The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia

Between Shades of Gray

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys, 2011. 344 pages. Published by Philomel. Source: Library.

"Have you ever wondered what a human life is worth? That morning, my brother's was worth a pocket watch."

In 1941, fifteen-year-old Lina is preparing for art school, first dates, and all that summer has to offer. But one night, the Soviet secret police barge violently into her home, deporting her along with her mother and younger brother. They are being sent to Siberia. Lina's father has been separated from the family and sentenced to death in a prison camp. All is lost.
     Lina fights for her life, fearless, vowing that if she survives she will honor her family, and the thousands like hers, by documenting their experience in her art and writing. She risks everything to use her art as messages, hoping they will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive.
      It is a long and harrowing journey, and it is only their incredible strength, love, and hope that pull Lina and her family through each day. But will love be enough to keep them alive?
       Between Shades of Gray is a riveting novel that steals your breath, captures your heart, and reveals the miraculous nature of the human spirit.

First Sentence:

They took me in my nightgown.

Between Shades of Gray was one book that was not necessarily one that was on my list of books to be read, but when I picked it up and read the synopsis I had to know how the story was going to end for Lina and her family.

Between Shades of Gray is one book that I've had to think on beforehe words to write up my thoughts on it. It is just such a powerful and emotional read that there really are not any words that could do it justice. Ms. Sepetys ability to bring the time and conditions that Lina and her family faced while living in the prison camps is absolutely vivid. Her descriptions hold nothing back, but yet keep the story focused on what is important. Maintaining hope and faith.

One of the things that also stuck me while reading was Lina's voice. Her anger over what has happened and her struggle to survive while holding onto the hopw that she and her family will one day return home and be reunited with her father. Lina'a coice was one of the things that I just cut of my head after finish the book, that and the setting. This is one book that I would definitely recommend to all for because it is just so well written and even kind of haunting.

While Between Shades of Gray is a relatively violent book-based on a violent time-Ms. Sepetys handles it in a way that keeps your eye on the plight of the characters and their struggle for survival. I was extremely impressed with how she was able to walk the fine line between the two the harshness of the world that Lina finds herself living in, and the hope that keep them going.
Other than the fact that Between Shades of Gray is an extremely sad book dealing with the harsh treatment and conditions that those displaced by the Soviets (and Germans) during WWII, it is one that I can find no fault with. Ms. Sepetys just does one amazing job of bringing the setting and emotions that the characters experienced to life.
Content (will contain spoilers; highlight to see):
Between Shades of Gray is not the easiest book to read because Ms. Sepetys does not pull any punches when it comes to portraying the the brutality that goes on in the labor camp that Lina, her mother and brother were deported to (starvation, a couple beatings, shooting, and being treated as less then human). There is a bit of language in this book, although it is more like and someone swore.

As for sexual content, there is talk of how one of mothers gave her body to the Soviet soldiers in order to keep them from killing her son. I should mention that while it is known what she is doing, there is nothing in the book of it actually happening.

Final Verdict: Between Shades of Gray, one story that you will not be able to forget any time soon.

Between Shades of Gray earns 5 out of 5 pineapples.

Wish List Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Wed, 23 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Crewel (Crewel World, 1) by Gennifer Albin, October 16, 2012. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers.
Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.
Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.
Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.
Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Why: The plot of Crewel sounds extremely unique and like something I would seriously love.

Teaser Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Tue, 22 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. To participate, simply do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week my teasers are from The Storm Guardians by Stephen Zimmer and Batman: Super-Villains Strike by Michael Teitelbaum. Enjoy.

The Storm Guardians by Stephen Zimmer (my review):

Fredrich could now understand why even an extraordinarily formidable creature from the abyss, skilled and fierce enough to have gotten by thr Sentinels to harass the Middle Lands, raced in a crazed and desperate manner to get away from the pursing Hunt. The hounds were impeccable trackers, tireless and swift, and nothing could evade them once they had a bearing. page 186

Batman: Super-Villains Strike by Michael Teitelbaum (my review):

You hurry back to Dr. Arkham's office and flip through the asylum's logs fast several days. These records keep track of all the goings-on in the building. page 61

The Storm Guardians

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Mon, 21 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The Storm Guardians (Rising Dawn, 2) by Stephen Zimmer, 2010. 580 pages. Published by Seventh Star Press. Source: Publisher for review.

Storms break out across the world and the realms beyond, as the Convergence seeks to advance its worldwide agenda, and Diabolos unleashes great powers from the depths of the Abyss.
The Fallen Avatar Beleth’s legions pour across the boundaries of Purgatarion, even as the Night Hunt is loosed once again, in the modern world. Dagian readies for a monumental unveiling of Babylon Technology’s greatest invention, a technology that holds grave implications for every living person on the face of the world.

It is a time when the Exiles in the Middle Lands, the An-Ki, and many others are falling under the shadow of the Abyss. Guardians of all forms, great and small, must rise to resist as the storm of darkness spreads. From high school students Seth, Jonathan, and Annika, to Ian, Arianna, and the others of humankind that have been drawn into the spiraling course of events, choices with dangerous consequences have to be made.

An epic tale of resolve and heroism, The Storm Guardians takes the reader farther and deeper into the Rising Dawn Saga.

First Sentence:

A towering, fiery entity stood in quiet solitude, at the precipice of eternal night.

And here I thought this series could not get any better than it already was. The Storm Guardians absolutely blew me away with how all the various plot lines from The Exodus Gate are beginning to come together and they way everything ties together is kind of beautiful (for lack of a better word).

After the end of The Exodus Gate there were a lot of questions left unanswered, and plenty of plot points that were just waiting to be further explored in the next installment. Did The Storm Guardians deliver answers to my burning questions, yes, yes it does.

One of the things I like so much about the Rising Dawn saga would have to be all the various threads and plots points, as well, as the way that the author, Stephen Zimmer, handled all of them. I also liked that there were numerous characters and story lines to read about, and that the story covers not just those that are fighting on the side of good, but also those that are bent on destroying all that is good and bringing about a reign of darkness. It definitely takes skill to masterfully weave all of this into a cohesive whole and keep the story from getting bogged down.
I am horrible when it comes to character names, especially when there are a ton of characters names to remember. So I'll just mention characters by groupings.
I would have loved it if the characters living in Purgartion had played a bigger role in the book, mainly because their storyline was the one that was the most fascinating for me. What reallyI like ab drew me to this set of characters in the book would have to be that they were imperfect yet still striving to overcome their faults so that they can go into-I forget the name, but its basically heaven.
The set of characters that did not really hold my attention this time around were Seth and his friends. I felt like their bit of story was jsut a little too similar to that of the previous book. Although near the end you started to see the direction that their story would be going in the next book, so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what will happen to them.
The characters that surprised me the most would ahve to be the carpenter and his friend the sheriff. Their story was by far the second most intersting because of how closely it mirrored what was going on the baddies.
While I had trouble picking what I loved most about The Exodus Gate, I had absolutely no trouble deciding when it came to The Storm Guardians. So, what being my favorite part, well, that would have to be the battle in Purgatarion between the inhabitants and the denzians of the abyss. The reason I chose this as my favorite part of the book is because it was one of the most intense and epically written scenes in the entire book. Plus I really loved the characters and their faith and staunchness in the face of danger and how they stood their ground even with the possibility of falling into the the void till end times.

Even though I really enjoyed reading The Storm Guardians, the one thing that I did not like was that there was little development for a couple of the characters that had more prominent roles in the first book. I actually would have liked to see a little more focus upon
Final Verdict: The Storm Guardians every bit as epic as the title and synopsis implies.

The Storm Guardians earns 4.5 out of 5 pineapples.

Batman: Super-Villains Striked + Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Sat, 19 May 2012 04:01:00 +0000

Batman: Super-Villains Strike by Michael Teitelbaum, April 24, 2012. 144 pages. Published by Starscape. Source: Publisher.

Batman’s instincts tell him that Catwoman, The Riddler, Mr. Freeze, and Poison Ivy are all involved. But how could that be? They are all behind bars at Arkham Asylum. Batman knows these super-villains would never agree to work together…or would they?
Is a copycat criminal to blame? How could one person be in all these places at once? Follow the clues with Batman and then make your own choices for how the story will go. Can you help Batman solve this mystery? Will you be able to put the criminal—or criminals—behind bars and save Gotham City from chaos?

First Sentence:

You are Batman.

Do you have what it takes to be Batman and solve mystery? I totally forgot just how awesome a choose-your-fate adventure can be, especially when done well.

Part of what makes Batman: Super-Villains Strike such an interesting read is that you get to choose how Batman will react to what is going on in the book and see if you can maneuver him through the various twists and turns of the plot, all while trying to solve the crimes taking place throughout the book. It was definitely fun and interesting way to introduce Batman to a younger generation while giving them a chance to be the Caped Crusader.
Being a pretty big fan of Batman, I was quite surprised and excited when Batman: Super-Villains Strike arrived in the post. Excited because not only was it Batman but it was also one of those choose-your-fate reads, even so, both points would have been moot if the writing and story-telling of Michael Teitelbaum had not pulled me into the story. So, while this is, again, aimed at younger readers the writing is excellent and the puzzles are just hard enough to make you think.

The plot was definitely one of the highlights of the book. I was, in short, intrigue as to how the villains were out causing mischief in Gotham when they were supposed to be safely locked away in Arkham, plus I loved the reveal of how they were out gallivanting around.

While I may not be one for writing in a book, I found this to be an incredible fun and quick read. One of the things that made this such a fun book would have to be the puzzles and problems that one had to solve to move forward with the investigation. Even though this book is aimed at readers 8-12 years of age, I think Batman: Super-Villains Strike is one that all readers and fans of Batman will find enjoyable.

Batman: Super-Villains Strike is just too good and too short for there to be anything to not like about.

Final Verdict: Batman: Super-Villains Strike an absolutely fun story that puts you in Batman's shoes. Loved it.

Batman: Super-Villains Strike earns 5 out of 5 pineapples.

Thanks to Leah at Tor, y'all have the chance to win a copy of Batman: Super-Villains Strike.

All you need to is comment and fill out the Rafflecopter form. Open to residents of the US. Please, DO NOT leave your email address in the comments. =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Audiobook Review: Born Wicked

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Born Wicked (Cahill Witch Chronicles, 1) by Jessica Spotswood, read by Nicole Sudhaus, February 7, 2012. Time: 8 Hr. 55 Min. Source: Publisher.

Everybody knows Cate Cahill and her sisters are eccentric. Too pretty, too reclusive, and far too educated for their own good. But the truth is even worse: they’re witches. And if their secret is discovered by the priests of the Brotherhood, it would mean an asylum, a prison ship—or an early grave.

Before her mother died, Cate promised to protect her sisters. But with only six months left to choose between marriage and the Sisterhood, she might not be able to keep her word... especially after she finds her mother’s diary, uncovering a secret that could spell her family’s destruction. Desperate to find alternatives to their fate, Cate starts scouring banned books and questioning rebellious new friends, all while juggling tea parties, shocking marriage proposals, and a forbidden romance with the completely unsuitable Finn Belastra.

If what her mother wrote is true, the Cahill girls aren’t safe. Not from the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood—not even from each other.

First Sentence:

Our mother was a witch, too, but she hid it better.

Story

Born wicked was one of those books that you think will be awesome, but are afraid to actually give it a chance. In my case, I wanted to read or listen to it-because it sounded interesting- but was afraid that I wouldn't like it. I ended up loving it.

Ms spotswood's writing and the way the story unravels with more layers then one first expected is what makes Born Wicked such a fascinating read. I also enjoyed how the more you found out about the world, as well, as the how and why of the way things were. It was definitely nice the way she slowly unveiled the story behind the fall of the witches and the uprising of the brotherhood and how it affects Cate and her sisters.
The one thing I am most looking forward to in the next book is finding out is more on what makes the Cahill girls so special and how the end of Born Wicked will play into the next book.

Cate was definitely a likeable character because she had the dubious honour of trying to keep her sisters from catching the eye of the brotherhood, while still trying to figure out just what she wanted. even though at times she annoyed me with her lack of direction and indecisiveness, I still found her to be a capable character who slowly came into her own as the book progressed.
Moura, was the most infuriating character in the entire book.
Finn is the one character that I felt got the short end of the stick in this book and by the time I finsihed listening to it, I just wanted to give the poor dude a hug.

What I liked the most about Born Wicked would have to be the interaction between Cate and her sisters. I thought that Ms. Spotswood did brilliant job depicting the ups and downs of a relationship between sisters, especially when the sisters were at their worst. There are not many authors that can write a convincing clashing of the wills between sisters, yet Ms. Spotswood does exactly that with the friction between Cate and Maura over their future.

The only thing I did not like about Born Wicked would have to be the Brotherhood. Goodness, they were tyrannical, power hungry fiends. The thing that made me dislike them so-other than that they are evil- is that they were totally subscribed to the whole double-standard and how the girls were not allowed to do something while they themselves could, as well, as the fact that they then turned around and used that as motive to get rid of certain problems. So, while I may not have liked how they acted, it is definitely one of things that makes this such a great read. The Brotherhood was a good/bad thing in the book because they made an excellent antagonist for the characters.

Narration

The Narrator, Nicole Sudhaus, did an excellent job of narrating Born Wicked. I loved how she seemed to capture Cate's voice and personality so easily. This was one of the rare times were the reading was so spot on, that I was pulled into the story in the first track of the book.

What really sold me on Ms Sudhaus' reading would have to be the scenes of drama between Cate and one of her sisters. I thought she did really well when it came to voicing their argument with each other.

While I found Ms. Sudhaus' reading to pretty much impeccable, I do feel that she kind of missed the mark when it came to the occasional male voice. Generally, I don't enjoy listening to narrators trying to do the opposite sex (some times it just does not work for me).

Final Verdict: Born Wicked was a refreshing tale with new twist on historical book about witches.

Born Wicked earns 4 out of 5 pineapples.

Wish List Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Glitch (Glitch, 1) by Heather Anastasiu, August 7, 2012. Published by St. Martin's Press.

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network. When Zoe starts to malfunction (or "glitch"), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers. As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse. In this action-packed debut, Glitch begins an exciting new young adult trilogy.

Why: Glitch just soun ds like one epic read, and I need to know what happens to Zoe.

Winners: Lexapros and Cons & Edenbrooke

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:11:00 +0000

Oh my goodness. Y'all I am so sorry about not announcing winners sooner, but things have been crazy and I completely forgot about both giveaways and that they had ended. Major fail on my part.

So, without further rambling, I present to you the lucky winners as picked by Rafflecopter.

Lexapros and Cons winner-

Mary DeBored (M.A.D.)

Edenbrooke winner-

Brandi

Congrats to both of the lucky winners. Thank you to all who entered.

Both winners have been contacted an have 48 hours to respond before a new winner will be picked.

Teaser Tuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week my teaser is from The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers.

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers (my review):

As I watched, it became like the internal organ of some malevolent entity. Viscous matter surged around us, veryone in the elevator panicked. page 113-114.

The Vanishing Game

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers, February 14, 2012. 353 pages. Published by Bloomsbury. Source: Publisher.

Seventeen-year-old Jocelyn follows clues apparently from her dead twin, Jack, in and around Seale House, the terrifying foster home where they once lived. With help from childhood friend Noah she begins to uncover the truth about Jack's death and the company that employed him and Noah.
Jocelyn's twin brother Jack was the only family she had growing up in a world of foster homes-and now he's dead, and she has nothing. Then she gets a cryptic letter from "Jason December"-the code name her brother used to use when they were children at Seale House, a terrifying foster home that they believed had dark powers. Only one other person knows about Jason December: Noah, Jocelyn's childhood crush and their only real friend among the troubled children at Seale House.
But when Jocelyn returns to Seale House and the city where she last saw Noah, she gets more than she bargained for. Turns out the house's powers weren't just a figment of a childish imagination. And someone is following Jocelyn. Is Jack still alive? And if he is, what kind of trouble is he in? The answer is revealed in a shocking twist that turns this story on its head and will send readers straight back to page 1 to read the book in a whole new light.

First Sentence:

Life is a series of shallow breaths.

I knew I was going to love The Vanishing Game when I noticed the secret message embedded in the synopsis on the front flap of the book. Genius.
The Vanishing Game had everything I could possibly want, heart-pounding suspense, a mystery that stumped me, and protagonist that I could get behind. While those three qualities make this a book that is absolutely hard to put down, what really pulled the whole book together was the writing of Kate Kae Myers. I thought she did an excellent job weaving together the various elements of the story, from Jocelyn's, Jack's, and Noah's shared history at Seale House, to the mystery and hints of the supernatural.

The plot of The Vanishing Game was one of the things that hooked me from pretty much the beginning. I loved that there were a few twists in the plot that I just did not see coming.

Jocelyn, that girl was a little on the crazy side. But that was one of the reasons I loved reading about her. So, was Jocelyn a strong protagonist, I like to think that she was. I liked how relentless she was in figuring out the clues that Jack left her, and that she would not give up even when things seemed impossible.
Even though Jack was barely in the book, okay he wasn't really there at all other then when they talked about him, I was interested in the shared history between him and Jocelyn.
Noah while not being a character I liked when first introduced, I liked that he was a practical guy. But what I liked about him must would have to be how he still helped Jocelyn even when it seemed like they were on nothing more than a wild goose chase.

Where do I even begin with what I loved about The Vanishing Game. There are just too many things to mention, but I think the most important would have to be the end. Oh my goodness, I so did not see that final twist coming at the end of the book...not at all. It was just brilliant and so unexpected. While I did not see the final plot twist coming, once I did think back over the clues laid out in the book I could not help but thinking how on earth did I miss it. Bravo, Ms Myers, for that excellent ending.

Even though I absolutely adored this book, there is one minor thing that I did not like. And that would have to be that the beginning was just a little on the confusing side. although the beginning kind of threw me for a loop, because I felt like I had missed something vital, I could not put it down be was so good. Don't worry, things are explained throughout the book, so the previous confusion that I felt did go away things came to light.

Final Verdict: The Vanishing Game is thrilling from cover to cover, with an end that will leave you shocked.

The Vanishing Game earns 5 out of 5 pineapples.

Bout of Books Read-a-Thon

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:08:00 +0000

I will be doing any and all updates for the readathon in this post. Mainly to keep every one's timeline from exploding.

I really hope I'll be able to read all, or, at least the majority of this stack of books during the readathon. It all really depends on how much reading I can sneak in.

I plan on trying to read:
Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
Revived by Cat Patrick
Of Poseidon by Anna Banks
~~Cuttlefish by Dave Freer~~
False Covenant by Ari Marmell
~~Planesrunner by Ian McDonald~~

What I've Read:
Cuttlefish by Dave Freer
Kitchen Princess 6
Kitchen Princess 7
Kitchen Princess 8
Kitchen Princess 9
Planesrunner by Ian MacDonald
Updates:
Day 1: started Cuttlefish
Day 2: Finished Cuttlefish and Kitchen Princess 6; started Planesrunner.

Day 3: Finished books 3 and 4 last night...late last night. I'm hoping to finish Plansrunner today and start on Of Poseidon.

Day...4: Was out of the house all day so I didn't read at all. Although, I am listening to The Oriental Casebook of Sherlock Holmes while catching up on blog work.

Wish List Wednesday

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Wed, 09 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Gilt (Royal Circle, 1) by Katherine Longshore, May 15, 2012. Published by Viking Juvenile.
In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free--and love comes at the highest price of all.

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.

Why: Historical fiction and court intrigue, need I say more. Gilt sounds excellent.

Teaser Tuesday (90)

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Tue, 08 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week my teaser is from Boy21 by Matthew Quick. Enjoy.

Boy21 by Matthew Quick (my review):

He's evaluating me, trying to see what I know, or maybe he's trying to trick me into giving information on Russ. I don't like the look on his face. It's almost like he enjoys messing with my mind. page 65

Boy21

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Boy21 by Matthew Quick, March 5, 2012. 250 pages. Published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Source: Publisher for review.

Basketball has always been an escape for Finley. He lives in broken-down Bellmont, a town ruled by the Irish mob, drugs, violence, and racially charged rivalries. At home, his dad works nights and Finley is left alone to take care of his disabled grandfather. He's always dreamed of somehow getting out, but until he can, putting on that number 21 jersey makes everything seem okay.

Russ has just moved to the neighborhood. The life of this teen basketball phenom has been turned upside down by tragedy. Cut off from everyone he knows, he won't pick up a basketball, and yet answers only to the name Boy21—taken from his former jersey number.

As their final year of high school brings these two boys together, "Boy21" may turn out to be the answer they both need. Matthew Quick, the acclaimed author of Sorta Like a Rock Star, brings readers a moving novel about hope, recovery, and redemption.

First Sentence:

Sometimes I pretend that shooting hoops in my backyard is my earliest memory.

Boy21 ended up being one book that I cannot say enough good things about. Which is strange since I usually find books told from the male POV to be very hit-and-miss (mainly do to language). I'm just going to say this now, read Boy21...

Where on earth to begin...While I like books where sports play a big role, I was little nervous about Boy21 because I knew that the book was going to have some racial tension, the mob, drugs and I wasn't sure how the author was going to handle the various elements. That being said, I thought the author did an excellent job on keeping perspective on the characters and what they were going through (both Finley and Russ are dealing with the deaths of family) while still keeping that edge of darkness that could sweep them away.

What really make this one great read would have to be that even though there's a lot of bad in the way things work in Bellmont, there's also a lot of good when you really delve deep into the story. I also liked that main focus of the book was indeed about hope, recovery and redemption (as it says in the synopsis).
While I may not have liked a few of the characters, okay, mainly the coach who only really cared about winning and not about Russ' mental health. I thought that the characters were pretty well balanced in regards to the they played in the book. I also that it was fascinting (in a weird way) the similarities between Finley and Russ and basketball.

Finley was definitely a different type of character for me, and that may be the reason I enjoyed his story so much. I thought he made an interesting character because he was not the most confident person and it took nearly loosing the girl he loved for him and fight for what he wanted. Plus it was interesting to see how much he and his life changed from the beginning to the end of the book. His story is one that you do not want to miss out on.
Russ is a hard character to write about because what I want to say is spoiler filled. While he may have acted a little on the odd side, I thought it was an interesting/different way to portray a character. Although, I am glad to say that I was right with the whole Boy21 thing. Even though at first Russ was an extremely sad character to read about, I liked how he tried to keep from stealing Finley's spot on the team.
So, what did I love the most about Boy21, well, that would have to be Mr. Quick's writing and his ability to weave a story from the very beginning and would not let me what would happen to Finley, Erin and Russ. I also thought that he did a great job capturing the feeling of struggle that those of Bellmont dealt with or ignored on a daily basis.
Even with the violence that is present in Boy21, from the Irish Mob to gangs, there's not a thing that have to complain about in this book because the author, Matthew Quick, does such an excellent job of blending it into the story without bogging it down and losing focus on what the book is really about.
Final Verdict: Boy21, beautifully harsh, with an ending that will leave you completely satisfied.

Boy21 earns 4.5 out of 5 pineapples.

Audiobook Review: Whites of Their Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Whites of Their Eyes (Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School, 3) by Andrew Clements read by Keith Nobbs, February 21, 2012. 4 discs (8 hours *I think*). Source: Audiobook Jukebox/Publisher.

Andrew Clements delivers the latest in his adventure-filled school series.

This could be the last great Memorial Day weekend on Barclay Bay, and Ben knows it. This time next year, he might not be able to stand in the yard of the Oakes School and watch the harbor shake off winter—boats buzzing just beyond the bulkhead and families spreading picnics in the fields. If the school gets torn down and replaced by an amusement park, the town will never be the same. But that’s only if the school gets torn down. Ben and Jill are determined to keep that from happening. And the evil janitor Lyman has taken note. He’s following their every move—and undoing their progress along the way. Good thing Ben and Jill have a secret weapon. (Who knew that annoying Robert Gerritt would be such a spy wiz?) But Lyman has a secret weapon as well: a vicious guard dog. These kids are smart, but can they outsmart Lyman—and his beast—as the clock tick, tick, ticks toward total demolition?

Story

So, with each book of Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School I am finding myself more entrenched in the series and the fates of the characters. What really makes this series is that it has all the elements that make a great read, a mystery and quest to save something dear to the MCs, suspense and action that draws the readers in, and writing that pulls it all together and makes for exceptional reading.

It was definitely an interesting plot move to have Ben and Jill team up with Robert. Especially since Ben and Robert don't exactly see eye to eye. While I was a bit unsure of how this new turn would go, I think that it was a good move, although mainly because it forced both Ben and Robert to cope with their rivalry and learn to work with one another. I'm really looking forward to seeing how their alliance will play into the next book in the series.

While I really liked that the story made a lot of forward progress in Whites of Their Eyes. The thing that makes this book so good is the writing and Mr. Clements ability to create such an exciting, well written book. I listened to this one pretty much non-stop because I just had to know how it would end.
Since the plot moved forward, I really do not having anything to complain about for this book.

Narration

So, I was definitely nervous going into listening to Whites of Their Eyes because had read the first to books in the series. My biggest fear was that the reader, Keith Nobbs, wouldn't be able to capture the Ben's voice. My fears were unfounded since Mr. Nobbs did an excellent job.

The things I liked most about Keith Nobbs' narration of Whites of Their Eyes would have to be his reading of Ben's character. I actually thought he did a great job and that he really captured Ben's personality quite well.
The other things I liked about his narration was that his narration was lively and never dull. Which made it fit in perfectly with the feel of the story and the author's writing.
The only bad thing about the narration was...oh, who am I kidding. I wax quite taken with the narration of this book and cannot think of anything that did not please me.
Final Verdict: Whites of Their Eyes a truly enjoyable book. Cannot wait to see what will happen in book four.

Whites of Their Eyes earns 4.5 of 5 pineapples.
Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School
We the Children
Fear Itself
Whites of Their Eyes

ARC Review: The Girl in the Park

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks, April 24, 2012. 224 pages. Published by Random House Children's Books. Source: Random Buzzers.

When Wendy Geller's body is found in Central Park after the night of a rager, newspaper headlines scream,"Death in the Park: Party Girl Found Strangled." But shy Rain, once Wendy's best friend, knows there was more to Wendy than just "party girl." As she struggles to separate the friend she knew from the tangle of gossip and headlines, Rain becomes determined to discover the truth about the murder. Written in a voice at once immediate, riveting, and utterly convincing, Mariah Frederick's mystery brilliantly exposes the cracks in this exclusive New York City world and the teenagers that move within it.

First Sentence:

Let's try this again. My first attempt at reviewing The Girl in the Park seems to have vanished from my drafts. Fail.

The Girl in the Park ended up being completely different from what I had expected it to be...but in a totally good way.
When I first started reading The Girl in the Park I knew it was going to be a mystery about the murder of Rain's former friend, Wendy. What I was not expecting was a cast of complex characters whose stories pulled me and left me wondering if what was going to happen to them in the end, especially since some of them had reason to want her gone.
Even though I did not like some of the characters that were in the book (namely the rich girls and the bad boy whose name escapes me), I thought all the characters were written quite nicely.

What did I think about the mystery aspect of The Girl in the Park, it was good, but I had the motive and killer pegged early on. Even though I figured things out pretty early on in the book I loved the way the plot thickened with each day that passed as more reasons and potential suspects came to Rain's mind.

At first, I was not sure I was going to like Rain, but as the book progressed and she started to push for answers about what happened to Wendy I could not help but like her. While she at first she was shy, to the point were others took advantage of her, I found her character to be one of the best in the book. I liked how she finally found herself and the courage to stand up for herself and to find out what happened.
Wendy, the party girl with an unhappy home life. Her story was perhaps the saddest...and not just because her life came to a brutal end. It was just sad, and I won't say anymore because my thoughts on her are kind of spoiler-ish.

So, what made The Girl in the Park such an excellent read? Well, that would have to be the way the story was laid out and how you got to learn more about Rain and Wendy through short recollections of the past. I thought it was interesting was to show the connection between Rain, Wendy and the rest of their classmates, as well, as the little insight it gave in to why Wendy died and who could have killed her. It was just very well done and definitely gave an interesting view on the way things were in the book.

If I had to name one thing that I did not like about The Girl in the Park, it would have to be that the beginning was a little slow and it took a bit to get to the meat of the story. While the beginning was a little on the slow side, Ms Fredericks' writing is captivating and will keep you invested till things really start.

Final Verdict: The Girl in the Park, the perfect blend of flawed characters and suspenseful mystery.

The Girl in the Park earns 5 out of 5 pineapples.

Wish List Wednesday (98)

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The Queen's Lady (Lacey Chronicles, 2) by Eve Edwards, April 20, 2012. Published by Delacorte Books.

England, 1584.

When beautiful Lady Jane Rievaulx begins her service to the Queen at Richmond Palace, she is thrilled to see the court's newest arrival . . . Master James Lacey.

No matter that Jane was previously courted by the eldest Lacey brother—James is the one who has won her heart. For his part, James cannot deny his fascination with Jane; his plans, however, do not allow for love. He is about to set sail on a treacherous journey to the Americas, seeking absolution for what he sees as past sins. But when Jane is forced into a terrible situation by her own family, only one man can save her. Will Master James return to his lady before it's too late?

Why: I really enjoyed reading The Other Countess and am quite curious to see what will happen to Jane in the second book.

Teaser Tuesday (89)

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:00:00 +0000

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
This week my teaser is taken from A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle-one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors- and Sela by Jackie Gamber (a great follow-up to in an excellent series). enjoy.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (My reviewb):

"No!" she shouted. "I know our world isn't perfect, Charles, but it's better than this. This isn't the only alternative! It can't be!"
"Nobody suffers here," Charles intoned. "Nobody is ever unhappy." page 133

Sela by Jackie Gamber (my review):

The dragons amber, glittering eyes narrowed. For a moment, Jastin thought his gaze might pierce through his skin. page 178

2012 Contemporary Challenge

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:26:00 +0000

I usually do not sign-up for contemporary challenges, but this year I have actually read quite a few (at least more than usual) YA contemporary books. So, I thought why not join in the challenge.

I may be a little late to entering, but check out some of the great contemporary books-released this year- that I have read. Since I'm not sure how many more new contemporary books I'll read, I'm just going for level 1 at the moment.

1. The Girl in the Park by Mariah Fredericks (review coming soon)
2. Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin
3. Lexapros and Cons by Aaron Karo
4. Rock On: A Story of Guitars, Gigs, Girls and a Brother (Not Necessarily in that Order) by Denise Vega
5. Boy21 by Matthew Quick (review coming soon)
6. Purity by Jackson Pearce (review coming soon)

A Vintage Reads Review: A Wrinkle in Time

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

A Wrinkle in Time (Time, 1) by Madeleine L'Engle,1976 (originally published in 1962). 226 pages. Published by Laurel Leaf (originally published by Farrar Straus and Company). Source: Bought/Own.

This special edition of "A Wrinkle in Time" includes a new essay that explores the science behind the fantasy.
Rediscover one of the most beloved children's books of all time: "A Wrinkle in Time" by Madeleine L'Engle:
Meg Murray, her little brother Charles Wallace, and their mother are having a midnight snack on a dark and stormy night when an unearthly stranger appears at their door. He claims to have been blown off course, and goes on to tell them that there is such a thing as a "tesseract," which, if you didn't know, is a wrinkle in time.
Meg's father had been experimenting with time-travel when he suddenly disappeared. Will Meg, Charles Wallace, and their friend Calvin outwit the forces of evil as they search through space for their father?

First Sentence:

It was a dark and stormy night.

A Wrinkle in Time is one book that I have tried to review before, but have never managed to put into words why it means so much to me and what makes it such an amazing book.

Even though the vast majority of the books that I have read by Madeleine L'Engle were published any where from 1960 to the mid 90s, I have never once felt like her books were dated because her writing and world building are some of the best that I have ever read. She was-in my humble opinion-one of the best writers.
A Wrinkle in Time, is for me one of the best books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I loved how Ms L'Engle was able to bring everything to life in such a vivid way. From Meg, Charles Wallace, and Calvin the heroes of the book; to Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which the three ladies that set Meg and company on their way to finding Mr. Murray and defeating IT; as well as her descriptions of the various places journey took them and those they came across.

Descriptions and characters aside. What I truly love about this book would have to be that mental battle that Meg goes through while trying to save Charles Wallace after he falls into the clutches of IT, and how she had to overcome her feelings of being not good enough...and her anger. Plus, this is simply a pretty thrilling read once you realize that it has a bigger underlying statement then what you first thought (a quest to save her father).

Even though Meg does not have the best self-esteem in A Wrinkle in Time, I still cannot help but love her character. I like that she cares so deeply for her family, and I even do not mind that at times she could be most immature because she is a down-to-earth character.
Charles Wallace, always leaves me at a loss for words. One the one hand I do like that he is such an odd character with how he seems so much older than his years would suggest.
Ah, this review would not be complete if I failed to mention Calvin, one of my favorite characters.

Okay, so what really makes this one of my absolute favorite books, well, that would have to be that her characters are so imperfect and flawed.
Because one of the things that annoys me in most books is how some characters are portrayed as perfect-even when they have some major personality pitfalls-or when their flaws are over glorified, but in A Wrinkle in Time Ms. L'Engle takes that very real faults of Meg (who is angry and cannot not see her own worth), Charles Wallace (A little too smart for his age), and Calvin (the well liked boy who is just as odd as the Murray's) and meld them into one of the best character sets I've read.

Y'all, A Wrinkle in Time is just one of those books that I cannot find any fault with. I just love the way that Ms. L'Engle is able to create such realistic characters within an incredible world. So, no bad things in this book...except at first you probably will not like Meg all that much because she has a tendency to be extremely negative in regards to the way she sees herself, but as the book progresses it does get better.

Final Verdict: A Wrinkle in Time will capture your attention and have you hooked as you follow Meg's adventure.

A Wrinkle in Time earns 5 out of 5 pineapples.

Blog Tour: Sela

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Sela (LeLand Dragons, 2) by Jackie Gamber, 2012. 284 pages. Published by Seventh Star Press. Source: Publisher for review.

Peace was fleeting. Vorham Riddess, Venur of Esra Province, covets the crystal ore buried deep in Leland's mountains. His latest device to obtain it: land by marriage to a Leland maiden. But that's not all.
Among Dragonkind, old threats haunt Mount Gore, and shadows loom in the thoughts of the Red who restored life to land and love. A dragon hunter, scarred from countless battles, discovers he can yet suffer more wounds.
In the midst of it all, Sela Redheart is lost, driven from her home with only her old uncle to watch over her. As the dragon-born child of Kallon, the leader of Leland's Dragon Council, she is trapped in human form with no understanding of how she transformed, or how to turn back.
Wanderers seek a home, schemes begin to unfurl, and all is at risk as magic and murder, marriage and mystery strangle the heart of Esra. A struggle for power far older and deeper than anyone realizes will leave no human or dragon unaffected.
In a world where magic is born of feeling, where the love between a girl and a dragon was once transformative, what power dwells in the heart of young Sela.

First Sentence:
Sela's art was dead inside, just like her hope.
The first page of the book can make or break a story for me. So, I was quite excited when I sampled the first three pages of Sela and found myself not wanting to put it down (definitely a sign that the book is going to be good).
While Sela is not about Riza and Kallon, her parents, I still found myself enjoying this read because there was more intrigue than there was in Redheart.
I liked the parallel between the Riza and Sela's stories and how they were both strong characters, even if at times they both seemed a little lost when it came to what they wanted and where they belonged. I thought it was interesting to see how they were both running away from their troubles, while still trying to find their...destiny.

I think have liked Sela more than Riza. Why, because I found her to be a fascinating character and was intrigued by the mystyer of how she transformed into a human, and why she couldn't change back into her natural form. I also liked her because she was plucky and was willing she felt was the right thing (even if she may have been wrong about what).
Out of all the new characters introduced in Sela, I think my favorite would have to be Drell. His story was one of the most interesting because of his heritage and why he was living with the dragons of the desert. I also found him interesting because of how he acted when presented with the option of killing a certain character that the Venur wanted dead.
The one character that surprised me the most in this book would have to be Jastin Armitage. I thought it was quite interesting to see the full story behind why he despised dragons so much. I would say more about it, but I won't since it's a pretty big part of the story and would be a major spoiler.

What really pulled me into the story was not the characters, which were most excellent, but the way that Ms Gamber explored the history of certain characters. I especially liked learning more about Jastin and the change that book two brought upon his character (you'll definitely see him in a different light). I thought it was interesting how there were all these little things from the first book that were cleared up and more thoroughly explained in the second book. My suggestion is, if you like books that have story lines that can carry over and be expanded upon from one book to the next, then this is definitely a series for you.

The only flaw I could find while reading Sela was that of my memory. It took me a couple of pages to recall the connections of some of the various cast members that made reappearances from Redheart, the first book in the series. So, all in all one excellent read.

Final Verdict: Sela delivers a rich cast of characters and an outstanding plot that will blow you away.

Sela earns 5 out of 5 pineapples

Fear Itself

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Fear Itself (Benajamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School, 2) by Andrew Clements, 2010. 216 pages. Published by Atheneum. Source: Library.

Time is ticking as the countdown to total school demolition continues. But in addition to deciphering maritime clues that could save the building, Ben Pratt and his friend Jill have to stay one step ahead of Lyman, the snake posing as the school janitor—who will do anything to preserve the $30 million development deal that pays his salary. The second book in this riveting six-book series is as action-packed as the first one, culminating in a faceoff between Ben and Lyman. “After five bells sound, time to sit down” makes for a good riddle, but Ben also knows when it’s time to stand up…for Oakes School and for himself.

Since I read both the first and second book one after the other, I thought it be nice to review them back-to-back on the blog. Huzzah.

After finishing We the Children, I was glad that I had brought the second book along because I really wanted to know how things would progress in the second book, plus I totally would have been bored with nothing to read during a four hour road trip.

Like I'll mention later in this review, the plot was a little sluggish in Fear Itself. Although the plot did not move along too much in the second book, I liked the continuity of the story from book one to book two and how it just kind of flowed into the next chapter of Ben and Jill's quest to save the school. Mr. Clements definitely did a great job in the respect, as well, as with the characters.

I was glad to see that as the second book progressed, we finally got to see Ben being a little less controlling and acting like he knew exactly what they needed to do. It was definitely nice to see him sharing more of the responsibilty with Jill.
One of the reasons I like Jill, and this only hit me in Fear Itself, is that she kind of reminds me of Sally Lockhart and Hermoine Granger in that she's both smart and willing to do what she feels is right.
Whenever Lyman, the evil janitor spy for corporation bent on destroying the school is mentioned, I always see/hear his name as lying man. Which just so happens to suit him quite well. So, why his name may be funny, Lyman actually makes a really good advasary in the book. The reason he works out so well as the face of evil for the corporation is because he's a nasty piece of work and is not above threatening Ben and Jill and trying to scare them off.

My favorite part of Fear Itself (besides the awesome title) would have to be the characters. I liked that in the second book there was a little more character interaction then the previous book, and that you got to see more of what makes them tick. But what really made the characters so much better in this book was that you got to see behind the brave front that they wore in the first book. I liked that they were able to fear the consequences and dangers of their appointed mission, also that they admitted that they were indeed scared of what could happen.

While I generally loved Fear Itself, did have one problem with it and that was that the plot seemed to have not made to much forward progress. Even though the writing and characters were still strong and enjoyable, I thought that maybe something could have/should have been done to move things along. Because at times it felt like the book was just covering the same ground as book one.

Final Verdict: Fear Itself, an interesting read that sets up the next installment in in the series.

Fear Itself earns 4 out of 5 pineapples.

Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School:
We the Children
Fear Itself
Whites of the Their Eyes

Cover Reveal: Breaking Glass + Trailer

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:01:00 +0000

So excited to be part of another cover reveal for Spencer Hill Press, especially this one because it is pretty awesome.

Y'all must let me know what you think of this excellent cover. So, what do y'all think of it?

Breaking Glass by Lisa Amowitz, July 9, 2013. Published by Spencer Hill Press.

On the night seventeen-year-old Jeremy Glass winds up in the hospital with a broken leg and a blood alcohol level well above the legal limit, his secret crush, Susannah, disappears. When he begins receiving messages from her from beyond the grave, he's not sure whether they're real or if he's losing his grip on reality. Clue by clue, he gets closer to unraveling the mystery, and soon realizes he must discover the truth or become the next victim himself.

We the Children

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 22:38:00 +0000

We the Children (Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School, 1) by Andrew Clements, 2010. 160 pages. Published by Atheneum. Source: Library.

Benjamin Pratt’s school is about to become the site of a new amusement park. It sounds like a dream come true! But lately, Ben has been wondering if he’s going to like an amusement park in the middle of his town—with all the buses and traffic and eight dollar slices of pizza. It’s going to change everything. And, Ben is not so big on all the new changes in his life, like how his dad has moved out and started living in the marina on what used to be the "family” sailboat. Maybe it would be nice if the school just stayed as it is. He likes the school. Loves it, actually. It’s over 200 years old and sits right on the harbor. The playground has ocean breezes and the classrooms have million dollar views…MILLION DOLLAR views. And after a chance—and final—run-in with the school janitor, Ben starts to discover that these MILLION DOLLAR views have a lot to do with the deal to sell the school property. But, as much as the town wants to believe it, the school does not belong to the local government. It belongs to the CHILDREN and these children have the right to defend it!

First Sentence:

As the ship's bell clanged for the third time, Ben ran his tongue back and forth across the porcelain caps that covered his front teeth, a nervous habit.

So, I admit that Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School was one series that was not on my radar. I only checked out the first two books in the series because I received the third for an audiobook review.
I am so thankful that I was given a reason to read this book because it was fun and witty.

In my opinion, one of the things the best things of We the Children was the plot. I loved how at the beginning of the book Ben, and then later Jill, are tasked with saving the school from being bull-dozed and turned into a theme park by the janitor of the school. Even more, that the Keepers were not just something dashed together by an employee who didn't want to loose his job, but was something long standing and implemented in the beginning of the school to insure that it would be there to benefit the children. I thought it was pretty cool the way that Mr. Clements set everything up and that with each book you find out a little more about the history of the school and its founder.

While at times Benjamin was kind of annoying as he tried to do everything himself, and with how he tended to act petty whenever he and Robert were around each other. I found him to be an interesting character. Mainly because as the book progressed he became a better sport and learned to work with others.
Jill was my favorite, at least in We the Children, because she was one of those resourceful charcters and just plain smart. Although, it was kind of fun to see how she and Ben clashed at first.
One of the things that really makes We the Children such a great read is that the plot is extremely fast paced, and Mr. Clements writing is fun and engaging without the reader feeling like they are being spoken down to. I thought he did a pretty great job of creating a book that had a good balance
of wit and the impossible.

The only thing that was less than favorable while reading the book is that the end leaves things incredibly unresolved as to the fate of the school that the captain had left behind for the children of Ben's town. So, if you think that you (or someone you know) is going to want to read We the Children I would recommend having book two at hand before starting because the story is captivating and the end will leaving you wanting to know what happens next.

Final Verdict: We the Children a great read for all ages. Action packed and well written.

We the Children earns 4 out of 5 pineapples.

Wish List wednesday (96)

noreply@blogger.com (Orchid) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:00:00 +0000

Dragonborn by Toby Forward, April 24, 2012. Published by Bloomsbury.

When Flaxfield the great wizard dies, his apprentice Sam is left without a master. Sam has great power-but he doesn't know it yet. All he knows is that he needs a new master if he wants to finish his education in magic.

With his dragon Starback at his side, Sam sets out alone on his quest. But there are those who want Sam's power for themselves, dangerous forces who are waiting for his first mistake so they can attack. When Sam is tricked into making a mortal error, only Starback can save him, thanks to a bond between them that is deeper than either of them know.

With a strong sense of adventure and a lyrical writing style, Toby Forward has created a page-turning, accessible fantasy with the literary quality of a classic.

Why: can I say, I like books with dragons...especially middle grade ones.