Dive Into Magic: Our Enchanting Book/Author of the Week

  Hello Everyone! This weeks featured book/author is Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger

Photo Credit to amazon.com

Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

This book takes place in the mid 1800s and is about a girl named Sophronia who is failing to meet her mother's high expectations of her. She enjoys climbing and taking apart mechanical inventions, all hobbies that are frowned upon if done by a lady. Because of this, Sophronia's mother decides to send her away to a finishing school so that she can learn to be a proper lady in time for her sister's ball. However, when she gets there, she finds out that the school is not all that it seems. In addition to etiquette, the school also teaches espionage skills. They decide to give Sophronia a trial to see if she is suited for the school. Will she fail or succeed? 

My Opinion

This was a very interesting book, but I found the plot very complex and detailed which was why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. The way the story is woven, I instantly fell in love with the characters and I found myself rooting for Sophronia whenever she faced any difficult tasks. I loved the espionage part of the story, and I wanted more of the story even when it ended.

Age Rating

I wound recommend this book for ages 12/13+ depending on how advanced of a reader you are. The storyline is very complex, but thrilling, so you should be able to understand the book. 

This is a book series. The names of the books (in sequence) are:

Etiquette and Espionage- Book 1

Curtsies and Conspiracies- Book 2

Waistcoats and Weaponry- Book 3

Manners and Mutiny- Book 4

This is called the Finishing School Series.

This Week's Must-Read Book/Author

 Hello Everyone! This weeks featured book/author is City Spies by James Ponti

Photo Credit to amazon.com

Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

This book is about a young hacker named Sarah who is 12 years old and has just landed herself a court hearing. As she's explaining to her court given attorney that she only did it for the greater good, she is visited by a mysterious man who claims to be her actual attorney. Later, he explains that he works for the M16, a national spy organization, and he needs her help. He has a team of elite young spies from all around the world, getting ready for one of the most important missions they will ever face, and he needs to know if she's the one. The last person on their team. Sarah is faced with a decision, and what happens after she makes one, is a humorous and thrilling adventure.

My Opinion

I think this was one of the best novels I have ever read! This was definitely a great thriller and it kept me on the edge of my seat. I liked that it was realistic, and the characters personalities felt real and authentic. I loved the suspense, and the whole time, I was on the edge of my seat! The overall theme and the subtle hidden messages that were shown throughout the book were also great!

Age Rating

I would recommend this book for ages 10 and up. It has a very complex, but thrilling story line, and readers should be able to understand it. The vocabulary can also be advanced throughout the book. It is a wonderful read though, and can even be enjoyed by adults!

Book Buzz: Meet Our Book/Author of the Week!

 Hi everyone! This week's featured book/author is The Secret Grave by Lois Ruby.

Photo Credit to amazon.com

Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

This book is about a girl who is just trying to enjoy her summer, but that is difficult because her 2 best friends are going to different destinations for the summer and she is stuck in a new place. With her multiple siblings, nobody pays attention to her either. That all changes when she meets a new friend in the woods. Now she finally has somebody to spend the summer with. But the girl is not who she seems.....

My Opinion

This book was interesting, but at some points, it got a little overly creepy. At one point, her friends come back to meet her new friend, and after that, it got creepy. It was an extremely interesting concept though and there were many twists and turns as well.  It also kept you at the edge of your seat the whole time, and I kept wanting to know what happened next!

Age Rating

I would recommend this book for ages 10 and up. It might get a little frighting for kids younger than that and it might have vocabulary that is too difficult for younger kids.

Summer Reading Programs for 2021

 It's summertime, school's are out, and that means it's summer reading time! Summer Reading has been proven to help kids do better during the school year, and today I have complied a list of confirmed summer reading programs (with incentives!) for 2021.

Confirmed Programs for 2021

1. Your Public Library

Public libraries almost always have summer reading programs available with various incentives such as coupons, free books, special recognition, and more! Be sure to check out your local libraries and see if they have a program available.

2. Scholastic Summer Reading

Scholastic has a digital program available this year. All you have to do is register in Home Base, Which is their digital reading program. Then, you maintain a reading streak. The best part is, by keeping a reading streak, you help donate books to underprivileged kids who so not have access to books.

3. Chuck-E-Cheese Summer Reading

Chuck E Cheese has a summer reading program this year as well. All you have to do is keep track of your reading for 2 weeks on their reading calendar, and you receive 10 free play points. Please note that you have to purchase food in order to redeem this prize.

4. Barnes And Noble Summer Reading

If you read 8 books this summer, you can earn a free book at Barnes and Noble! You have to keep track of your reading by writing the book, author, and your favorite part of the book on this digital journal and then show it to a store associate to receive your free book. Please note that there are a select number of books you can choose from (they have excellent selection though) and this program is only open to Grades 1-6. If you have just completed 6th grade or you are going into 1st grade this fall, it still counts.

5. The New York Times Summer Reading Program

The New York Times magazine is also hosting a summer reading program this year, although it is more like a contest. If you read one of their articles, and explain why you enjoyed reading it or why it caught your attention, you will have a chance to be published on their website. They also provide a rubric and contest guidelines.

6. Camp Book It! Pizza Hut Summer Reading

Pizza Hut has a program that offers a complimentary personal pan pizza if you complete a certain amount of reading. Please keep in mind that a parent or guardian has to register for you.

7. TD Bank Summer Reading

If you are Grades K-5, then you can participate in this fun program! After reading 10 books, you get 10 dollars deposited to your savings account!

I hope you end up trying some of these amazing programs. Being a summer reader myself, I can assure you that you will have a fantastic time!

Discover the Magic: Spotlight on Our Book/Author of the Week!

 Hi everyone! This week's featured book/author is The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson.

Photo Credit to amazon.com

Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

This book is about a 12 year old girl named Candice who moves to the fictional town of Lambert, South Carolina to her deceased grandmother's old house. Her grandmother was fired as the first black woman city manager because of an incident nobody will tell Candice about. Throughout the book she is shown to have a passion and love for reading. The boy who lives down the street, shares her same interest which causes them to become friends. One day, they go up to her grandmother's old attic, where Candice finds a box addressed to her, and in it, she finds an old letter. It contains promises of a big fortune for the city and the person who finds it, but there's a catch. She has to solve a series of riddles about the history of Lambert to reach it. She tells Brandon, the boy who lives down the street, and together, they decide to find the fortune.

My Opinion

I loved this book. It had just the right amount of suspense, humor, action, and plot twists! I especially loved it because it was a mystery novel, my favorite genre! While the book doesn't talk about real events that occurred, the fictional events outline some of the most notable issues today, such as discrimination because of culture, and it promotes inclusivity and diversity. I enjoyed the plot twists and the character was very relatable at one point for me because it is shown that she moves from GA to SC.

Age Rating

I would recommend this book for ages 11 and up. It explores concepts such as racial discrimination and violence at some points. One character is also shown to be constantly drinking alcohol and kids should know the dangers and risks associated with alcohol before reading. The parents of the protagonist are shown to be divorced and the reason for that is revealed at the end. To live a better life, a character changes his outside appearance because of the current situations at the time it takes place, and kids should realize that it is important to always know that you were born to stand out, and not fit in! Lastly, there is a love story throughout some of the chapters. Overall, it is a wonderful and entertaining book though!

Weekly Book Wonder: Unveiling Our Featured Book/Author

 Hello Everyone! This week's featured book/author of the week is Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger. 

Photo Credit to Amazon.com

Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Synopsis

This book is about 12 year old, Sophie Elizabeth Foster. She is an extraordinary girl because she is a high school senior at the age of 12. She has a secret too. She's a telepath. Ever since she hit her head on the sidewalk at the age of 5, she's had the ability to hear what everyone around her is thinking, whether she likes it or not. Her whole world changes one day when she meets Fitz, a boy who tells her the truth about why she never felt like she belonged. She learns she's an elf. But even as an elf, dark secrets begin to unfold and Sophie learns disturbing truths about her past.....

My Opinion

This is currently my most favorite book series! Sophie is an awesome and relatable character, and the plot is really well-developed. Even though it is more like a fantasy book, it keeps older audiences on the edge of their seats. It also teaches good lessons throughout the series, such as how sometimes it is okay to ask for help. You always want to know what happened next and the cliffhangers will leave you yearning for more!

Age Rating

I would recommend this book for ages 10+. It shows a girl being separated from her family, it has several negative characters and contains a betrayal from one of the characters parents. It also shows one character constantly ditching class and ignoring schoolwork and this character also has a bad relationship with his father. There are many battles/scenes of violence. These things may affect/scare younger kids. Overall, it is a wonderful, but mature read!

This is a book series. The names of the books (in sequence) are:

Keeper of The Lost Cities- Book 1

Exile- Book 2

Everblaze- Book 3

Neverseen- Book 4

Lodestar- Book 5

Nightfall- Book 6

Flashback- Book 7

Legacy- Book 8

Unlocked- Book 8.5

Movie VS Book

 We all know that these days people love to watch movies. And a lot of movies, are based off of books. Today, I am going to be comparing 2 of the books to their movie counterparts. 

Harry Potter

One of the most well-known book-to-movie adaptations is Harry Potter. Many people even watch the movie instead of reading the book. Here are my thoughts:

Rating- ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Plot/Storyline & Thoughts- The Plot of this mostly aligned with the book. Some of the physical descriptions did not fully match (for instance, Hermoine's hair should have been a bit bushier), but most of the descriptions did. The emotions that you can feel in the book are beautifully portrayed, like the scene of Snape's memories. Overall, the movies are aligned with the books. I really enjoyed the character development and the special effects were just magical!

- Photo credit to artifice.com

Percy Jackson

Percy Jackson

Rating- ⭐

Plot/Storyline & Thoughts- I did not enjoy this book-to-movie adaptation! I was extremely excited when I found out there was a movie, as this is one of my all-time favorites, but the movie was disappointing. The plot of the book and movie do not align AT ALL! The book starts out with Percy being shown as a 12-year-old. In the movies, he is shown as 16 years old. The first scene of the movie gives away an important fact at the very beginning, and the book reveals it toward the end. This takes away the suspense. In the movie,  the big villain is not the same as the book, and this messes up the storyline. In the books, he is thought to be the villain but revealed to be innocent, as his weapon was taken as well.  The entire movie is centered around finding 3 green pearls, but the book was centered around finding the lightning bolt. And lastly, Percy seems to have A LOT of control over his power when he fights Luke. In the books, he is shown as powerless against him because he is not well-trained yet.

- Photo credit to foreveryoungadult.con

I wanted to add that if you have read: Keeper of The Lost Cities, a movie adaptation has been announced! It is unclear exactly when it will release, but fans are guessing around 2022, due to the pandemic. Which book would you like to see a movie adaptation of? comment down below! Thank you everyone!