Monday, February 22

Review: Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn

reincarnation

Title: Reincarnation

By: Suzanne Weyn

Recieved: Scholastic Review Copy

BookWhisperer Rating:

two stars

Book Description:

From prehistory to the present, theirs was a love for the ages. It starts with a fight in a cave over an elusive green jewel . . . and then travels over time and lives to include Egyptian slaves, Greek temples, Massachusetts witch trials, Civil War battlefields, Paris on the eve of World War II, America in the 1960s . . . and a pair of modern-day teenagers. For readers who believe that love is stronger than time or death, this is an unforgettable novel from a wonderful storyteller. (From Suzanne Weyn Website)

reviews plate copyI was very anxiously awaiting my chance to start this book. Though, I quickly lost interest in the story and pace. I idea and storyline has protential for a good book, but it was unsuccessful at keeping my attention. I don’t look to be recommending this book in the future. Be one the lookout for another second chance contest to win this book in the near future.

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Second Chance Contest for Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

This is your chance to win Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher.almost perfect
You only hurt the ones you love. Logan Witherspoon recently discovered that his girlfriend of three years cheated on him. But things start to look up when a new student breezes through the halls of his small-town high school. Sage Hendricks befriends Logan at a time when he no longer trusts or believes in people. Sage has been homeschooled for a number of years and her parents have forbidden her to date anyone, but she won’t tell Logan why. One day, Logan acts on his growing feelings for Sage. Moments later, he wishes he never had. Sage finally discloses her big secret: she’s actually a boy. Enraged, frightened, and feeling betrayed, Logan lashes out at Sage and disowns her. But once Logan comes to terms with what happened, he reaches out to Sage in an attempt to understand her situation. But Logan has no idea how rocky the road back to friendship will be.



 Rules: You must be in the US and Contest ends on 3/22. Hows that for simple.
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Review: Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher

almost perfect

Title: Almost Perfect

By: Brian Katcher

Recieved: Review Copy from Delacorte Press Books

BookWhisperer Rating:

two stars

Book Description:

You only hurt the ones you love.
Logan Witherspoon recently discovered that his girlfriend of three years cheated on him. But things start to look up when a new student breezes through the halls of his small-town high school. Sage Hendricks befriends Logan at a time when he no longer trusts or believes in people. Sage has been homeschooled for a number of years and her parents have forbidden her to date anyone, but she won’t tell Logan why. One day, Logan acts on his growing feelings for Sage. Moments later, he wishes he never had. Sage finally discloses her big secret: she’s actually a boy. Enraged, frightened, and feeling betrayed, Logan lashes out at Sage and disowns her. But once Logan comes to terms with what happened, he reaches out to Sage in an attempt to understand her situation. But Logan has no idea how rocky the road back to friendship will be.

 

reviews plate copy First off I am not a judgmental person, and I am finding in my reading that I learn more about questionable topics that I would typically stray from. While I was interested in reading this book to have a chance to look at a world in which I am not familiar; I was unable to find any interest in continuing this book. To be completely honest I was only able to complete half of the book, and it was not at being unable to accept the content. So, this I have to say my final decision is that this is not the book for me.

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Cover Alert

alpha

Check it out book 5 in the Shifters series by Rachel Vincent. I can wait to get my hands on Shift that is to be released on the March 1st…..

 

shiftDo miss out this is a must read series PNR Lovers. Rush out and preorder your copy NOW!

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Kiddy Korner Review: If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff

Title: If You Give a Cat a Cupcake
By: Laura Numeroff
Illustrated by: Felciai Bond
BookWhisperer Rating:





Book Description:
If you give a cat a cupcake, he'll ask for some sprinkles to go with it. When you give him the sprinkles, he might spill some on the floor. Cleaning up will make him hot, so you'll give him a bathing suit . . . and that's just the beginning!



Very cute story of a little girl and a day with her cat.While the story and illustrations were entertaining; the story appears to be lacking a moral or a lesson. Vocabulary is excellent for practicing readers with an occasional advanced word that will allow for further practice. My daughters experience with this book was eagerness in readering on her own, but she was not very entertained by the content of this story.

Kiddy Korner Review: I'm Number One by Michael Rosen

Title: I'm Number One
By: Michael Rosen
Illustration by: Bob Graham
BookWhisperer Rating:


Book Description:
Little wind-up soldier A-One is in charge. At least that’s what he tells the other toys: Sally, Maddy, and Sid. When he tells them to turn his key, they do it. When he tells them they’re no good, they feel bad. He calls them all kinds of things: no good, hopeless, the worst. Or was that hope-use, good-no, and less-less? Somehow, stringing all those mean words together makes them start to sound, well, silly — and even though A-One doesn’t mean to, he finds himself smiling too. From the incomparable Michael Rosen and Bob Graham comes an insightful, child-friendly tale about learning how to be one of the gang.


I'm Number One was a bit of a complicated read. The jumble of the words make it very complicated for a child to read and comprehend. A useful moral for children was hidden in this story, but I fear that children will lack understanding due to the confusion in reading. As a while, this is a good lesson book if it attainable.

Kiddy Korner Review: Milo Armadillo by Jan Fearnely

Title: Milo Armadillo
By: Jan Fearnley
BookWhisperer Rating:


Book Description:
When no one can find a pink fluffy rabbit to buy for Tallulah on her birthday, Grandma gets creative with her knitting needles. But the surprise Tallulah lifts out of the box is not a rabbit, it’s a pink fluffy . . . thing, named Milo Armadillo. He’s athletic, musical, and great for sharing adventures, but Tallulah’s friends say he’s funny-looking. What can poor Milo do to make Tallulah happy? With humor, poignancy, and a nod to the out-of-the-ordinary, this sweet story shows that if you can’t be with the one you want, you can definitely love the armadillo you’re with.

My daughter and I both rave about this adorable children's book. MiloArmadillo teaches a wonderful lesson of being happy with what your given. It could turn out to be better than what you wanted. Coming from a crafty family we were very impressed with the mixture of illustration that combined drawing and knitting or crochetting. That simple variation was entertainment for the entirety of this book, and helped us better relate to the book. Definetly an excellent read and lesson for children.

Kiddy Korner Review: Curious George Good Night

curious george good night
 Title: Curious George Good Night
PBS Kids Book
BookWhisperer Rating:
three stars
Book Description:
There is so much to do at bedtime: cleaning up, taking a bath, telling stories, playing peek-a-boo, and more. Will George ever get sleepy?
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Another good read for the PBS Kids books This is good practice for night routines for children. Follow this step by step guide to Curious George’s good night routine. Good reading practice for younger readers. Enjoyable for the young and old.
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Kiddy Korner Review: Curious George Christmas Count Down

curious george christmas countdown
Title: Curious George Christmas Countdown
A PBS Childrens Book
BookWhisperer Rating:
four stars
Book Description:
Follow along on Curious George’s Countdown to Christmas.

reviews plate copy Very cute story about Curious George’s counting down to christmas. Each page has a rhyming pattern as if individual poems. My daughter’s favorite part is George’s Christmas Song that follows the tune from “Deck the Halls”. As a partent I appreciated the emphasis George puts on Family and Christmas traditions rather than presents. This is a very enjoyable story for even the youngest of children. Well worth the money.

Kiddy Korner Review: How the Nobble Was Finally Found by CK Williams and Stephen Gammell

how the nobble was finally found
Title: How the Nobble was Finally Found
By: CK Williams and Stephen Gammell
BookWhisperer Rating:
five stars

Book Description:
The Nobble lives in a world all his own--a fantastical world where you can do the impossible things of dreams. It's a nice life and all he's ever known. Yet one day he begins to think about finding some place he hasn't been yet. Or maybe seeing something he hasn't seen yet. Or . . . something. So he sets off on a journey to an unusual place, where he discovers roary things, fuzzy things, and tall, shiny, rectangular things. Then a door knocks. If only he knew what a door was . . .
C. K. Williams and Stephen Gammell's enchanting tale is about finding the courage to go out and search for what you want most in the world. And sometimes, that's a friend.
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I absolutely love this wacky and crazy story. I believe that creativity such as this allows children to open up their imagination. This story is about a Nobble that has never met another anyone. He decides to venture further than ever before in search of something or someone new. What he finds just might surprise him. Not only was this a truly awesome story its illustrations were incredible. My daughter and I share enthusiasm about this book and enjoyed every minute of it. Like a five year old I found myself anxious to turn the next page.
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Friday, February 12

IMM Week 02/08/2010

Meme brought to us by the Story Siren. This is how we show what we have recieved in hopes to add to your TBR piles. No need to thank us.. LOL

the dead and gone

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Book Description:

When life as Alex Morales had known it changed forever, he was working behind the counter at Joey’s Pizza. He was worried about getting elected as senior class president and making the grades to land him in a good college.  He never expected that an asteroid would hit the moon, knocking it closer in orbit to the earth and catastrophically altering the earth’s climate. He never expected to be fighting just to stay alive.
Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It enthralled and devastated readers with its look at an apocalyptic event from a small-town perspective. Now this harrowing companion audiobook examines the same events as they unfold in New York City, revealed through the eyes of a seventeen-year-old Puerto Rican New Yorker.
When Alex’s parents disappear in the aftermath of tidal waves, he must care for his two younger sisters, even as Manhattan becomes a deadly wasteland. With haunting themes of family, faith, personal change, and courage, this powerful novel explores how a young man takes on unimaginable responsibilities.

 

magic can be murder

Magic Can Be Murder by Vivian Vande Velde

Book Description:

When Nola sees a murder while she is casting a spell, she finds herself in the worst danger ever.

 

 

princess ben

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Book Description:

Meet Benevolence of Montagne: short, plump, stubborn, and now heir to the throne – unless her cruel Aunt Sophia, the self-proclaimed queen, kills her first. Alone in the castle’s highest tower, Ben makes a discovery that will change her life, and may even save the kingdom. Fans of D.J. Schwenk will find in Ben another spunky and endearing heroine.

 

crazy beautiful

 

Crazy Beautiful by Lauren Baratz-Logsted

Book Description:

Sophomore Lucius Wolfe lost both hands in an explosion of his own making, and now he is left to pick up the pieces—with steel hooks. The story is told in alternating chapters by Lucius (Crazy) and Aurora (Beautiful). Baratz-Logsted does a deft job of weaving the perspectives together to show events from both points of view. Lucius chooses a bus seat so as to be left alone and is immediately called "crip"; Aurora gets on the same bus, smiles at people, and hears a voice call "New girl! Come sit back here with us." It doesn't help that Lucius has an air of arrogance about him and has changed schools to find a new start.

 

**Thanks to Houghton Mifflin for all of these review copies

Review: Possessed by Kate Cann

possessed

 Title: Possessed

By: Kate Cann

Publisher: Point Books (Released February 2010)

BookWhisperer Rating:

five stars

 

Book Description:

Rayne wants a complete break from her old life, from her possessive boyfriend and the claustrophobia of the inner-city estate she lives on. She lands a live-in job in the wildness of the country, at an ancient manor house called Morton’s Keep, where life is exhilarating, but terrifying too. There’s something sinister going on at the Keep – something to do with its history – but no one will talk to her about it. No one except her new group of friends, that is. They’re alluring and seductive …especially the group leader, the elegant St John.
Who can she trust to tell her the truth? She can sense something evil growing – but from where, from who? And how can she keep herself safe from it?
To me, the most frightening arena is inside the mind. I wanted to explore that, and the fear of the not-known, in this book. I wanted to look at what would happen when a town-girl is transplanted to a remote place where nights are pitch black and nature dominates. Rayne is deeply drawn to the woods, but she hears strange stories about them, and the mysterious fire people. She must fight to find out the truth, and be brave in facing up to who she really is ....
I loved writing Possessing Rayne – I got totally involved in it, so involved I went straight into the sequel, Fire and Rayne, which has just been published. Fire and Rayne goes deeper into the ancient curse that lies over Morton's Keep - things get even more terrifying. And Rayne and Ethan are very much thrown together .....

reviews plate copyPossessed  was originally released in the UK, but was released in the US this month. This was a very alluring book solely due to its awesome cover, but believe me that is just the beginning. This story is action packed, and full of mystery and suspense. One of my favorite aspects of this book is its setting. I was enthralled with the vocabulary and the setting of Morton’s Keep. I am not sure if this is an actual location that the author based the story on, but if so I would love to visit. Everything sound so incredibly beautiful and powerful it was be a must see. Rayne is a lovable character that I believe any reader would enjoy following. I was impressed by Cann’s ability to make character that are truly lovable, and slowly regress to a villian. This novel is filled with emotion and turmoil that will beg you to turn another page. This is one of the best books that I have read this year.

Wednesday, February 10

Kiddy Korner Review: What Color is Casesar by Maxine Kumin

what color is caesar

Title: What Color is Caesar?

By: Maxine Kumin Illustrated: Alison Friend

Reading Level: Childrens Book

BookWhisperer Rating: three stars

Book Description:

Caesar is a large white dog with a great many black spots. Or is he a large black dog with even more white spots? That’s the trouble: he doesn’t know which, and though nobody in the family seems to care, he won’t rest until he uncovers the truth. So off he traipses, beseeching one animal after another to find out what color he is, basically. From celebrated poet Maxine Kumin comes a doggedly quizzical hero, brought comically to life by Alison Friend’s expressive watercolors -- a lovable picture-book character who ultimately learns that it’s not what’s on the outside that counts.

reviews plate copy Cute tale of a dogs quest to discover what are his true colors. He soon finds that even though many others may be like him; they are all different inside. He finds that it is what is inside that defines you. This is a very good lesson for children, and while my daughter enjoyed the story it had a little difficulty keeping her attention. The best aspect of this book was the illustrations. Both of my children really liked the pictures, and wanted to stop to talk about them from page to page.

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Tuesday, February 9

Cover Alert

Check out the new cover…..

Can’t wait for this new release!!!!!

Jessica Verday next book in the Hollow Trilogy!!!

****Release date scheduled for September 2010****

the haunted

 

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Second Chance Contest

The BookWhisperer is a blog that hates giving bad reviews. With that said this is my chance to start a new trend. Every book that I tend to dislike I am going to incorporate into a Second Chance Contest for that book. This way it will give other readers the chance to win this book, and possibly give it a better review than I found myself capable of doing. So for the start of this contest I am giving away a copy of Truly Madly by Heater Webber.
trulymadly
RULES:
CONTEST WILL RUN TO 02/28/2010 MIDNIGHT.
APPLICANTS MUST COMPLETE FORM TO BE ENTERED (if problems try tabbing through the form rather than selecting boxes with mouse)
MUST LEAVE ME A WAY TO CONTACT YOU, OR YOUR ENTRY WILL NOT BE COUNTED
MUST LEAVE IN THE US, SORRY MONIES ARE TIGHT
EXTRA ENTRIES WILL BE GRANTED FOR BLOGGING OR POSTING IN SIDEBAR ONLY(4 POINTS FOR POST 2 POINTS FOR SIDEBAR)



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