Ever Breath by Julianna Baggott - Ages 9+

Ever Breath

What's the Story?

In a world where locust fairies flutter and firebreathers burst from snowbanks, two children are having the adventure of their lives. Truman and his twin sister, Camille, have just met their grandmother Swelda. . . and she’s a little strange. She whispers a tale about something called the Ever Breath, an amber orb that maintains the balance between our world and a dreamy one of imagination—and evil.

Soon Truman and Camille find themselves in the Breath World, a magical place where ogres clash and a mouse holds the key to a mystery. Some creatures want to help them—and some want them D-E-A-D. That’s because the Ever Breath has been stolen, and an epic battle is raging to bring it safely back. Can the twins save not only one world—but two?

What's the Buzz?

"It brings back all the magic of juvenile fantasy that I often reminisce about. I have a feeling that Baggott’s books will go alongside Eva Ibbotson’s as great reads for 8- to 12-year-olds." - Steph Su Reads

"Her characters, especially the uncoordinated, allergy-besotted Truman and a conscience-plagued mouse informant named Binderbee, are vividly depicted and full of interesting contradictions." - Parent Dish

"After the first chapter, I had one child tucked up on each side of me... When I tried to quit reading for the night, I heard the words that had never been said by my children before: "Just one more chapter!" I felt like I was dreaming. I'm not kidding -- it was weird!" - Little Blue School

"I found The Ever Breath to be a good book. It is funny, and it keeps you wanting to read the next page. It kind of reminds me of The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter combined." - Kayley (6th Grade) @ BookTrends

"Swelda is a hoot, and I particularly liked a talking mouse named Binderbee Biggby, who has the most interesting crisis of conscience in the whole book." - The Book Aunt

Where Can I Learn More?

The Author's official site is here.  Baggett also started a Ever Breath blog but it's been abandoned for a while now.  If you're an internet treasure hunter, you might find a few golden Ever Breath nuggets there if you dig deep enough.

Series: Underland Chronicles - Author: Suzanne Collins - Ages 9+

Series: Jacob Wonderbar Author: Nathan Bransford - Ages: 9+

Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic 
Space Kapow

What's the Story? 

Jacob Wonderbar is used to detentions, but when a spaceship crashes near his house, he finds himself in a whole new level of trouble. After swapping a corn dog for the ship, he and his two best friends, Sarah Daisy and Dexter, take off on a madcap adventure. They accidentally cause an epic explosion, get kidnapped by a space pirate, and are marooned on planets like Numonia and Paisley, where the air smells like burp breath and revenge-hungry substitute teachers rule. And that's only the beginning . . . It turns out that there's an entire colony of space humans, and Jacob's long-lost father just might be one of them.

The first book in debut author Nathan Bransford's hilarious space adventure series has dynamite friendships, peculiar planets, and nonstop action. You'll never look at the stars the same way!

What's the Buzz?

"I had a blast reading this and I have no doubt young readers will love this silly, action-filled adventure." - Chris Singer @ Book Dads

"...This book shows that Bransford has honed an almost impeccable sense of comedic timing, which pops up throughout the book to great effect (as my son's giggling and guffawing proved)." - Musings of a Restless Mind

"The little bit of science that’s woven into the text piqued my interest enough to look some things up; hopefully librarians, parents and teachers that recommend this book will recommend some good websites to support the space theme" - Kids Reads

Jacob Wonderbar for the President
of the Universe

Reviews

No reviews yet

Official Author Site - Nathan Bransford

Jack Blank Trilogy - Author: Matt Myklusch - Ages: 9+

The Accidental Hero
Book 1

What's the Story?
All Jack Blank knows is his bleak, dreary life at St. Barnaby’s Home for the Hopeless, Abandoned, Forgotten, and Lost, an orphanage that sinks further into the swampland of New Jersey with each passing year. His aptitude tests predict that he will spend a long, unhappy career as a toilet brush cleaner. His only chance at escape comes through the comic books donated years ago to the orphanage that he secretly reads in the dark corners of the library. Everything changes one icy gray morning when Jack receives two visitors that alter his life forever. The first is a deadly robot straight out of one of his comic books that tries its best to blow him up. The second is an emissary from a secret country called the Imagine Nation, an astonishing place where all the fantastic and unbelievable things in our world originate - including Jack. Jack soon discovers that he has an amazing ability--one that could make him the savior of the Imagine Nation and the world beyond, or the biggest threat they've ever faced.

What's the Buzz?

"I was thinking the story was going to be similar to other series out there, but it is really exciting and different.  I like the story plot in the book because it is about all the ideas in comic books being real in the Imagine Nation." - Erik from This Kid Reviews Books guest blogging @ Bookworm Blather 

"In a market where we could really use a hero, Jack Blank looks to be more than the answer." - The Trades

"I really think young readers will like this book, especially boys. It is full of action, mystery, robots and comic books." - The Write Path

The Secret War

Book 2

What's the Buzz?

"The ending was filled with twists. There was one in particular that made me gasp and freak out until my sister got mad at me (sorry Hannah!). Fast-paced and interesting, it was incredibly intense for a middle-grade novel, and could knock some of the young adult books that I’ve read off their pedestals." - Words Like Silver

"I love that there's a place where super heros live and that there's a book where anything is possible and that allows readers imaginations to take flight." - Mundie Kids

What Else Ya Got?


Official Author/Book Series Site - Jack Blank

Video

Author Matt Myklusch talks about creating the Imagine Nation

Did You Know?

When the Accidental Hero was first released it had a different title & cover.  The first release was named "Jack Blank & The Imagine Nation".  Why did they change the name?  I don't know.  Am I supposed to know everything?  Do I look like a genius? What do you mean no? What kind of a wisecrack is that? You don't have to be so mean you know. Geez.  Anyway, here's the original cover to the first book.

Series: Ignatius MacFarland - Author: Paul Feig - Ages: 10+

Frequenaut!
Book 1

What's the Story?
After being teased one too many times at school, Ignatius MacFarland decides to build a rocket. Maybe extraterrestrials are nicer than his classmates! But when his rocket takes an explosive wrong turn, Ignatius ends up in another frequency run by former English-teacher-turned-dictator, Chester Arthur. Mr. Arthur has taken the art, culture, and advancements of our world, shared them with this new frequency, and convinced the creatures around him that he's a genius. It's up to Iggy and Karen, another trapped earthling, to expose Mr. Arthur for the fraud that he is-and to 

hopefully make it home alive. 

What's the Buzz?

"This series get a double thumbs up from my (10 year old) Frequenaut. He even gave his copy to his classroom teacher to read to the class and they love it!" - Sassie Irish Lassie

"In addition, Paul Feig’s characters use profanity and expletives. Not only are a few outright curses used by one character, but Ignatius himself regularly uses questionable expletives..." - Inkweaver Review

"Much insanity and a ton of kick butt fight scenes perfectly safe for young children’s ears ensues" - My Sentiments ExactLee

Frequency Freak-Out!
Book 2

What's the Buzz?

"Feig does a great job expressing the conversations between all the characters. He paints a clear picture so that you really feel like you can see what is going on. I think that these books should either be made into movies or a television series." - My Sentiments ExactLee

There is only one word to describe the action in IGNATIUS MACFARLAND: FREQUENCY FREAK-OUT! And that is “nonstop.” - Timothy Power

Official Book Series Site - Frequenaut

Series: Daniel X by James Patterson - Ages 10+

The Dangeous Days of Daniel X

Book 1

What's the Story?

Yes, it's true: Daniel X is special. X-traordinarily special.


He may be just a kid, but Daniel is strong enough to fight anything in the world. And it's a good thing, because not many guys you meet have a host of deadly criminals hunting them to the ends of the Earth. And none of them are extraterrestrials. 


Daniel is the only one who might be able to eliminate every last intergalactic evil on the List of Alien Outlaws on Terra Firma. Because the greatest superpower isn't to be part spider and part man, or to cast magic spells - the ultimate gift is the power to create. - Publishers Summary

What's the Buzz? 
Blog Critics
Book Bloggers Diary
Armchair Interviews

REVIEWS BOOK 2 WATCH THE SKIES
A Book Bloggers Diary
My Reading Room
Books 4 Hearts

REVIEWS BOOK 3 DEMONS & DRUIDS
Teen Reads
Story Snoops

REVIEWS BOOK 4 GAME OVER
BookReporter
Bettina's Book Club


More Reviews @. . .
Barnes & Noble --- GoodReads

What Else Ya Got?


OFFICIAL SERIES SITE/ AUTHOR SITE
Max-Dan-Wiz - This is the official site for all three of James Patterson's kids series.  The other two series are Maximum Ride and Witch & Wizards.  Both Max & Wiz are series for older readers (12+), but the site is for kids of all ages.


Besides the Official Daniel X site, Patterson also has another great site dedicated to kids and reading.  If you're looking for more great books to read, go check out Read Kiddo Read.


BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE!
Besides the 4 books in the Daniel X series, there's also 3 graphic novels.  Daniel X Alien Hunter & Daniel X the manga vol. 1 are both retellings of the first book in the series "Dangerous Days" while vol 2 of the manga is a graphic novel version of Book 2 "Watch the Skies".