Library of Clean Reads: Scholastic Books

Showing posts with label Scholastic Books. Show all posts

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Kid Konnection: Scare Scape by Sam Fisher

Scare Scape by Sam Fisher
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 978-0545521604
Published August 27, 2013
Hardcover, 352 pages
Ages 8-12

Morgan, his two siblings (a brother and teen sister) and their father move into an immense old house that is falling apart. Right from the beginning we could see how the kids miss their mom who has died and are still grieving. Morgan loves the house, especially after finding out it once belonged to the man who wrote the stories in Scare Scape, a comic series featuring horrible monsters that Morgan collects and loves to read.

Soon after, Morgan finds a gargoyle buried in his yard with a message on it stating they can each make a wish. Morgan and his siblings each make a wish and soon they find that what they wished for is linked to dark magic and therefore horrific things start happening.

Sam Fisher is a great writer. This book was very suspenseful and kept me and my son in anticipation. It also creeped us out. But more on that later. Fisher's portrayal of the three siblings and their relationship to each other was right on. No surprise there since he's a father of three kids. My son and I chuckled at some of the scenes between them because it made us think of the squabbles between my son and his sister.

We liked how, despite their differences, the siblings worked together to get themselves out of their predicament. And in the end it solidified their bond. The characters are flawed but likable and Morgan was a kid my son could relate to. Despite all this, this book had some gruesome scenes in it, and my son was scared to sleep alone in his room at night. I have to admit to skipping through some scenes for this reason. Also, we don't read books that includes black magic and this made us uncomfortable, although the story's message is clear that black magic is bad and should not be fooled around with.

The book includes a fully illustrated Monster Deck (a description of each of the monster creatures) which we only skimmed. Some were actually cool creatures with the ability to do extraordinary things but others were just plain demonic and we skipped them. My son and I are not a fan of horror, and although we liked the story, the suspense, and the way the author wrote, we certainly did not like the paranormal elements. And we don't encourage toys, books or games that feature the occult or demonic as entertaining.

Note: This book is rated P = Paranormal elements.

Reviewed by Laura & Son

Disclosure: Thanks to Scholastic for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

Friday, September 6, 2013

Kid Konnection: Family Tree Book One: Better to Wish by Ann M. Martin

Family Tree Book One: Better to Wish by Ann M. Martin
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 978-0545359429
Published: May 2013
Hardcover, 240 pages
Ages: 8-12

My daughter and I didn't quite know what to expect with Ann M. Martin's new Family Tree series. We loved her Babysitters Club books and knew we would be in for a treat. This series is different from The Babysitters Club though. It is a series of four books that brings us four generations of one remarkable family. The family story begins with Abby's, then continues in the next three Family Tree books with Abby's daughter Dana, her granddaughter Francie, and her great-granddaughter Georgia.

So far, we think this new series is better than anything we've read by Martin. In Better to Wish, which is Book One, we are introduced to Abby, a young girl living in the 1930s in a small coastal town in Maine. The story is told from her perspective in the third person, and we watch her grow up from an eight year-old to adulthood. What struck me and my daughter is that Martin doesn't write a lighthearted story, although there are lighthearted moments throughout. Instead she brings alive childhood in the 1930s and deals with serious family issues, such as prejudice, depression, and death.

Martin creates believable characters that we come to care about. There is heartbreak, but there is also wonder and discovery. Once we got to know these characters, we really became invested in the story. Abby is a strong character and she is a good role model for today's youth. She recognized injustice and stood up for what was right, even if she could only do it silently at times.

It was refreshing to read about the life of a young girl growing up in the 1030s and some of the issues she had to deal with. Kids today will be able to relate to Abby even though she lived in a different era. Most middle-grade books do not span a century or several generations in the same family, which is what will make this series cool for kids today—to see how things changed from one generation to the next, including how kids grew up.

I really enjoyed reading this book with my daughter and we look forward to seeing how Abby's story will continue and what will happen to some of the secondary characters. We think this series would be a great addition to school libraries, and I will request this series at my own public library.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura and Daughter

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Kid Konnection: Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel

Tommysaurus Rex by Doug TenNapel
Graphix
ISBN: 978-0545483834
Published: May 28, 2013
Trade Paperback, 144 pages
Ages 9-12

Synopsis:

When Ely's beloved dog, Tommy, is hit by a car, he goes to his grandpa's house for the summer to get his mind off things. While exploring a nearby cave one day he discovers a full-grown but friendly Tyrannosaurus Rex. As the news of the dinosaur grows around town, so does the friendship between Ely and his Jurassic pet. But Randy, the mean kid down the street, decides he's going to make life miserable for Ely and his dinosaur-to devastating effect.

Our Thoughts:

My son was ecstatic when he received this book from scholastic. He loves graphic novels and dinosaurs so this combination was perfect. He dug into it right away. About thirty pages in, he came to me all dejected, telling me the book was making him sad because the main character Ely's dog Tommy gets hit by a car and dies and then later Ely gets bullied. The fact that this novel touched my son so deeply and so quickly told me it was good, so I told him to take a break and go back to it later.

Later the same day...

My son finished the novel and couldn't stop talking about the ending. Couldn't stop talking about this book. Period. He was smiling. I could tell the bittersweet ending affected my dinosaur-loving kid. He liked the adventurous story, thought it was funny, even if it did have some really sad moments. I could tell he could relate to Ely, a cute kid who loved his pets. Tommy is even the name of my son's turtle. There was one thing my son didn't like. After the realistic emotions of losing a dog, my son said that making Ely totally unafraid, when he first encountered the T-Rex, was too unrealistic. I agreed. There was no befriending process.

As a parent, I really appreciated that Ely had good parents and a wise grandpa. They were flawed, funny and caring. I enjoyed the story too and also teared up at one point. I loved that this book dealt with several serious themes with sensitivity, interspersed with subtle humour. Some of these were: death of a beloved pet, dealing with bullies, parental separation, family unity and love, and finally forgiveness. It left my son and me with a good feeling.

We both liked the cartoon illustrations. I loved Ely's face. His expressions tugged at my heart, reminding me of my son. I can truly see the appeal of graphic novels for kids. My son loves to emulate various facial expressions and I could see why he likes graphic novels so much. He's already pointed to the back cover of the book, asking me if I could get the other books by this author.

This was a heartwarming and funny graphic novel with positive messages. Highly recommended for reluctant readers and lovers of graphic novels and dinosaurs.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.

Reviewed by Laura & Son

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Kid Konnection: The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman

The Fire Horse Girl by Kay Honeyman
Arthur A. Levine Books
ISBN: 978-0545403108
Published January 2013
Hardcover, 336 pages

We didn't quite know what to expect when my daughter and I dug into this book. My daughter initially didn't think it would be all that special, but as we read it together, she found it more and more interesting. I liked it immediately, and how we laugh during the first scenes when we first meet fiery Jade Moon! She had the misfortune of being born in the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse, which is a bad thing because girls born in that year are considered dangerous, bringing tragedy to their families.

And so headstrong Jade Moon finds herself cursed and no one wants to marry her, except the dull brickmaker. She dreams of leaving her tiny village and discovering the world beyond. This becomes a reality when a young man, Sterling Promise, comes along with his smooth words and offers Jade Moon and her father the opportunity to go to America. The year is 1923 and Chinese immigrants are not welcome in America.

Once off the boat, all three are detained at Angel Island in the San Francisco Bay where immigrants are questioned before they are allowed entrance into America. They end up being detained for many months. When Jade Moon discovers she is to be sent back to China, she devises a plot that gets her into America and lands her in the dangerous streets of Chinatown, where she must use all her wits, and where her fiery stubborn streak actually helps her survive.

Jade Moon is quite the character, full of hot temper and stubbornness, yet also full of romantic dreams and strength. She strives to do what is right even at her own expense. She is a complex character, with the courage and intelligence to break away from a restricted life to gain freedom. Sterling Promise confused us at times. We didn't quite know what to make of him. He was good at keeping his emotions in check and we could see that he and Jade Moon were continuously clashing, which of course hid their attraction to one another.

My daughter and I loved how nothing seemed predictable in this story. There were twists and turns, and for my daughter, Jade Moon's experience was one she had never read of before. She and I really enjoyed this novel. The story dragged a little midway, and lost some of its humour, but then picked up toward the end with lots of action. I was impressed with the author's research that lent such an authentic feel of the Chinese culture and way of thinking in this novel, even if she is not Chinese. At the end of the book, the author includes notes on some of what she learned about the history of the Chinese-American immigration.

If you want to read an historical YA novel with a strong female heroine that is different from the norm, this one fits the bill. It has history, culture, danger, action and adventure. Honeyman has written a memorable debut novel, and we look forward to reading more of her work.

Note: This book is rated V = Violence. (mild) There are some brief street-gang fist-fighting scenes. Although the latter part of the book takes place in Chinatown in some seedy establishments, the author does a great job of keeping it clean.

Reviewed by Laura & Daughter

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Kid Konnection: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The Runaway King: Book 2 of the Ascendence Trilogy by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 978-0545284158
Published: March 1, 2013
Hardcover, 352 pages
Ages 10 +

This is the second book in the Ascendance trilogy and the sequel to The False Prince, (read our review) which my daughter and I absolutely loved. Once again, we dove into this book and couldn't put it down!

Jaron, newly crowned king of Carthya, senses betrayal in his kingdom. When an attempt to assassinate him occurs, he knows he cannot ignore the problems within his castle walls and the impending rumors of a coming war. So he flees the throne to take matters into his own hand, to confront the pirates and to stop them and his neighbouring king from taking his land. Jaron gets more than what he bargained for and he learns the hard way what it means to be king.

Both my daughter and I adore the main character, who is quite the character! He is smart and brave but also stubborn. My daughter likes how his stubbornness ends up helping him. I simply love the dialogue. It's witty, brilliant and funny too. The plot zips along in an adventure that takes us through twists and turns, keeping us in suspense. Fink is a new character introduced in this book, and he charmed me and pulled on my heartstrings because he is an orphan.

My daughter also mentioned to me that she liked that it was realistic, in the sense that Jaron went through a lot, including almost getting killed. Like in the first book there is violence, with scenes of swordfighting, hitting and whipping. But we did not find it gruesome, as it is also interspersed with funny and noble moments. It's a medieval setting, and there are also scenes of honorable actions.

Well, my daughter and I are counting this one as a favorite, and we can't wait for the last installment of this fun trilogy. Recommended to lovers of action-adventure tales, especially those young teens who are reluctant readers.

Note: This book is rated V = Violence, mild for fight scenes with swords and knives. No gore.

Reviewed by Laura and Daughter

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending us this book for review. we were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Days That End in Y by Vikki VanSickle (Review and 3-book Giveaway!)

Days That End in Y by Vikki VanSickle
Scholastic Canada
ISBN: 978-1443124324
Published Feb 1, 2013
Softcover, 240 pages
Ages 11 - 13

This is the third and last book that follows Words That Start With B and Love is a Four-Letter Word. Once again my daughter and I read it together and we enjoyed it. It's summertime and it seems that everyone is busy but Clarissa. Her mom is planning her wedding, her friend Mattie is away at camp and her friend Benji is busy with his drama friends. When Clarissa starts going through her mom's high school yearbooks she discovers a few things and decides to track down the dad she never met.

Once again, as in her other books, VanSickle explores emotions that are strongly felt in teens—accepting a parent's new mate, the need to search or know more about a long-lost parent, accepting changes in friendships and accepting the past. Both my daughter and I found this to be more of a serious book than the first two. Clarissa spends most of her summer alone and her friends don't play such a big role (my daughter noted this especially) as in the first two books. Clarissa is true to herself and we can see that after all she's been through she's strong and more mature.

There are strong words exchanged between Clarissa and adults in this book, on two separate occasions. In the verbal fight with her mom, Clarissa uses a derogatory word (sl*t) whose significance I had to explain to my daughter. I'm not sure how appropriate some words are for middle-grade novels. I know such exchanges can happen in family situations taut with anger and hurt feelings, but I think I would have preferred it left out. Same with the profanity. Perhaps saying he cursed would have sufficed. The writing in this novel is strong and solid and my daughter and I understood the heavy emotions. No crude words needed.

Apart from this, the story ends well. The major theme seems to be about acceptance on various levels, and with family and friends. We can't change the past, only learn from it and accept what happened and move on, having a positive outlook for the future without looking back. This was a good message and an excellent way to end this 3-book series.

Note: This book is rated P = profanity with religious expletives, among them g*da*n. This surprised me. However, it was said by an adult in anger and not any of the kid characters.

Reviewed by Laura and Daughter

And now for the giveaway!

Scholastic Canada has graciously offered to give away all 3 books in this series:

Words That Start With B (read our review)

Love is a Four-Letter Word (read our review)

Days That End in Y

How to enter:

Mandatory:

Leave a comment stating why you want to win these books. Include an email address. If you do not include an email address your entry will not be valid.

Extra entries:

MUST be a separate comment or it will not count.
1) If you are a follower, new or current, leave a comment telling us so.

*Buttons for following found on top left-hand corner of blog.
*Giveaway ends April 10, 2013.

*Open to Canada only.

*Please read my Giveaway Policy before entering my giveaways.

Thanks for reading our blog!

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen
Scholastic Press
ISBN: 978-0545284134
Published April 1, 2012
Hardcover, 352 pages
Ages: 12+

An action-adventure YA novel, smartly written, with taut suspense and fantastic twists and turns leading to a breathless ending—that's what my daughter and I thought of this book. In this medieval fantasy story, a plot is devised to impersonate the king's long-lost son by choosing four orphan boys and training them for this role. But only one will be chosen, and the others killed. Sage is a quick-witted, but defiant orphan boy, and from his first-person narrative we journey with these four boys pitted against each other to discover a kingdom on the brink of treason, deceit and downfall.

My daughter and I both read this book at different times but we had the same reaction. It was unputdownable! The reader is caught up right from the first scene when Sage who just stole a piece of roast meat is running for his life. Although there is much action in this novel it is not at the expense of character development. The author deftly builds up the four orphan boys, showing their strengths and their weaknesses. The plot is original and is well-paced—not one boring scene in this book.

Sage is a charismatic character. He is bright, non-chalant, and resistant to the training. He does not want to be this false prince they are training him to be because it's hard to pull off and will lead to his death for treason if he is discovered. But at the same time, he will be killed if he is not chosen. His dilemma caused both my daughter and I to keep turning those pages faster and faster. How would it all end?

What a fantastic story this was! It had everything kids (and adults) love—adventure, humour, believable characters and a smart plot. Both my daughter and I will count it as one of the best books we've read so far this year. This is the first book in The Ascendance Trilogy, but it has a satisfying ending—no cliffhangers. We simply can't wait to read Book Two.

Note: This book is rated V = mild violence for a scene with killing.
To learn more about this book, visit: http://www.scholastic.ca/titles/thefalseprince/

Reviewed by Laura and Daughter

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending us this book for review. We were not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Kid Konnection: Explorers Who Made It...or Died Trying by Frieda Wishinsky

Explorers Who Made It...or Died Trying by Frieda Wishinsky
Scholastic Canada
ISBN: 978-1443100106
Published Oct 1, 2011
Paperback, 160 pages`

When I was a kid, I loved world history....ancient Greece, the Roman Empire... it was all so exciting, but Canadian history? Not so exciting. Of course, I think differently now, and I wished I had this book when I was in school. Then, learning about Samuel de Champlain's expeditions and colonies in Quebec may have been more intriguing.

Wishinsky introduces us to twelve courageous and intrepid explorers in a fun and interactive way. Each explorer is introduced with a chapter that opens up with a small pop quiz (one question) followed by lively text divided by subheadings interspersed with illustrations, maps, and boxes with a True of False question and/or a “Would you...” question to get readers thinking. Each chapter then ends with a report card noting how the explorer would be marked on Daring, Persistence and Getting Along With Others. For example, Marco Polo got an A for all three, whereas Henry Hudson got D for Getting Along With Others and this is clear from his many troubles with his sailing crew.

This book sure makes it fun to learn about explorers for young middle-graders, especially to open up their minds about men who risked much and left a contribution to our world. I learned quite a few things. This book can be used for parents homeschooling their kids and would make a great addition to any home and school library.

Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Reviewed by Laura

Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.