Monday 25 January 2016

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-Secrets of Valhalla by Jasmine Richards

Happy Middle-Grade Monday all!  Loved this one.

Secrets of Valhalla by Jasmine Richards


From Goodreads:  Two friends awaken a world of myth and magic in this clever middle-grade fantasy perfect for fans of Rick Riordan and Anne Ursu.

It’s not every day that you find a famous weatherwoman bound by magic to a tree deep in the woods. Or discover that the weatherwoman is, in fact, Sunna, the Norse Goddess of the Sun, and one of the seven-day guardians who keep time in order. But that’s just what happens to new friends Buzz and Mary—and it’s only the start of their adventure.

Now, as the people of Earth are forced to repeat the same Saturday over and over again, Buzz and Mary must journey to collect the Runes of Valhalla and awaken the other day guardians, before vengeful god Loki can get to them first.

Last week I was bought this book on its book birthday (oh the joy of e-books!), read it, will be getting it as I continue to work on developing my library's middle-grade collection. The author pulls you immediately into the story and keeps you turning those pages. Not only that, there was an ease of reading that was not bogged now by the all important details needed to ensure enough is known about Norse Mythology.  Speaking of that mythology, I just love how the author had it manifest itself in the real world with sleeping gods and a town and characters with secrets galore and a boy who doesn't think he's smart enough. The unexpected twist (well, those usually are unexpected) was well played and totally believable. Must say, I love it when an author has you thinking you've guessed something (a big something) and you are a little bit right but the real truth is a whoa moment. This is one I know is going to be a favorite. 

As always, if you are looking for more MMGM, head back to Shannon Messenger's blog!




Monday 18 January 2016

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-The Goblin's Puzzle by Andrew S. Chilton

Hello and Happy MMGM all. Today is all about The Goblin's Puzzle :Being the Adventure of a Boy With No Name and Two Girls Named Alice by Andrew S. Chilton. I read the ARC from Net Galley and am looking forward to putting the actual book in students hands. Thinking they are going to like (and appreciate!)the cast of characters, the wit, the humour, the magic, the adventure and how the author weaves it all together.

From Goodreads:


Brimming with dragons, goblins, and logic puzzles, this middle-grade fantasy adventure is perfect for readers who enjoyed The Princess Bride or Rump.

THE BOY is a nameless slave on a mission to uncover his true destiny.
THE GOBLIN holds all the answers, but he’s too tricky to be trusted.
PLAIN ALICE is a bookish peasant girl carried off by a confused dragon.
And PRINCESS ALICE is the lucky girl who wasn’t kidnapped.

All four are tangled up in a sinister plot to take over the kingdom, and together they must face kind monsters, a cruel magician, and dozens of deathly boring palace bureaucrats. They’re a ragtag bunch, but with strength, courage, and plenty of deductive reasoning, they just might outwit the villains and crack the goblin’s puzzle.


As I read I am sure I was constantly smiling and laughing out loud. The wit and humour (as I know I've already mentioned) in this was fabulous. Had many a moment of thinking that not only is this a great middle grade fantasy for recommending to my grade seven and eight students (I'm in a 7-12 school) but it is one I would love to read out loud. So many favorite moments. One of the most favorite is the conversation between Ludwig (dragon) and Plain Alice (mistaken Princess) and how they each see the world. And Ludwig in general...just love that dragon. Add this to your TBR if you've not already done so.

This book and all books I read this year will be part of my #Read16in16 adventure which I am doing with staff and students at my school (#cobrasread!) and also part of #sixtybooks. Going to be a fun reading year. Well, it's always a fun reading year...

Looking for more Marvelous Middle Grade to add to your TBR pile? Check out these MMGM links provided by Shannon Messenger!

Sunday 10 January 2016

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday-Alistair Grim's Oddaquaticum by Gregory Funaro

Time for the second Marvelous Middle Grade Monday of 2016. Hope everyone is enjoy their so far reading this year. I know I certainly am!

As I am typing this up I am anticipating tomorrow's Live Webcast of ALA's Youth Media Awards. Happily I should be able to watch it all before heading to work.

This week it's all about Gregory Funaro's  ALISTAIR GRIM'S ODDAQUATICUM


From Goodreads: When Grubb, an orphan and runaway chimney sweep, entered the wondrous world of the Odditorium, his life changed forever. Apprenticed to the mechanical marvel’s strange proprietor, Alistair Grim, Grubb unfortunately must settle into his new position on the lam, as the whole of London is convinced that Alistair Grim is a villain bent on mass destruction. Grim, however, has come up with a plan to expose the real villain: Prince Nightshade, a wicked necromancer who wants the Odditorium’s power source for himself.

With the evil prince hot on their trail, Grim, Grubb and the rest of the Odditorium's crew embark on a perilous adventure to find the legendary sword Excalibur: the only weapon capable of penetrating Nightshade's magical suit of armor. As expected, their quest turns out to be anything but ordinary. Not only can the Odditorium fly, but it can also swim! And so the crew battens down the hatches and sets off on an underwater voyage to the otherworldly realm of Avalon, home to Excalibur. Along the way, they must battle a banshee assassin, sea monsters, and a witch who seeks revenge on Alistair Grim for stealing her magical objects.

But that’s not all. Unbeknownst to Grubb and the others, their fate has been written in an ancient Avalonian prophecy—a prophecy that holds the key to a destiny not even Alistair Grim could have possibly imagined.
 


I received a copy of this via Net Galley. Here's what I wrote when I was done:

The author has yet again let loose with his imagination and crafted a story filled with characters and settings young readers will love. Glad to be adding book two to our collection and certainly looking forward to more adventures  from Grubb, his father and all their companions.

To that I will add that I am impressed that the author can blend together so many different fantastical elements and make it work. Something for everyone without leaving you with a feeling it is too much. Naturally, I now await book three!

Don't forget to head back to Shannon Messenger's for more Marvellous Middle Grade Monday links!


Monday 4 January 2016

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday, #Read16in16, #Sixtybooks

2016 here we are! I am getting back into the blogging swing of things.

To start the year off I am taking part in #Read16in16 & #Sixtybooks.

You can find out more about #Read16in16 at 1000 Conversations. And more about #Sixtybooks at
Sixty Books!

With 2016 upon me I am also looking forward to catching up with the Marvelous Middle Grade Monday crew. Seems only right, then, that my first read for the above challenges is a fantasitic fantasy called Odditorium by Gregory Funara.


From GoodreadsGrubb, age twelve (or thereabouts), has never known anything beyond his miserable existence as a chimney sweep, paid only in insults and abuse by his cruel master. All of that changes the day he stows away in the coach belonging to a mysterious guest at the inn that he is tasked with cleaning. Grubb emerges from Alistair Grim's trunk and into the wondrous world of the Odditorium. Fueled by a glowing blue energy that Grubb can only begin to understand, the Odditorium is home to countless enchanted objects and an eccentric crew that embraces Grubb as one of their own. There's no time for Grubb to settle into his new role as apprentice to the strange, secretive Mr. Grim. When the Odditorium comes under attack, Grubb is whisked off on a perilous adventure. Only he can prevent the Odditorium's magic from falling into evil hands—and his new family from suffering a terrible fate. Grubb knows he's no hero. He's just a chimney sweep. But armed with only his courage and wits, Grubb will confront the life-or-death battle he alone is destined to fight.

A delightful read that wonderful captures the England of Dickens. The voice of Grubb is the perfect vehicle to tell this story. I swear I heard that boy talking in my head. Looking forward to booktalking this one. And especially delighted that I can see so many tie-ins for the study unit that grade seven does on The Christmas Carol and Victorian England. A bonus on a book I would book talk irregardless!

I am halfway through book two in this series which comes out tomorrow. More on that next week.

Happy Reading in 2016 all! And...Happy Marvelous Middle Grade Monday! Looking for mor MMGM reads? Head on back to Shannon Messenger's Blog...

#ReadtheNorth

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