Cheesie Mack is back!

Cheesie Mack is Cool in a Duel

by Steve Cotler

Random House Books For Young Readers

available June 26,2012

received from NetGalley for review

Cheesie and his sidekick Georgie are back!  This time they are in summer camp in Maine, the best camp in the world!  The boys are supposed to have the best summer of their young lives.  They are scheduled to be the oldest kids in the Little Guy cabin at camp.  Well, guess what?  It doesn't happen that way.  Through chance they end up the youngest kids in the Big Guy camp.  Imagine being the only 11 year olds among a bunch of 13 year old boys...Yea, not too much fun.  Between the teasing and bullying, it's not turning out to be such a great summer for Cheesie and Georgie.  Cheesie decides to challenge Kevin, one of the big kids, to a 'cool duel'.  Now, incidentally, Kevin is the boyfriend of Cheesie's older tweenage sister June, also known as Goon. 

Cheesie must rely on his wits to win the 'cool duel' contest.

Steve Cotler has done it again!  (This is Cheesie's second great adventure).  The book is written in the form of a diary from the viewpoint of Cheesie himself.  Mr. Cotler has the unique ability to teach young readers to learn.  He uses real and made up words with kid friendly definitions, as well as tidbits about history and other interesting facts. 

I loved Cheesie's interactions with his older sister Goon.  I enjoyed reading about the 'points battle' between the two.  This book is full of laughter and learning.  Don't forget to visit Cheesie online at CheesieMack.com

Target audience is tween boys.  If you liked the "Wimpy Kids" books, you should like Cheesie Mack.

Wanderlove

received from the author for review

This book can be found on Amazon.com

Product Description

Lola Moori is hiding a secret she doesn't know she's keeping.

She begins to remember someone. Someone important. His name is Gabe…and whatever they shared, she could feel that it was epic.

Yet it seems Gabe wanted her to forget him. Forever.

The curse that repressed Lola’s memories for the span of several lifetimes is coming undone. But unfortunately, she discovers that some secrets are better left buried. 

MyReview:

Gypsies, not vampires, are the paranormal characters in this original novel.  Gypsies are reincarnated and have the ability to remember all their past lives.  Sound good? 

Lola and Gabe are two gypsies bound together through time and lives.  Here's the catch.  Lola cannot remember her past lives.  A curse has been placed upon her by a powerful gypsy to make her forget her past.  

This book is written in sections.  The first section deals with Lola escaping her father and their 'unconventional' lifestyle.  She runs to her Grandmother's house, only to find that also staying with her grandmother are two cousins, Dakota and Annika.   She meets Gabe, a neighbor, who incidentally had saved her from a raging storm on the night of her arrival.  She feels an instant attraction to Gabe, who responds by treating her with insolence and anger.  Gabe is engaged to Lola's cousin Annika.  

Section two begins with Lola's memories unravelling.  She and Gabe were very close in previous incarnations of their lives.  Section two explains how they met and how they parted.

Section three brings the entire story together.  I won't reveal anything that happens.  I will say all three sections are brought together nicely. 

 Ms Malory is an amazing storyteller.  She has found a way to create a new an exciting YA novel.  Something original and new.  

 

 

The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow: Book Giveaway! PLUS...a BONUS $10 Gift Card to Ama...

The Secret DMS Files of Fairday Morrow: Book Giveaway! PLUS...a BONUS $10 Gift Card to Ama...: Fall frenzy for reading! We've had such a wonderful response to our first book blog giveaway, we're doing it again! Jessica Haight and Ste...

Kids'n'books: MAGIC TREE HOUSEDINOSAURS BEFORE DARKbyMARY POPE ...

Kids'n'books:
MAGIC TREE HOUSEDINOSAURS BEFORE DARKbyMARY POPE ...: MAGIC TREE HOUSE DINOSAURS BEFORE DARK by MARY POPE OSBORNE published by Random House for Young Readers released May 2001 ...

Tris and Izzie by Mette Ivie Harrison

from NetGalley

Publisher: Egmont USA

release date October 11, 2011

To begin, my review is written from the perspective of an adult reading a YA (or rather early tween)book. I am not the target audience for this story.  Please take that into account if you read this review.

(story summary)

Izzie loves Mark, and why shouldn’t she? As the captain of the basketball team, he is kind and loving and he’s everything she’s ever wanted in a boyfriend. Her BFF loves . . . somebody, but she won’t say who. So when a hot new guy, Tristan, shows up at school, who better for Izzie to fix up her friend with? And what better way to do it than with a love philtre?

But even the best of magic has a way of going awry—and Izzie finds she’s accidentally fallen in love with Tristan herself. And that’s a problem. First of all, there’s Mark. Second, Tristan comes with baggage—like the supernatural creatures that keep attacking whenever he’s with Izzie, and the fact that he comes from the place where Izzie’s father was killed.

My review: received from NetGalley

I've read both positive and negative reviews of this book. I love the tale of Tristan and Isolde and decided to read this book with an open mind. I'm sorry to say this book did not live up to my expectations. I did not even finish the novel. Perhaps it's not fair to write a review when I didn't even finish the book, however, the most positive thing I can say...I LOVE the cover of this book. I'm not even certain what it is about this book that so distressed me. The writing was poor. I thought the characters were too childish, immature and shallow. I would advise others to reach their own conclusions, however, this is one time I wish I had listened to the reviews of so many others.

My recommendation: Go to the library if you want this one, don't buy it.

2 stars for the attempt and because the story would probably have appealed to me much more if I happened to be a much younger person.