Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwacky

Book Review: Rose and the M..

Rose and the Magician’s Mask is the third book in the Rose series, one that easily becoming one of my favorite middle grade series. The beginning of the book spent some time rehashing earlier adventures, reminding me of the evil magician who was thwarted in the previous book, but still on the loose. When a mask of magical importance goes missing, Mr. Fountain, the court magician and Rose’s teacher, must go to Venice to retrieve it. He takes Rose and his other apprentice Freddie with him and his daughter Bella convinces her father to let her come along as well. […]

Posted September 5, 2014
Book Review

Book Review: Rose and the L..

Rose and the Lost Princess is the second book in the Rose series, the first of which I loved and made it onto the CYBILs shortlist for Middle Grade Speculative Fiction. I was excited to see that there was a sequel forthcoming along with several other books that were first published in another country and are slowly trickling their way to us in the United States. The aftermath of the first book comes to light right away as more and more people are becoming afraid of magic and those that use it, whether for good or for evil. When one […]

Posted April 5, 2014
Book Review, Giveaway

Book Review: Rose

Rose had everything I could ever want in a book. Magic, orphans and a Victorian England setting made it a novel I was looking forward to. When Rose is given the opportunity to leave the all-girl orphanage to become a maid for an alchemist, she jumps at it. What she doesn't know is that she has her own magic inside of her and it will blossom as she spends more time in the house. The alchemist's apprentice is at first rude and abrasive to Rose, but slowly they become more friendly due to the sudden disappearance of children all over […]

Posted December 14, 2013
Book Review

Book View: Elliot and the G..

Short & Sweet: A seriously hilarious new addition to an action-packed fantasy adventure. I love that the narration is so tongue and cheek and warns you away from the novel altogether – reminds me a bit of Lemony Snicket's series in that aspect. I think this new series has everything kids want, something gross, something hilarious and something full of adventure. Final Verdict: Definitely a series I will be recommending to my students.

Posted March 1, 2011
Book Views

Book Review: Dear Teacher

Dear Teacher is an adorable read with high emphasis on the imagination. This is definitely a read that would be perfect for children either going back to school, or fearful of returning. The novel follows Michael as he is getting ready to return for another year of school. While it seems that Michael is very excited about his new year of year… life has a way of interrupting. For me, Dear Teacher was a blast to read. Very quick. Very humorous. And just plain cute. Michael was a fantastic character. I loved following him on his adventures. In addition, I […]

Posted July 6, 2010
Book Review

Book Review: The Pyramid of..

After reading the first novel in the series, I was excited and hesitant to begin the second. I went into the novel hoping that this time I would be able to have a better connection with the novel and its characters. And I am happy to say that I did connect more with The Pyramid of Souls than I had expected. Nick is struggling. You name it and he is probably having a hard time with it. He cannot get his magic just right, he thinks he is disappointing his cousin, the magnificent Damien, and he is a little bit […]

Posted May 27, 2010
Book Review

Book Review: The Eternal Ho..

Nick knows all about magic… or at least he thinks he does. So when he discovers that his family tree is filled with real magicians, not just the smoke and mirrors kind, to say he is shocked is probably putting it mildly. The Eternal Hourglass, the first novel in the Magickeepers series, was a fun read perfectly suited for younger teens. Kirov blends Russian history and mythology together with our world to make a something completely different. I have seen many compare this series with the Harry Potter series, and I can see why. A young boy who learns that […]

Posted May 26, 2010
Book Review