Title: "I will Protect you- A story  of Twins who Survived Auschwitz"

Author: Eva Mozes Kor with Danica Davidson

Grade: A

Synopsis

Eva and her identical twin sister, Miriam, had a mostly happy childhood. Theirs was the only Jewish family in their small village in the Transylvanian mountains, but they didn't think much of it until anti-Semitism reared its ugly head in their school. Then, in 1944, ten-year-old Eva and her family were deported to Auschwitz. At its gates, Eva and Miriam were separated from their parents and other siblings, selected as subjects for Dr. Mengele's infamous medical experiments.

During the course of the war, Mengele would experiment on 3,000 twins. Only 160 would survive--including Eva and Miriam.

Writing with her friend Danica Davidson, Eva reveals how two young girls were able to survive the unimaginable cruelty of the Nazi regime, while also eventually finding healing and the capacity to forgive. Spare and poignant, I Will Protect You is a vital memoir of survival, loss, and forgiveness.

Review

Being a twin myself, my curiosity was peaked when reading the title of this book. I have read a large variety of book about the Holocaust but have never read a book about survivors of the experiments of Dr. Mengele. The ones I have read from a child's point of view about the Holocaust have all been fiction so it was interesting to read a non-fiction book. It made everything a little more real as I was reading through the book. Davidson does a great job describing the when is happening so that the reader feels like they were there with Eva and Miriam. It is a book aimed towered a younger audience but is detailed enough that older readers would want to read it as well. 

One of the part of the book that struck me the most was the sheer bravery and the situation that these children were put through at such a young age. I knew that there were children in concentration camps but this was almost a lightbulb moment for me. Eva and Miriam had to completely fend for themselves and make life altering decisions before they would even have graduated from elementary school. There is a part where the twins get separated due to side effects from one of Dr. Mengele's experiments and the bravery and the split second thinking these girls is unimaginable. These are just two of the many children that were in concentration camps but I think are truly two of the bravest girls I have ever read about.

You can read more about Danica Davidon's other books and find out more information from "I will Protect You" by visiting her website.

Happy reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Broadway Tails

 

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 Title:  Broadway Tails

Author: Bill Berloni

Grade:  A+

Summary from the Back of the Book

Bill Berloni was a young apprentice when he got his first big break: to find and train a dog for the original production of Annie. He rescued a down-on-his-luck dog from a local shelter and together they redefined what animal performers could do. Since then Berloni and his trainers have provided animals for hundreds of films, commercials, and television shows as well as live theater, including productions of Annie, The Wizard of Oz, and Because of Winn-Dixie. In this book, Berloni tells the stories of “throw-away” animals who starred with some of entertainment’s biggest names—including Bernadette Peters, Sarah Jessica Parker, Meryl Streep, and Natalie Portman—and his search for Broadway’s newest Sandy.

 

Review

I have been dancing since I was 5 and absolutely love stage performances. Musical soundtracks are one of my most played genres on music. So when I saw this book at the library I knew I had to read it. This book takes you through the career of Bill Berloni and the many musicals and plays he has worked on. He though, is not the one on stage. Bill  rescues dogs from shelters and gives them a second chance of life as stars of the stage. The book goes through the many different performances that his dogs have performed in. They range from the first production of Annie through the 2005 stage performance of Legally Blonde. He doesn't just use dogs. Some of the other animals he has trained are a pig and a rat. I love reading about the adventures that he goes through to get the different animals that are needed and of the antics of animals in live theater. It is a book I have read multiple times and one I still pull out to read from time to time. A local high school used one of Bill's dogs in their production of Annie and I had the opportunity to meet Bill and have him sign my book!

I would highly recommend this book to all! I think theater buffs would very much enjoy this book and seeing the behind the scenes of some of their favorite performances!

You can learn more about Bill Berloni's upcoming projects by visiting his website

Happy reading!

Bookaholic

A long break

 I have stared at this screen for longer than I am willing to admit trying to figure out what to type. I have been gone for a really....really....really....long time. Several years long. It has been a crazy last few years with lots of changes where reading has taken a back seat. I had lost the passion I once had for reading and books. Before I went to bed at night, all I had the energy to do was scroll mindlessly through social media instead of picking up a beloved book and devouring the pages as I used to do. I am happy to say though, the "library doors" of my heart have returned. I am back in the reading zone and so excited to bring this blog back to life!

Through teaching these last few years, I have come to love and adore childrens books. One of my absolute favorite parts of each school day were the times I had to share a story with my nuggets (as I called them). I loved seeing their reactions to different parts of stories, hearing their belly laughs, and experience their questions and comments about different parts of the book. In order to share some of my favorite with other lovers of kids books, I have started a new blog solely dedicated to picture books. I hope to add some new favorites to your bookshelves and discover some new books to add to my classroom library. The link for that blog is:

Miss Ripcurl's Booknook

I am excited to become a part of the reading community again and meet some fellow booklovers!

Happy reading!

Bookaholic

Carole P Roman Roundup!

I have featured several series by Carole P. Roman on my blog before. She writes two book series for children that I have really enjoyed and am excited to bring you a few more books in both of those series and a stand alone book as well! Her books are always full of beautifl illustrations and rich vocabulary that can enhance a read aloud session. I have read some of the books to my past preschool classes and they are always a hit! Without further ado...

Series: If You Were Me and  Lived in...

                                                 Grade: A+

Review

As I have stated in past reviews, I think this series is a much needed addition to the world of childrens literature. Each book in the series focuses on a different country and general facts about that country that are relatable to children. The newest ones I have to review are about Greece, Scotland, Hungary, and China. Each of the books starts with a map of the location of the country and then goes into the facts. I am going to Scotland in the spring, so I was very interested in the book about Scotland. I liked the descriptions of the food and am looking forward to trying some delicious tassie scones! Something that I picked up when reading these newest books that I didn't before was that after each new word, Roman gives the phonetic pronunciation. This can be such a vital tool when reading new and unfamiliar words to children! I hope that you all have the opportunity to check out this series! I promise you won't be disappointed and will definitely learn something new!

    Series: Captain No Beard

                                                      Grade: A

Review

The Captain No Beard series follows Captain No Beard, aka Alexander, and his crew as they learn life lessons through high sea adventures with his crew. 

One of the newest books, Fribbet the Frog and the Tadpoles focuses on new additions to the family. Fribbet is scared because he has no brothers and sisters in his family and doesn't like the new changes. He shares his fears with the crew and the crew is able to help him through this difficult time. I really liked two things about this book. First the lesson about families growing and the changes that bring. This is a subject that is very relevant for children and it shows them how to talk through their fears with others. The other thing I liked about this book was that it went through the life cycle of a frog. It started with eggs and went all the way to an adult frog. This description included pictures and verbal descriptions on each phase. I would definitely include this book in my life cycle theme!

A Flag for the Flying Dragon is the second new book in the series. This book introduces and new character to the crew, baby Zachary. The crew struggles to find a job that will make Zachary feel included, but will also keep him out of trouble. The crew problem solves, and works together to come up with a solution. Learning how to problem solve is a vital part of my preschool classroom. This book shows an example of how to do this in a fun and understandable way.

Title: I Want to do Yoga too

                                  Grade: C

Review

I Want to do Yoga too introduces us to Hallie and her mom who are on the way to yoga. While Hallie's mom is attending her yoga class, Hallie is in the childrens area. She really, really wants to do yoga just like her mom! Robin, the babysitter, shows Hallie how to do several easy yoga poses that any child can do. Hallie is delighted to find out that she can do yoga too!

I was not super impressed by this book. It started with a good plot, but then fell stagnant. Hallie is shown how to do yoga poses, but is constantly complaining that she wants to do yoga too, which she actually is doing. I guess the book tries to show kids that they can do several easy yoga poses just like their parents. The book is just not very interesting and I don't think it would hold the attention of most of my preschoolers. If you are into yoga, you would probably find this book interesting, otherwise I would leave it. 

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Hidden-: Like Anne Frank

Title:  Hidden: Like Anne Frank
Author: Marcel Prins and Peter Henk Steenhis
Grade:  A+

Review
This book tells the tales of several Jewish children who survive the Holocaust by hiding.  This book had been on my TBR shelf for quite awhile. I have always been interest in the Holocaust but was pushed to read this book after I recently saw a play version of Anne Frank. I was blown away by the play and was excited (which I don't think is the exact word to describe reading about such an awful time period) to read this book. The book is divided into 14 chapters that each focus on a different child. Most of the children in the chapters do not actually end up in a concentration camp, but survive by either hiding in plain sight and acting as a non-Jewish child, or by hiding in a closet or a hidden area in a house. This is different than most of the books I have read about the Holocaust. Each of the chapters truly tugged on my heart and made me feel like I was actually there hiding along with each of them. I can not imagine how terrifying it would be to have to worry who would find me or where if I would ever see my family again. Another part of the book that I really liked was that there were photos of what each child looks like today. This really puts a face to a name and truly shows that these were real people, not just fictional characters in a book. Because the Holocaust is truly a terrible, horrible time period, when reading these books, we sometimes convince ourselves that the stories are fiction and there is no way that any of this could have actually happened. It is very unfortunate that it did happen and it is truly a part of history.

I think this book is a great read for anyone interested in the Holocaust and survival stories. It is a juvenile fiction book so it is a short read, but is still very powerful.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic 

Review: The Breeding Tree

Title: The Breeding Tree
Author: J. Andersen
Grade: A+

Synopsis from the back of the book
When seventeen year old Katherine Dennard is selected to become a "Creation Specialist" in Sector 4, the opportunity sounds like a dream come true. But Kate soon discovers the darker side of her profession - the disposal of fetal organs and destruction of human life. It makes sense, really. In a society where disease and malformations don't exist, human perfection demands that no genetic "mutants" be allowed to live. For Sector 4, "survival of the fittest" is not just a theory - it's The Institute's main mission.

When Kate discovers that The Institute is using her DNA to create new life, her work gets personal. In order to save her unviable son, she'll have to trust Micah and his band of underground Natural Born Rebels. The problem is, if The Institute discovers her betrayal, the next body being disposed of could be hers.
Review
As you can tell from many of the books I review, I really enjoy the genre of dystopian fiction. Of course, when reading the synopsis for The Breeding Tree, I was instantly hooked. Katherine, or Kate as she is come to be known, lives in a dystopian society where everything is monitored, from food intake, what your job is, who you date, and who has children and even what kind of children. The society that the book is set in only allows children to be born if they are without defect. If they are fond to be nonviable, which means they have any sort of flaw, they are disposed of. When Kate is assigned the job of creation specialist, this is a job she must learn to do. Along the way Kate becomes friends with people that are fighting this perfect society and they make a huge impact on many of the decisions Kate has to make.

I absolutely LOVED this book. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. I feel like the issues of birth and when a child is considered a child is a hot topic in this day in age. Anderson is able to discuss this subject in a nonthreatening, but very thought provoking way. It brings up questions in the readers mind such as, at what point is a life considered a life, or would it be possible to have a perfect society?I think that Anderson also makes all of her characters very relatable to the reader. Every time Kate went through a struggle, or had to make a tough decision, I felt for her.  The book ends kind of on a cliff hanger, so I am assuming this is the start of a series. I think that anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction will be instantly drawn into The Breeding Tree!  Even those who do not typical look at dystopian books will enjoy this thought provoking novel! You can read more about J. Anderson and her books by visiting her blog.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Meritorium

Title: Meritorium
Author: Joel Ohman
Grade: A

Synopsis from the back of the book
Charley has escaped from Meritropolis...

but in his quest to take down the System that has taken his brother from him, he must go through Meritorium, a city where gladiatorial games of life or death combat are waged between High Scores and Low Scores, man and beast.

Charley and Sandy must face man-eating plants, religious zealots, slave traders, and the ever present mutant animal combinations that roam a dystopian Coliseum presided over by Emperor Titus, the one man standing between Charley and the answers he seeks. Man is not an animal, but if they are to make it through Meritorium, will they even be able to tell the difference?

The lines between man and beast, friend and foe, will blur in Meritorium, the riveting sequel to the bestselling Meritropolis.


Review
Meritorium is the second book in the "Meritropolis" series by Joel Ohman. You can read the review for the first book posted below this review! I was a little disappointed by Meritropolis and was hoping to be more excited about the second book. I have to say that the second book did not let me down! This book blew me away! The book picks back up with Charley and the gang on their way to Meritorium. The meet many animal combos and even some interesting plant combos. When they finally reach the city, they are instantly thrown into many situations that keep the reader on their toes throughout the entire book. The System continues to be challenged and Charley, Sven, and Sandy continue to fight it, which brings on a slew of new characters and obstacles. During the course of the book, Ohman introduces as one point the concept of grace into a situation between Charley and another character. I liked being challenged on a mental level on how difficult it is to provide grace to someone who does not deserve. As a Christian I know that I am given grace through Jesus Christ, and recognized this with Charley. It is always a plus when books can make you think on a higher level.

I am not always a hge fan of books that are turned into movies, but Meritorium would make for an epic action movie, along the lines of The Hunger Games" series. Seeing how the animal combos are depicted in real life would be pretty awesome! I was a little sad that we did not get to see what happened to Elena during the second book, but maybe Ohman will bring her back in the next book in the series. Meritorium kept me wanting more and I am anxiously awaiting the third book! I suggest this book to any readers who like dystopian fiction and anyone who is looking for a book to keep them on the edge of their seats. As the second book in the series, you do have to read the first book to understand what is going on in the second book.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

*I was sent this book to review. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by others.*

Review: Meritropolis

Title: Meritropolis
Author: Joel Ohman
Grade: B+

Synopsis from the back of the book
The year is AE3, 3 years after the Event. Within the walls of Meritropolis, 50,000 inhabitants live in fear, ruled by the brutal System that assigns each citizen a merit score that dictates whether they live or die. Those with the highest scores thrive, while those with the lowest are subject to the most unforgiving punishment--to be thrust outside the city gates, thrown to the terrifying hybrid creatures that exist beyond.


But for one High Score, conforming to the System just isn't an option. Seventeen-year-old Charley has a brother to avenge. And nothing--not even a totalitarian military or dangerous science--is going to stop him.


Where humankind has pushed nature and morals to the extreme, Charley is amongst the chosen few tasked with exploring the boundaries, forcing him to look deep into his very being to discern right from wrong. But as he and his friends learn more about the frightening forces that threaten destruction both without and within the gates, Meritropolis reveals complexities they couldn't possibly have bargained for...
Review
When I initially read the synopsis for Meritopolis I was very intrigued because I thoroughly enjoy a good dystopian book. I was not dissapointed in that aspect. Charley and the other characters live in a walled city where everyone is given a score. The higher the score, the more "important" or valued the person becomes in the society.  The score can rise and fall based on a person's situation and is constantly reevaluated. When a person's score dips below a certain number, that person is put outside the city walls and "zeroed". Ohman does a wonderful job connecting the reader to the characters who have low scores and making you feel their emotions and the struggle they have with having low scores. Charley, one of the main characters, has one of the highest scores in the city. Thankfully, he does not let this get to his head and truly feels for the other low scores, which many other high-scores do not. One interesting item Ohman introduces into the development of the characters, that I really liked,  is that each of the high scorers has a personal connection to someone that has been put outside the gates and zeroed. Something else I also enjoyed was the animals Ohman has created for this book. During The Event, something caused there to become many different animal combinations, such as a lanther (lion-panther), gobster (goose-lobster), and the vicious rothog (rottweiler-hog). The animal combos take on the characteristics of the two animals and I enjoyed seeing the various combinations Ohman came up with. He puts a picture of a different creation at the beginning of each chapter. As the first book in the series, Ohman ends the book on a cliff hanger, which makes the reader want to pick up the second book. I will be reviewing the second book next!

 I was very excited to read the book after reading the synopsis, but I felt a little let down when I finished it. There were parts of the book that definitely kept me on the edge of my seat and made me want to continue reading, but there were also parts that really dragged for me. I also felt that Ohman introduced certain characters, but did not always explain their purpose, like George, or did not give as much time devoted to them as I wold have liked, like Elena and Bree. As the first book in the series thankfully there is more opportunities for changes and character development. I reccomend this book to anyone that enjoys dystopian fiction and science fiction! You can read more about Joel Ohman and the Meritropolis series on his website!

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: No Summit out of Sight

Title: No Summit out of Sight

Author: Jordan Romero
Grade: A

Review
This book follows Jordan Romero's quest to climb the the 7 (actually 8) summits in the world. He does not set out to be the youngest person to do this, but in the end he sets the record. Jordan climbs all of them with the help of his dad and stepmom. He climbs his first summit at age 10, and summits his 8 and final, in this quest, at the age of 15. Along the way Jordan and his team face many doubters and criticisms of allowing a child to attempt this massive task. Time and again, Jordan proves them all wrong.

My favorite aspect of this book was that Jordan not only documents the positive parts of his journey, he also makes sure that the readers are aware of the mental, physical, and emotional struggles he encounters along the way. There are several times when Jordan wants to give up, but is able to push through with the loving support of his family and friends. I suggest this book to anyone who loves adventure and to anyone attempting their own "Everest". You won't be sorry you took the chance!

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Hope Against Hope

Title: Hope Against Hope
Author: Sarah Carr
Grade: B

Synopsis from the back of the book

Geraldlynn is a lively, astute 14-year-old. Her family, displaced by Hurricane Katrina, returns home to find a radically altered public education system. Geraldlynn's parents hope their daughter's new school will prepare her for college--but the teenager has ideals and ambitions of her own.

Aidan is a fresh-faced Harvard grad drawn to New Orleans by the possibility of bringing change to a flood-ravaged city. He teaches at an ambitious charter school with a group of newcomers determined to show the world they can use science, data, and hard work to build a model school.

Mary Laurie is a veteran educator who becomes principal of one of the first public high schools to reopen after Katrina. Laurie and her staff find they must fight each day not only to educate the city's teenagers, but to keep the Walker community safe and whole.

In this powerful narrative non-fiction debut, the lives of these three characters provide readers with a vivid and sobering portrait of education in twenty-first-century America. Hope Against Hope works in the same tradition as Random Family and There Are No Children Here to capture the challenges of growing up and learning in a troubled world.

Review

As a teacher, I always enjoy reading books about my field. I also have always been interested in books about Hurricane Katrina. This book combined two of my interests into one volume. These facts are what first drew me to add this book to my TBR list. The book followed a teacher, principal, and a family at three different school, post-Katrina, in New Orleans. Each chapter followed the three different subjects over the course of the school year. It was interesting to see the three points of views as it approached the different aspects of how a school is run. I enjoyed each person's contributions to the book, that I am not sure I cold choose a favorite. I grew up in the suburbs of Pennsylvania and attended a private school from K-12, where college wasn't even a question. The schools and areas that the book took place were completely opposite from my upbringing. Each of the three schools were charter schools located in rougher parts of New Orleans. The main focus of all three of the schools was  getting as many students as possible to attend college and put a big focus on tests that prepare students for the tests that help them get into college. It was very mind-opening to see the differences my upbringing and the many trials the students at these school face everyday. It is always a bonus when a book can open your eyes to the differences of people in the same country. 

I really did enjoy reading the book, but it didn't always hold my attention. About half of each chapter was spent focusing on the history of the New Orleans public school system and the history of charter schools in general. Those parts of the book I pretty much skipped over. I more enjoyed the parts that focused on the three different people in the book, and was why I originally chose to read it. I recommend this book for all educators out there and for anyone looking to broaden their horizons on the education system in America.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Blog Break... and I am back!

Hello faithful readers!
As you can see from the date of my last post, I have taken almost a year break from blogging/reviewing. I can make up all kinds of excuses, such as I was busy, but I don't think I really have a true reason why. I truly was busy, with work, teaching dance, and just life in general. I also found that I kind of fell off of the reading boat. I found myself not really enjoying reading as much. I felt like I went into a reading slump. I had a very hard time finding books that interested me and didn't really feel like reading. I always used to read before I went to bed, and I found myself each night falling asleep without reading. During the summer, which is prime reading time for teachers, I also didn't really feel like reading. It was a very sad time. About a month or two ago this started to change and I am back to reading at full force! I look forward to start reviewing books again and sharing my reviews with you all!

Happy, happy, happy reading!

Bookaholic

Captain No Beard pt. 3

Title: Captain No Beard Series
Author: Carole P. Roman

This is my third part of the Captain No Beard series review. The series follows Alexander, who is Captain No Beard, and his imaginary crew on many adventures aboard the high seas with his crew of friends. Each books focuses on a different lesson that is taught throughout the books. Below are mini reviews of the three most recent books:

The Treasure of Snake Island
Grade: B
This particular Captain No Beard book focuses on the importance of reading in learning new information. When Polly the Parrot brings up a saying she read in a book the entire crew discusses how you can learn something new just by reading a book. I obviously love to read and have a mission each school year of planting the seed of the joy of reading in each of my students. I think that this book states that fact in a fun and unique way. I do have to say that this was not my most favorite book in the series because it did not have a lot of action by the pirate crew, but I do like that it relayed the importance of reading to the children reading the book.

The Crew Goes Coconuts
Grade: A
This addition to the series tackles the always important subject of bullying. When First Mate Hallie brings aboard her goat Matie, no one is very happy when Matie drinks all of the juice. Everyone starts to be mean to Matie and starts to call her names. When Captain No Beard discovers this, he teaches his crew a lesson on how everyone is unique. I think that bullying s a very prominent subject in society today. In most schools there is a big push on identifying bullying and how to prevent it. Explaining bullying to a preschooler is sometimes hard because they don't always understand what bullying is. Most of the time their version of bullying is saying unkind things about someone. I think that this books displays that type of bullying very well and why it really does hurt someones feelings. I think that this is the perfect book on bullying to read to a preschool class!

Around the World with Carole P. Roman

I recently received some more of the books in the If You were Me and You Lived in... series, by Carole P. Roman and am very excited to review them all most recent ones. I have the books for the countries Kenya, India,  Norway, Australia, and Russia.

Review
Like I said in my previous post, these books focus on different aspects of the country that apply to children. They leave out the facts such as the economy and politics that children would have no interest in. Instead they focus on things such as holidays, games, where you would live, and what you would call your family members. I love the different illustrations and how they depict exactly what the narrator is talking about on each page. My favorite part is the page where she describes what a child would call his mom or dad in each country (ex. In Kenya you would call your mom Mazzi and your dad Baba),  Roman gives just the right amount of information on each page that would hold a child's short attention span. I really love that Roman pays attention to the smallest detail on each page and the cover. She even phrases the information in a way that doesn't "dumb down" the info, but makes it applicable to a child reading the book. I think she has once again created a series that is much needed in the world of children's books and am excited to see the countries that she covers next! If you are a teacher I STRONGLY suggest that you check out this series and even get some of them for your own classroom library! You can read more about Carole P. Roman and her books on her website.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Recess is my best Subject

Title: Recess is my best Subject
Author: Peggy Mastel
Grade: A+

Review
As a teacher, I always enjoy reading memoirs from other teachers. Peggy Mastel has written a book that is about her year as a substitute teacher in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After losing her son, Peggy dives into substitute teaching in various grade in the public school system. I have never subbed before, but I always wondered what it would be like to go into someone else's classroom and having to take over. Peggy had some very positive, fun times, but also some very rough times.  She experienced the struggles of working in some classroom where poverty had a huge effect on the students in the classroom.  Some of the classrooms didn't have enough pencils for all of the students. I was very impressed by the fact that she had never taught before, but she was able to take control and really make an impact on many of the students she taught. As a teacher it gave me some relief to know that there are struggles in all classroom. Peggy was able to work in a variety of classes, from kindergarten to fifth grade, from a combination classroom to a special education classroom. I really also liked the fact that Peggy was very honest about her feelings for the students and her experiences. I think that this book would be perfect for any teacher or anyone who wants to have the inside scoop to the teaching world.! I can see myself pulling the book off my bookshelf many times!

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Brood X

Title: Brood X
Author: Michael Phillip Cash
Grade: A

 Synopsis from the back cover
Seth is laid off from work. His wife Lara just found out they are expecting a baby this summer. Seth plans on documenting the entire pregnancy with his brand new digital camcorder. 

During an evening home watching television, the news reports that a swarm of cicada (Brood Ten) are expected to overwhelm the entire Northeast. 

Brood Ten is vicious and ready to invade. 

During a sweltering summer night, Brood Ten emerges and wreaks havoc with the electric grid, phone and cell service, wi-fi, food and water supply. Civilization as they know it is gone. 

Seth and Lara are thrown back to the stone age in their own home with trillions of cicada trying to deposit their eggs and breed. 

Fast paced and filled with tension, Brood Ten is the perfect summer read when you’re sitting outside listening to the cicadas sing.

Review
I had mixed feelings about this book when I first read the back cover. I am not going to lie, it took me a very long time to finally pick the book up and read it. Once I did, I could not put it down and I finished the book in 1 day. It kept me on the edge of my seat almost the entire time. Cash has done an amazing job making the reader feel as if they are really a part of the book. He describes the events of the cicadas so well and uses such descriptive language that I could feel them crawling on me and I could picture them outside of my window. It makes your skin crawl to think that an invasion of cicadas could actually happen. Cash even throws a curveball in at the end. Just when you think all hope is lost, he switches up the plot and leaves you turning the pages as fast as you can. I would be very interested in a squeal to the book! I recommend this book for anyone looking for a quick, edge of your seat, thriller. It is perfect for the warm (finally!!) season that is right around the corner!

Happy Reading!

Miss Bookaholic

Review: A View from My Window

Title: A View from my Window
Author: Sylvia Forrest
Grade: B-

Review
"Pour a cup of coffee, make yourself comfortable, and I'll introduce you to some of my favorite women."- A View from my Window
A View from my Wondow is a collection of short stories about women. Sylvia divides the stories into three sections; Womanhood, Motherhood, and Grandmothers. When I initially read the synopsis of the book I was very excited to read it! I love real life short-story collections, like the Chicken Soup for the Soul collection. There line above was the line that grabbed my attention the most. I couldn't wait to read about women at different stages of their life! I poured myself a glass of juice, parked myself on my hammock and was ready for a lazy, summer, afternoon of reading.

I have to say after reading the book, I was a bit disappointed. Most of the short stories in the first two sections was about Sylvia. I had expected there to be a huge variety among authors, but there wasn't. Although there were a couple random author's thrown in, most were about the same person. I do have to say that the last section, Grandmothers, was my favorite. I am very close with my grandmother, so I loved reading about other women that were close with their grandmother's. It was a struggle to get through the first two sections, but I quickly read through the last.

Now that winter is quickly approaching I would recommend this to women who are looking for a nice, easy, snow-day read. It is nice that you can put it down and pick it back up without getting lost.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Deadly Passage

Title: Deadly Passage
Author: Dr. Lawrence W. Gold
Grade: A-
 Synopsis from Amazon
Andy Reiss, a physician, Jesse his registered-nurse wife, and Rachel, their barely teenage daughter, head home on their sailboat, Prophecy, after five years at sea touring the world. They thought they’d dealt with every imaginable experience at sea. When Prophecy comes upon a sailboat adrift, they discover two young Americans, a brother and his sister. After bringing them aboard, both break out with a rash that Andy identifies as a deadly virus.
Soon it becomes clear that they’ve inadvertently rescued two homegrown terrorists intent on bringing a deadly virus to the Miami area. 
Soon the disease is full-blown, sealing the fates of the terrorists and all those they encounter.
Andy, Jesse, and Rachel must deal with the unwanted guests, their disease, the Cuban Navy, an approaching hurricane, and the U.S. Coast Guard turning them away from safety, operating under the influence of conflicting political and operational motivations in the Department of Homeland Security, the Coast Guard, and the oval office. The shocking and unexpected denouements leave us twisting in uncertain winds reminiscent of On the Beach.

Review
 I have read many of Dr. Gold's books and when I found out he wrote a new book, I couldn't wait to read it! The other books that Dr. Gold has written have been based in a hospital setting. This book was a little it different. Instead of a hospital, the setting of the book was a ship in the middle of the ocean.  I really enjoyed seeing the dynamics of the Reiss family aboard Prophecy. It was fascinating to read about their day to day life on the ship and their excursions in South America. I think it would be neat to take a year (or 5) and travel the world by sea! Something that is the same in most of Dr. Gold's books is that he weaves several different story lines together. At the beginning of the book I have a hard time understanding how they connect, but in the end they always do.  I did have to go back twice to understand why the American siblings wanted to become terrorists. The subject of terrorism is very relevant in today's society. It makes the reader realize how creative and smart terrorists can truly be. They are not just everyday people. Let me also say that the end of the book was a bit of a cliffhanger. It was be interesting to see if Dr. Gold writes a second book on this subject.

Something I didn't like about the book was the constant references to "ship terminology". When it started talking about "reefing the mainsail" and "furling the jib" I got lost. When these references came up I tried to picture a ship to get an idea of what they were talking about, but I sill struggled. Something that would have been helpful is a list of terms and explanations and possibly a diagram of a ship. I think it would help readers who are not as experienced in the terminology to enjoy the book more.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: An Ordinary Toad's Extraordinary Night

Title: An Ordinary Toad's Extraordinary Night
Author: Joanne McGonagle
Grade B+

Synopsis from the back of the book
An Ordinary Toad’s Extraordinary Night is the story of a young toad named Andrew, pondering whether his life would be more interesting had he been hatched a frog. Andrew embarks on his first solo hop to ask his grandpa some questions about what it means to be an amphibian. The story is blended with factual information that compares and contrasts the similarities and differences among toads and frogs. A young reader’s curiosity will be piqued as they consider the unique attributes of the individual creatures that make up a species, perhaps sparking the light of conservation in their hearts and minds.

Review
My first impression of the book was that it was beautifully illustrated. The pictures grab the reader's attention and really make the book pleasing to read. I did enjoy the book but I thought it stuffed a lot of information into such a small book. There was so much information about the difference between toads and frogs, that at some points I was overwhelmed. I, as an adult reader, enjoyed learning about the difference between the two species but I think children, especially younger children, would eventually lose interest because of the massive amounts of information and scientific terms. As a teacher I think this book would be an awesome addition to an upper elementary science curriculum. It is very factual, but presents the information mostly in a interesting way.  Children can learn new vocabulary through context and really come to understand what makes frogs and toads different from each other. I really enjoyed the story of how Andrew learned the importance and the acceptance of being unique. Everyone is special and important no matter what they may look like. In a looks obsessed culture, this is a very relevant theme.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Captain No Beard Series part 2

I was sent two more Captain No Beard books to read and review. The series is about Captain No Beard, his shipmates and the crazy adventures they get into. While the books are fun and definitely a child-pleasing series, each book also teaches an important message. Each story line keeps young readers engaged while also teaching them life lessons. I give the series an A+! You can read my review for two of the other books here. Below is my review for two of the other books in the series:

Title: Stuck in the Doldrums: A Lesson in Sharing
Grade: A+
Captain No Beard and his crew are stuck on  the island because there is no wind. The crew finds different things to do, but the Captain takes over everything. Linus the lion, Polly the Parrot, and Mongo the Monkey decide to look at the clouds, Each fight over the telescope, but Captain No Beard decides he gets to use the telescope because he is the captain. The same thing happens when First mate Hallie and Fribbet the Frog decide to build a sandcastle. Because his friends decide they don't want to play with him any longer, Captain No Beard boards his ship. While on the ship he runs into a problem that he needs his crewmates to help him solve.

I love the message that this book has. Being bossy does not solve problems. Everyone has a part in solving a problem and each part is just as important as another. In my preschool classroom I run into bossyness at least 10 times a day. I think that this would be a super beneficial book to read. It teaches the messages in a fun, but straightforward way that children would understand. I think it is also a great conversation starter. Once again, I love the rich vocabulary the book introduces and the gorgeous illustrations! I think this is my favorite book of the series!

Title:Pepper Parrot's Problem with Patience
Grade: A-
A new parrot joins Captain No Beard and his crew in this addition to the series. As Pepper is introduced, Captain No Beard decides its time to run some drills. Captain No Beard has everyone run from one side of the boat to the other. Pepper flies to the opposite side as everyone else and then gets frustrated. Through help from the crewmates, Pepper realizes that he must have patience. The crew decided to change Pepper's name to Polly, and they invite Polly to be a part of the gang.

I don't really think that the title accurately describes this book. To me the book teaches the message to not get frustrated when you do something wrong. When Pepper gets the sides of the ship wrong, she throws herself on the ground and pretty much throws a fit. First Mate Hallie teaches Pepper to not get upset, and tells her to calm down. She also teaches Pepper a neat way to teach right from left. I think that the message of not getting frustrated is a very important lesson to teach children. I can't even count the amount of times I have seen a child get frustrated when he or she can't do something the first time they do it. Once again, I think that this book leads to great discussion points and I think children would really enjoy it. The only thing I would change about the book is the title.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic

Review: Road to Justice, Path of Revenge

Title: Road to Justice, Path of Revenge
Author: Edward Vogler
Grade: B

Synopsis from Barnes and Nobles
Ed Jenkins is one week away from retirement when a bullet narrowly misses him—and then he learns of his best friend’s tragic accident. He has been looking forward to moving to Florida with his wife Jane, but it seems events are conspiring against his picture-perfect retirement plans. 

Ed and Jane board a cruise ship at Port Canaveral. Ed is attacked and thrown overboard and spends days adrift in the Caribbean. Weak and near death, he is picked up by a boatload of immigrants heading to the States. A Coast Guard cutter intercepts and turns the boat around, which ends up in Cuba. Ed, gravely ill and unable to see, is abandoned on the beach and eventually picked up by a brother and sister who nurse him back to health. They attempt to get a message to Jane, and when that fails, they make risky plans to get him back to the U.S., circumventing the Cuban authorities. 

Back in the U.S., more information is revealed that may tie Ed’s near shooting death with his friend’s death, and a federal court convenes in Ohio to uncover the truth. But no one is prepared for what they find…

Review
I had mixed feelings after reading this book. I was confused at first because I thought it was a true story. Thinking that it was very hard to believe that something like this could happen. When I realized it was actually a fictional tale, I was less confused. The very beginning of the book was a little hard to follow. I couldn't figure out what all this shooting and guns had to do with a man being thrown overboard. I stopped reading it for a few days and once I came back I couldn't remember what happened. Once I got past the first 50 pages, I started to enjoy it. What happened to Ed was crazy! I kept thinking if I were Jane and I "lost" my husband on a cruise ship I don't think I would have been as calm as she was. If the authorities told me I had to wait a few hours before they could officially start searching, I would have gone balistic. The ending had a huge twist and was not at all what I expected which is always a thrill!

I was not a fan of the cover at all. The man on the cover actually kind of scared me and continued my original belief that the story is true. I don't think that the cover portrays the plot at all.  

I think that people that enjoy thrilling, suspenseful book might enjoy reading this. Once you get a third into the book, the plot becomes very interesting, so don't give up reading if you are lost in the beginning.

Happy Reading!

Bookaholic