"When Did You See Her Last?" (All the Wrong Questions #2) by Lemony Snicket

When Did You See Her Last? by Lemony Snicket
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just finished the second installment in the All the Wrong Questions series by Lemony Snicket. I absolutely enjoyed it! Snicket has a way of weaving words into a weird and twisted, yet colorful and wonderful way. I can't help but enjoy reading his work and there are mountains of great quotes in this book, "When Did You See Her Last?". One of my favorites is "a library tends to look like the problem you're using it to solve . . .[Here] the books and shelves seemed to be in the middle of an argument nobody was winning."
This time, Snicket (the character) is trying to solve another mystery without the help of his chaperone or the police - they're all busy with other things. He reunites for some of his associates from the first book to solve the case of a missing chemist. Moxie, Pip and Squeak, and even Ellington Feint show up to assist Lemony with the task. He also creates some new associates including Jake Hix, a short order cook who has some kind of connection with the missing chemist. Will Lemony ask the right questions to figure out the connection? Will he ask the right questions to find the missing chemist? What IS going on with Lemony Snicker's sister? Does he get the message, find the formula, or figure out what's for breakfast? Well, if you've read the first book you know he has a problem. It's asking all the wrong questions.

Highly recommended, but read the series in order.

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How to Save Your Tail *If You are a Rat Nabbed by Cats . . . by Mary Hanson

How to Save Your Tail*: by Mary Hanson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Looking for a fun quick read? Well, here you go!
How to Save Your Tail is a cute collection of quirky retellings of classic fairy tales. All the stories are told from the view point of a rat named Bob. Bob is not your typical rat as he loves reading and baking. When he is caught by two hungry cats, he must use his baking ability and the stories from members of his family tree to try and save his tail.
Interestingly, the tales from his family are all strangely similar to fairy tales with which you're very familiar! This book is loads of fun for all of us fairy tale fiends. :)

Highly recommended!

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A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

A Tale Dark & Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Crazy and weird, but it was the homage to the original Grimm tales that it claims to be...gore and freakish sense of humour is in tune with those original bizarre tales!
Very fun for fans of all things Grimm and for most boys, I'd imagine. There's now a second book. From what I've heard it's along the same lines, so I'll have to read that as well.

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Beyonders - Chasing the Prophecy (Book 3) by Brandon Mull

Chasing the Prophecy by Brandon Mull
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved the Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull and was skeptical about how I would feel when I began the Beyonders series. I have completely enjoyed it and can't currently nail down which series I like better.
Chasing the Prophecy is the final installment in the Beyonders trilogy. When follow the fates of Jason, Rachel, Galloran, and the many friends/enemies they encounter along the way. Lyrian is at a critical point in its history. The battle that will occur will completely change Lyrian as we have learned to know it. The question is will our heroes be able to hear a prophecy that will have a positive outcome for their side? And will they be able to attain that possible future among many others? This is a must read, however, one needs to read the complete trilogy in order to fully appreciate and follow the characters/story.

Highly recommended - this series is a must read!

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City of Orphans by Avi

City of Orphans by Avi
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've only read a few books by Avi, but I've loved every one. Talk about someone who has a way with words! This author is able to paint realistic pictures of humans and their sufferings. Sad, gripping, and beautiful the story of an immigrant family in New York in the nineteenth-century will keep you reading to the very end. It's not often I stay up until 1 in the morning for anything, but it was well worth it to finish this amazing story!

Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story!

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The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer (Book 4 Life as We Knew It series)

The Shade of the Moon by Susan Beth Pfeffer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the first three books in this series. Originally, I thought the third book would be the last in the series. The ending of the third book was open, but I was satisfied with the way things ended. I was surprised to learn the fourth book had come out. The book jacket states this is the "riveting conclusion" to the series. I hope it is the end . . . don't know how much more I could take - as far as the horrific things the characters must live through.
In this book, Jon (Miranda's younger brother) is the main character. Time has passed and he is now an older teenager. The world and circumstances have made him into a pretty horrible person. What I love about this book is the way he grows as a character. He truly grows and changes dramatically throughout the book and not because things get any better or easier - they definitely don't. He learns through circumstances and relationships with others that "society" (as it has become) doesn't have to be right. The new world system that's been set up can be "bucked".
This was definitely the most difficult book in the series for me in terms of horrific crimes against people. It's tough to read, very sad, but it extends the stories of many of the characters.
Excellent book, but I do hope this is really the end of this series.

Highly recommended for young adult readers and readers who like apocalyptic fiction.


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Andy Smithson Blast of the Dragon's Fury by L. R. W. Lee

Andy Smithson: Blast of the Dragon's Fury by L.R.W. Lee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book caught my attention immediately as it begins with the death (and move into afterlife) of an obviously important character! Imogenia is dead. The afterlife seems more like a government agency than an eternal paradise or punishment. After being joined in the afterlife by her parents, Imogenia applies for, and is granted, permission to exact revenge on her murderer.

Fast forward 500 years and meet Andy Smithson. He seems like a fairly normal kid in today’s society. He gets in trouble at school, has parents too busy to be supportive at home, and an annoying sister to deal with.

Andy’s life gets quite literally flipped when he is magically transported to the Land of Oomaldee. He quickly gains things he’s never really had before: friendship, a stable, loving “home” life, and recognition for doing positive things. Of course there are difficulties too, like the king believes Andy has come to help break a curse the kingdom has been under for 500 years. Andy experiences frightful and fantastic adventures with dragons, strange bird-people, and talking statues. In the end he realizes Oomaldee is where he belongs, but will he be able to stay? Will he be able to help break the curse or will Imogenia interfere and prevent him from helping?


This is definitely geared toward upper elementary/early middle school-aged readers, but the story can be appreciated by adults as well. I think kids will relate to the main character in his modern life and they’ll love the fantasy he is thrown into. Kids will like the occasional “farting” references that, as an adult, I didn’t care for as much. As an adult, I loved the Prologue and then had to read in a bit to really get into the rest of the story. By the end, I was hooked and I can’t wait to read the next installment!

There is an inner voice/conscience “character” that I thought seemed a little out of place within the story as it showed up briefly twice, but was not an integral part throughout the book. I’m interested to see what the author does with that in the future.

Overall, Blast of the Dragon’s Fury is a great book. I highly recommend it for upper elementary and middle school-aged readers who enjoy fantasy.


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