Top Ten Books I've Recently Added To My TBR

Top Ten Tuesday is a Meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish  This week's Top Ten Tuesday is Top Ten Books I've Recently Added to my TBR, in no particular order



1.  Finding Perfect by Elly Swartz

The story centers on a girl named Molly who really wants to win a slam poetry contest.  What really piqued my interest is that Molly has OCD.   
2.  Gertie's Leap to Greatness  by Kate Beasley   Gertie is said to be "The new Ramona Quimby."  Okay, for that alone I added it to the TBR.  



3. Crown of Three: The Lost Realm by 
J.D. Rinehart  This is the second book in the series.  The first foretold of a prophecy, has some intrigue and some good fight scene's.  Here's a link to my review for the first book.  

4.  Counting Thyme by Melanie Conklin
I first heard of this at The Hiding Spot  where the author was doing a preorder campaign and donating proceeds of each sale to Cookies for Kids Cancer.  This sounds like a very memorable, heartwarming story.  

5.  This year for the Cybils, I had the opportunity to read a genre that I often don't read much from, science fiction (with titles like MiNRS, Mars Evacuees and Masterminds).  Bounders by Monica Tesler seemed to have an interesting premise and fit in nicely with the one's that I've read recently.    

6.  Hour of The Bees by Lindsay Eagar
I think I saw this on a Twitter post.  A girl and her grandpa, storytelling, dementia.  Why am I drawn to these realistic fiction books so?


7.  The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, aged 13 3/4 by Sue Townsend Not sure where I found this one, but I was intrigued by the title, premise and it seemed like it would be a funny read.  One to explore further.  

8.  The Classy Crooks Club by Alison Cherry
I found this one on a giveaway from Goodreads.  What a cute cover and  there are grandmother's who instead of playing bridge, have a "heist club." 

9.  Fridays with the Wizards by Jessica Day George
It's Jessica Day George and Castle Glower, yep need to continue this series.

10. Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
I saw this one on a bunch of Top ten lists, so call me curious.  

And one more I added by Becky Albertalli , which doesn't have a title yet, but is "a loose companion to Simon, starring the friends and family Abby left behind in D.C."  

So, what books did you add to your TBR list recently?  Feel free to comment and add links to your Top ten list.  

Classic MG Read-a-long: Mary Poppins Comes Back by P.L. Travers

I first read Mary Poppins in 2010 for a Children's Book group on Goodreads.  I remember being pretty excited about reading it for the first time.  I've always loved watching the movie when I was a child, maybe it's because I enjoy musicals or just that Dick Van Dyke does such a wonderful job of imitating a penguin. But, reading Mary Poppins was a whole different experience.  Mary Poppins was much more stern then I expected and at times the children seemed to be scared of her, but also intrigued.  The movie will always be my favorite.  Here's a link to my original review.  To prepare for the read a-long with The Midnight Garden, I decided to try out the second book in the series, Mary Comes Back on audiobook read by Sophie Thompson.   I really wanted to see if reading the second book would bring the charm that I so much enjoyed about Mary Poppins from the movie to light, without having the reference of a movie to compare it to. Sometime has passed since Mary Poppins has been at Number Seventeen Cherry-Tree Lane, and things at the Banks house are in total disarray.  "Nothing ever goes right--hasn't for ages! Shaving water to hot and coffee too cold."  The children have been through three governesses  and now that there is the addition of twins John and Barbara,  Mrs. Banks is at her wits end.  Trying for some peace, she sends them all out to the park to play.  While there, they are pleasantly surprised when Mary Poppins comes back being pulled on the end of Michael's kite string.   With no explanation or apologies, she once again takes over the care of the Bank's children.  While reading Mary Poppins Comes Back, I think I've finally realized what it is the children adore about her.  Mary brings spontaneity, adventure and excitement to their day, there was a whole chapter where the children were bored and fighting, and Mary takes charge and gives them such fun adventures.  She takes them on trips to visit Mr. Turvy and his bride Miss Topsy, tells them stories about a King of the Castle and the Dirty Rascal and even takes them to a circus in the stars.  Maybe they respect her firmness and calm that she brings to their family while she is there.   I can't say that Mary Poppins became more agreeable or pleasant, in fact she even seemed somewhat more conceded then I'd recalled, she spends a lot of time looking at her image in the mirror then I remembered from the first book.  I guess that it intrigues me that she comes off as so stern, while at the same time being magical, dancing in the circus and sharing wonderful adventures with the children.  Maybe "A Spoon Full of Sugar" is still dancing in my head and I'm still seeing Julie Andrews too.  Oh well, it still makes me want to read one of the next stories though.

Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant To Get To But Didn't

Top Ten Tuesday is a Meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish  This week's Top Ten Tuesday is Top Ten 2015 Releases I Meant to Get To But Didn't, in no particular order

1 and 2 are a few that I  really did mean to read, but their release date's ended up being during my Cybil's reading.  The Sword of Summer By Rick Riordan

and Neverseen by Shannon Messenger





3.  I purchased A Night Divided  because I really enjoy Nielsen's work, so I really want to get back to reading this.  

4.  I won Rules for Stealing Stars in a giveaway and it sounds really good.  





5&6.  I adore the covers of A Sliver of Stardust and The Wrinkled Crown, every time I see those covers, I really want to pick them up and read.  








7.  The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow I've been following their Monday Riddles on their blog for quite a long time and have been meaning to read their book too. 
8.   I read The Map to Everywhere, but City of Thirst snuck in under my radar somehow.  





9&10 are Two YA's from 2015, with one I've started, and another that I would really like to read.............

What books were on your list for 2015 that you may have missed?  I'd love to hear your comments or feel free to post the link to your Top Ten list.  

Getting Back into the Swing of Things

It's been a busy few months what with reading for the Cybils (120 of the 151 books nominated), holidays and getting the house back in order. 

But now, I finally feel like I'm ready to get back into blogging, which I really have missed.  It was fun to look at everyone's best of 2015 lists and looking toward 2016 posts though.    Hope your holidays were enjoyable and filled with happy times with family and friends!  

So there were a few books I read that didn't get nominated for the Cybils, but I really enjoyed reading.  They're worth a look if you've got the time. Links to Goodreads and my review.    

Link to Goodreads  

This is about a family that moves from L.A to a farm they inherited from a great-uncle.  Sophie begins to see signs of chicken's around the henhouse and starts to learn more about how to care and feed them.  But, these are no ordinary chickens, they have superpowers.  Unusual Chickens is wonderfully illustrated, funny and just down right cute. 

"Told in letters to Sophie’s abuela, quizzes, a chicken-care correspondence course, to-do lists, and more, Unusual Chickens is a quirky, clucky classic in the making."


Link to Goodreads

Nory wants to enroll in her father's magic academy, but she's been having difficulty in controlling her magic.  Having to pass a test of her shape-shifting abilities, proves to difficult and now she has to go to a public school with other kids who have "wonky magic".

Upside Down Magic has a lovely elementary school appeal and  enjoyed the novel way that diversity and acceptance of others was addressed.  


My Review

Cupid and the Grim Reaper switch job roles over a shared kiss, with some interesting results.  









So, those are a few of the books that I really enjoyed, although there are so...so...many more.  Plus there are so many more 2015 books that I have yet to read. Like Magnus Chase, why weren't you nominated for the Cybils so I could have read you earlier?  Could be because you were released toward the end of the nominating period and people didn't get a chance to read you yet. I'm coming for you. 

But, now onto 2016 books that I'm looking forward to..


 About a boy who attends an Academy with four hundred and seventy-five girls. 





It's Natalie Lloyd, Snicker of Magic.  Can't wait.  







I enjoyed Crossover, and this one is in verse about soccer.  



I know it's probably silly and filled with pranks, but I'll probably still look for The Terrible Two Get Worse at the library.  

And there is at least one YA that I'm waiting on from one of my favorite authors, Jacqueline West's Dreamers Often Lie

Wishing you all the best for 2016 and looking forward to reading your comments and thoughts as always.  And if you have any suggestions for a middle school'er who enjoyed The Maze Runner, Fabelhaven, and The Eye of Mind or even just a good science fiction book, I'll take your suggestions.   

The Cybils Middle Grade Speculative Fiction Finalists List

Bayou Magic by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Nominated by: Patricia Tilton

In a simple but not simplistic story, 10-year-old Maddie visits her Grandmère in the Louisiana bayou in order to learn the magical traditions of her family. While there, she discovers how friendship and magic (and bonus mermaids!) can help with modern problems, and learns the importance of being connected to the land around her. Rhodes has created a book with a lyrical mix of African, French and Creole traditions that has a huge heart and is full of magic and, ultimately, joy.  Melissa Fox, The Book Nut

Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

Dial Books
Nominated by: Jennifer

The titular castle of Castle Hangnail needs a new master, or it will risk being decommissioned, forcing all the resident minions to find new homes. When 12-year-old Molly comes knocking on the castle door, the minions (who expected a powerful dark magic user) are skeptical, but Molly is determined to convince them that she is wicked enough for the job (though she actually has a very good heart). Everything seems to be going well until an evil sorceress shows up claiming she is Castle Hangnail’s real intended master. Its illustrations, humor, messages of friendship and determination, and a host of memorable secondary characters (with a special nod to one minion–Pins, a voodoo doll with a talking goldfish) make Castle Hangnail an utterly enjoyable and charming place to spend your reading time! Benda Tjaden, Log Cabin Library

Cuckoo Song by Frances Hardinge

Harry N Abrams
Nominated by: Maureen E

“Mummy, help me, please help me, everything’s strange and nothing’s right, and my mind feels as if it’s made up of pieces and some of them are missing…” When Triss wakes up from a mysterious accident, she is somehow not herself–she feels an overwhelming hunger that is only satisfied by eating the oddest things, dead leaves appear in her room, on her pillow, and in her hair; her little sister Pen rejects her completely. Triss/Not-Triss must put together the pieces of what turns out to be a larger puzzle, one that encompasses a family’s grief, betrayal, loyalty, and love. Set in post-World War I Great Britain, Hardinge’s Cuckoo Song is a beautifully written, deliciously dark fantasy for fans of historical fiction, horror, fairy tales, or family stories. We think that’s everyone.

Anamaria Anderson, Books Together

Mars Evacuees by Sophia McDougall

HarperCollins
Nominated by: Stephanie Whelan

Blast off for Mars on this science fiction debut! In order to keep them safe from the ongoing human-alien warfare on Earth, Alice Dare and other kids from around the world are being shipped off to the red planet . But Mars is far from being a safe haven, and when all the adults vanish, Alice and her new friends set out to get help. Giant floating robot goldfish, unexpected alien encounters and a not-so friendly Martian landscape are just some of the challenges they will deal with along the way. This entertaining and smartly-written romp will make you want to buckle up and enjoy the ride!

Stephanie Whelan, Views From the Tesseract

The Dungeoneers by John David Anderson

Walden Pond Press
Nominated by: Matt

The Dungeoneers is a first-class adventure that reads like a role-playing game on the surface, while being booby-trapped with plot twists and laced with reflections on morality and loyalty. When Colm starts picking pockets to help his struggling family, they are horrified. But before he can be imprisoned, he’s rescued by a man impressed by his talents who whisks him off to study at legendary Tye Twodin’s School for Dungeoneers–professional treasure hunters and monster fighters. There Colm and his new teammates, the shy young mageling Quinn Frostfoot, tough-as-nails (unless she’s bleeding herself) barbarian-to-be Lena Proudfoot, and druid-in-training Serene (with her a pet spider named Mr. Tickletoes) have to master the skills of dungeoneering. Swordplay, spells and lock picking aren’t as challenging as navigating the social pitfalls of an extraordinary boarding school and figuring out who can be trusted…and that’s before the real adventuring begins!

Katy Kramp, alibrarymama

The Fog Diver by Joel Ross

HarperCollins
Nominated by: PLCarpenter

Set in a world where a deadly fog has taken over the planet, and people are forced to live in the skies, a quartet of ragtag orphans make a living off of what they can scavenge on Earth’s surface, even though it means sending their diver, Chess, down through the toxic mist while still tethered to their sky ship. Chess is in less danger than most, as he has a mysterious resistance to the effects of the fog, but the evil Lord Kodoc will stop at nothing to find out Chess’ secret.

When the four kids – Hazel (the daring captain), Swedish (the strong pilot), Bea (the cheery mechanic), and Chess (the secretive tetherboy) find out that the woman who raised them as family is dying from the Fog sickness, they decide to embark on an mission to save her life, and avoid the evil Lord Kodoc. Featuring air pirates, great characters, and a unique setting, The Fog Diver is a fantastic steampunk adventure with a sci-fi twist that will leave you wanting more.

Kristen Harvey, The Book Monsters

Wings of Fire Book Six: Moon Rising by Tui T. Sutherland

Scholastic Press
Nominated by: Angiegirl

The Wings of Fire series returns with new dragons and a brand new story arc! After years of war, the kingdoms of the dragons are at peace, and a school has been founded to gather together young dragons from all the different factions. One of these students is Moonwatcher, a young Nightwing who has the Nightwing powers of telepathy and prophecy, gifts that might help her and her new friends thwart the dangerous and deadly plots that threaten the fragile peace. These books, with their wide range of heroic young dragon characters,, are just full of kid appeal, and Moon Rising is one of the best of them. Strong messages of friendship, tolerance, and forgiveness are presented alongside adventures large and small in a way that will have readers clamoring for more.

Charlotte Taylor, Charlotte’s Library

It's been another fun year of reading books and discussing them with fellow judges.  I hope you will check out these books, if you're looking for some middle grade speculative fiction. Or to read the full list of finalists, go here. 

Next up, I'll be working on my favorite reads of 2015.  But, first coming up for my first book of 2016 is.....

I promised my kiddo we would read it together.  

Book Tour Stop for The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow with Chapter Excerpt and a Giveaway

 Today it is my great pleasure to be featuring a chapter excerpt from The Secret Files of Fairday Morrow in celebration of its release on December 1st 2015. Be sure and enter the giveaway at the end of the post for a signed hardcover of the book! 


THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW by Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson Release date: DECEMBER 1, 2015 Publisher: Delacorte Press/ Random House Kids Books                     MIDDLE GRADE/ ages 10 and up Illustrator: Roman Muradov Pages: 272
Eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow is less than thrilled that her family is moving thousands of miles from civilization to the quiet country town of Ashpot, Connecticut, where she’s absolutely certain she’ll die of boredom.
As if leaving New York City and her best friend, Lizzy, the only other member of the elite Detective Mystery Squad (DMS), weren’t bad enough, Fairday is stuck living in the infamous Begonia House, a creepy old Victorian with dark passageways, a gigantic dead willow tree, and a mysterious past.

Before she can even unpack, strange music coming from behind a padlocked door leads Fairday up a spiral staircase and into a secret room, where an ancient mirror, a brass key, and a strange picture of a red-haired lady are the first in a series of clues that takes the members of the Detective Mystery Squad on an amazing adventure. 

                            Goodreads / Amazon / Random House/ Book Depository

The Morrow family is taking over the infamous Begonia House December 1st, but here's a glimpse into the mystery...

Fact or Fiction?

“Ding-dong! Witch is dead. Old witch? Wicked Witch! Ding-dong! Wicked Witch is dead!” Margo belted out the lyrics to The Wizard of Oz sound track that was playing in the Morrow family cruiser.

“Wow, she really gets into the music, doesn’t she?” Lizzy said.

“This is her favorite song,” Fairday replied, smiling, as the car pulled up in front of the library.

“How fitting,” Lizzy murmured, glancing at Fairday.

“She’s on her way to becoming the next pop sensation, aren’t you, my little snookykins?” Mrs. Morrow piped up proudly, looking back at Margo, who was still bopping to the beat. Her tone became more serious as she addressed Lizzy and Fairday. “Now, girls, here’s my old phone. Fairday, put it in your backpack. I have some errands to run, and then I’ll be at the town hall around noon. Lord knows I’ll probably be there forever, filling out paperwork for all the permits we’re going to need on the house.” She rolled her eyes and sighed as she added, “Just call or text me when you’re ready to leave.”

“Okay, mom,” said Fairday, taking the phone and securing it in a side pocket of her DMS pack. She and Lizzy climbed out of the car and onto the sidewalk. They waved goodbye to Mrs. Morrow as she pulled out into traffic, honked twice, and then disappeared through a green light.

Faiday glanced up at the wide, double-glass doors of the library. An old man, using a cane and sporting a golf cap was just opening the door. She pulled on the strap of Lizzy’s pack. “Hey, do you think that’s Larry Lovell?” she asked, nodding towards the doors.

“Could be,” Lizzy said as he disappeared into the building. The bell on the clock tower announced with its tenth chime that it was definitely ten o’ clock. 

                              ★★★

The Begonia House keeps its secrets. Everyone knows that. Everyone, that is, except for clever eleven-year-old Fairday Morrow, whose family has just moved in. Being the Senior Investigator in the Detective Mystery Squad, more commonly known as the DMS, she’s ready to uncover the mysteries hidden within the strange manor. As the investigation gears up and the pieces of the puzzle fall into place, the three young sleuths enter into a world where anything is possible, and the danger is most definitely real. Can they piece together the puzzle before it's too late? Or will whatever's causing trouble find Fairday and her friends first?

Catch the Book Buzz...

"I really enjoyed this book. It was a marvelously done, debut, thriller novel. Ms. Robinson and Ms. Haight are great authors that really pull you into their story. I couldn’t get out until that final sentence. And, by then I wanted more. To say I want a second book is an understatement. The writing style is compelling, and makes me feel as if I was there with Fairday and her friends. I really like the illustrations in the book. They are like the ribbon on a present, or the icing on the cake. I give this book five out of five bookworms!"
~ Erik Weibel/ This Kid Reviews Books  

"Mixing realism and fantasy, Haight and Robinson’s debut opens with 11-year-old Fairday’s move from Manhattan to a small town in Connecticut, where her relentlessly cheerful parents plan to turn a dilapidated Victorian into a bed and breakfast. No sooner has the family arrived than eerie sights and sounds begin to haunt Fairday. The house turns out to hold dark secrets that everybody in town suspects but nobody can explain: a perfect mission for Fairday and her best friend Lizzy’s Detective Mystery Squad (DMS)."
~ Publishers Weekly

"Fifth-grader Fairday Morrow's new home lives up to its spooky reputation, but she and her companions in the Detective Mystery Squad find out why. At Begonia House, strains of bagpipe music issue from behind a padlocked door, grains of sand in an hourglass have stopped falling, and a malevolent weeping willow looms in the backyard. A magic mirror shows an invisible door; a wardrobe hides secrets and a portal. Ruby Begonia vanished more than 50 years ago. Is there also a ghost? Fairday has a new, helpful friend in classmate Marcus, and her best friend Lizzy can visit on weekends to help solve the mystery. What more could readers want?"
~ Kirkus Reviews

JessicaHaight is a true New Englander, with a deep desire to be near the ocean and a love of the four seasons. She enjoys drawing while standing up and cultivating magic in her garden. She easily floats away in the pages of a good story and is still waiting for her owl from Hogwarts.

StephanieRobinson lives with her husband in a quiet town, though not as quaint as Ashpot. After teaching fifth grade for almost fifteen years, she is now enjoying her role as a school media specialist. 

Fairday's Blog
Fairdayfiles.com 

@DMSfiles

Giveaway code for 1 signed hardcover edition of THE SECRET FILES OF FAIRDAY MORROW

Open internationally

Contest runs from 11/29-12/24/15

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Mini updates from my Cybils reading

I've been busy as a bee reading for the Cybils, for which I'm a round one judge for Middle Grade Speculative Fiction.  Unfortunately, this means my poor old blog has been gathering dust while I've been catching up on all my book reading.  And how did it get to be 10 days til Christmas??  So, I thought a little update was in order.  

Published by: Disney Hyperion July 14th 2015
Genres:  Fantasy

Pages: 240

Format: Hardcover 
Source:  Library

Series:  Book 1 in the series with the sequel, Serafina and the Twisted Staff coming August 2016

Blurb from Goodreads "Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of the Biltmore estate. There’s plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.  But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of the Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity . . . before all of the children vanish one by one.  Serafina’s hunt leads her into the very forest that she has been taught to fear. There she discovers a forgotten legacy of magic, one that is bound to her own identity. In order to save the children of Biltmore, Serafina must seek the answers that will unlock the puzzle of her past." 

My Thoughts:  I enjoyed reading about Serafina and her father and their life living in the basement of Biltmore estate. There are quite a few historical aspects about the setting giving it a sort of Victorian feel, although the setting is Asheville, North Carolina.  The mystery surrounding the disappearing children and the means in which they disappeared certainly held my interest.   Serafina is an intriguing girl and I couldn't help feel for her in her desire to make friends and to be seen.  There is also a nice mystery surrounding Serafina's mother and how Serafina came to live with her father.  Nice blend of mystery, historical fiction and a little paranormal thrown in.  

Published by: Aladdin June 9th 2015
Genres:  Fantasy

Pages: 272

Format: Hardcover 
Source:  A review copy was received from the Publisher for the Cybils

Series:  Book 1 in the series with the sequel, The Circle of Lies to be released February 16th, 2016

Blurb from Goodreads:  "Four girls at a southwestern boarding school discover they have amazing feline powers and must unite to stop an ancient evil in this riveting adventure.  Ana's average, suburban life is turned upside down when she's offered a place at the exclusive boarding school in New Mexico that both of her late parents attended. As she struggles to navigate the wealthy cliques of her new school, mysterious things begin to occur: sudden power failures, terrible storms, and even an earthquake!  Ana soon learns that she and three other girls - with Chinese, Navajo, and Egyptian heritages - harbor connections to priceless objects in the school's museum, and the museum's curator, Ms.Benitez, is adamant that the girls understand their ancestry. It turns out that the school sits on top of a mysterious temple, the ancient meeting place of the dangerous Brotherhood of Chaos. And when one of the priceless museum objects is shattered, the girls find out exactly why their heritage is so important: they have the power to turn into wild cats! Now in their powerful forms of jaguar, tiger, puma, and lion they must work together to fight the chaos spirits unleashed in the ensuing battle... and uncover the terrifying plans of those who would reconvene the Brotherhood of Chaos."

My Thoughts:  I really liked the diversity in Hunters of Chaos with the introduction of the four girls coming from differing heritages,  Mayan , Anasazi (Navajo ancestors), Egyptian and Chinese.  Although, there isn't a lot of historical information given about each, there is some mention of artifacts and bits about excavating a site that appears after an earthquake.  The setting of a boarding school, was fun to read about.  I also enjoyed the shape shifting abilities that the girls had, even though there are a few gory instances of their "cat like skills" being used to tear up their opponents.  Nice mix of action and it includes the character of Anubis, which is always a bonus for me.  

Disclaimer Both of these books were nominated for the Cybils award and my reviews reflect my personal opinion, not the opinion of the Cybils committee.