The Princess Protection Program by Alex London

The Princess Protection Program by Alex London
Publisher:  Greenwillow Books
Format:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   224 pages
Published:   February 13th, 2024
Source:  Blue Slip Media

Opening Line:  "Once upon a time, there was a young princess, as kind and curious as she was clever, who a witch cursed into a deep and endless sleep."

Cursed by an evil witch, Princess Rosamund lies sleeping within the castle when suddenly she is awakened by a prince leaning in for a kiss.  Startled by his brazen actions, not to mention his powerful stench and chapped lips, she quickly dashes away and hides in the water closet.  Then suddenly, Rosamund finds herself standing outside the Orphan's Home Educational Academy (HEA), with no idea how she got there.  

Soon she is approached by two girls wearing blazers with a crest on it and a plaid skirt.  They introduce themselves as Sirena and Rana and accompany her to meet Verna the headmistress of HEA.  Verna explains that Rosamund has joined a long line of princesses, with one prince, Charlie, at HEA with the goal of the academy to keep them safe and help them adjust to their new "reality," via classes in taking selfies, learning the latest viral dances and teaching them how to use social media.  Lurking outside the walls of their academy are Uponatimes, hideous monsters whose only purpose is to consume their princess, thus returning them to their story.

While Rosamund is relieved that she won't be kissing any prince soon, she's also mildly disoriented and full of questions about her new world.  Like why were they brought to this school, and what happens when they graduate?  Yet, no one seems to know the answer.  Just as Rosamund begins to settle in, she observes Sirena and Rana sneaking out, curious she follows them, and they have their first encounter with the Uponatimes when Sirena is attacked and disappears.  Upon Rana and Rosamund's return to the academy they're given the punishment of cleaning the school, which is when Rosamund begins to notice something peculiar, she can't figure out what she did that got her in trouble and as the effects of her perpetual cleaning wear off she even recalls that Serena is gone.  Faced with this new realization, Rosamund and Rana vow to find the answers they need to bring their friend back.  

The Princess Protection Program takes all the timeless fairy tales that you thought you knew and possess the question what if the princesses in these fairytales weren't happy with their story and what if they instead wanted to change it?  It's a super fun twist that shows the importance of choosing your own path.  The princesses learned that they didn't need the protection of the school, what they needed instead was the opportunity to make a choice, to figure out who they wanted to be and not be constrained by their stories.  It's a really humorous story, filled with moments like waking up to a sweaty prince who's trying to kiss you or having to kiss a frog.  Quite fun.  I enjoyed all the nods to fellow middle grade authors and especially loved the idea of the Doors of Opportunity.  It was also interesting to think about what happened to the characters that were left behind when the princesses left their story.  Like what the prince did after Rosamund disappeared from the water closet.  Yes, quite an entertaining read.                                 

  

For Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, A review of I Am, I Can, I Will: A Guided Journal of Self-Discovery for Black Girls by Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter & Ruth Chamblee Illustrations by Steffi Walthall

I Am, I Can, I Will: A Guided Journal of Self-Discovery for Black Girls by Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter & Ruth Chamblee
Publisher:  Workman Publishing Company
Format:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   176 pages
Published:   January 16th, 2024
Source:  Publisher via Media Matters Publicity

Opening Line: "You're about to go on a serious trip."

I Am, I Can, I will:  A Guided Journal of Self-Discovery for Black Girls was co-written by Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter from the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and Ruth Chamblee from the National Geographic Kids Books.  The full color illustrations are by Steffi Walthall.  The journal was designed to "inspire and introduce black heroines from the past and present to young girls of African descent, in the hopes that they will embrace and celebrate their rich heritage and use it as a springboard to realize their own dreams."  

The journal is divided into three signposts or sections, I Am, I Can and I Will.  The first section or I AM; provides a positive affirmation and quote from a historical or contemporary Black women.   For example, the first entry in the book is about Loïs Mailou Jones and comes with the affirmation, I Am What I Create.  The quote includes "The wonderful thing about being an artist is that there is no end to creative expression.  Painting is my life; my life is painting."  Next there is a brief synopsis of Loïs Mailou Jones life as a painter and highlights her significant contributions to the Harlem Renaissance art movement.  Emphasis is made on her determination and perseverance in having her art shown in American museums.  Following each important historical figure are a few blank pages in which the reader is encouraged to discuss a subject or activity they love, to draw a picture of a person or place that inspires them or even to write their own poetry.  Thus, encouraging the reader to reflect and make comparisons to the historical person's unique qualities, beliefs or experiences and how these traits make an individual who they are. 

The next section is titled, I Can and includes such historical figures as Wilma Rudolph, an Olympic gold medalist in sprinting, Bessie Coleman a daredevil stunt pilot and many more famous women.  This section reflects the challenges that these Black women overcame in order to be successful, be it illness as a youth, finding opportunities when prevented from realizing their dreams, or exceeding everyone's expectations through hard work and perseverance.  The flow of the story pages follows the one above with an aspiration, quote and background information about the person referenced.    Again, there are prompts with blank pages so that the reader can explore any obstacles that might be standing in their way, or what challenges they've faced or had to overcome themselves.  There is also lots of space to discuss their opinion about the various topics presented in this section.

The last section is titled, I Will and is designed for the reader to think about what their dreams, goals and aspirations are.  Some of the women discussed include an author, marine aviator, a published author, poet, and even a noble prize winner.  The written prompts encourage the exploration of the readers personality traits, what others think of them, their uniqueness, and accomplishments.  The very end of the book closes with a prompt to write about what the reader learned from reading these thirty-five women's incredible stories, to create a list of declarations of things that they will do, space to discuss an important or special woman in their life that inspired them and to finally write out an empowering I AM, I Can and I Will statement.

I know this is a very brief synopsis of the book, but I hope it gives you an idea of its content.  I really liked that the reader could skip around completing whichever writing prompts that they wanted and could come back later to add more information or to complete those that were skipped.  The emphasis is entirely on how they would like to use the journal and not that each page has to be filled in.   There are so many wonderful and inspiring women in this book covering many different professions, ages and time periods.  From Ancient pharaohs to women from all walks of life.  Be it athletes or activists, significant historical figures like Michelle Obama or Harriet Tubman.  I think a young Black girl could draw courage, strength or inspiration from these women, and that they could feel a connection to these women's stories and a sense of a shared history.  I can see this as a wonderful book celebrating Black History Month and especially as a mother and daughter read, that could open up discussions and provide a place to share their thoughts and reflect on the writing prompts together.  Defiantly provides for a bonding experience and an opportunity for self-discovery.  I personally learned about so many incredible women who I've never heard about before.  Women like "Stagecoach" Mary Fields, who was a sharpshooter and protected her wagon to deliver mail in Cascade, Montana (my home state).  Overall, an inspiring an empowering book.   

   I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

** A huge thank you to Media Matters Publicity for the hardcover copy which will be donated to my local little free library.**       

NOT THE WORST FRIEND IN THE WORLD by Anne Rellihan Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

Today, I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the NOT THE WORST FRIEND IN THE WORLD by Anne Rellihan Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

 

                                                                                About The Book:

Title: NOT THE WORST FRIEND IN THE WORLD
Author: Anne Rellihan
Pub. Date: February 6, 2024
Publisher: Holiday House
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 272

Find it:   Goodreads, https://books2read.com/NOT-THE-WORST-FRIEND-IN-THE-WORLD

Can Lou Bennett keep a secret? She’ll do just about anything to prove herself to her new friend—and the best friend she betrayed—in this debut novel that is a modern-day Harriet the Spy with high emotional stakes.

It’s the thirty-fourth day of sixth grade at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School in Missouri, and eleven-year-old Lou wishes she could rewind time.

Lou wants to go back to the ninth day of sixth grade—the day before she fought with her best friend Francie and said the terrible, horrible things she can’t unsay. Or better yet, she would go back to fifth grade when Francie was still the Old Francie.

Then the new girl, Cece Clark-Duncan, passes Lou a mysterious note. It says she was kidnapped. (!) If Lou can help Cece, maybe she can prove she’s not the world’s worst friend.

But as observant Lou uncovers the complicated truth about Cece’s family, she starts to panic. Can she help Cece without hurting her? Or will Lou end up losing another friend instead?

Anchored by an outstanding voice and a page-turning mystery, this remarkable debut novel honors the powerful middle school friendships that can both break and heal a tender eleven-year-old heart. Perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and My Jasper June.

                                                     Not the Worst Friend in the World
                                                                By Anne Rellihan

Excerpt for Rockstar Book Tours

 Excerpt from Not the Worst Friend in the World / Text copyright © 2024 by Anne Rellihan. Reproduced with permission fromHoliday House Publishing Inc. All rights reserved.

 

 

1

 

Cece Clark- Duncan passed me a note on the thirty- fourth day of sixth grade.

                If she had passed it twenty-five days earlier, I might have ignored it. Or worse, showed it to Francie.

 

At first, I didn’t believe the note was meant for me. Yet there was my name, plain as day, carefully written across the front in bubbly print— Louise. She’d even put a heart above the i.

 

My name is Louise Bennett, but the fact that she’d written “Louise” revealed her newness. Only teachers and my grandmother call me Louise. Everyone else calls me Lou. Francie shortened it the day I met her in kindergarten. She said Louise sounded like a grandma name, so she made it better. I liked Lou more, too. Louise held on to her mom’s leg at the playground because she was scared of the slides and the big kids. Lou was brave and smart and funny. 

She had to be. Francie Fitzpatrick was her best friend.

 

Emphasis on was. Past tense. Because then sixth grade happened. And Tommy Maguire happened. And the dumb fight happened. And just like that, I became invisible.

 

So there I was, trying to pretend I didn’t care about any of it, when I got a note from the only sixth grader who was a bigger outsider than me.

 

It happened during our first geography quiz of the year. The end of September and it was still blazing hot in Mayfield, Missouri. I sat at my desk sweating through my white uniform shirt. Sweat pooled under my arms and my legs stuck together underneath my plaid skirt. My dark

hair hung in clumps on my neck and frizzed around my freckled face. But being invisible made it easier to forget the frizz and focus on my plan.

 

My plan had one step.

 

Step 1: Get Francie to talk to me.

 

It was written on a clean page of my leather- bound notebook. I had underlined Step 1 about a million times, drew doodles all around it, but was no closer to accomplishing it. A plan isn’t much of a plan with only one step. I was stuck remembering those text messages and hearing myself say the terrible, horrible things I couldn’t unsay over and over again. It had been more than three weeks, and that day kept replaying in my mind like a movie. I about threw up

every time I watched it.

 

I didn’t blame anyone for hating me. If I’m being honest, I hated me, too.

 

 

 

                    About Anne Rellihan:

Anne Rellihan is a former elementary school teacher and an alumna of Teach for America with a master’s degree in education from Columbia University. She lives in Kansas with her husband and four children. When she’s not writing, Anne volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate. This is her debut novel. Find her online @AnneRellihan and annerellihan.com.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of NOT THE WORST FRIEND IN THE WORLD, US Only.

Ends February 20th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

                                                    Tour Schedule: Week One:

2/5/2024	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt/IG Post
2/5/2024	Log Cabin Library	Excerpt
2/6/2024	YA Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
2/6/2024	Fire And Ice Reads	Excerpt/IG Post
2/7/2024	@darkfantasyreviews	IG Post
2/7/2024	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Review/IG Post
2/8/2024	Kountry Girl Bookaholic	Excerpt/IG Post
2/8/2024	Kim's Book Reviews and Writing Aha's	Review/IG Post
2/9/2024	@paws.read.repeat	Review/IG Post
2/9/2024	@evergirl200	IG Review
2/10/2024	Callisto’s calling	IG Review
2/10/2024	Avainbookland	IG Review

                                                   Week Two:

2/11/2024	@dana.loves.books	IG Review/TikTok Post
2/11/2024	Review Thick And Thin	Review/IG Post
2/12/2024	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
2/12/2024	GryffindorBookishnerd	IG Review
2/13/2024	@dharashahauthor	IG Post
2/13/2024	Lifestyle of Me	Review
2/14/2024	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review/IG Post
2/14/2024	Country Mamas With Kids	Review/IG Post
2/15/2024	@anitralovesbooksanddogs	IG Review
2/15/2024	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
2/16/2024	@stargirls.magical.tale	IG Review
2/16/2024	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post

The Great Weather Diviner: The Untold Origin of Punxsutawney Phil by Rob Long & Andrew Dolberg

 The Great Weather Diviner:  The Untold Origin of Punxsutawney Phil by Rob Long & Andrew Dolberg
Publisher:  Morgan James Kids
Format:  Paperback
Number of pages:   270 pages
Published:   November 7th, 2022
Source:  Books Forward

Opening Line:  "Chaos surrounded them."

With Groundhog's Day quickly approaching, what better way to celebrate than reading a retelling or reinterpretation of the famous weather prognosticator, Punxsutawney Phil.

The opening chapter of The Great Weather Diviner provides the historical context of the Halwe War (a legendary war in which seven animal guardians came to the aid of Erda saving the realm from the White Demon and his Revenants) in the way of a bedtime story told by Lord Phillip Rodington to his young groundhog son Junior.  Junior has always loved this story because his grandfather was the hero responsible for the ultimate demise of the White Demon by using the Sacred Gnomon, the families divining staff to pulverize him into ash.  Ever since that time, the Rodington's have held a place of prestige in Erda, with each elder becoming the mayor, responsible for the mine, and control over the weather.  One day Junior is to inherit it all.  

Then one day Erda experiences a torrential rainfall that causes serious flooding, chaos and destruction within the town.  Many villagers are displaced from their homes, with the mine being hit the worst, as many of the workers are trapped below.  Junior's father ventures out to comfort the town and miners, leading to Junior overhearing him telling two very different stories to the townies and delvers, attempting to placate them both.  Unhappy with the whole situation, Junior argues with his father, even calling him a liar.  Confused by why his father's skills as a diviner couldn't predict the oncoming storm, Junior becomes even more upset.  Later his mom explains that his father could've been safe at home but that he chose to go out and make sure people had food and shelter.  She emphasizes that all his father is doing is to protect the town.  Feeling remorseful and that maybe he jumped to conclusions, Junior begins to ponder what his grandfather would have done, and whether or not this is a time for the guardians to reappear and save their town again.  Hoping for answers, Junior ultimately decides to embark on a journey in search of the legendary guardians.  Along the way, Junior learns some hard truths about his family's weather divining abilities, his ancestors and that many of the legends he's been told are not as they seem.  

The Great Weather Diviner was pitched as a Redwall-inspired conservation fantasy.  Come on who could pass up on that description?  I do see twinges of Redwall and found it to be a really interesting fantasy that draws from nature, the art of storytelling, questioning what we've been told and the premise of whether someone can be a hero and a villain?  The perils of climate change, over resilience on coal mining and fossil fuels are emphasized, and the need for nature conservation and mechanisms for its protection are highlighted in the story.  There is even a list of animals that are extinct or near extinction, and the reasons why included at the back of the book, which really drives in the point that saving these animals is important.  It's a fast read and an interesting spin on the legendary tale of Groundhog Day.  It's thought provoking and would make an excellent read-aloud leading to discussions about living in harmony with nature.  The authors are even donating a portion of the proceeds toward Habitat for Humanity in the Greater Palm Beach area. 

**A huge thank you to Books Forward for the paperback book in exchange for an honest review.**                

It's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday with a review of Mansa Musa: The Richest Man In History from Our Story Media (Non-Fiction, Biography)

Mansa Musa:  The Richest Man in History, illustrated by Emanuel Colban
Publisher:  Our Story Media
Format:  Softcover
Number of pages:   26 pages
Published:   June 2023
Source:  Books Forward

 Our Story is a new book series that is working in partnership with  CAMFED (The Campaign for Female Education) to introduce young readers to "influential historical figures, many of whom are overlooked in Western curriculums."  Each story is written for children ages 8-12, focusing on historical role models such as Mansa Musa, Fatima Al-Fihri, and Shen Kuo.  The stories are designed to "inspire kids to reach their full potential" while learning about these significant role models.  Each book comes with a pronunciation guide, glossary, engaging activities like how to make an African fabric collage, and supplementary resources for further exploration.  For each physical copy purchased the publisher, Our Story will fund a full day's education for a girl in need through CAMFED.

My Review:

In the first book in the series, the reader is introduced to Mansa Musa, who was the emperor of the Mali Empire from 1312 to 1337.  He acquired his title as the richest man after having embarked on a pilgrimage to Makkah, the holy city of the Islamic faith.  The story covers how his wealth was acquired and provides details of his journey, or Hajj pilgrimage, to include a diplomatic stop in Egypt to meet with the Sultan.  Mana Musa was responsible for bringing many architects back to Mali and commissioning the construction of the world famous Djinguereber Mosque and the University of Timbuktu.  He used his wealth to further his people's lives by providing many schools and libraries.   

Each page of Mansa Musa includes a few paragraphs of text, with one to two vocabulary words presented in bold font.  Some of the words included caravan, dinars, Hajj, plummeted, etc.  With a quick flip to the back of the book to the glossary there you'll find the definition.  I really like how the story part of each page is a different color, moving from orange, to blue to pink, etc.  And that the other side of the page, with the illustrations, has this vibrant, textured looking illustration that matches the colorful palate of colors from the text.  There's just a wonderful balance in how the page color matches the hues of color in the illustrations and I can see reader's really engaging with the story.   I also really enjoyed the style of the illustrations, I'm no expert but there are a few that look like watercolors and they so beautifully reflect the scene in the accompanying text.  I get the feel of looking at a tapestry in a museum with a few of the illustrations.  Written with short paragraphs and delightful illustrations, I can see this piquing a child's interest to learn more about these historical figures.

A recent BBC interview with the Our Story co-founder Fahad Siddiqui, in which he discusses the need for more global education resources.  

Our Story Media Group can be found at:

Facebook: @OurStory | YouTube: @OurStoryMedia 

Instagram: @ourstory.media | TikTok: @ourstory.media 

Web: www.ourstory.media 

   I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE      

 **And a huge thank you to Books Forward for the review copy, which I will be donating to my local Little Free Library**