Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse – Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena – Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.

Review

I really enjoyed this. It was different than I expected. I found the myths very exciting and the little twists were interesting. I loved the story and how it flowed. Although it’s a kids book it doesn’t infere that the children reading it cannot read books with intellegent plots.

I loved learning along wit Percy about all the gods and goddesses that he thought was legend. I read it quite quickly and found myself utterly engrossed the whole way through.

I liked the idea of the prophecy and trying to work out what it meant exactly and what other people might have been told on their trips to see the oracle.

Overall a really good childrens book and I am looking forward to reading the second one.

4 out of 5 stars

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ARC: Deep-Water Drama

Like most 12-year-old girls, Shyanna, Rachel, and Cora deal with the daily dramas of growing up. But unlike most 12-year-old girls, they deal with it underwater as mermaids. Living in Mermaid Kingdom doesn’t make life any easier for these young girls, and friendships continue to be tested with secrets, worries, and other challenges.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was sweet but written in a very childish manner even for middle-grade fiction. Shyanna was nice but a little spoiled and selfish. I know she was 13 but her character annoyed me a little. I liked how there was three different stories in this book.

It’s a book about friendship, growing up and testing the your own limits. All the stories fitted together well and the illustrations were great.

Over all a sweet book perfect young girls.

3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: The Palace Library

Three children stumble upon an extraordinary library in an old house. Armed with magical books, and accompanied by an enchanting deerhound, they leave through a door that takes them to a world in the past. Beyond the door, a kingdom is in crisis.

The children must unlock the secrets in their books as they face storms, fight traitors and tackle dragons.

The Great Sword of State has been stolen and destroyed. The Queen reveals an ancient prophecy that says only these children can replace the Sword and she sends them on a journey that takes them beyond the world’s end.

Without knowing who they can trust, can they succeed?

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had some charm, but it was a little lack luster. It kinda ebbed and flowed but not in a good way. The points were I thought it should go faster went slowly and the points that should have been eeked out went really fast.

The story was good, not amazing but good enough. I am trying to remember that this book is aimed at children and not for adults. I do think it would be an exciting book for younger readers. I do read a lot of books aimed at this level and enjoy them. I just think this book could have done with a little more oomph, it was a little on the bland side. It was also a lot of tell and not showing the reader. There was quite a lot of needless explanations as to why the characters were doing what they were doing.

I did like the premise behind the story and how it unfolded, it worked well and I think kids would like it.

3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Black Magic Academy

Mildred doesn’t like black magic. But her mother was once valedictorian of Black Magic Academy, so her aunts insist she needs to follow in her footsteps and become one too.

Mildred doesn’t want to be part of the popular crowd. Nor does she care about her “death-enemy.” And she certainly has no interest in murderous spells. But if the teachers catch on that she’s actually a good witch . . . well, they don’t react well to that kind of ignominy.

What’s the only good witch in a school of wicked witches to do?

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book started out strong, but then soon fell a little short for me. It didn’t feel polished, had a lot of grammatical errors and felt rushed, more like the first draft of a book. With some work this book could be amazing. But as it is, it was really rushed and could do with some more explanations at points.

The characters were good but at times I was getting confused between some of them, especially Mildred’s Aunts.

The story switched to what felt like an entirely different story with a few of the same characters, and it happened really quickly.

I possibly would read the second book in this series if I came across it but I won’t go seeking it out.

2.5 stars out of 5.

ARC Review: Moletown

The talented author illustrator of Lindbergh The Tale of a Flying Mouse, returns iwth another illustrated tour de force.
Torben Kulhmann’s stunningly illustrated, nearly wordless tale offers a fascinating window into an imaginary, yet hauntingly familiar word under our feet, where a mole suddenly recognizes the precarious balance between progress and preservation. Kulhmann’s open ended text encourages thoughtful exploration into possible solutions, and his delightful endpapers depict a montage of solutions that could very well save the moles’ world and ours.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The illustrations were beautiful and very compelling. I did found it a little strange that there were not many words, most of the story was told by the pictures. It was a simple message, that expanding and surviving can kill the earth and it’s not always the best option, it can destroy what’s true.

It was a nice simple book.

3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Five Little Ducklings go to School

It s time for the five little ducklings to go to school. Four of the little ducklings shout, YIPPEE! HOORAY! OH BOY! THAT S COOL! The fifth little duckling sobs, BOO-HOO! I won t go to school! I m going to miss you! But when Mama reminds them, Even though we ll be apart, we ll still be in each other s heart, the little ducklings go forth and soon discover School is great! “

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved the bright colours and art work in this book. The story had a good message and the rhyming was well done and charming. I wanted the book to keep going, keep telling me the story of the five ducklings. I think kids would love this book, it’s quick and fun and has some great pictures for them too look at.

5 out 5 stars.

ARC Review: The Magic Straw Hat

The Magic Straw Hat is the story of a little girl named Caitie, who takes us on a journey full of adventure and excitement as she discovers her great-grandmother’s straw hat, and the magic it brings along for the ride. Drawing from her Irish roots and family memories, Karen Jonice Bricker combines the real experiences of three generations of women to tell the story of one enchanted afternoon. Like her great-grandmother’s arrival in America, Caitie faces many ups and downs, but she ultimately discovers a new-found hope, and a special friend. Join Caitie as she learns the true magic of her great-grandmother’s straw hat, and reveal a little true magic of your own.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The drawings in this book were beautiful and eye catching. I loved the way they faded at the edges. The story was simplistic but sweet. The writing was nothing too complex but nice. I think kids who like stories and want to start to read themselves will love this book. It’s not too complex and there’s enough pictures to keep them happy.

All in all, a great children’s book.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Little Red Riding Hood: An Interactive Fairytale

In a battle of wits, who will win? Little Red or the Wolf? The epic struggle between the two takes some unexpected twists in this fractured retelling of the beloved fairy tale. Who do you trust? What do you do? When You Choose the path through three new versions of this fairy tale, the consequences can be chilling, surprising, or disastrous.

*Readers determine the outcome of their favorite fairy tales!*Mix of modern, historic, and fantastical settings and scenarios*Multiple points of view make for multidimensional stories *More than 2 million copies sold in You Choose series overall.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I used to love this kind of book when I was younger, I could choose my story and found some really funny, exciting and silly situations happening.

I had high hopes for this, but it fell flat for me. It didn’t always fell like you were choosing what happens next, it felt like you were changing the situation and often for the worse. The story wasn’t very exciting and the writing style was not great.

The story felt jolting even if you were following just one set of story. Maybe children would enjoy it more but I am not so sure.

2 stars out of 5.

 

ARC Review: The Jumbies

A spine-tingling tale rooted in Caribbean folklore that will have readers holding their breath as they fly through its pages.

Corinne La Mer isn’t afraid of anything. Not scorpions, not the boys who tease her, and certainly not jumbies. They’re just tricksters parents make up to frighten their children. Then one night Corinne chases an agouti all the way into the forbidden forest. Those shining yellow eyes that followed her to the edge of the trees, they couldn’t belong to a jumbie. Or could they?

When Corinne spots a beautiful stranger speaking to the town witch at the market the next day, she knows something unexpected is about to happen. And when this same beauty, called Severine, turns up at Corinne’s house, cooking dinner for Corinne’s father, Corinne is sure that danger is in the air. She soon finds out that bewitching her father, Pierre, is only the first step in Severine’s plan to claim the entire island for the jumbies. Corinne must call on her courage and her friends and learn to use ancient magic she didn’t know she possessed to stop Severine and save her island home.

With its able and gutsy heroine, lyrical narration, and inventive twist on the classic Haitian folktale “The Magic Orange Tree,” The Jumbies will be a favorite of fans of Breadcrumbs, A Tale Dark and Grimm, and Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a nice easy to read children’s story. I think that it could have flowed a little better and the characters could have had more depth but other than that I really enjoyed it.

The story was exciting and is the kind that would be loved by children of all ages. I loved hoe Corrine was nice to animals (except scorpions) and she showed the same kindness to people. She wasn’t scared of stories that every one told her, she was practical and a great main character to read about.

The setting wash lush and exotic, I want to dive right in. I think it’s a great testament to the author when a reader wants to visit the setting and can imagine it clearly in their head.

It was good to see strong supportive adults who looked after the children even if they didn’t help them in their adventure.

3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: The Forbidden Library

Tags

fantasy, netgalley

The Forbidden Library kicks off an action-packed  fantasy series with classic appeal, a resourceful heroine, a host of magical creatures, and no shortage of narrow escapes–perfect for fans of Story Thieves, Coraline, Inkheart, and Harry Potter

Alice always thought fairy tales had happy endings. That–along with everything else–changed the day she met her first fairy

When Alice’s father goes down in a shipwreck, she is sent to live with her uncle Geryon–an uncle she’s never heard of and knows nothing about. He lives in an enormous manor with a massive library that is off-limits to Alice. But then she meets a talking cat. And even for a rule-follower, when a talking cat sneaks you into a forbidden library and introduces you to an arrogant boy who dares you to open a book, it’s hard to resist. Especially if you’re a reader to begin with. Soon Alice finds herself INSIDE the book, and the only way out is to defeat the creature imprisoned within.

It seems her uncle is more than he says he is. But then so is Alice.

I received a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was in love with the idea of this book before I started reading, once I started it was a little boring. It went from being great and I don’t want to stop reading to please let me stop reading this rubbish. It kept switching between the two. Which made me not enjoy it very much.

The story itself was fine, but the writing and the characters lacked depth and uniqueness at times. I had to force myself to finish this book (never a good sign). There were some good parts, it was a creative original idea. Which I really did want to know how it ended. I just wish it was a little shorter and less descriptive of stuff I really didn’t need to know about.

I do not think I will be continuing with the series although I would like to see where it goes.

3 out of 5 stars