Audio: Baker's Magic - Diane Zahler

Bee is an orphan, alone in a poor, crumbling kingdom. In desperation, she steals a bun from a bakery, and to her surprise, the baker offers her a place at his shop. As she learns to bake, Bee discovers that she has a magical power. When a new friend desperately needs her help against an evil mage, Bee wonders what an orphan girl with only a small bit of magic can do. Bee's journey to help her friend becomes a journey to save the kingdom, and a discovery of the meaning of family.

Audiobook, 7 h

Published October 2016 by Live Oak Media (NY) (first published February 1st 2016)

MG Fantasy

Own

My thoughts:

I liked this one, it was cute. I did not realise it was MG until I had started it. But yes I do saw that it was MG when Bee steals something and instead of being angry everyone is worried and helps her ;)

It was a fun tale to listen to. Bee has run away and finds a new home with a baker as his apprentice. And she discovers she has magic when she bakes. She makes friends and all is well. 

The constant baking made me hungry, so much yumminess!

But there is a darker side to this story too *coughs* well dark and dark. There is an evil mage and Bee must help someone take him down.

So Bee gets to have quite the adventure with dangers, magic and all things I can not mention cos there goes the plot.

But all in all, a really fun little story that everyone can listen too. It never felt too young. It felt like a fairytale.

Narrators: Elisabeth Rodgers, Stina Nielsen, Robin Miles, Kenneth Cavett, Stephen DeRosa, Tavia Gilbert, Michael Crouch, L.J. Ganser 

As you can see it was a full cast. Sure, that works. But did it make it better? I am so used to one person narrating so this was kind of strange. It took me a while to get used to. I did like it, but at the same time, one person narrating is fine too.

Also I have NO idea who did what so I can't say anything about individual performances

PS. Today is Thursday so remember to head on over to Audio Book Sync for this week's freebies

June 14 – June 20

MY NAME IS NOT FRIDAY by Jon Walter, Narrated by Dion Graham (Scholastic Audiobooks)

COME AUGUST, COME FREEDOM by Gigi Amateau, Narrated by JD Jackson (Candlewick on Brilliance Publishing)

Audio Sunday: How to train your dragon + Bloodring

Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is a truly extraordinary Viking hero known throughout Vikingdom as "the Dragon Whisperer" ... but it wasn't always so. Travel back to the days when the mighty warrior was just a boy, the quiet and thoughtful son of the Chief of the Hairy Hooligans. Can Hiccup capture a dragon and train it without being torn limb from limb? Join the adventure as the small boy finds a better way to train his dragon and becomes a hero!

My thoughts:

Not much to say really. I listened to the audio and it was nothing like the movie...well they were vikings and there were dragons. 

David Tennant narrated the book and I did enjoy listening to his voice, but then who wouldn't? ;) He was the sole reason for me listening.

The story itself was also fun as Hiccup tried to train his whiny dragons and then something BIG happens, and then something BIGGER. So a nice world all in all.

Oh and it was like 3,5 hours long, awesome.

cover

eh

Audiocd, 208 pages
Published February 12th 2004 by Hodder Children's Books (first published 2003)
How to Train Your Dragon #1
MG / fantasy

No one thought the apocalypse would be like this. The world didn't end. And the appearance of seraphs heralded three plagues and a devastating war between the forces of good and evil. More than a hundred years later, the earth has plunged into an ice age, and seraphs and demons fight a never-ending battle while religious strife rages among the surviving humans.

Thorn St. Croix is no ordinary neomage. All the others of her kind, mages who can twist leftover creation energy to their will, were gathered together into Enclaves long ago. There, they live in luxurious confinement, isolated from humans and exploited for their magic. When Thorn's powers nearly drive her insane, she escapes - and lives as a fugitive, disguised as a human, channeling her gifts for war into stone-magery and the pacific tasks of jewelry making. But when Thaddeus Bartholomew, a dangerously attractive policeman, shows up on her doorstep and accuses her of kidnapping her ex-husband, she retrieves her weapons and risks revealing her identity to find him. And for Thorn, the punishment for revelation is death....

My thoughts:

I am torn over this one. It was good, but audio...it worked but if I did something else for a second then I got confused. I am sure I missed a ton of things in this book.

But the premise was so cool. Angels came down, killed humans and destroyed shit. Then suddenly they fought alongside humans cos evil spawns came forth. But the cool thing was, were they really angels, or aliens? Ohhh. 

What was left was a post apocalyptic world in an ice age. So the world was truly good.

Thorn, the heroine is a neo mage...would have wanted more stuff there. Anyway, she always seemed to be in heat. People showed up, ugh this is why I need short audios! I know 12 is not long, but too long for me.

I would rather read the next book than listen.

Cover

meh

Audio, 12ish
Published November 7th 2006 by Roc Fantasy
Rogue Mage #1
Post apocalyptic /urban fantasy /sci-fi

Audio Friday: Once, Legion and The Mysterious Howling

Felix, a Jewish boy in Poland in 1942, is hiding from the Nazis in a Catholic orphanage. The only problem is that he doesn't know anything about the war, and thinks he's only in the orphanage while his parents travel and try to salvage their bookselling business. And when he thinks his parents are in danger, Felix sets off to warn them--straight into the heart of Nazi-occupied Poland. 

To Felix, everything is a story: Why did he get a whole carrot in his soup? It must be sign that his parents are coming to get him. Why are the Nazis burning books? They must be foreign librarians sent to clean out the orphanage's outdated library. But as Felix's journey gets increasingly dangerous, he begins to see horrors that not even stories can explain.

My thoughts:

It was sad...it was very sad. But then what can you expect from a story that is about a Jewish boy in Nazi occupied Poland.

Felix was so naive and it killed me at times. He did not know what was going on and later when he saw people get killed he still did not understood that it was dangerous. He made up stories about everything and saw something.."nicer" in what happened. But it was such a good story, heartbreaking, totally heartbreaking. It was also a story that everyone should read.

I listened to the audio version and Gleitzman was a great narrator. 

But I warn you, the end...you will have to read more after that ending.

Would I read more?

Yes

Cover

Bad

Audiobook, Digital Download, Unabridged
Around 3 hours
Published August 1st 2005 by Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd (first published January 1st 2005)
Once #1
YA /historical fiction

Stephen Leeds, AKA “Legion,” is a man whose unique mental condition allows him to generate a multitude of personae: hallucinatory entities with a wide variety of personal characteristics and a vast array of highly specialized skills. As the story begins, Leeds and his “aspects” are drawn into the search for the missing Balubal Razon, inventor of a camera whose astonishing properties could alter our understanding of human history and change the very structure of society. The action ranges from the familiar environs of America to the ancient, divided city of Jerusalem. 

My thoughts:

I Listened to the audio version and the narrator was ok. Most of his accents he did well, one bugged me though.

The concept was cool, this guy lives in a huge mansion which is filled with his hallucinations. It seems he is really smart and they help him figure things out. The story is when he goes hunting after a camera that can takes pictures of things in the past. Now would't that be cool ;)

It was ok. But I do prefer his fantasy works.

Would I read more?

From this?...no

Cover

Bleh

Audiobook, Audible, Unabridged, 2 hours?
Published October 2nd 2012 by Audible Frontiers (first published August 31st 2012)
Oliver Wyman, narrator
Short story / paranormal /sci.fi

Found running wild in the forest of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander, age ten or thereabouts, keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia, perhaps four or five, has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf, age somewhere-in-the-middle, is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels.

Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a recent graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must help them overcome their canine tendencies.

But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures, and how did they come to live in the vast forests of the estate? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to teach the Incorrigibles table manners and socially useful phrases in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?

My thoughts:

Now this one worked perfectly as an audio book. It had a good narrator and it was easy to listen too.

The story was fun and cute. A young governess taking care of 3 children who has lived in the wild. And there is something mysterious going on too...

I do not have a lot to say about this one. I mean it was adorable in the way it was written. I would totally listen to more.

Would I read more?

yes

Cover

Cute

Audio CD, 5 hours or so
Published by Listening Library (first published March 1st 2010)
The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place #1
Katherine Kellgren, narrator
MG / historical fiction

Mishel reviews: Nick and Tesla's High-Voltage Danger Lab - Bob Pflugfelder, Steve Hockensmith

Mishel reviews

Series or Stand Alone: Nick and Tesla, book one

Release Date: November 2013 

Publisher: Quirk Books

Pages: 240

Author Site: 

Site 

My Rating: 4/5 

Source: Received for review from publisher

Cover: It’s fun and eye-catching.

Nick and Tesla are bright 11-year-old siblings with a knack for science, electronics, and getting into trouble. When their parents mysteriously vanish, they’re sent to live with their Uncle Newt, a brilliant inventor who engineers top-secret gadgets for a classified government agency. It’s not long before Nick and Tesla are embarking on adventures of their own—engineering all kinds of outrageous MacGyverish contraptions to save their skin: 9-volt burglar alarms, electromagnets, mobile tracking devices, and more. Readers are invited to join in the fun as each story contains instructions and blueprints for five different projects.

In Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab, we meet the characters and learn how to make everything from rocket launchers to soda-powered vehicles. Learning about science has never been so dangerous—or so much fun!

Review:

I haven’t really had the chance (or the need and/or desire) to read a lot (or any) middle grade novels. I may be a big kid at heart but middle grade fiction isn’t on the top of my TBR list (or anywhere on the list really). Despite all that I have to say I enjoyed the heck out of Nick and Tesla’s High-Voltage Danger Lab! It wasn’t too mature for the intended audience and it wasn’t too immature for a big kid (who isn’t into “kid” fiction) like me to get into. You don’t even have to be a science/tech geek lover like Nick, Tesla, or one of the authors, “Science Bob”, to like the book. There are enough laughs, action, cool gadgets, and even DIY instructions on said cool gadgets to go around. Definitely a winner if you ask me!

Nick and Tesla are extremely easy to like. There is some slight bickering involved but it’s obvious they care and look out for each other. The twin siblings are very smart but not overtly so. Not being a huge science lover myself I’d hang out with these two. (When I was their age of course!) They have a ridiculously eccentric Uncle who lives alone with his hairless cat Eureka and his countless on-going inventions and hoard-like tendencies. Despite the fact that Uncle Newt should probably never be in charge of another human being (let alone two 11 year old children) he clearly cares about Nick and Tesla. He just has a unique and unsafe way of showing it. 

The twins are living with Uncle Newt (who they aren’t even close to) because their parents were suddenly called away to Uzbekistan to study soy beans…yes makes perfect sense right? Send your children across the country to live with a stranger-like relative because the beans are calling?? Well there is more to that story than meets the eye and finding out is half the fun!! The other half is following Nick and Tesla as their seemingly harmless curiosity leads them to a mysterious house guarded by attack dogs and inhabited by a ghost-like girl in the upstairs window. outrageousness of the plot is fully backed with really good story telling, I promise. It may seem a bit absurd or silly at times but Nick and Tesla is a very fun and satisfying read. I liked the characters, even the new friends the twins make (although there isn’t much limelight for them in the story). With plenty of action and humor the pacing of the book is quick and addicting. And yes, I did mention the DIY instructions for the gadgets the twins actually use in the story. How cool is that idea? I didn’t try any of the projects out but that has more to do with my laziness than anything else. I personally wanted to try “Robocat” and the “Electromagnet and Picker-Upper”. I’m looking forward to Nick and Tesla’s next adventure because there is more than just soy beans, crazy Uncle Newts, secret agents, and mysterious black SUVs to this story than meets the eye!! 

Carole Reviews: Tilda Pinkerton's magical Hats - Angela Shelton

Author: Angela Shelton

Title: Tilda Pinkerton's Magical Hats - By the Red Tractor Mailbox (book 1)

Genre: kid's book

Pages: 196

First Published: September 7th, 20102

Where I Got It: On my shelf (Given to me from the publisher/author to read and review for my honest and unbiased opinion)

"Eleven-year-old Madison Mae and her younger brother, Albert, want to help save the family farm during troubled times. When a mysterious Magical Hat Shop appears by their grandpa's red tractor mailbox, the children meet Tilda Pinkerton who presents them with one-of-a-kind hats, causing new ideas and talents to suddenly burst forth. As a flood of harm comes rushing towards the farm, Tilda Pinkerton teaches the children how they can accomplish much more than anyone ever imagined."

Like earlier stated I was given this book to read and review from the author/publisher for my unbiased and honest opinion.

Though I am an adult and I have no kids of my own yet, there are little rugrats running around my life in many different ways (family, friends, and etc). When I first got the book in the mail, I opened it and left it on the counter at my parents. One of the little girls who my mom babysits seen it and begged to read it. I, being impressed that she so wanted to read it, allowed and encouraged her. In one sitting she read half of the book on her own. She is seven years old. She is an avid reader and barely had to ask about the big words. I asked her what she thought and she said, "I liked it! I want to read more! Can I have the sticker?" (a sticker came with the book). 

I was excited that she liked it! So it is approved by a 7 year old.

Once she was done, I took the book and read it myself. It is a quick and simple read. However, it was simply adorable! I can this becoming a little kid show one day. Tilda Pinkerton reminds me a lot of Mary Poppins with her magical hats and cute cat. She teaches that imagination and creative is a good thing! Trying new things makes life unique! Also, it teaches about family and loving one another even though they may differ in opinions. Like Grandpa who is stuck in his ways and doesn't like new things. Good lessons for the young minds of today.

The ending was cliffhanger-ish, so I expect to see more books following Tilda and her hats. Exciting! It was a nice ending, so the cliffhanger-ness didn't annoy me as much as it normally does. I also loved how she added a glossary of the big words she introduced. Very nice. Very clever of her. Along with that, at the end of every chapter she lists all the big words she used in that chapter, so the kids can then look up the words that were used. Very, very cool.

In the end, this was a cute book. The author did a wonderful job blending in moral lessons into a fun book! This would defiantly make a cute TV show or movie for the youngsters. For all my friends and family members that have younger kids I recommend this for them. The age group ranges between 6-12, I believe. There are some bigger words, but with the help of the glossary they should be fine. I grant this 5 stars. ^.^

Favorite Character(s): The cat and Tilda

Not-so Favorite Character(s): None.

*CaroleRae*


------------------------------------

Ok a few words from Blodeuedd :) Stealing Carole's spotlight here

First up is my interview in The Examiner. They are interviewing historical fiction bloggers

I am also on Anachronist' blog today and reviewing the movie The Host

Review: Real Mermaids don't wear toe rings - Helene Boudreau

Genre: YA/MG, paranormal
Pages: 224
Published: December 2010 Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Freak of nature takes on a whole new meaning...

If she hadn't been so clueless, she might have seen it coming. But really, who expects to get into a relaxing bathtub after a stressful day of shopping for tankinis and come out with scales and a tail?

Most. Embarrassing. Moment. Ever.

Jade soon discovers she inherited her mermaid tendencies from her mom. But if Mom was a mermaid, how did she drown?

Jade is determined to find out. So how does a plus-size, aqua-phobic mer-girl go about doing that exactly? And how will Jade ever be able to explain her secret to her best friend, Cori, and to her crush, Luke?

Plot:

Jade finds out she is a mermaid. Her best friend spends a lot of time with another girl, and Luke, her crush, why would he ever look at her. There is a lot to handle.

My thoughts:

This was a short cute book, and I loved the mermaid explanation. That was really original and it almost made me believe it could be true. So here the author really thought about how and why there are mermaids.

Jade is a nice girl, her mum drowned a year earlier and she is trying to cope. She gets her period and her dad goes all out and buys a cart filled with products, hilarious and funny. Then she finds out she can become a mermaid, and she is really scared. Who wouldn't be since she know nothing at all about being a mermaid. There is also friendship drama since a new girl tries to move into their group, and she is not that nice. And of course then there is the crush, and Luke is a really sweet guy. But the teenage drama is never too drama, instead the focus is more on her coping with this new situation and what that brings.

There is also some action, I shall not give any details, but something is going to happen.

All in all this was a sweet book. I started to read and read it in one sitting. I was amused, and the mermaid angle, oh so good. I wonder where she got the idea of their origin?

Recommendation and final thoughts:

A yes there, this is something young girls would enjoy. First there is mermaids, cool, the crush, and issues with friends. The paranormal and the down to earth things all young people go through. It's a 3,5. I enjoyed the book. 

Reason for readings:

Jumped on the mermaid wagon

Cover: 

Cute

review copy from the publisher

Review: Fused - Kari Lee Townsend

Samantha Granger experiment book 1

Genre: MG, sci-fi contemporary
Pages: 192
Published: November 2010 Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

After Sam is fused with her cell phone, she's ready to conquer the world! Or at least the 8th grade...

When Samantha Granger touches a meteor while talking on her cell phone, her life is changed forever: her body now has all the capabilities of her phone (GPS, phone, text, camera). She secretly calls herself a "Digital Diva" as she rushes to answer emergency calls. But will her identity be discovered when sparks fly (literally!) between her and Trevor, her dreamy crush? Samantha has to get a handle on her abilities and quick, because when Sam gets kidnapped and the entire town is in danger, she is the only one who can save them.

Plot:

Sam is just like any other teenage girl, except for that her parents have moved around a lot since they are scientists. Now she is at a new school, she has got a great bff, and a crush on this really cute boy. But then she touches something that fell from the sky and she gets fused with her cell phone, she is a waling GPS, and she can hear the super hero in her calling.

My thoughts:

The book was cute, fun and short. I think it works well for girls and boys. For girls there is Trevor, the boy Sam has a crush on, and her trying to deal with that (while having this weird crazy powers), and for the guys there is the fact that she decides to become a superhero. The book is MG but works for YA too.

Samantha was a nice girl, she is not the most popular girl, she is not the smartest, she is just your average teenager, that is before she gets crazy powers. Powers that later are explained, the whole phone and meteor thing.

Something is always going on, Sam in school being suddenly really smart in geography class, trying to deal with Trevor, or when the evil queen bee Ali is feeling threatened by her (there is always that mean girl). Trying to save people in need or when the situation gets out of control since she is feeling someone stalking her.

Recommendation and final thoughts:

Like I said, great for boys and girls, MG and YA. This is a book I could recommend to someone younger since it was a nice book and it did get a bit exciting too. I enjoyed it too, it was short, and I always did enjoy a superhero story.

Reason for reading:

I am always in for something new.

Cover thoughts:

Good colors

From sourcebooks for review

Review: Aristobrats - Jennifer Solow

Genre: Middle Grade/YA, fiction
Pages: 224
Published: September 2010 Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

It’s all about the Attitude

Parker Bell knows the secret to beauty is pretty simple–wearing the right clothes isn’t as important as how you feel in them. Popularity is like that too. It’s all about attitude. You have to picture who you want to be and then just imagine that’s who you already are.

This year Parker and her three best friends have made their way to the top of the populadder at Wallingford Academy. And they’re ready to use their Aristobrat status to help spread positive vibes throughout the school. But when the girls are assigned to produce the seriously lame school webcast, their popularity plummets! Will this tragedy destroy the girls' status? Or their friendship? Or both?

Not what I usually read, but I wanted to try a younger book once too, and I did. What can I say, it was a cute one.

I never like books that try too much to be young, or show the worst side of kids, since they are nice kids too that never did stuff like that. I was one of those and I rather read about those too.  This book has hip kids, prepsters, and slang, but it felt real.

Parker goes to a fancy private school, she had her 3 best friends and she year she will rule the school. But not in  mean girl way, no there are codes and the code is be nice to everyone, even if they have totally horrid clothes on. Cos mean girls are two-thousand-and-late. But then they have to do the school news show that everyone hates and their social status plunges, and their friendship is suddenly rocky. And of course there are the cute guy she wants, oh and the not so nice girls.

Parker and her friends were nice and different. One loved fashion, one was the brain, and together they were the best of friends. The message that shines through is that friends are important, and to be nice to each other. They also learn that perhaps everything doesn't have to be perfect, like do you really need the perfect guy that everyone thinks you should end up with. They have a lot to learn.

At the back of the book was also a cute glossary that explained some words that were used. Still I did feel a bit out of it at times with some short text messages that were there. But that didn't really stop the flow of the story.

This is a book that I would recommend to young girls, and to the YA audience too, and adults too. Because it was a sweet book, and when it ended, well I was curious about what happens next, and about this boy she started to like. And there will be more books to that will be nice.

Blodeuedd's Cover Corner: Cute, yes I have used that word a lot today ;)

Reason for reading: From the publisher

Final thoughts:  A nice, sweet book about friendship, and that attitude counts. Act like you enjoy being you and other will see you like that.

3,75

The Author has a quiz on her page to see which girl you are, and I do love quizzes.

Kiki










Which Aristobrat are You?

And last a question answered by the author:

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
Mostly I wanted a book that I would be proud to have my own daughter read. There are lots of messages layered into the book about not being afraid to make mistakes, about living life to the fullest because our time here is short. But I think the most important message is that is doesn’t matter how many Facebook Friends you have – it’s the real friends who count. These are lessons for me more than anyone – the important things I need to remember.