The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters by Frank L. Cole — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Feb 132013
 

The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters

Author: Frank L. Cole

Published: June 2009

Publisher: Bonneville Books (Cedar Fort)

ISBN: 978-1-59955-303-0

Paperback: 99 pages

FTC FYI: Checked out from the library

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary

Meet Hashbrown Winters. Like any typical Pordunce Elementary fifth grader, he’s got a story. Actually he has several. There’s the story of how he got his nickname, the story of how his treehouse club became one of the most popular groups at school, and, of course, the story of his untimely demise after a mishap with the beloved pet cockroach of Pordunce’s walking death dealer, Hambone Oxcart. Will Hashbrown be able to convince Pordunce’s own mob boss, Cordovo Figanewty, to offer him protection? Or are his days at Pordunce about to come to a swift and painful end? In this hilarious debut novel from Frank L. Cole, every kid who’s any kid has a nickname, and half the fun of the story is figuring out how they got it. The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters will keep kids and parents alike laughing out loud, groaning in sympathy, and turning pages until well past bedtime.

Back Cover

There I stood, hiding next to the vending machines, disguised as a potted plant.  I brushed the plastic leaves from my face and stared down the hallway toward the front double doors.  Snow Cone always said this ridiculous costume would come in handy one day.

Fifteen minutes had passed since the last student left for the buses, but I wasn’t about to take any chances.  Not with my life hanging in the balance.  Leaning forward, I peered around the corner just as the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway.  Was this it?  Could this be him?  Was I about to be pulverized by Hambone while wearing an emergency disguise I had just pulled from my locker?

My Review

The Adventures of Hashbrown Winters is the first book in the Hashbrown series.  Book 4 is coming out soon, so Frank is touring all of these books before it’s release.  Watch for my reviews for all 4 books!

Hashbrown is quite the character.  Pordunce Elementary is school full of kids with nicknames.  You have to earn your nickname in this school.  I thought Hashbrown’s friend “Whiz” had the best name (for obvious reasons).  As the story progresses, Hashbrown finds himself in trouble with the school bully and his hissing cockroach.  The things that Hashbrown has to do to fix his problems are hilarious, even consulting with the school’s mafia.  Yes, mafia.

This book is darling.  I had a smile on my face the whole time I was reading.  It is perfect for your middle grade reader, even you.  Frank Cole is a pal, and I know that he is a funny guy.  You can tell that in his writing.  There are many phrases where I was laughing out loud.  I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.

4 out of 5 stars.  Frank is also the author of Guardians of the Hidden Scepter and Guardians of Elijah’s Fire series.  They are also very good as well.

Author Links

Website / Blog / Facebook / Twitter

Purchase Links

Cedar Fort / Amazon / Barnes and Noble / Deseret Book

 

 

 

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Nov 212012
 

Wonder

Author: R.J. Palacio

Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

Published: February 14th, 2012

ISBN: 978-0-375-86902-0

Hardcover: 310 pages

FTC FYI: Borrowed from the libray

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary:  “I won’t describe what I look like. Whatever you’re thinking, it’s probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He’s about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you’ve ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie’s just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he’s just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.”

My Review

I read this book for Book Club in August.  I honestly was hesitant to read it.  I had to ask my friend Marnie many times if it was painful to read.  I was worried that August would be beat up a lot, or constantly tormented by the kids at school, I was wrong.  There was teasing, and surprise looks by those seeing Auggie for the first time.  This was a wonder from start to finish.  It should be required reading for preteens, and teens, just so they are aware of what even the slightest action can do.   Auggie, Mom, and Dad, Via (his sister), Jack, Summer, even Daisy the dog were a delight.  I cried many times, but not from pity for August.  I was happy for him.  The ending, wow, get your kleenex.  Of course, any book with as many Star Wars references as this had, I was an instant fan.

I had many favorite lines from the book, but this was my favorite.  Every month Auggie’s English teacher gave the kids a precept to write about.  October’s was “Your Deeds are Your Monuments”.  This was Auggie’s reply.

This precept means that we should be remembered for the things we do.  The things we do are the most important things of all.  They are more important than what we say or what we look like.  The things we do outlast our mortality.  The things we do are like monuments that people build to honor heroes after they’ve died.  They’re like the pyramids that the Egyptians built to honor the pharaohs.  Only instead of being made out of stone, they’re made out of the memories people have of you.  That’s why your deeds are like your monuments.  Built with memories instead of with stone.

Good, huh?  The whole book is like that.

5 out of 5 stars.  This is the author’s first book.  She did a phenomenal job.  Wonder is also one of the best books I’ve read all year.  It will be in my Top 10 of 2012.  Here is her website link, and Twitter follow. Enjoy.