Summary -Nana is not your ordinary grandma. She never wears cloppy shoes, drinks prune juice, or worries about slippery surfaces. Eufala and Bog's nana would much rather join the circus, work as a backhoe operator, or maybe become a detective. Which is exactly what happens in this very funny chapter book. When Nana answers an ad in the local newspaper for a detective, she arrives at the police department just in time to investigate the theft of one entire case of delicious Yumdums candy. Can one little old lady find a way to save the day and stop the candy thief from striking again?
Reviews
"Every once in a while a children’s book author presents a little old lady (or, less often, a little old man) as a sort of pseudo-kid or pseudo-adult—both, really. Considering how small, brilliant, and mischievous my own grandmother was clear into her nineties, this makes perfect sense to me." - Book Aunt
"Nana’s crime fighting skills and clueless demeanor are reminiscent of the Pink Panther’s Inspector Clouseau." - Curled Up Kids
"This speed read is probably most appealing to readers aged nine or younger. Nana and her grandchildren are odd, goofy characters and the story is filled with implausible situations." - Story Snoops
"This quirky, silly who-dun-it for the early chapter book reader will draw smirks and giggles from its young readers." - Feathered Quill
Nana Takes the Reins!
Reviews
"My daughters and I spent the majority of the time laughing through this book. It’s a great wacky adventure that is enhanced by the zany artwork of Sarah Horne. I can’t imagine reading this story without the illustrations. They’re perfect." - Children's & Teens Book Connection
"In this zany adventure, you never know what to expect from Nana... The illustrations are fun and wacky too, only adding to the fun! " - My Four Monkeys
What's the Story? Maya's family has just moved from Idaho to Spores Ferry, Oregon. She's nervous about starting middle school and making new friends, but soon that's the last thing on her mind. First, a fairy flies into her room. Then it turns out that the kids in the apartment building next door do magic, and their basement is full of portals to other worlds. She's bursting with new experiences and delight . . . and secrets, because she can't breathe a word to her family, not even when she winds up taking care of an alien!
Reviews
" I was trying to decide if this is sci-fi or fantasy. But why choose? It truly appears to be both" - Book Aunt
"At its heart, this is about a girl finding something within herself that is strong and bursting forth at an important turning point in her life." - Fuse #8 @ School Library Journal
"Neither fantasy nor science fiction, but an intricate mix, this intersection of the mundane and the weird is classic Hoffman, unfolding like an exotic bloom. Sadly, it feels like pure buildup for the sequel, ending just as it’s getting really good." - Michael M Jones
"I'm kind of surprised this one didn't get nominated for the Cybils..." - Ms Yingling Reads
Meeting Book 2 (Magic Next Door)
Reviews
"Do yourself a big favor and buy and read Thresholds (Magic Next Door) and then this book... I would now buy any book if Nina Kiriki Hoffman is the author" - Kiwi Mag Online
"This book is magical and wonderful, but it is also real and grounded. It is a story about balance and friendship, but it is also a story about healing after loss. "Meetings" entertains and also comforts. Definitely one of my top books for this year!" - Sara's Page @ Little Professor Homewood
It was a morning like any other, frigid and gray, when Emily Snow took to the streets of Victorian London to earn the pennies that would keep her and her little brother alive for another day. But a chance turning took her through a dark alley, and there Emily witnessed an extraordinary battle between fierce, tiny creatures no taller than her knee.
Now Emily’s life will never be the same, for she can see the world of Faerie. And once seen, she cannot turn away; once engaged, she must join in the latest battle in a war that has been waged for centuries. Doing nothing is not an option, for the Invisible Order—a secret army dedicated to preserving our world against the Faerie—knows about Emily, and its members will do anything to control her. For Emily, her brother William, and their friend, the street thief Spring-Heeled Jack, this winter morning is a turning point, and hereafter their lives will be entwined with the Invisible Order, and with Faerie. . . .
What's the Buzz?
"Author Paul Crilley has created a fascinating world. Emily’s London is cold and dreary, the perfect setting for a story of abandoned children." - The Discriminating Fangirl
"By the way, before handing this book to younger readers, parents may wish to take note of the fact that the book has some quite violent sections mixed in with the fantasy ... Yet this violence and these villains are coupled with morality and lessons about trust." - Luxury Reading
"As the story progresses to its powerful climax (and I do mean, powerful, I basically whooped when it happened) a lot of plot twists are thrown in the mix, allies become enemies and vice-versa and then Emily makes the coolest yet hardest decision ever. And I LOVED her for it. Needless to say, I will be back for seconds, in fact, I am really looking forward to it." - The Book Smugglers
Where Can I Learn More?
You can read the first three chapters of the book @ the author's site here
What's the Story? In the kick-off novel in the Mad Misadventures series, 14-year-old pioneering aviatrix Emmaline Cayley is afraid of one thing: plummeting to her doom. Fortunately, 12-year-old Robert Burns, an indestructible village boy, is not. Absurdly unafraid of bodily harm, "Rubberbones" is the ideal pilot for Emmaline's experiments with flight. But before Emmaline can perfect a flying machine with the aid of her new friend, she is sent off to St. Grimelda's School for Young Ladies -- to be cured of her decidedly unladylike ways. It is a school so strict, so severe, so forbidding that it makes the brutal misery in the tales of Charles Dickens look cheery by comparison. With a horrifying headmistress, terrifying teachers and food that is even worse than Aunt Lucy's, this medieval stronghold also houses a terrible secret and a mysterious way of keeping its prisoners, er, its students in line. All Emmaline can think of is escape. But no one has ever escaped from St. Grimelda's. And our heroine soon realizes that the only way out is to face her greatest fear.
Reviews
"The Mad Misadventures of Emmaline and Rubberbones, needs more attention. The Strictest School in the World, The Faceless Fiend, and The Island of Mad Scientists are terrific fun." - Educating Alice
"It's a Middle Grade adventure story involving a daring girl, a crazy aunt, a Dickensian boarding school, and flying machines. What more could you want? ... Give this one to a Middle Grade reader today! - Big A Little a
"Don’t even waste your time reading this review. Just go find a copy and start reading!" - 5 Minutes for Books
"...readers will be delighted to follow along as Emmaline, Rubberbones, Aunt Lucy, and their colorful selection of friends try to find ways to rescue Emmaline from the world's strictest school." - Looking Glass Review
The Faceless Fiend
Being the Tale of a Criminal Mastermind, His Masked Minions
&
a Princess with a Butter Knife, Involving Explosives
&
a Certain Amount of Pushing
&
Shoving
Reviews
"Readers will never know what to expect, and they will have to stay alert to keep up with Emmaline and her decidedly peculiar friends." - Looking Glass Review
"It is full of fun, adventure and amazing exploits with some very suspenseful and tense moments interspersed. " - Weavings
"The gypsy cameo will make no sense if you have not read the first book, and not much more if you have." - Zubon Book Reviews
"The Faceless Fiend is quick-paced, occasionally clunky but otherwise clever, and surprisingly engaging... While not as strong as its predecessor, The Faceless Fiend is still laugh-out-loud funny in places and definitely worth picking up." - Matchstick
The Island of Mad Scientists
Being an Excursion to the Wilds of Scotland, Involving Many Marvels of Experimental Invention, Pirates, a Heroic Cat, a Mechanical Man
&
a Monkey
Reviews
"The subtitle just about says it all. This book made me laugh out loud and reminded me of M.T. Anderson’s series of Thrilling Tales" - Semicolon
"this book is a grand romp. Hilarious, milk-snorting-through-nose funny, I can't remember when I've had so much fun reading. It's full of grand asides, amusing language, silly situations... everything a comic novel should have." - The Book Nut
"Once again I laughed. Outloud. Multiple times and in multiple places. Are you still waiting to go and buy the first book in the series? Why? Give me one good reason." - Reading to Know
Extras
Neither the author or his books have a website, but I did manage to track down an Interview with Mr. Whitehouse @Reading To Know.
Video
Okay, strictly speaking this video has nothing to do with the book Strictest School series but it is funny and it's about planes which makes a little more sense if you've read the first book and even more sense if you read the interview above. Anyway, here's a video showing film clips of early attempts at flying. Yes, these are all real. Stupid-but real.
