MG Fantasy/Adventure: Jorie and the River of Fire by A.H. Richardson

Jorie and the River of Fire by A.H. Richardson

Publisher: Serano Press
Format:  Paperback

Number of Pages: 286

Published:  August 1st, 2017

Source: In exchange for an honest review, a review copy was received from the author.

Why I wanted to read this:   Continuation of Jorie and Rufus' adventures.  

Opening Line:  "Manoona, The Pale White Lady, stood alone high atop the tall green mountain which overlooked the blue sparkling waters of the Panaia River, extending her arms in front of her and closing her eyes. " 

In book two of the series, the evil Lord Fodomalk took possession of the three magical stones plotting to use their power to unite Cabrnthius and Shyloxia under his rule.  Jorie and Rufus, with newcomer Nigel, returned to Cabrynthius, despite their initial reservations about bringing Nigel along.  Shortly after arriving in Cabrnthius,  Nigel was kidnapped by Lord Fodomalk, who tried to extract information on Jorie's plans.  Things escalated into a rescue and retrieval mission of the magical stones from Shyloxia. 

 In the third installment of the series, nearly a year has passed since our two friends have been together.  Jorie has been traveling in France with her Aunt Lettitia, while the Colonel and Rufus were abroad in Germany.  Upon their return to Mortimor Manor, Jorie and her Aunt receive an invitation to visit the Colonel's home for tea, while Jorie also has word from Snowka (Manoona in her cat form) that the Great Wizard from Cabrynthius has disappeared, Chook is missing, potentially both having been captured by Lord Fodomalk. Once Jorie and Rufus reunite, they once again venture into the Tarn and are whisked to Cabrynthius where they make plans to find the Great Wizard.   They soon learn that he is being held in a prison set high into a mountain in the land of Shyloxia.   It will take wit, bravery and the power of the three magical Stones if they hope to succeed in rescuing their friends.  

 Jorie and Rufus have now turned thirteen and I've become fond of these two characters because of their strong bond and friendship that rings through every page.  I enjoy how their relationship is developing into signs of a deeper affection, purely middle-grade mind you with a kiss shared on the cheek, but sweet nonetheless.  They deeply care and worry about one another, while bravely trying to rescue their friends despite facing all these new dangers.  The Great Wizard for one is being held in a prison cell set in a harsh volcano riddled land with the only access an impassable, terrifying River of Fire.  The prison is also in a part of Shyloxia where the air quality is so poor making it nearly impossible for the Great Wizard to breathe, causing him to weaken the longer that he stays.  They're also deeply concerned because of their dragon friend,  Chook being missing.  The duo also need to avoid being detected by Lord Fodomalk's patrolling poisonous butterflies or risk being captured or seriously hurt themselves.  Definitely more obstacles than in previous books, but the pacing and action made for an exciting read.  Plus all those budding romantic feelings between our two main characters and even stern Aunt Lettitia and Colonel Hercules, make this my new favorite in the series.   Can't wait to see where future adventures for Jorie and Rufus lead us.  

MG Fantasy/Adventure: The Shadow Cipher (York #1) by Laura Ruby

The Shadow Cipher (York#1)
Author:  Laura Ruby
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Walden Pond Press
Number of Pages: 448
Published:  May 16th, 2017

Source:  Library

Opening Line:  "The true story of any city is never a single tale;  it's a vast collection of stories with many different heroes."  

The Shadow Cipher is the first in a new series of books by Laura Ruby filled with history, fantasy, adventure, mystery, and steampunk.  The prologue is set in 1855, with the majority of the story taking place in present day New York City.  Or at least the city created by the Morningstarr twins, complete with its very own Cipher and a promise of a hidden treasure to the one who could solve it.   However, this  Cipher or puzzle has been so challenging that it has eluded even the best puzzle solvers for one hundred sixty years.  The story then jumps ahead to present day within the recently sold Morningstarr Tower.  A corrupt real estate developer named Mr. Slant plans to tear down all of the Morningstarr buildings across New York and has sent his minions to serve the tenants with notices to vacate the building within thirty days.  Twins Tess and Theo are distraught by the news that their home could be destroyed, so they join up with their next door neighbor Jaime Cruz to solve the Old York Cipher and save their home's. 

I've only visited New York City a few times, and I'm not familiar with all of the locations mentioned in the story, but Ruby did seem to capture the setting as the trio crisscrossed the city hunting clues leading to places like the Liberty Statue, the Tredwell House, even to the grave of Eliza Hamilton. Not only are there all of these historical places and pop references like Lego's, there was also the steampunk of the Morningstarr's mechanical creations that wash your windows, serve you cookies and solarship's and elevators that can take you sideways as well as up and down.  I really enjoyed the historical aspects introducing the story and at the end of the book, as well as the way each chapter alternated between the three friends.  The whole thing has this magical, alternate world feel to it.    I also enjoyed how Ruby seemed to make reference to the current climate in the world regarding immigration, and how it's important to not overlook the past.  

 "The Lady was meant to represent the hope and dreams of a struggling nation"   

                                                                         and 

“Grandpa Ben always told us that great people are capable of doing terrible things and that we shouldn’t ever forget it.” 

Oh and the Cipher, I wish I was better at puzzles because this looks like such fun.  There were scrambled letters that formed words, transposition ciphers, Rosicrucian puzzles, or dots inside a grid that represented a letter and even a whole way of talking where the twins inserted an "AB"  before the vowel in the word.  Quite creative.

While I'm excited that there will be more books in the series, I really wish it wouldn't have ended on a cliffhanger.  After 448 pages, I 'm kinda vested in the twins and Jaime's story and I would've liked a little resolution.  Plus, given how detailed the world building was, I'm going to have to re-read the first book before I'm ready to even start the next one.  Still, The Shadow Cipher is an excellent beginning to this new series.   

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers and The Long Way Home by Gigi Priebe

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers 
Author:  Gigi Priebe
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Aladdin
Number of Pages: 160
Published:  January 3rd, 2017

Source:  Review copy provided by Blue Slip Media

Opening Lines:  "IN A DIMLY LIT ROOM, INSIDE A CASTLE, perched high on a hill above the River Thames in England, sits a dollhouse."

Book Synopsis from Authors website:

"Unbeknownst to anyone at Windsor Castle, twenty-five generations of Whiskers have been living in its most famous exhibit: Queen Mary’s Dollhouse. Never meant for dolls or even children to play with, this miniature masterpiece comes complete with four floors, forty rooms, two working elevators, hot and cold running water and electricity. It’s even got toilets that flush, a garage filled with luxury cars, a grandfather clock that chimes and a library filled with leather-bound books. For a young, book-loving mouse named Henry Whiskers, it’s the perfect place to call home. When the dollhouse undergoes unexpected repair work and Henry’s little sister disappears, he teams up with his best friend Jeremy and risks everything in a whisker-whipping race against time to rescue her. Along the way, he will have to bend house rules, heist a car from the dollhouse fleet and cross forbidden boundaries into the murky world of Rat Alley. Before it’s over, Henry will discover unlikely friends in surprising places, redefine community and find the courage he never knew he had."

The Adventures of Henry Whiskers is the first in a series of chapter books by Gigi Priebe set within Queen Mary's dollhouse at Windsor Castle.  The exhibit sounded so fascinating that I was encouraged to do a bit of exploring online of my own.  Everything in the dollhouse is functional, including its running hot and cold water and there's even a fully stocked wine cellar.  Lots of places for Henry and his friends to have an adventure and get into trouble too.  Not only do they have to avoid being caught by The Warden, the exhibits tour guide, there is also a mangy cat named Titus roaming the halls.  The Adventures of Henry Whiskers reminded me of Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary, especially when Ralph finds his motorcycle. There was a nice balance of perils and mishaps to keep the story entertaining and the pacing moved along well.  Not only would this make a wonderful classroom read out loud, it would work well for a child who likes animal stories and is ready for a bit longer of a book with more advanced language.  There is also the added bonus of a teacher's guide of discussion questions, creative activities, and writing exercises at the author's website.    I especially liked how the themes of courage, family, and loyalty were incorporated into the story.  

The Long Way Home (The Adventures of Henry Whiskers #2) 

Author:  Gigi Priebe

Format: Paperback
Publisher: Aladdin
Number of Pages: 160
Published:  August 29th, 2017

Source:  Review copy provided by Blue Slip Media

Opening Lines:  "Henry Whiskers sucked in his breath and clamped a paw over his mouth.  His rounded ears flicked back and forth, listening for any sign of trouble."

The Long Way Home is the second book of The Adventures of Henry Whiskers series by Gigi Priebe and finds Henry stumbling upon a map to the grounds of Windsor Castle while exploring in the library of Queen Mary’s Dollhouse.  Before he can uncover the mystery of what lies at the giant X, he and his friend Jeremy are captured in the kitchen and released into the wild far away from their home.  Having never been outside the castle, Henry and Jeremy are ill equipped to handle their new environment, but with a bit of luck, Henry's map and some new friends, they might be able to make their way back to the castle.  

In this second book, we're introduced to some of the historical monuments and locations near Windsor Castle.  Specifically, the Seville Gardens, The Totem Pole, and The Copper Horse, with details of how the Totem Pole came to be on the castle grounds.  Things at first looked bleak for our two adventurers as they navigated through the harsh terrain while contending with a hawk and another mean cat.  Luckily they happen across some field mice who not only knew Henry's father but can help them to get back to the castle.   One of the things that I've enjoyed about The Adventures of Henry Whiskers is how close Henry and his family are.  In the first book, Henry was very determined to save his sister when she was missing, and that family bond continues in this second book with the alternating chapters of the two friends adventures outside and Henry's mother mounting a rescue party to search for them.  The chapters are fairly short with language geared for a child transitioning toward longer books.   Overall, a fun animal adventure along the lines of Ralph S. Mouse by Beverly Cleary.   

Gigi Priebe is the mother of three, the founder of Stepping Stones, an award-winning children’s museum in Norwalk, Connecticut and the author of The Adventures of Henry Whiskers, the first in her middle-grade series. When she is not writing--or rewriting--she is a philanthropic advisor and community volunteer in Fairfield County, Connecticut, where she lives with her husband, a cat named Tigger, a dog named Clover, and probably some mice. To learn more and to download a free curriculum guide, visit  gigipriebe.com.

There’s more about Gigi and the Stepping Stones museum in this clip.

MG Mystery: Greenglass House by Kate Milford

Greenglass House
Author: Kate Milford
Format: Ebook 
Publisher: Clarion Books
Number of Pages: 384
Published:  August 24th, 2014

Source:  Library
Why I wanted to read this:  I love old houses, with all there nooks and crannies and this came highly recommended by Brandy at Random Musings of a Bibliophile.

Opening line:  "There is a right way to do things and a wrong way, if you're going to run a hotel in a smugglers' town."

Milo Pine had just finished up the last bit of his homework and was looking forward to spending a quiet winter break at home with his adoptive parents, Nora and Ben Pine in the Greenglass House, a smugglers inn.  Suddenly the bell on the porch began to clang signaling a guest was on their way up.    The first to arrive was Mr. Vinge,  followed by Georgie, Mrs. Hereward, Dr. Gowervine and Clem.  Each guest more mysterious than the next, but with one thing in common, they all were harboring secrets about what brought them to Greenglass House on this cold frosty night.  While showing the guests to their room,  Milo stumbles upon a map, only to have it stolen along with some of the other guest's personal belongings.  Milo then meets Meddy, the cook's daughter, who takes an interest in the map he found and agrees to team up with him, suggesting they turn this into a "campaign."  Their version of the game will be a role-playing adventure where they create their own characters, abilities, special items and skills all with the goal of finding out who the map belongs to, where it leads and discovering who the thief is in their midst.  

As I've said before, I really love old houses and Greenglass is such a wonderful example. There are these lovely stained glass windows, multiple levels, staircases, an interesting past and of course an attic that these two kids get to adventure in.  Such fun.  Oh and the atmosphere of this story, so wintery and the cozy feel of the Inn with its mugs of cocoa and snow falling from the sky obscuring even your footprints outside. I just love this description, 

"By nightfall, the sky had been swept clear of gray for the first time in days, and the moonlight glinted on a world that looked as if it had been created with a layer of silvery glass."    

What a perfect setting for a mystery. The role playing game was also really interesting because Milo and Meddy create these unique personalities for themselves, Milo creates a blackjack named Negret who could blend in anywhere, was sneaky and quiet like a rogue or a thief.  Skills Milo wished he had in real life because of his feeling like he doesn't fit in with his adoptive family because they don't look the same, and despite loving them wanting to know more about his birth parents and heritage.  Milo's adoptive parents were always supportive and encouraging to him in the story, with his dad even relating how he played a similar game called "Odd Trails" when he was growing up and I enjoyed their interactions together.  They care and are around for him, but also give him space to explore and be a kid.  As a side note, the author explains that the initial spark for her story was her own plans of adopting a Chinese child and one day wanting him to feel comfortable to talk to her about what he is thinking and letting him know that they too want to make sure he knows about his birth parents.   Meddy chooses to be a scholiast named Sirin, someone who observes and helps the blackjack in their tasks.  Their game was quite creative, reminiscent of Dungeons and Dragons or perhaps a real life game of Clue while creating a whole detailed, imaginative back story for themselves and these fun named items like the "Cloak of Indiscernibility or Helm of Revelations."   The closest thing I can think of to describe this book is The Westing Game.  I'm excited for the sequel Ghosts of Greenglass House coming on October 3rd, 2017. 

Zaria Fierce Winner

The winner of  the dragon scale necklace 

and Dropcard

for a digital copy of Zaria Fierce and the Secret of Gloomwood Forest 

by  Keira Gillett

is

Jessica Haight

Congratulations, Jess!
 Keira will be in touch with you about your prize.  

Happy Book Blog Birthday to me!

Can you believe it? 5 years I've been book blogging!  Seems like only yesterday, but boy has it been tons of fun.  I've learned so much from all of you and am very thankful each day for this lovely book blogging community of readers.  Thank you also to all my wonderful followers who read my posts and leave a comment, it's much appreciated.  It's been a busy day with the  Solar Eclipse and the Cybils call for judges just opened up, so hope you all have a wonderful day!    You can get more information about the Cybils here. 

MG Humor: Jake the Fake Keeps It Real by Craig Robinson & Adam Mansbach. Illustrated by Keith Knight

Jake the Fake by Craig Robinson & Adam Mansbach, illustrations by Keith Knight
Format:  Hardcover, 144 pages
Published:  March 28th, 2017 

by Crown Books for Young Readers

Genre: MG Humor
Source:  Giveaway hosted by  Aeicha at Word Spelunking

Jake is about to start his first day of sixth grade at the prestigious Music and Art Academy, although he feels it's because he faked his way in.  You see, his sister Lisa also attends the Academy and she's the one that convinced him to play "Song For My Father" on the piano, which ended up landing him his admission, but what everyone doesn't know is he can only play that one song and he hates playing the piano.  Worse than all that is his best friend will be going to Dobbler Middle School, so he won't even know anybody at the new school,  which doesn't really seem to matter since everyone is going to find out he cheated his way in any way.  So, Jake ends up in Mr. Allen's homeroom where he meets a bunch of kids with quirky talents, plus his teacher assigns what Jake thinks are impossible tasks.  Like who can possibly write a book report on a book that doesn't even exist?  Jake then enlists the help of his sister and best friend Evan who basically tell him that the way he can fit in is to be "artistic" or do whatever he want's as long as he calls it "art."  Jake tries out his new plan, and at first, things are going well, but when his teacher announces the end of school talent show, Jake is really in a bind since he's just been faking his way through most of the school year.   

Jake the Fake features over 160 illustrations by Keith Knight and reminded me of The Diary of the Wimpy Kid or maybe even The Captain Underpants series, they were funny and give you the feel of the quirky characters in the story.  I also liked the many lists that Jake made, especially his list of ideas for Outwierdoing the Weirdos.  From the About the Author's page, Mr. Knight relates how he was concerned about the lack of representation for African American boys in publishing, so together with Chris Robinson's own experiences going to a Magnet School, they decided to write this story.  This is only the first book in the series and with its positive messaging of exploring what your hidden talents are and finding something that you're passionate about, I'd say they're off to a wonderful start.