Showing posts with label sci-fi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sci-fi. Show all posts
9/19/11
9/13/11
Series: Magic Next Door - Author: Nina Kiriki Hoffman - Ages 11+
Thresholds
Book 1
Book 1
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!
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)
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
9/8/11
Series: Jacob Wonderbar Author: Nathan Bransford - Ages: 9+
Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic
Space Kapow
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!
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
9/7/11
Series: Ignatius MacFarland - Author: Paul Feig - Ages: 10+
Frequenaut!
Book 1
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
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
9/1/11
Eager Trilogy by Helen Fox - ages 9+
Eager
Book 1
What's the Story?
It's the end of the 21st century where your house watches you, knows your secrets, and talks to you and your closest friend can be a machine. Gavin Bell and his teenage sister Fleur come from a middle-class family. Their much-loved, old-fashioned robot, Grumps, is running down and can’t be repaired, so a scientist friend loans them an experimental new robot to help Grumps out.
EGR3, known as Eager, learns from his experiences, as a child would. He feels emotions—wonder, excitement, and loss. As Eager explores his new emotions and abilities, both he and the Bells are drawn into a great adventure.
What's the buzz?
Warning! Many of these reviews contain spoilers. They all tell you quite a bit about the story. If Eager looks good to you and you like to be surprised by stories ( I do.), I suggest you try Eager without the reviews. Carry on.
Eager's Nephew Reviews
JacketFlap JacketFlap has Eager's Nephew reviews from both Amazon & GoodReads
Just Imagine Story Centre (U.K.)
Eager and the Mermaid Reviews
8/31/11
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".
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)