Almost Super/Searching for Super by Marion Jensen

 Posted by  Book Reviews
May 122015
 

18090043Almost Super

Author: Marion Jensen

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: January 21st, 2014

ISBN13: 9780062209610

Hardcover: 256 pages

FTC FYI: I purchased both copies of these books.

Reviewed by Mindy

Summary

Savvy meets The Incredibles in this fresh, funny middle-grade debut about two brothers in a family of superheroes who must find a way to be heroic despite receiving powers that are total duds.

Each leap year, on February 29th, at 4:23 p.m., every member of the Bailey family over the age of twelve gets a superpower. No one knows why, and no one questions it. All the Baileys know is that it’s their duty to protect the world from those evil, supervillainous Johnsons.

Today, Rafter Bailey and his brother Benny are finally going to get their superpowers. Benny wants to be a speedy, and Rafter hopes he gets super strength so he can save the day just like his grandfather. But when their powers arrive, they are, well, duds. Rafter can light matches on polyester, and Benny can turn his innie belly button into an outie.

Suddenly Rafter and Benny’s world is turned upside down. Especially when they realize that Juanita Johnson, the villain in Rafter’s algebra class, thinks that her family are the superheroes and the Baileys are the villains.

What if everything Rafter thought he knew about superheroes turns out to be a lie? He may not have an awesome power, but with the help of Benny and an unexpected friend, he could just be almost super.

Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

22138360

Searching for Super

Author: Marion Jensen

Publisher: Harper Collins

Published: January 20th, 2015

ISBN13: 97800622009580

Hardcover: 256 pages

Summary

Rafter and Benny Bailey are back in this laugh-out-loud follow-up to Almost Super, which Kirkus Reviews called “fluent, funny, and eminently sequel-worthy,” perfect for fans of Pixar’s The Incredibles.

The superheroes of Split Rock are hunkering down, which is really just a fancy way of saying they’re hiding. Ever since those supervillainous Joneses took away their real powers, the Baileys and the Johnsons have been living in fear. But Rafter has had a taste of what saving the day feels like, and now he’s desperate to do something important.

So when he gets an opportunity to fight with a real superpower–as long as he promises not to tell his parents–he is going to take it, no questions asked. With the help of his brother Benny, his cousin Thimon, and his best friend, Juanita, Rafter Bailey is searching for super.

Filled with heart and humor, Searching for Super is a family adventure of heroic proportions.

Purchase Links: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My Review

This series will go down as an all-time favorite of mine.  I loved it.  I love, love, love middle grade fantasy books, and these books are why!  (I know I say that a lot, but it’s true:)  They are full of adventure, fun, humor, hilarious one-liners, super heroes with awesome super powers, and heart.  What more could you ask for?  Each book is full of fun twists and turns, but what I loved most in each book was the way the characters stuck up for one another and united with their love for family and friendship.  I can’t summarize one book without giving the other away, but trust me, this is a series your kids and you will love.

5 out of 5 stars.

Author Links

Goodreads / Twitter / Website

 

Table Talk by John and Tina Bushman – Blog Tour

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Shanda's Reviews
Feb 052013
 

Table Talk

Authors: John and Tina Bushman

Publisher: Plain Sight Publishing/Cedar Fort, Inc.

Published Date: February 12, 2013

Softcover; 210 pages

Genre: Nonfiction

ISBN# 978-1-4621-1146-6

Reviewed by: Shanda

FTC FYI: received a free review PDF in exchange for an honest review

Summary

Nothing has a greater or more lasting impact on children than their parents, yet our society tries to weaken that influence. Talking and teaching are two things best done at home. Using hundreds of fun questions and quotes from this book, watch as your family comes together to discuss the most important issues of life—patriotism, values, fun, faith, and more.

Review

Dinnertime in my family often includes passing around the “conversation jar,” an old glass peanut butter jar full of strips of paper with questions and trivia designed to start family discussion. When the opportunity came to review Table Talk, I jumped at the chance, curious to see how the questions compared to our usual verbal dinnertime fare.

I was delighted to find a wide variety of subjects covered, from civil issues and practical matters (like emergency preparedness) to more personal and spiritual questions designed to explore deeper issues. I like the related quotes on each page, some of which are humorous. The day I received the review PDF I presented some of the new material to my family. The second question in the book (“Have you ever had someone close to you die?”) as well as the follow-up questions (“What were your feelings at the time? What do you believe happens to a person’s soul when they die?”) gave my husband and I the opportunity to check in with our children and discuss how they were feeling about Grandma passing away now that some time has gone by. We had a great conversation with our older daughters that went beyond the scope of those initial three questions.

The next night’s question (“My most embarrassing moment was when _______.”) provided a welcome change from the heavy discussion of the night before. My older kids had a good laugh at my expense. And, no, I’m not going to share my most embarrassing moment in this post. Let’s just say both my pride and my hands and knees were bruised that night.

I appreciate the open-ended format, especially about topics that I hadn’t considered asking my kids. “What responsibilities do individual states have?” and “If you could ask God one question, what would your question be?” are just two examples. With some questions I will have to do some research online beforehand, especially in regard to the more political and academic subjects. (Hey, it’s been a while since high school AP Government class. I’m a little rusty.)

I am excited to continue our nightly dinnertime conversations with Table Talk. I highly recommend it to families of all shapes and sizes.

Find Table Talk:  AMAZON | BARNS & NOBLE | DESERET BOOK | GOODREADS

 

 

 

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah Wilson

 Posted by  Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Sep 262012
 

The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back

Author: Sariah Wilson

Publisher: Fire & Ice Books

Published: August 15, 2012

ebook: 194 pages

Genre: YA General

ASIN: B008YIE740

FTC FYI: Review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary:  Everyone knows how all those fairy tales go. The princess gets beautiful, nabs her prince, falls instantly in love, lives happily ever after and leaves her evil stepsisters in the dust.

But what happens when you’re the ugly stepsister and your obnoxiously perfect—read pretty, smart, and, worst of all, sickeningly nice—stepsister is dating the charming, tall, devastatingly handsome guy you’ve had a thing for since you were nine years old?

Quirky, artistic and snarky Mattie Lowe does not lead a charmed life. Her mother is constantly belittling her on Skype. Mercedes, the school mean girl, has made it her personal mission to torment Mattie. But worst of all? Her stepsister Ella is the most beautiful, popular girl in school and is dating Mattie’s secret longtime crush, Jake Kingston.

Tired of being left out and done with waiting for her own stupid fairy godmother to show up, Mattie decides to change her life. She’ll start by running for senior class president against wildly popular Jake.

Ella can keep her Prince Annoying. Mattie’s going to rule the school.

And no one, not even a cute and suddenly flirty Jake, is going to stop her.

My Review

I was asked to read The Ugly Stepsister Strikes Back by Sariah before it came out in July.  Even just reading the first page, I knew I would enjoy it immensely!  The characters were so well written and very fun.  Mattie was so funny, oh, the things that went through her head sometimes.  Jake and Mattie end up in detention together, and he thinks he can use his charms to get Mattie to do something for him.  Boy, was he wrong.  I liked Mattie because she was strong, and she doesn’t let herself be taken for granted.  Even by the guy who she has liked for years.  As much as I liked Mattie though, Ella stole the show for me.  She is genuinely a great person, and such a sweetheart.  I laughed out loud many times, and smiled throughout.  I also asked Sariah if my teenage daughter could read it too, and she loved it just as much as I did.  Here is what Michalla had to say.

The characters were fun to get to know.  I laughed a ton.  It was so fun to read, and I loved every minute of it.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars.  Everything about this book is fun and anything that makes you smile this much is worth it.  What I liked most were the strong female characters.  Sariah has written several books.  Find out more about her on Goodreads and her Blog.

AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE / IBOOKS / SMASHWORDS / KOBO

 

Demons by Heather Frost — Blog Tour

 Posted by  Blog Tours, Book Reviews, Mindy's Reviews
Sep 052012
 

HARDCOPY GIVEAWAY!

Demons

Author: Heather Frost

Publisher: Cedar Fort

Publish Date: September 11, 2012

ISBN13: 9781462110346

Genre: YA Fantasy

Hardcover: 432 pages

FTC FYI: Review PDF copy

Reviewed by Mindy

Goodreads Summary: Kate’s life is far from normal. She can see auras, her boyfriend is immortal, and her powers make her a target. But now that the Demon Lord is hunting her, things are about to go from dangerous to truly deadly. Packed with action, mind-blowing plot twists, and characters you can’t get enough of, this is a fast-paced, heart-pounding read from cover to cover.

My Review

I was so excited when I was asked to participate in this blog tour.  I really enjoyed Seers, and I was anxiously awaiting the next chapter in Kate and Patrick’s story.  There is still the danger of Kate being hunted, but knowing who to trust is a big challenge.  There are secrets, and many twists and turns.  I really, really enjoyed how Heather took this story to many levels.  Kate is a Seer, she can see auras, but there is something special about her that makes her wanted by the Demon Lord.  Far Darrig is back, and he has a secret too.  Toni is back too, and is still a favorite.  Even in serious situations, he’s cracking the jokes.  Demons gives the reader more to enjoy with Patrick’s and Kate’s relationship.  There is a great mystery involving the Guardians.  It is rumored that some Guardians are getting sick, and dying off.  How can an immortal being die?  The climax of this book is a gripping page turner, and the epilogue had me shocked, it BLEW ME AWAY.

5 out of 5 stars.  I got to a point where I could not stop reading, and I’ll say it again.  The ending of this book is one of the best I’ve ever read.

Read more about Heather on her website.  Follow her on Facebook, and her Facebook Fan Page, and Goodreads.

Pre-order Demons at AMAZON / BARNES AND NOBLE

I am very pleased to announce that I will be giving away a Hardcover copy of Demons (US Only). Thank you Cedar Fort!  Just leave a thoughtful comment below, and you’re entered! Good Luck.  Contest ends September 12, 2012.