The Case of the Cursed Dodo (The Endangered Files Book #1) by Jake G. Panda

The Case of the Cursed Dodo by Jake G. Panda
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was intrigued when I received a review copy of The Case of the Cursed Dodo. I wasn’t entirely sure what a “jungle noir” book for children was all about. This book is not only a wonderfully original idea, but an absolute delight to read!

So, how do I explain this book? It’s like Casablanca, only with endangered animals. That in itself is cool considering it’s geared toward upper elementary/middle-school readers. Jake Panda is the in-house detective at the Wildlife’s Last Resort, a getaway for endangered species. There are many fun and furry characters encountered here and on Jake’s outside adventures.

It’s also very unique in that the whole book is written as a script. Now, I’m not familiar with reading scripts, but it was really neat that directions for shots and settings were introduced in that way.

As an educator, I could see this book being used to facilitate teaching visualizing to older students who still struggle with this. If you’re like me, when you read a book, there is actually a movie playing in your head. You see/hear/feel everything that’s going on. This is visualizing. It’s a reading comprehension strategy often taught to young students. In my opinion, older kids and adults who don’t like reading fiction probably have difficulty or just don’t visualize what they’re reading. They don’t have a movie playing, so they think reading is boring. Using the Cursed Dodo (and hopefully other books in the series if they follow suit) would be a great way to scaffold visualizing with older readers because it guides what we are to see (experience) in each scene.

As a reader, this was a story I really enjoyed. There are interesting characters (including a wide array of endangered animals – one or two I’d never even heard of), fun plot twists, and great messages about protecting endangered species. The illustrations are very cool as well and add a great deal to the overall presentation of this eBook.

Highly recommended!


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Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) by Marissa Meyer

Cress by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I LOVE the Lunar Chronicles series!

Cress (Book 3) continues to extend and add complexities to the series as a whole. As with the second book, Scarlet, at first I wasn't sure that I could come to care for Cress as much as the other characters with whom I'd already become connected. Cress is very different from Cinder or Scarlet and I still need to get to know her better through the final installment (Do I really have to wait until November?!). However, her character (and Throne for that matter) grew on me. I was also glad to have Kai and Cinder finally in the same room together again (well, I was glad, then I wasn't, then I was nervous, then I definitely wasn't, then I was, I think . . .).

If you liked the first book at all, give the 2nd and 3rd books a try. The story definitely gets more complex and enjoyable. I also like how more and more of the characters' back stories are being revealed as the story progresses.

Highly recommended, but read the series in order!

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Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Let me just say . . . I LOVED this book!

At the very beginning, I wasn't sure I could get into it because I loved Cinder so much. I didn't see how I could enjoy and connect with Scarlet and Wolf and their story as much as Cinder and Kai, but I fell in love again!

In this second book in The Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder escapes from prison and accidently acquires a partner in crime, "Captain" Thorne. Their escape and search for answers is played out between chapters telling the story of Scarlet, a young woman who is desperate to find her missing grandmother. Scarlet partners with a street fighter named Wolf to track down her grandmother's kidnappers. Mysteries surrounding Wolf's life and true identity slowly come to light as they get closer to finding Scarlet's grandmother. Will Scarlet get too close? Will trusting Wolf be a mistake?

I can't wait to start book three, Cress!

Highly recommended - read the series in order!

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Cinder by Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles #1)

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't really know what I was getting into when I started this book. I love all things Grimm, so I was interested in reading another fairy tale revamp, but I didn't know anything about how this one was done.

Initially, it took a bit for me to get into the story. I don't normally associate cyborgs and world wars with fairy tales. Once I got into the story though, I REALLY got into it! There is enough of a nod to the original tale to satisfy the connection, but enough originality to make this story extremely appealing to current YA fans.

Despite trying to shorten my "to read" list, I can't be too upset with Marissa Meyer for adding 3 more books to the list. I must read the whole series now! I have to find out if there will be a happily ever after for Cinder and Emperor Kai!

Highly recommended!

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Longbourn by Jo Baker

Longbourn by Jo Baker
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm very hesitant to read any books that claim to continue stories by Jane Austen, but were not written by dear Jane herself. I like reading her original works without alteration, continuation, or even being finished at all because I like the work of Jane Austen.

It was with some reluctance that I took the recommendation of a friend and decided to read Longbourn. One reason I was willing to read it is because it's different. It's not continuing a story but rather supporting the story of Pride and Prejudice with another story. The story of the servantry "downstairs". Events in this book parallel events in Austen's original work.

The main character is Sarah, a young housemaid who desires to experience the world rather than stay trapped in hard work at Longbourn for the rest of her life. The other main characters are the rest of the servants of the Bennet household with supporting characters from servants of the Bingley and Darcy households. Characters readers will recognize from Pride and Prejudice show up in various forms, from brief appearances to having life-changing interactions with the servants.

The author, Jo Baker, seems to have a very realistic perspective of what servants (and soldiers)may have experienced at that time. In comparison to the writing of Austen, Baker uses very graphic language and explicit images at various points throughout the book.

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Sky Raiders (Five Kingdoms #1) by Brandon Mull

Sky Raiders by Brandon Mull
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The first book in Brandon Mull's latest series is as enjoyable as his other epic adventures.

This time a boy from our world, Cole, and his friends are kidnapped and taken to a different world as slaves. Of course this is Mull's imagination we are delving into, so these slaves will be used for a type of magic called shaping or to be thieves that steal from castles that float in the sky.

If you love Mull's other tales of strange creatures and magical worlds, then you'll love this as well. If you aren't familiar with the writing of Brandon Mull, I would suggest reading the Fablehaven series first to get a taste of his style and imagination before getting into the more complex story lines woven into the Five Kingdoms series.

Whether you are familiar with the books of Brandon Mull or not, if you love fantasy, this is an author you definitely want on your "to read" list!

Highly recommended.

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Size Matters Not: The Extraordinary Life and Career of Warwick Davis (Autobiography)

Size Matters Not: The Extraordinary Life and Career of Warwick Davis by Warwick Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved reading about the life and experiences of Warwick Davis. I love Willow and thought he was fantastic in that film.
I've thought how amazing it is to be the only major actor to play multiple roles in BOTH of the major film movements that are Star Wars and Harry Potter. I had no idea of all the other movies and projects in which Davis has been involved.
I also enjoyed hearing his positive voice throughout the book. He and his wife have had some very difficult life experiences, but their love of life and each other is repeated over and over. Reading this book gave me very positive vibes and I don't feel ready for this reading journey is over!

Highly recommended!

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