House of Secrets

The House of Secrets
by Brad Meltzer and Tod Goldberg

I am a fan of Brad Meltzer. It is NOT a secret in my house. I love not only his adult books, but also his children's books. If you don't know the children's series, Ordinary People Change the World, you MUST get them. I follow Brad on Facebook, Twitter, and we have actually corresponded with him via email. I am NOT a stalker, but I will be at the same conferences where he will be speaking this summer. No worries. I have already notified him that I will be at both locations. I want to get my books signed and to meet this masterful writer in person.

As soon as Brad started sending out teaser for The House of Secrets I knew I didn't want to read any of the chapters he was releasing on Facebook. I would not be able to stand the wait for the book to be published. Thankfully I was lucky enough to get an advanced electronic copy of the book. I was immediately hooked and desperately did not want the story to end.

I have to say in the beginning I was a bit concerned about the collaboration of Brad and Tod Goldberg. To be perfectly honest I did not know Goldberg. When I looked him up, I discovered he has written five books based on the characters from the USA television series Burn Notice, as well as other books including Living Dead Girl. I now have a new author and titles to add to my ever growing To Be Read list. Their collaboration reads seamlessly, as if they were writing as one. The only criticism I have for the book is in the use of the FBI Agent's name. They go back and forth between his given name Trevor Rabkin and his nickname Rabbit. Sometimes using both in one paragraph. That was a bit confusing, but it does not hold the storyline back by any means.

If you are a fan of the Culper Ring series with Beecher White, you will enjoy Hazel Nash as the heroine. Only knowing the book had something to do with Benedict Arnold, I thought it was a new title in the Culper Ring series. It is not, however White makes a "guest appearance" in this book. I do foresee a continued partnership between Meltzer and Goldberg. I would love to see more books featuring Hazel. She is a strong character with a great deal more to share about her past and to discover with her future. I am placing my order for more "episodes" of House of Secrets please.

The House of Secrets will be released on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

**To comply with new guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Grand Central Publishing has provided a complimentary electronic copy of The House of Secrets for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the authors or the publisher.

Puppy Mind

Puppy Mind
written by Andrew Jordan Nance; illustrated by Jim Durk

Puppy Mind, written by Andrew Jordan Nance and illustrated by Jim Durk, makes a unique comparison of a child's mind to that of a puppy. You may say, what a weird comparison, but through the rhyming text and colorful illustrations the reader can easily follow this child's explanation and justify the comparison.

Whether because of boredom or a diagnosed attention disorder, children (and adults) can often find themselves daydreaming. Nance explains the feelings of losing time through a lack of concentration and the frustration felt by the young boy when his mind begins to wander. Through breathing exercises the boy is able to regain control over his "puppy mind".  I think this will be a useful book for parents and teachers at the beginning of the school year in helping students to focus on learning. 

Attention disorders are not a laughing matter and can be very difficult for a person to overcome. Puppy Mind is a great way to help educators and parents understand the very real symptoms faced by children who suffer from these conditions, while providing children a technical which might help them focus.

**To comply with new guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Parallax Press, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this title for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publishing company.

Summer Reading Kick-off

I've Got Sand in All the Wrong Places
by Lisa Scottoline & Francesca Serritella

I can't think of a better way to start my summer reading than with Lisa Scottoline and her daughter Francesca Serritella's new book I've Got Sand in All the Wrong Places! I have been friends with Lisa and Francesca for a number of years ~ I am one of their readers and according to Lisa if I'm a reader, I'm a friend! I will definitely accept that friendship.

This is their seventh compilation of essays and it is a perfect summer read for the beach or the couch. I love reading about the new products Lisa discovers, the reflections mother and daughter share, and the hilarity of being a Flying Scottoline. I will say I shed a tear a few times during this read, but for the most part I laughed. In one chapter I laughed and got a little sick all at the same time. (Once you read the book, I bet you will have the same reaction. Those who have read it will know exactly what chapter I referencing!)

If you haven't read one of these mother / daughter collaborations, I encourage you to start this summer. I've Got Sand in All the Wrong Places will be released on July 12, 2016, so between now and then you have time to read the others.

• My Nest Isn't Empty, It Just Has More Closet Space
• Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog
• Meet Me at Emotional Baggage Claim
• Best Friends, Occasional Enemies
• Have  Nice Guilt Trip
• Does This Beach Make Me Look Fat?

* To comply with new guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, St. Martin Press Publishing has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this title for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the authors or publishing company.

Coloring Through Loss & Healing

As a coloring and bibliotherapy fan, Colors of Loss and Healing: An Adult Coloring Book for Getting Through Tough Times by Dr. Deborah S. Derman, spoke to me immediately. I was moved by Dr. Derman's Introduction. The strength shown through her own loss and healing can be a source of power and inspiration for anyone dealing with a difficult situation.  Each coloring page features a word or words to provide "a blueprint toward healing and recovery". Dr. Derman asks the reader / colorer to focus on the words and reflect on the their meaning to you as you begin to heal.

The beautiful images, created by Lisa Powell Braun, are shown as full page illustrations. Based on the electronic copy I am reviewing, it looks like the back of each image is blank for personal reflections. Some pages are single images (a grouping of hot air balloons, mandala) others are more elaborate with full background patterning or borders with a focal image. They are all intricate and look like they would be very therapeutic to color. I believe this would be a great book to gift to someone who is dealing with loss or in need of help through a difficult time in their life.

*To comply with new guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this title for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author, illustrator, or publishing company.

The Syndicate

I LOVE time travel novels, especially when they have historical connections. When I read the first sentence describing this book (not the first sentence of the book), I KNEW I had to read it.

"In a future where time travel has been outlawed, a black market exists for anyone with the money, connections, and nerve to request items from days past."

My imagination began to run wild. What would I want to have brought back to me from the past, if I had the money?

Stassi is a runner.  This means she is one who goes back in time to retrieve items requested by clients of The Syndicate. The book begins in the middle of a jump that is not going as planned. When she and her partner, Gaige, return to the present (for us it is the distant future), they don't think they will be jumping again for some time. Instead they find themselves with the opportunity to jump to 1920s Paris in order to look for a lost manuscript.

I love the development of the story. There is not a great deal of detail explaining how The Syndicate was started, but as the story progresses you learn bits and pieces about the background. One of my favorite parts of the story is how far in the future the story takes place 2446. I was tickled that Stassi and roommate / best friend Molly, still have to use a remote for the television! It is hard to say I enjoyed reading about the history leading to the destruction of books, but it was a very interesting way to lead into the central topic of locating the manuscript. It was fascinating to read about the interaction of Stassi and Gaige with historical figures such as Ernest Hemmingway, his wife Hadley, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Gertrude Stein.

I am thrilled to say this is the first book in a new series by Sophie Davis (pseudonym of two best friends) ~ Timewaves. I cannot wait for the second book to come out so I can see what Stassi and Gaige will be up to next. I highly recommend the book to those who love time travel, history, romance, and just a great read. It is listed as a YA (young adult) book, but I think it will be enjoyed by those from 15 - 115!

**To comply with new guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Sophie Davis book, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this title for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author, or any other person or company associated with the author.

Counting with Barefoot Critters

Counting with Barefoot Critters
written and illustrated by Teagan White

As a wonderful follow-up to Adventures with Barefoot Critters, Teagan White has created a delightful counting book with incredible attention to detail. In rhyming text from one to twelve the story is presented as friends gather to spend the day in play and adventures. The illustrations, created with watercolor and gouache, offer young readers a variety of ways to count to the focus numeral for each page. I am extremely impressed with the details and how numeracy was incorporated into this fun counting book perfect for bedtime or anytime.

This title will be release August 9, 2016.

*To comply with new guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Tundra Books, has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this title for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author, the author's publicist, or the publishing company.

Some Writer!

Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White
by Melissa Sweet

I don't remember the first time I read E. B. White's Charlotte's Web. Honestly, I don't know if I first read the book, or heard the book read aloud to me. If I were to guess, I would say it was read aloud during elementary school, probably my fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Ussery. I loved listening to her read to us each day after lunch. It would have been fine with me if she had just read to us all day long.

To this day, Charlotte's Web remains one of my very favorites. I couldn't even begin to count how many times I've read this book. It is one of the very few books I will re-read. When I was a kindergarten teacher, I read Charlotte's Web to my students every year when we studied farm animals.  I am currently re-reading it because the school district I work for is reading the book as the One District, One Book for this spring. I am so excited for the young children who will be experiencing the adventures of Wilbur, Charlotte, and even that rascal Templeton.

As soon as I saw the title of Melissa Sweet's new book, Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White, I knew it would be a book I NEEDED to read. She did not disappoint. Not only does Sweet provide a glimpse into the life of this amazing author, but she also takes us through his career as a writer. It is so cool to see the original hand written notes and manuscripts.  I was fascinated by the back story on Stuart Little and the research requested of friends for The Trumpet of the Swan. The scrapbook-like illustrations create a marvelous background for White's story and give you the feeling of being in one of his journals.

My only wish is this book was currently available. The publication date has been moved back to October 2016. I think the elementary children reading this book as part of our One District, One Book initiative would find the author's life very interesting.

I enjoy reading biographies and this is by far one of the very best I have read in a long time. The fact that it is geared toward children is even better. I have never had a problem reading a book written for children, especially if it provides me the information I need in a concise manner. I don't think a biography of E. B. White could be better presented by any author. I highly recommend Melissa Sweet's Some Writer! The Story of E. B. White for all elementary and middle school libraries and for anyone who loves White's writings. This is a fabulous celebration of a "Terrific" writer.

*To comply with new guidelines set forth by the Federal Trade Commission, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group, HMH Books for Young Readers has provided a complimentary electronic copy of this title for review purposes. This review is my opinion and is in no way influenced by the author, the author's publicist, or the publishing company.