Camp Midnight gets 4 Stars {middle grade fiction, graphic novel, 5th-8th grade}

Witches, Werewolves, Ghosts, and more monsters can be found in this quick summer read for 5th to 8th grade girls.  

Camp Midnight by Steven T. Seagle is a great book for reluctant readers, aka girls that don't like to read, b/c its full of colorful pictures so it isn't intimidating, and it is a fast read so it'll boost her self confidence.  

With the girl being the main character and the narrator of this book it is a book definitely geared towards girls.  Boys are always welcome to read it, but girls will be able to relate to the character better.  

Kids that have divorced parents with step-parents this book may be a good read and a relatable character, or they can at least laugh at how bad Skye's situation is.  

Simple, fast, colorful, and a good message makes for a 4 out of 5 stars for this middle grade fiction graphic novel.   I enjoy the simple illustrations with the colored pages.  I thought  the way Skye's character grew was one of the most impactful parts of the book and appropriate for the age group this book is geared toward. I loved the messages of being true to your self, and being there for your friends.  

The only negative aspect of Camp Midnight I felt was the choppiness and sometimes the randomness of the story.  The story in general jumped around at times and aspects of the story came out of nowhere.  Overall, I felt the writing wasn't the best, but I did enjoy the story and for that reason is why I think it'd make a great read for a girl who needs to relate to Skye's family situation (a mean step-mom, or a step-mom they don't like), a girl who needs to be reminded she is great just the way she is, or for a girl who doesn't like to read.

Books based at a summer camp, even if it is a camp for monsters, makes for a pretty great Summer Reading book.  

Happy Fast 5th-8th Grade Summer Camp Graphic Novel Reading! 


Camp Midnight by Steven T. Seagle
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 11 - 15 year olds, 5th though 8th grade girls
Worth a Check Out: Yes!
Buy It or Not: Buy, this summer if you have a girl who is not a fan of reading
Read Aloud: Not a great read aloud, but definitely has lit circle potential.
Lesson Ideas: Friendship, Be true to your self



I received this book from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my review and honest opinion.  All of my thoughts, opinions, and words are my own.

My Favorite Books of 2016 {Picture Books, Middle Grade Lit, YA Lit, Adult Fiction, Non-Fiction}

I read, listen, and review a few books every year.  Okay, more than a few.  I've read the good, bad, and even ugly books this past year; but that is the hazard of being a bookworm. 

These 15 books are all great books.  If you haven't read them you should definitely add all of these to your "to read" pile for 2017. 

My 15 Favorite Books of 2016

Picture Books

Hug Machine by Scott Campbell

The Hug Machine will hug the big, small, or spikey; he hugs everyone. He is the Hug Machine, and his story is sweet and fun for boys and girls alike.  

The Lion Inside by Rachel Bright

Every one has a lion and a mouse inside.  This story of bravery, courage, doing hard things, and friendship is a sweet one that will definitely earn a spot on your bookshelves.  

Mother Bruce by Ryan T. Higgins

Bruce, a bear, is hungry and grumpy, but he's a lot softer than he thinks. 

Please, Mr. Panda by Steve Antony

Donuts and a fun, simple, and effective book on using good manners.  This book is a win for preschoolers as well as older kids.  A fun read aloud for many ages.

Middle Grade Fiction

Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics by Chris Grabenstein

These Lemoncello books are so fun for the bookworms and puzzle fans.  These books are fun and magical in a non-magical way.  

For my review click here.

Summerlost by Ally Condie

A clean and wonderfully told story of summer fun, freedom, and friendship.

For my review click here.

The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley

An absolutely fantastic WWII historical fiction with great character development as well as a creative and inspiring story.  A must read. 

For my review click here. 

Young Adult Literature

Flawed by Cecelia Ahern

A dystopian novel that will keep you quickly turning the pages and keeping you guessing the storyline.  Book 2, Perfect, comes out in 2017

For my review click here. 

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

This book is a little bit mystery and a lot of fun to read about the adventures and trouble Digby and Zoe get themselves into.  

For my review click here. 

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

A fractured tale of The Arabian Nights. This first in the series book will have you reading late into the night.  This is a fast paced creative and unique story. 

For my review click here. 

Adult Literature

Black Eyed Susans by Julia Heaberlin

This mystery is so well written it will keep you guessing until the last chapter.  

For my review click here. 

   

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling

 I just love Harry Potter, and though this wasn't as good as the series it was fun to reminisce with the characters we've all come to love.  

For my review click here. 

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This WWII historical fiction story is absolutely amazing; it was probably my favorite book of the year.  If you have not read this book do so now.  Amazing!

For my review click here. 

Non-Fiction

I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time by Laura Vanderkam

I suggest listening to this book as you multi-task.  For the busy woman who wants to do it all (family, work, hobbies, etc.) this book will inspire you and give you ideas on how to do it.  

March: Book Two by John Lewis

I loved Book 1, and Book 2 was great as well.  This civil rights graphic novel is enlightening and inspiring.  I loved learning new things about the Civil Rights Movement and being able to read this book super fast. 

For my review click here. 

These are my favorite books of 2016, what were some of your favorites? 


Happy Fabulous Book Reading in 2017!

Written and Drawn by Henrietta gets 4.5 Stars

"A box of colored pencils is as close as you get to owning a piece of the rainbow." (pg 7) That may have been one of my favorite first lines to start a juvenile/kids book, and Written and Drawn by Henrietta by Liniers is the winner of that accomplishment. 

That line is the beginning of a fun story about how fun creating and writing a story can be.  This graphic novel/comic would be a great resource for teachers especially for second and third graders.  This Toon Book is the third one I've reviewed, and it is my favorite one as of yet.  
   
Written and Drawn by Henrietta gets 4.5 Stars in my book review. I think the story is fun, and the concept of the girl writing the story is even better.  I love that the book shows the writing process, and that writing can be a lot of fun.  I love the creativity the main character, Henrietta shows in writing her cute story. However, that is probably the teacher side of me coming out. 

The above picture shows the one qualm I have with this book.  I like that the story Henrietta writes uses drawn pictures so you can tell the difference.  However, I think Henrietta's illustrations are too rough and a little frightening looking.  The somewhat scary pictures almost pushed me away from the story, and I am not sure I would have picked this book up on my own b/c of them.  Written and Drawn by Henrietta is great, but if I were to do publish the book again I would've changed Henrietta's drawn pictures.

Amazon has the following book description: 

"Reading books is fun . . . but what about making them? Armed with new colored pencils, Henrietta's ready to try. Peek over her shoulder as she draws the story of a brave young girl, a three-headed monster, and an impossibly wide world of adventure. Whether read aloud to a toddler or discovered by a young reader, Liniers' celebration of the creative process is sure to make everyone want to bring out their pencils." 


If you have a reluctant reader, aka a 2nd or 3rd grader who doesn't enjoy reading or writing for that matter, then give Written and Drawn by Henrietta a check-out.  

Happy Graphic Novel/Comic/Toon Book reading! 


I received this book from Myrick Marketing in exchange for my review.  All words, thoughts, and opinions are my own. 

The Real Poop on Pigeons! gets 4 Stars {Comic} {Non-Fiction}

The Real Poop on Pigeons! by Kevin McCloskey is a non-fiction simple comic like book that is perfect for boys and girls alike.  I loved learning many things about pigeons, which to be honest I didn't have the highest opinion of before.  However, I do think differently   I'm sure glad I got this book from Myrick Marketing for my honest opinion and review, b/c I would not have picked this one up on my own.  

I have thoroughly enjoyed The Real Poop on Pigeons!  It is a great informational comic book. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  I liked the content and the pictures.  I felt the format of the book was great for someone who doesn't like to read.  I liked that this book gives teachers and librarians the opportunity to really teach from it.  The Real Poop on Pigeons! is engaging for students, challenging, but not overwhelming.  There's many things that I like about this book which is why it earned a higher rating.  

I absolutely love the inside cover; I love when the inside covers have great details and look pretty.  It just makes me happy to see such detail.  I feel McClosky did a great job with the pictures/illustrations.   He was consistent with the style of writing and illustrations throughout.  Like in the image below the pictures truly enhance the book.

I feel the facts presented in the book were great.  Facts, and how they are presented, are what take informational texts from good to great.  Did you know pigeons carried mail?   

My biggest qualm with this book came with Toon Book's reading level system.  I first found this chart in the very back of the book.  I thought it was great looking chart, but I actually had a difficult time finding what level The Real Poop on Pigeons! was.  I couldn't find any reference on the front, spine, or even inside the book anywhere.  It wasn't until I found it on the Toon Books website and then noticed Level 1 was written on the back of the book above the ISBN.  

I definitely didn't like how difficult it was to find the level of a "Leveled" book, but when I finally did find the level I have to disagree with it.  This book is short in the number of words, has short sentences, and meets the other bullet points under Level 1.  However, the content of the book is a little high for Kindergarten and 1st graders.  I would say this book is better geared to 2nd-5th graders.  This would be a good book for reluctant readers b/c it is short and easy to read. 

Amazon had the following book description to get you even more excited about the book: 

"Did you know a pigeon can fly faster than a car and farther than a small airplane? Or that they have something unusual in common with penguins, flamingos, and even the dodo? With his trademark mix of humor, well-researched facts, and artistry, Kevin McCloskey delivers the straight poop on these humble creatures, which turn out to be...coo, coo, COOL!

Kevin McCloskey, who teaches illustration at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, learned about pigeons from Vinnie Torre, one of Hoboken’s last pigeon racers. He dedicated this book to his children, even if his daughter is a little skittish on the subject since a flock of pigeons descended on the family during a visit to London’s Trafalgar Square. He says he considered painting the pictures here on roofing material (because pigeons flock to roofs) but settled instead for painting on a pigeon-blue Fabriano paper, the kind used by Picasso."

Go check this book out! It's a great book for parents, teachers, and librarians to add to their collection especially if you have a bird fan or a non-fiction book reader.  Just so you know, most young kids love non-fiction b/c it is relatable.  Kids see pigeons, and this book allows them to use a reading strategy and connect this book to their world and/or lives.

Check back Friday for my review of We Dig Worms! another informational comic book by McCloskey.


Happy Pigeon Reading in Beginner Comic Format!