finally comes when Mr. Fairfax offers to pay for the previous damages they caused and adds a hefty sum of money if they will come to find and seal a Source within The Combe Carey Hall, a place that houses the Red Room and Screaming Staircase.   

My first introduction to Jonathan Stroud's work was The Amulet of Samarkind, which was the first book in the four part series. The stories took place in London and centered around the relationship between Bartimaeus the djinni and his young master Nathaniel.  There were wizards and magicians with a ultimate battle between good and evil. In this case though, the wizards weren't all good.  I must admit that I haven't read to many ghost stories, but I really wanted to see Stroud's take on a ghost story and I've heard that this was going to be really good.  I must say I'm glad that I waited until Halloween to start this because I really loved the book.  It was a perfect pick for a Halloween read.  The world building and characters were so easy to get into.  I liked how the story was mostly told from Lucy's point of view.  Her insecurities and questionable fields skills kept the tension of the book ratcheted up and had me vested in the outcome.  Lovely lovely creepy book that I really enjoyed reading and am looking forward to the next in the series.  I am curious whether Stroud will switch points of view in the next books to give some more background on George and Lockwood, because I think this work very well for Lucy's story in this book. Adding this one to the favorites list and will defiantly be looking for the next in the series.   
Two great reviews are Tanya @books4yourkids.com and Ms Yingling

My review copy was purchased.   

The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail by Richard Peck

Ahh, Animal stories.  There is just something about them that appeals to me.   Author/Illustrator duo of Richard Peck and Kelly Murphy are back in their latest book, The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail.  The last one I read  by Richard Peck was The Secrets at Sea, an adventure story about a family of mice that set forth on a ship bound for England on the Eve of Queen Victoria's diamond jubilee.  Interestingly enough, the Queen's diamond jubilee is also about to take place in The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail, but the two plot lines don't seem to intersect.  I chose this book, well because I really wanted to figure out what was up with that mouses tail. 

I found the beginning of the story a little slow going, mostly due to the process of building the world that these mice live in  (which is the Royal Mews right next door to Buckingham Palace).  Peck also introduces "Mouse Minor," the guy with the question mark tail and explains why he has no name.  However, once Mouse Minor commits the worst two crimes a mouse can make the story begins to move along nicely.  Things culminate with Mouse Minor fleeing the Royal Mews and attempts  to try and find the Queen to see if she can tell him who he is and what his future has in store.  I'm just not sure if most readers will wait til the middle of the book for this, but I found it was worth it.  Overall, I found the story very cute and it fits into the other stories that I've read about mice.  The illustrations in The Mouse with the Question Mark Tail are very nicely detailed but I found that I enjoyed the ones that were a full color page much better then the ones which were in blue and white tones.  

My Copy for review was from the library

            

Twofer Thursday

 

From authors  Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams of the Goddess Girls series, comes Heroes in Training.   Greek mythology seems to still be very popular and the Goddess Girls series (also by these authors)  as well as Rick Riordan's  Percy Jackson series, seem to provide that nice introduction to mythology for children.   In Heroes in Training, Oracle Pythia has prophesied that a "band of rightful rulers called Olympians will arise.  Though their size and youth are no match for the Titans, they will be giant in heart, mind and spirit."  One of the strengths and appeal of this book was the humor.  Especially, when Zeus gets kidnapped by three half-giants and is wearing one of their helmets like a walking jail cell.  Being shorter in length then Goddess Girls,  I think this would make a great read for a reluctant reader because of its fast pace and black and white illustrations, as well as nice spins on the God's stories.  





I really enjoyed Tuesdays at the Castle.  I absolutely loved reading about a Castle that had a mind of it's own and who chooses the King.  Princess Celie showed such love and devotion to her Castle mapping out each of its rooms and when the Castle needed protecting, Celie and her siblings were there.  Now in Wednesdays in the Tower, Princess Celie is faced with a new challenge, that of a giant orange egg hidden in one of the towers.  Celie soon learns that the Castle has brought her the egg to take care of and also wants her to learn the history of Castle Glower.   As in the first book, Celie's siblings play a large role but this time in unraveling the history of the Castle.  For when the egg hatches and the Castle begins to provide clues as to what is inside, everyone will need to pull together. The only drawback in Wednesdays in the Tower is that it ends on a cliff-hanger.  Makes me wish the next was already out, but gives me something to look forward to.  Overall, a wonderful magical story that continues the charm of the first story.   

Books for review are from the Public Library.

The Ambrose Beacon by Alena Gouveia

I must admit that when I looked at Goodreads and Amazon and only saw a handful of reviews for The Ambrose Beacon, I was pretty surprised.   This book is wonderfully fast-paced with well developed characters that would make a great middle grade read.    I love how the story centers around the Ambrose children, their father and uncle.  Gouveia first introduces each of the children in their every day school and home environment.  We get a feel for what they are like and the family issues that exist.  From Dinah who wants to go with Eduardo to the prom to Vaughan who is trying to stay off the school bullies radar. Each has some real life issues that they are dealing with, yet this is what made me become invested in the story.  I learned how when the children were young their mother died leaving their father (Jerry) and Uncle (Harper) to care for them and that each of the children  were endowed with certain abilities by their mother.  The same sort of abilities that Harper possesses.  Be it strength, speed, exceptional hearing, invisibility, or even the ability to change into an animal form.  I also saw the transition of the Ambrose children as they learned about their powers and what these powers mean for them.  And when  strange things begin to happen around town like wolves  and people wearing dark clothing show up, it's easy to worry about what will happen to the family.  Even though Harper begins to suspect that these dark forces are in search of "The Solas" which resides in one of the Ambrose children, even he doesn't know which one.    Hear in lies the mystery that drives a lot of the story.  I kinda suspected who it might be, but Gouveia tries to throw some curve balls at ya to keep you guessing.   There is also some fast paced action and fight scenes that highlights each of the children's abilities really well and things move along quickly.  Gouveia wraps up the story nicely, leaving room for further books but an ending that does not disappoint.  Review copy of the ebook generously provided by WordSpelunkingblogspot.com  and Alena Gouveia as a part of a Book Spootlight and Giveaway. A Big thank you to both.  

The Prologue of the Ambrose Beacon is also available at http://www.alenagouveia.com/The-Ambrose-Beacon---Prologue.html

Ida B. . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan

Ida B tried out public school when she was five,  but her teacher refused to call her Ida B (even though everyone knows that Ida is her mother) and school has so many rules and certain things can only be done "when it's time."  Well, Ida B just isn't used to all that waiting.  She wants to be running outside and talking to her friends the trees and brook.  When Ida B becomes so distraught, her parents agree that homeschooling may just be the trick.  Ida B loves her carefree lifestyle of being homeschooled.  She even started to believe that she would "never be going back to that particular Place of Slow but Sure Body-Cramping, Mind-Numbing, Fun-Killing Torture again."  Everything was righter then right,  that is until Ida B's mother gets ill and now she has to go to the public school.  This new change makes Ida so very angry and disappointed in her parents.  She vows that she isn't going to like school one bit.  Yet, can Ida B keep this hardening of her heart forever?  

Hannigan captures the thoughts and emotions of Ida B so well.  It's so sad to see the transformation of the free spirited Ida B to the little girl who vows to not like school, her teacher, make friends or even won't like Mama or Daddy.  It's the kind of story that gives you all kinds of feelings.  Throughout I just felt myself emphasizing with Ida B when things in her life are turned upside down.  Yet, there were also fun light hearted moments too.  I really liked the character of Ida B's fourth grade teacher Ms. Washington.  I loved how she approached her everyday and tried to help Ida B acclimate to school.   Overall, I highly recommend this wonderful book for fifth or sixth graders.  My favorite line:  "After Daddy left, I was hurting something terrible, like every single part of me was cut and torn up.  But my heart hurt the most." Can't you just feel her pain?  Read for the Battle of the Books 2013, my copy was from the Library. 

 Next up is The Screaming Staircase by Johnathan Stroud.  

Fall Is In The Air

So temperatures are starting to drop, as well as the leaves.  Today all the Halloween books I could find were retrieved from the stacks and placed out within easy reach for the children and teachers.  So that must mean that it is also time again for All Hallows Read.   Who better to describe it then Neil Gaiman?  

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1tYtLeWN5NQ  

I hope to read these two books this month.  I think both will fill my need for something spooky.  

My all time favorite Halloween read though is Book 4 of The Books of Elsewhere

 

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

When I was a kid there were a few movies that we watched at home every year on television, The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.  For some reason they were the ones that I would even get a reprieve from my usual bedtime to stay up for.  Yet sadly, I've never read The Wizard of Oz or Charlie and The Chocolate Factory.  I know, I should bow my head in shame.  How did I miss these growing up?  I did finally read Mary Poppins, does that redeem me?  Any who...I can now add Charlie and the Chocolate Factory thanks to America's Battle of the Books ( a reading incentive program for students in 3rd through 12th grade.)  There is something nostalgic about reading this after so long.  I so love the movie with Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka.  I loved the scenes when they come into the room with the chocolate stream and eating the marshmallow cream.  So going into the book, I enjoyed reading the scenes in the authors own words.  Although, I must admit I noticed the changes between the two.  I am curious why those were made, some were minor ("bad nut" versus "bad egg")  but others really changed things around ("Slugworh" wanting a sample of the Everlasting Gobstoppers is in the movie but not in the book).  I guess I try to approach books and their movie as two different entities.  I also realize that not all  authors get to write their screen play and well some things just get left on the cutting floor further illustrating why reading the book first gives you an idea of what the author intended.  Overall, the wonder and fascination that I felt when I saw the movie was still captured in the book.  Not the cover I would have selected, but only one available at the library.  But there is a very nice forward by Lev Grossman.