DISNEY AFTER DARK by Ridley Pearson

Finn is a DHI - a Disney Host Interactive. He and four other kids were filmed and their likenesses were turned into holographic hosts at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom. It was good money for college and came with some park perks but it also came with something darker. When he sleeps, Finn crosses over into the holographic version of himself at the park. And something dark and malevolent is prowling around the park at night. Only Finn and the other DHIs have a chance to save the park - and maybe the world.

This is the first in a seven-book series anchored in all things Disney - the parks and the cruise ships. The story was more action-driven than character-driven; I didn't have a good sense of any of the characters when the story was finished. This would be a fun series for someone with a decent knowledge of Disney World. Beware of spoilers for younger readers regarding characters and costumes. There is a dark side to the story, not unlike the monsters in a Percy Jackson book (the Small World dolls come to life and attack the kids, for instance). This might be more alarming for kids who actually go to Disney World and come face to face with these creatures, unlike the monsters from PJ.

3 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 4.2

FROM TEXAS WITH LOVE by Dan Gutman

Coke and Pepsi watched the family RV explode with Evil Elvis inside at the end of book three, You Only Die Twice. They still need to get home to California. The family buys new supplies, Dad gets them a car, and they pick up their trip across the south from Tennessee to New Mexico.  With Evil Elvis dead, could it be that Coke and Pepsi are finally free?

Of course not! There's no story without people trying to kill the twins! This picks up the same pace as previous stories, full of danger and wacky-yet-real places around the country. Cliff-hanger ending sets up the fifth and final book, License to Thrill which will probably release in 2015. You can read a chapter of it here.

4 out of 5 stars
This does not have an AR reading level yet.

THE SHADOW THRONE by Jennifer A. Nielsen

War is coming - there is nothing Jaron can do to stop that. Vargan, king of Avenia, is unwavering in his desire to see Jaron dead and Carthya under his control. But this is Jaron; he will not go out without a fight. There will be twists and turns - and some events will threaten to rip out Jaron's heart - but will they be enough to save his kingdom?

This was fantastic! The energy never flags - there are only brief breaks for the reader to get a moment to catch his/her breath before barreling on again. Thrilling, emotional and satisfying. There were several times I pumped my fist and said, "Yes!" (Thankfully I was reading at home.) Terrific ending to a terrific series. I am so pleased with this book, but also a little sad it's over. I have great hope for something spectacular like this from Jennifer Nielsen in the future!

5 out of 5 stars
No AR reading level at this time.

You can read about the other books in this series here and here.

SKY JUMPERS by Peggy Eddleman

Hope Toriella lives in a post-World War III world where Green Bombs have left a deadly gas around her community. The gas is called the Bomb's Breath. Hope is a dare devil who loves to sky jump through the Bomb's Breath. It's much better than enduring another invention competition where she is sure to fail miserably. When bandits invade the community to steal precious antibiotics and threaten everyone Hope holds dear, is she daring enough to brave the Bomb's Breath as well a horrendous winter storm to get to help?

I received an electronic review copy of this book from the publisher and it was a delight! I loved Hope! She is horrible at the one thing held in high regard in her community - inventing. No matter how many failed inventions she creates, she keeps coming back with hope that this year will be different. She is a great leader, but she doesn't realize the great qualities that she does bring to the community - but in this story she is going to learn. The world is well developed and explained, the danger of Hope's quest for help will keep readers turning pages. 

4 out of 5 stars

No AR reading level at this time

* I received this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

THE HYPNOTISTS by Gordon Korman

I received an uncorrected review copy of this book from the publisher at ALA this summer. This is also one of our Scholastic Book Fair books.

Jax has no clue that the crazy things happening to him - like the star basketball player who can't seem to even dribble a ball around Jax, or the bus that he's on careening through town when he tells the driver to hurry - are because he is hypnotizing people with is color-changing eyes. Turns out Jax is a powerful hypnotist in a long line of family members with the power. And he's invited to work with the Sentia Institute. While he is cautioned to "use his powers for good," Jax discovers that everyone doesn't play by those rules - and they're using Jax to get what they want.

This was a good suspense story. It reminded me of the book Sound Bender. Jax is a likeable character who evolves from clueless kid to a young man of integrity. Jax is up against a dangerous foe and this book ends with a set up for a sequel. My students are going to love this one - adventure, suspense, kids standing up to adults with dishonest motives.

4 out of 5 stars
AR Reading level of 5.5

BLOG TOUR: I, Saul by Jerry Jenkins

I am happy to be part of the Blog Tour for the book, I, Saul today. I received a copy of the book from the publisher so I could read it and review it here*.

There are two stories told in this book - a contemporary story (August is summoned to Rome to help a desperate friend) and an historical one (The apostle, Paul, is in prison in the weeks before his execution, working with Luke on his memoir). As alternating chapters tell each story, the reader sees the relationship between Luke and Paul and gets to read some of the memoir, including a fascinating "history" of Paul's schooling and his journey to Damascus where he meets Christ. In the contemporary story, "Augie" is drawn into danger in Rome as factions conspire to frame, follow and kill in pursuit of the memoir.

The contemporary part of the story had a slow start for me. A lot of time was spent establishing Augie's role in his job and his relationship with his parents before he heads to Rome. At times, the pacing was discouraging. I was expecting something like The DaVinci Code or The Skeleton in God's Closet, with clues and chases and suspense and betrayal from start to finish, but that action didn't develop until the second half of the book. The Paul and Luke portion was more engaging and helped propel me forward until the action kicked up. The second half of the book was excellent - both stories - and I really enjoyed it. The memoir pieces were really interesting - the evolution of  Saul's zealous passion for the Law, the stoning of Stephen, the road to Damascus. I also liked the description of the relationship between Paul and Luke as Luke wrestled with his loyalty to Paul and his desire to not witness the execution of his dear friend. Once things started moving in the contemporary story, there were a lot of twists and turns as Augie has to figure out who he can trust. There's a great teaser at the end that sets up a sequel.

I would encourage fans of Christian fiction, historical fiction, and Biblical fiction to check out I, Saul. If you find the beginning to be a little slow, don't quit. The end will make the read worthwhile!

4 out of 5 stars

Here's some information from the publisher, Worthy Publishing, about the book. You can check out their twitter feed at @WorthyPub to hear about more Christian reading material. If you read I, Saul, I'd love to hear what you thought of it!

One of the Best-Selling Novelists of All Time JERRY B. JENKINS Releases Riveting New Thriller

 

“Jenkins is a consummate novelist; his plotting is nicely sneaky, his dialogue crackling.”

 

—Publishers Weekly

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., July 23, 2013—Jerry Jenkins’s novels have sold more than 70 million copies, qualifying him as one of the best-selling novelists of all time. In his new release, I, Saul (Worthy Publishing, Aug. 27, 2013), Jenkins presents his latest masterpiece: a compelling international thriller that catapults readers from present-day Texas to a dank Roman dungeon in A.D. 67, then down the dusty roads of ancient Israel, Asia, and back to Rome.

 

An adventurous seminary professor, Augustine Knox, is drawn into a deadly race to save priceless parchments from antiquities thieves, and discovers a two-thousand-year-old connection with another who faced death for the sake of the truth. I, Saul consists of two riveting adventures in one as readers are transported between the stories of Augustine Knox and the man who would become the Apostle Paul.

 

I, Saul will keep readers turning pages as it offers new insight into the fiery early days of Christianity when Saul of Tarsus vowed to put an end to the new sect, whatever the cost. A fast-paced story filled with political intrigue, mystery, and rich historical detail, I, Saul is the thrilling tale of loyal friendships tested by life-or-death quests, set two millennia apart. With this new work, Jenkins again delivers the sort of novel that has made him a household name.

 

Jenkins artfully depicts biblical times and characters, relying heavily on research and expertise provided by noted pastor and biblical scholar, Dr. James S. MacDonald.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Jerry B. Jenkins’s novels have sold more than 70 million copies, including the phenomenal mega-best-selling Left Behind series. Twenty of his books have reached the New York Times best-seller list, including seven that debuted at number one, as well as the USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal best-seller lists. Jenkins has been featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine. Jerry and his wife, Dianna, live in Colorado.

 

Worthy Publishing Group (www.worthypublishing.com) is a privately held, independent voice in Christian and inspirational publishing, based in Nashville, Tennessee, comprised of three divisions. Worthy Books publishes a boutique list of trade titles across a broad spectrum of genres, including current events, biography, fiction, devotionals, spiritual and personal growth, and specialized Bibles. Ellie Claire is a line of gift and paper expressions, and Freeman-Smith is a value-priced, impulse book imprint.

*I received this book from the publisher for free in the hope that I would review it honestly on my blog. Regardless, I only review books I enjoyed. I don’t believe in passing on negative reviews. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

 

ALA Week: WAKE UP MISSING by Kate Messner

One of the highlights of my summer was our trip to Chicago for vacation and for the American Library Association annual conference. Publishers graciously provided Advance Reader Copies (ARCs) of some of their upcoming books and I have been slowly working through my pile of these treasures. For the next couple weeks I'll be reviewing some of the books I picked up at ALA. If a book hasn't released yet, I'll post the release date in the review.  Enjoy!!

Cat fell out of a tree while bird watching, and it left her with post-concussion issues like debilitating headaches and confusion. But she's going to I-CAN for a revolutionary treatment. In the Florida Everglades with five other kids and the program stuff, far from her home and parents, Cat starts to suspect that the treatment at I-CAN is not what everyone thinks it is.

Great suspense/adventure story. It references science as well as historical figures like Einstein and Edison, but not in a heavy handed way. The author includes information on websites kids can go to for more information on the science and history portions of the story. I would recommend this for kids in 4th grade and up. In fact, I already have my copy for the library on order. It should release on Tuesday, September 10th in stores and online.

4 out of 5 stars
No AR rating at this time

CHAPTER BOOK: Hide and Seek (A Silver Jaguar Society Mystery) by Kate Messner

Anna, Jose, and Henry are back, a little more famous for their role in the recovery of the Star-Spangled Banner, and a little more involved in the work of the Silver Jaguar Society (a secret society charged with caring for the world's treasures). When the kids' family members discover a Jaguar artifact recovered in Costa Rica is a fake, the families fly to Costa Rica so the adults can investigate while the kids enjoy the cultural experience of the rain forest. But, of course, the kdis can't stay away from this mystery! Soon they are hunting down clues of their own.

This was an interesting chapter to the overarching story, although the setting of book one appealed to me personally more than the rain forest setting of this story. Hide and Seek is told mostly from Jose's perspective as he struggles with a secret and some increased insecurity about his contributions to the team and his ability to put clues together and find answers. The action and adventure in this story are great and will appeal to readers looking for that in their stories. Great information about rain forest creatures, including fun notes from the author about her research trip to Costa Rica. A major villain in the story is revealed which amps up the tension and the draw to the next book in the series (Manhunt, debuting in Spring, 2014).

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 5.0

Recommended for: fans of Capture the Flag, fans of mysteries or adventure stories

Cautions: none

CHAPTER BOOK: Pegasus: The Flame of Olymps by Kate O'Hearn

When war breaks out on Olympus, Pegasus is injured and falls onto a rooftop in Manhattan. Emily discovers Pegasus and so begins a mythological adventure not unlike the Percy Jackson series. Emily eventually partners with a goddess, a thief, and a mortal boy to save Olympus - and to save themselves.

For readers looking for new material like Percy Jackson, steer them to the Pegasus series. It is based on Roman mythology (The original Percy series is based on Greek mythology, but the second series that is in process right now is both Greek and Roman). This was a fast read - plenty of adventure. The big "reveal" was not unexpected, but that didn't keep me from turning page after page to find out what would happen. The most memorable parts for me came when the team was captured - by other humans. You expect problems with the mythological creatures in the larger story, but the things done by "our own" people gave this story a little something different.

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 4.4

CHAPTER BOOK: Lawless by Jeffrey Salane

A great mystery staring a girl named M who gets into The Lawless School - a school that trains criminals. At first, M is just there to hone her heisting skills, but it's possible that Lawless holds the secrets she wants to know about her deceased father.

My husband is the one who discovered this book on the shelves of our spring Scholastic book fair. It somehow escaped my notice for a couple days, but when I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It was terrific - great adventure, some great pranks and challenges for M and her friends at school, and lots of twists and turns to keep the reader wondering who are the good guys and who are the bad guys. No word yet on a sequel, but this is billed as a "book 1." There's also no AR quiz at the time of this writing, but I hope there is one soon - my students are eager to get their hands on this one!

4 out of 5 stars
No AR rating at this time

Recommended for: fans of action/adventure stories, mysteries, strong female characters

CHAPTER BOOK: The Colossus Rises by Peter Lerangis

[This is a guest post by my husband!]

When we meet Jack McKinley, he is your typical 13 year old waking up and getting ready for school. Only Jack's home alone. His mother has passed away and his farther is in Singapore for work - and Jack's "nanny" has quit in the middle of the night and left only a note. From there, Jack's day only gets more interesting. By the next morning, Jack is on a "secret" island at the Karai Institute with three other teenagers - Aly, Cass and Marco - and Jack finds out that all four of them run the risk of not living past their 14th birthdays.

Professor Radamanthus Bhegad, the head of the Institute, tells Jack that he and the other teens are descendants of a long lost civilization and a genetic trait - which has the ability to give them "super powers" - is also what is killing them. The key to saving Jack and his new friends are seven magic Loculi which were stolen from the lost civilization and hidden around the world.These Loculi must be found before they fall into the wrong hands and the world falls prey to disaster.

Seven Wonders: The Colossus Rises jumped out at me from the shelf when I saw a quote from Rick Riordan on the front cover. I loved the Percy Jackson books and I took this as a sign I might enjoy this series as well. The author, Peter Lerangis, is no stranger to writing a book for a series and does a nice job setting up the basis for this series. I must admit, initially, when I started reading things were moving very quickly in this story, but I didn't find myself fully engaged. However, by the end of the book, I was ready for the next installment to begin and continue the momentum started here. Fortunately, the wait will not be too long, as the next book, Lost in Babylon, is due this fall.

4 out of 5 stars
AR reading level of 4.1

Recommended for: readers in 4th or 5th grade and older, fans of fantasy/adventure stories

 

CHAPTER BOOK: The Runaway King by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The False Prince was probably my favorite book of 2012 - and I read around 140 books last year. That's a tough act to follow. The Runaway King did a great job.

Jaron is in trouble. He might be King of Carthya, but people are still trying to kill him. His regents don't trust him, and he's convinced his kingdom is in danger. His solution? Disappear. Blend in with those trying to harm his country and try to change things from within. But nothing in Jaron's life has ever gone smoothly - or according to plan. He will need all of his wits and cunning and a good bit of luck - and maybe an actual friend or two - if he has any hope of surviving or saving his kingdom.

This was a great follow up to The False Prince. Jaron is sassy and sarcastic, which is something I enjoy in a character. There is a TON of action - every time things seem to be going right, they go wrong. I had to read this in small bits until I could get to a weekend and really plow through the whole thing because I knew once I let myself get into the rhythm of the story, I wasn't going to want to put it down. I am thrilled to share this one with students - and in my own home. I am making my husband listen into our nightly chapter(s) of both The False Prince and The Runaway King so we can enjoy the story together as a family. I have mixed feelings about book three - eager anticipation and dread of coming to the end of a great story.

4 of 5 stars
No AR reading level at the time of this writing.

CHAPTER BOOK: You Only Die Twice by Dan Gutman

Book three in the Genius Files series! You can read about book one here and book two here (both have an AR reading level of 4.8).

In the third adventure, Coke and Pep are still trying to recover from the surprise ending of book 2. They made it to Washington DC for their aunt's wedding and now they are going to travel back across the country to their home in California in an RV with their parents, stopping at every random roadside attraction and museum their mom can find along the way. Early on, it looks like maybe they aren't in danger any more. Maybe no one will try to kill them on the way back home! But Coke and Pepsi aren't that lucky. There's a new villain tracking them this time along with some old "friends," new ciphers, and plenty of family "fun" cooped up in an RV together.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Great adventure, great humor, another nice cliffhanger at the end. The author is in talks to make the series into a movie and if they stay close to the story, it will be a winner for family entertainment! Until then, steer your adventure-loving readers to this series. They won't be disappointed!

4.5 out of 5 stars
No AR level yet.

Recommended for: readers in third grade and up, fans of fast-paced stories, spy stories, adventure stories, funny stories, and fans of Dan Gutman's other books.

CHAPTER BOOK: Between Heaven and Earth by Eric Walters

When DJ's grandfather dies, he leaves each of his seven grandsons a task to complete. DJ is charged with taking some of his grandfather's remains to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro to spread them. As the oldest of the boys, DJ has always been the driven one. He does what needs to be done, he muscles his way through any difficult task, and he almost always accomplishes his goals. But from the flight to Africa through his journey on the mountain, DJ is challenged in ways he never imagined. Does he have what it takes to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro and fulfill his grandfather's request?

This is one of books in "The Seven Series." Seven books - one for each grandson - that take place simultaneously. They can be read in any order - or readers can pick and choose which stories sound interesting to them. I really enjoyed this story. I enjoyed reading DJ's personal journey as he tackles a task far harder than he thought it would be. I am ready to dive into the other books in the series! I think my students who enjoy adventure stories - especially the guys - will like this one.

4 out of 5 stars
No AR rating at the time of this writing

Cautions: The author is very frank about the effects of the climb on DJ's body. There's nothing inappropriate, but the detail may surprise some readers.