Synosis

 

Twelve-year-old James Rhyder is being hunted by people from a hidden world he never knew existed. Unlike most people his age, James doesn’t dream at night of becoming a hero. Rather, his dreams are filled with shadowy figures and cryptic warnings about the end of the world.

As these strange dreams begin to make James question if he’s going crazy like his mother, a quirky girl named Rheyna Anwen whisks him away into an unseen world where psychics, druids, and magic are real.

At first the enchanted cabins and unusual summer camp where new psions, known as psychics to the outside world, are trained feels unbelievable, like one of his mystifying dreams. However, James soon discovers a secret about himself which threatens to turn this new life into a nightmare: his dreams are a dangerous and illegal talent known as dreamwalking. When a mysterious man in blue -who’d been stalking James all summer- kidnaps one of his cabinmates, his strange dreams may be the only way he can save his comrade.

Now, James must learn to trust his new friends, control his illegal psion talent, and put aside his insecurities. If he can’t, much more could be at stake than just one missing camper.

 

 

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Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

While fantasy is not a normal genre for me, this story about a teen boy finding his place in this world was entertaining. The author does a great job of world-building, introducing us to other mythical beings and letting us wonder, “What if.”

James has some special abilities he isn’t even aware of until he is brought into a special summer camp to learn more about these abilities. There are those who want to see him succeed and others who want to harness his abilities for themselves. Each character in the book is unique and brings something different to the table. This creates a well-rounded novel for the reader.

I really love how James spends a lot of time in the library. He is my hero! His passion for books helps him find his path in life…or at least a path to start down. Perhaps with a little nudging from the friendly older librarian.

The camp is unique, which shouldn’t be surprising since it has magical abilities too. The cabin for all of the newbies is a wonder and the stories it could tell from past and future campers.

There is something about Rheyna that is endearing. Perhaps because she befriends James. I think that they are both looking for something and find it in their friendship.

It would be easy to give away plot spoilers, so I won’t. Just know that this could easily start a series with their adventures or the adventures of those who come to the camp. Only time will tell if the author has more in store for us.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

David Brooks is the author of over 100 middle-grade and young adult fantasy novels, only two of which have been written and released. That is to say, he is an author with an entire notebook bursting with ideas, and never enough time to get everything written. James Rhyder and the Cave of Dreams was his debut novel.

 

 

Synopsis

 

Marco did okay in math. He could follow the complex blueprints provided to him, navigate the steps, and arrive at the answers that earned him a shiny grade near the front of the alphabet. That is, until middle school. As new and confusing letters started creeping into every question, Marco developed a problem. When a new figure ‘pops’ into his life, he is introduced to a fantastical world where numbers rule, where they live together in villages, engage in duels, build stadiums and cheer for their favorite team as players are flung through the air. Marco’s imagination runs wild as he develops new powers and hungers for more.

But everything is not as it seems. Join Marco, his annoying little sister Maggie, and his best friends Oliver and Liam (a math whiz and a conspiracy nut), as they discover this magical world is more real than they ever could have dreamt. And find out… Will Marco master the Numberfolk before the Numberfolk, very literally, master him?

 

 

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Excerpt

 

Chapter Five: Letters

 

Despite the enjoyment his tutoring sessions brought, he had not yet fallen in love with the educational jail known as Mrs. Sanders’ class. The best of the day was word problems. In an unusual change of events, as his classmates struggled to translate sentences to numbers and letters, then to numbers, and finally back to words again – for the first time, Marco found himself at the head of the class.

“A new robot toy was released, and you are excited to buy it.” Mrs. Sanders always tried to make word problems have some interest to her students. While it was a nice thought, they all boiled down to an equation of some sort with all the context removed anyway. “It is listed for  $50, but there will be a sale offering 20% off. How much will you save if you buy the game on  sale?”

Oliver’s hand shot up. Marco’s best friend, like his sister, possessed a genetic supernatural power that made them number savants. While everyone else struggled to move an inch, they could come in and easily jump a mile. The fact that Oliver was also the class clown and always in trouble helped balance the nugget of jealousy that ached in the pit of Marco’s stomach.

“Yes, Oliver?” Mrs. Sanders pointed to her student. “You will save 20%,” Oliver answered with a smirk. Quiet giggles erupted from all corners of the classroom.

After a sharp look, Mrs. Sanders painted her smile back on and responded, “You are correct.  But how much money would that be?” In an instant, the class became the robots from the problem and following their programming, they all put their heads down and began scribbling on the paper in front of them. Unlike his cyborg peers, Marco put his head down, but wrote nothing on his paper. He had a different idea. Remembering what he had talked about with Mr.  Pikake – that numbers are ours to control – he let his imagination take over.

Knowing that ‘percent’ meant ‘out of 100’, Marco saw the number 100. A vacuum cleaner was sucking out 20s from the number. SLURP! Now, it was an 80 and a 20. SLURP! Now two 20s and a 60. Marco kept sucking at the number until it lay on the ground as five disoriented 20s. He turned his attention to the $50 from the question. He changed the settings to rip the 50  into five pieces as well in one mouthful. SLURP! Five 10s shot out the back.¹

He slowly raised his hand. Oliver shot Marco a look that read, ‘What are you doing?’ “Marco,” Mrs. Sanders called.

“10?” Marco answered reluctantly.

Mrs. Sanders looked at the clock which read 9:58, “No, it’s not quite 10 yet,” she responded. “No. The question. You’d save ten dollars.”

Her face frozen in a state of shock, Mrs. Sanders looked down at her paper and back up at  Marco. “Oh, um, yes. That is correct, Marco. Nice job.”

Riding his math high for the rest of the day, Marco was silently thrilled when Oliver took it upon himself to recount the event for Liam at lunch.

“You should have seen it, man!” Oliver exclaimed. “The teacher couldn’t even solve it as fast  as Marco.” He turned to add, “Your tutoring must be going well.”

Marco pushed and pushed but couldn’t hide his smile. His green eyes were bright with excitement as he began to tell his friends about Mr. Pikake. “He’s a little crazy, I’m not going to lie. It makes things fun. It’s like a video game, but rather than zombies, we are hunting  numbers.” Pretending to be a character in the boy’s favorite game, Marco mimed out a zombie hunt.

“Are they evil numbers trying to eat your brain?” Liam laughed. Although Marco hadn’t thought about it before, the way Mr. Pikake talked about numbers gave him the sense there was something dangerous about them. Realizing how bizarre that was, he shook the thought from his head.

 

¹ What did Marco do here? The question Mrs. Sanders really asked was ‘What is 20% of $50?’ Since five 20’s make 100, he needed to know 5 of what would make 50. He split 50 into five pieces to discover each piece is a ten, meaning 20% of $50 is $10. You can do this with any question where the percentage is a factor of 100. My dog ate 12 pounds of food last month, and he ate 25% more this month, how much did he eat? Since it takes four 25’s to make 100, how many fours make 12? Well, three, of course. So, 25% of 12 is 3. Fido ate his normal 12 pounds plus the 3 more, meaning he ate a total of 15 pounds of food this month – what a pig!

 

 

About the Author

 

SK Bennett is an award-winning educator, instructional designer, mathematician, and homeschool mom of five. She spent years designing courses for top companies and institutions before deciding it was time to embrace her belief that learning should be fun and math should never be all about memorization and rote procedures. Inspired by her favorite stories, she set out to create Marco’s world – where learning is an adventure and math is never ever boring.

 

Website * Facebook

 

 

 

Giveaway

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Includes an original, never-before-published story about the Fablehaven woodland brownies by #1 New York Times best-selling author Brandon Mull

The Fablehaven house brownies are known for coming into the kitchen at night and baking delightful treats as a surprise for caretakers and their guests. Now, Fablehaven fans can enjoy nearly fifty wondrous recipes inspired by the world of Fablehaven. Each recipe includes a Fablehaven origin story and full-color food photography. Enjoy a selection of magical crafts like Wizard Slime and Vanessa’s Invisible Ink. Bonus: also includes a few of Brandon Mull’s favorite desserts.

Wondrous Recipes Include:

Fairy Toast
Muriel’s Pretzel Knots
Ogre Stew
Bubda’s Sloppy Guac
Calico Bread
Lena’s Loaded Crepes
Bracken’s Unicorn Shakes
Zombie Cake Eyeballs
Dragon Egg Cupcakes
Goblin Glop Trifle
Tanu’s Bottled-Up Emotions
Singing Sisters Bubbling Brew

 

 

 

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Preorder today, the book releases on 8/1/23

 

 

Review

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

BRANDON MULL is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Candy Shop War, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife, Erlyn, their eleven children, and some animals. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.

 

Website * Instagram * Facebook

 

 

CHERIE MULL is a mom of four who has always loved making and eating good food. After graduating with a degree in biology, Cherie worked in gene sequencing and pharmaceutical research before exchanging her lab coat for an apron. She now owns a thriving baking business, creating cakes and custom treats for weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations. Cherie and her husband, Bryson—Brandon Mull’s brother—have been beta readers for the Fablehaven stories since the beginning, and she is thrilled to be a part of this new adventure.

 

 

Synopsis

 

“I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.”

Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!

 

 

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**The eBook was free on 4/8/23, so check your favorite retailer!**

 

 

Review

 

This was an action-packed, informative, and entertaining novel. This is perfect for anyone that loves space or the thought of being an astronaut.

While some of this is based on fact, it brings to life what could happen on a trip into space. It isn’t like Star Trek or any other sort of sci-fi show, but it outlines the dangers and pitfalls, along with the wonderment of all things beyond our atmosphere.

A small number of teenagers are chosen, via a contest, to go into space and around the moon. They train for all possibilities, and it isn’t guaranteed that they will end up in space; it all depends on how well they do learning the ropes. All four of the teens are gifted in their own right and bring a lot to the table. We see this as they encounter many obstacles on their journey. However, these events help bring them closer and team up to help everyone survive. I came to respect each of these teens. While they might have had the typical teen angst, they were also bright and had their own issues they were dealing with at the time.

This is not a superficial story; it delves deep into the fears, hopes, and desires of all of the teens, especially Fin since he is the main character. I found myself on pins and needles, wondering how events would turn out for them. I can’t even imagine being as brave as these characters are in the book. Heck, I can’t even imagine going into space.

I do think that this book is geared toward those slightly older than middle grade only because of the technical terms and equipment that are mentioned throughout the book. I used my great-niece as a guide, she is an advanced reader, but even she would have to ask about different words in the book. This isn’t a bad thing, and it would open up dialogue between children and their parents. However, this is still a very fascinating book that anyone will enjoy.

We give it 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

Read an excerpt here.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of adventure books for middle graders. His stories take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something on the journey. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

SKYRIDERS

 

Skyriders Series, #1

 

by

 

Polly Holyoke

 

 

 

Children’s Fantasy / Middle Grade Readers / Mythical Stories / Adventure

 

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers

 

Date of Publication: March 7, 2023

 

Number of Pages: 304 pages

 

 

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

 

Wings of Fire meets Pax in this epic fantasy adventure set in a world where human and skysteed share a deep bond of friendship. When monsters emerge to attack the empire, it’s up to shy Kiesandra and her beloved winged horse N’Rah to prove to the imperial army that she has what it takes to lead them to victory . . . and to ensure the survival of their world.

Buzzing with action, heart, and friendship, this first book in the Skyriders series shows that kids can achieve the impossible–especially with flying horses on their side.

 

 

 

Off the Beaten Path (signed copies) * B&N

 

 

 

Praise

 

“Skyriders soars off the page and takes you along for an epic adventure that will leave you breathless and asking for more.” —James Ponti, New York Times bestselling author of the City Spies series

“A breathtaking, mythical adventure. This is the kind of book I would have devoured and read over and over again as a kid.”  —Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times bestselling author of Rump and the Time Castaways trilogy

“Kiesandra Torsun is an unforgettable heroine who never gives up, even when facing staggering odds against vicious three-headed monsters attacking her homeland. Her loyalty, courage, and kindness won me over and her bond with her winged horse left me dazzled.” —Mary E. Pearson, New York Times bestselling author of The Remnant Chronicles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Polly Holyoke is the award-winning author of the middle grade sci/fi Neptune Trilogy (Disney/Hyperion) and the new children’s fantasy series, Skyriders, (Viking Children’s Books). A former classroom teacher, Polly loves doing school visits and getting students excited about writing.

Polly grew up in Colorado, where she spent her childhood skiing, camping, reading, and dreaming up fantastical stories. Polly went on to graduate from Middlebury College and become a middle school social studies teacher. She lives with her husband and their two daughters, as well as two cats, two Chihuahuas, and a beagle.

 

 Website ◆ Facebook ◆ Twitter

 

Pinterest ◆ Goodreads ◆ Instagram

 

Amazon ◆ BookBub

 

 

 

————————————–

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

ONE WINNER:

 

Signed copy of SKYRIDERS, set of 5 flying horse necklaces

 

+ a $25 Barnes & Noble gift card.

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 4/7/23)

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

 

03/28/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Book Trailer
03/28/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Promo
03/29/23	JennCaffeinated	Review
03/29/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Promo
03/30/23	All the Ups and Downs	Author Video
03/31/23	Shelf Life Blog	Review
04/01/23	Sybrina’s Book Blog	Excerpt
04/02/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Promo
04/03/23	Jennifer Silverwood	Review
04/04/23	The Real World According to Sam	Author Interview
04/05/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review
04/06/23	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

FAR OUT!

 

by

 

Anne Bustard

 

 

Children’s Historical Fiction / Family / Mystery / Humor / Sci-Fi Inspired / 8-12 years

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Date of Publication: April 18, 2023

Number of Pages: 224 pages

 

 

Scroll down for Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

From the author of Blue Skies comes a lively middle grade novel set in 1960s Texas about a young, alien-loving girl trying to clear her grandmother’s good name in this mystery that has humor, hijinks, and heart in equal measure.

It’s 1964, the Space Race is well underway, and eleven-year-old Magnolia Jean Crook and the other residents of Totter, Texas, are over the moon about UFOs.

The whole town is gearing up for the First Annual Come on Down Day—in just one week, they are hoping to host any and all space aliens who would like to visit Earth. But right before the kick-off party, a meteorite goes missing—and MJ’s beloved grandmother Mimi, who is the vice president of the Totter Unidentified Flying Object Organization, is the prime suspect.

MJ is desperate to show the town that this Crook is not a thief. The only problem is that there is a lot of evidence against her, and Mimi herself isn’t helping things. She’s acting suspiciously, pulling disappearing acts, and worst of all, can’t seem to answer any questions about where she was or what she was doing.

But much like UFOs, extraterrestrial visitations, and sending people to space, the impossible has been known to happen.

 

 

Amazon * BookPeople * IndieBound

 

 

 

 

Author Anne Bustard’s Playlist to Far Out!

 

LISTEN HERE FOR FREE ON SPOTIFY!

 

(SPOTIFY ACCOUNT REQUIRED TO LISTEN OR REGISTER FOR FREE!)

 

 

 

“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive” by Bing Crosby

“Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis

“Please Mr. Postman” covered by The Beatles (referenced in the book), original by The Marvelettes

“Purple People Eater” by Sheb Wooley

“Telstar” by The Tornadoes

“Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra

“I Want to Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles

“Can’t Buy Me Love” by The Beatles

“Jarabe Tapatío” composed by Jesús González Rubio

“Hawaiian Wedding Song” sung by Elvis

 

 

 

 

 

Anne Bustard is the former co-owner of Toad Hall Children’s Bookstore in Austin, Texas, and an MFA graduate of the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

She is the author of the middle-grade novels, Blue Skies and Anywhere but Paradise, as well as two picture books, RAD! and Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly, which was an Ira Children’s Book award Notable and a Bank Street Book of the Year.

Hawaii-born, she divided her time between Texas and Canada.

 

 

 Website ◆ Facebook ◆ Twitter

 

Pinterest  ◆ Goodreads ◆ Instagram

 

 

————————————–

 

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!

 

THREE WINNERS:

 

Signed hardcover copy of Far Out!

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 3/31/23)

 

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

or visit the blogs directly:

 

 

 

03/21/23	Shelf Life Blog	Excerpts
03/21/23	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Promo
03/22/23	Sybrina’s Book Blog	Author Interview
03/22/23	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Promo
03/23/23	Chapter Break Book Blog	Review
03/24/23	Reading by Moonlight	Review
03/25/23	All the Ups and Downs	Scrapbook Page
03/26/23	Forgotten Winds	Top Ten List
03/27/23	Boys’ Mom Reads	Review
03/28/23	StoreyBook Reviews	Playlist
03/29/23	The Real World According to Sam	Review
03/30/23	Rox Burkey Blog	Review

 

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

“I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.”

Blast off with the four winners of the StellarKid Project on a trip to the International Space Station and then to the Gateway outpost orbiting the Moon! It’s a dream come true until space junk collides with the ISS, turning their epic trip into a nightmare of survival. Alone aboard the Aether starship, the kids have to work as a team to save the adults before the ISS is destroyed. Suit up, cadet, and launch into adventure with One Giant Leap!

 

 

Amazon * Apple * B&N * IndieBound * Other Retailers

 

 

Excerpt

 

I’m pretty sure I’m about to die in space. And I just turned twelve and a half.

The frayed end of my tether whips around like a lasso as I flip front over back and sideways.

I see the long blue smear of Earth hurtling past. The silver hull of my ship, the Aether, whizzes by in a blur before I gasp at the once-glorious International Space Station. Now, just wreckage. The

ISS spits pieces that twinkle in the sunlight. Sparks sizzle and blink against the black backdrop of the endless universe.

My spin continues until all I can see is the void of deep space, punctured by bright pinpricks of gaseous stars millions of light-years away.

The horizon of Earth again, with its clouds and land and water. Home.

The shiny tube of my ship, the Aether. It’s. So. Close. And yet, it can’t save me.

The ISS, Earth, the Aether, and here we go again on this terrible merry-go-round— You get the picture. It’s not good. I close my eyes.

I’m tumbling, and I think I’m squirting oxygen from my life-support backpack, which isn’t helping my somersaults. My suit is losing pressure. At least that’s what I guess is causing the fuzz in my brain. It’s hard to think. My vision is narrowing, dimming, like I’m about to wink away.

And the thing that I think is actually going to kill me? Water is leaking from somewhere inside my suit. Quickly it builds up and clings to my face like a wet rag. It’s a film over my eyes, it plugs my nose, and it slides into my mouth like alien slime whenever I try to cough. I shake my head violently to jiggle the liquid free, so hard that a nerve cries out in my neck. The head-whip kinda works, and I’m able to suck in a tiny breath. I choke down some water and, though the idea sounds ludicrous, I think, Am I going to drown . . . in space?

At this point, you might be asking, “What is a twelve-year-old doing in space?”

And I’d say, “That’s what you’re worried about? Not that I’m going to die?!”

It’s cool. Let me answer both questions. Why I’m one of the first kids in space, and how I ended up in this mess, adrift from my craft and about to become a permanent orbiting satellite. If I don’t plunge into the atmosphere and burn up first.

I’ll pause my death scene to explain a bit about how I got here. Because that’s a thing, right? Aren’t you curious how I got into this impossible quagmire? It’s a pretty amazing story. And 100 percent true.

The books I tend to enjoy reading are about kids being brave, or learning how to be, and I’d like to tell you this is one of those. But I’m not feeling it right now.

To be fair, in those books the kids are fighting fantasy monsters that disappear into dust when you stab them, or they’re in a simulation, or a video game, or you kind of know everything’s going to be all right, right? It’s fake danger.

This story is different. This one’s real. I honestly don’t know how I’m going to survive this. Adrift in space with my oxygen running low, all alone, spinning uncontrollably, a water leak in my suit threatening to drown me.

It all started innocently enough when a harmless package arrived in the mail . . .

 

 

About the Author

 

Ben Gartner is the award-winning author of adventure books for middle graders. His stories take readers for a thrilling ride, maybe even teaching them something on the journey. Ben can be found living and writing near the mountains with his wife and two boys.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A mysterious package.

A new school.

A chance to be someone new.

A new virtual reality school where students get a fresh start.

The pandemic was rough on everyone, especially since school went from being a fun place where you could hang out with your friends to a bunch of heads in small rectangles all trying to talk at once. For Bradley, Edelle, Hunter, Jasper, and Keiko, that’s about to change.

A mysterious box arrives at each of their houses, and they’re invited to attend a virtual school. More than just being online, they’ll be able to create an avatar of themselves and interact with their friends and other classmates in real time using VR headsets.

For each of them, that presents an opportunity to become someone they’re not, or someone they haven’t been. For Bradley, it’s a chance to come out of a self-imposed shell. Edelle hopes everyone will see her for who she really is, not just for how she looks. Hunter is looking forward to pretending he’s still the person he was last year. Jasper wants to get over past assumptions. And for Keiko, it’ll allow her to disappear into the crowd.

For all of them, it’s a chance to see just how much they’ve assumed about each other in the past and maybe an opportunity to become friends.

 

 

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Praise

 

“Amid a pandemic…Students attend classes via virtual reality and interact with one another by creating avatars…or disguises. When a gaming tournament forces [a] trio to work together they make surprising discoveries about themselves and each other. The protagonists’ evolving views of friendship and self-acceptance will resonate with readers who struggle to be-or to find-themselves. Warmly supportive parents are a welcome bonus. A timely, feel-good tale of learning to accept oneself and others.” —Kirkus

 

“Engaging novel…three adolescents attend an experimental virtual junior high school. The program has fascinating aspects, like team video game tournaments and replicated classrooms and gymnasiums. Concepts of individuality and peer perceptions are handled with humor and compassion. Bradley, Edelle, and Hunter evolve through their virtual interactions, learning emotional and social lessons that resonate in real life. Beyond its wondrous simulations, at the heartfelt core of Virtually Me is the awkward, funny, and incomparable essence of being truly human.” —Foreword Reviews

 

 

Review

 

I love when middle-grade books share a life lesson but aren’t overt about it.

This book focuses on three teens – Hunter, Bradley, and Edelle. It is the height of the pandemic, and they are attending a virtual school. While other issues brought them to the virtual school besides the pandemic, it was a chance for them to start over again. It takes time for them to learn the lessons they are meant to learn, but I enjoyed watching them grow and appreciate life in a whole new way.

These three attended school together before the virtual school, but not all knew who the other was. Part of it is due to the names they gave themself in the virtual school; it was also how their avatar was displayed. Edelle’s mom would not approve of an avatar that wasn’t “plain” since she wanted Edelle to learn that life is more than how you look. Bradley loves K-Pop and went wild with pink hair and some cool dance moves. Hunter was the only one that didn’t try to hide who he was via his avatar. However, because everyone knew who he was and how he acted outside of the virtual school, that had some repercussions for him down the road.

Jasper is a somewhat main character, but none of the chapters are from his point of view. However, he is integral in forming cohesiveness between friends and is just friendly to everyone. We learn more towards the end about Jasper, which is part of what brings everyone together.

This book addresses themes such as bullying, selfishness, image, and self-awareness. Each of the characters, even outside of the main three, contributes to a well-told story that anyone who reads it will walk away with some new perspectives.

We give this book 5 paws up! Wonderful read for everyone.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

CHAD MORRIS loves the VR set he got for Christmas and is much better at it than he is at video games, but that’s still not saying much. Still, he would love to try to keep his balance on Skatecoaster, laugh like crazy in The Furriest, and punch light blasts at alien bugs in Infestation ExtermiNation. He occasionally dances in public, and he’s pretty terrible at social media.

SHELLY BROWN went to junior high in a regular ol’ building (boring) and has never transformed into a round fuzzy animal. But she has been listening to K-pop since before BTS’s first album and feels a deep affection for well-made falafel pitas. She’s an aunt to some incredible young people, a substitute teacher, and a wannabe Kyoshi warrior.

As a married couple, Chad and Shelly both love writing books and hanging out with each other and their five kids. They’re grateful they get to spend time with students in assemblies across the nation talking about topics from kindness to writing.

 

Chad’s Website * Chad’s Twitter * Shelly’s Website * Shelly’s Twitter

 

 

Synopsis

 

Middle school student Gwendolyn is a dream-shifter. This means that when she dreams, she becomes what she dreams about, and she dreams about being different animals. If she awakens naturally, she becomes a girl again. But a fire alarm jars her awake when she’s dreaming that she’s an elk. She awakes as an elk. It’s elk hunting season, and she doesn’t know how to change back to a girl, or how to stay alive.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Bookshop

 

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Review

 

This book is just the right length and topic for middle-grade readers. It contains a little bit of everything for the younger reader – fantasy, magic, adventure, and introspection.

Gwendolyn is an aspiring journalist but is also a dream-shifter. Apparently, if she is woken abruptly from a dream where she has changed forms, she emerges as that form. In this case, an elk. Imagine her surprise when that happened, which happened right before elk hunting season. That could be dangerous for a young girl that is now in elk form.

This is a journey for her as she learns to adapt to her new form, trying to discover if she can change back, and meeting new people that may or may not be able to help her.

I thought it was amazing that everyone just accepted her as an elk. There was some disbelief, but they eventually accepted it as well. She learns how to adapt to not having hands and dealing with antlers that seem to keep growing.

This was a surprisingly fun read, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Lois Wickstrom earned her BA in biology with Chemistry and English minors. She is the creator of the Imagenie videos on YouTube and “Starting With Safety” available from the American Chemical Society. She also co-authored the Nessie’s Grotto Books with Jean Lorrah, and the Orange Forest Rabbit books with Lucrecia Darling.

 

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Synopsis

 

Twelve-year-old Abby has a lot to worry about: Climate change. The news. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. And now moving to Florida for her mom’s new job at an aerospace company.

On the Space Coast, Abby meets two boys, Adam and Bix, who tell her they’re “a long way from home” and need her help. Abby discovers they’re from the future, from a time when all the problems of the 21st century have been solved. Thrilled, Abby strikes a deal with them: She’ll help them—if they let her come to the future with them. But soon Abby is forced to question her attachment to a perfect future and her complicated feelings about the present.

 

 

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Review

 

This new middle-grade book has a lot to offer a young (or older) reader. There are people from the future that end up on earth; Abby is dealing with a move away from her best friend, her anxiety about life in general, and the turmoil occurring in her own home with her mom and dad.

I found this story to be engaging, and I enjoyed how the author brought in the people from the future, Adam and Bix, and Abby’s interactions with them. The author also handled Abby’s anxiety very well. She addressed it and gave Abby a link to her mother and a way for them to forge a new bond.

Abby is caring and compassionate, which is evident in her interactions with Adam and Bix. She finds them a place to stay while they wait for Vanessa to arrive from the future. They have interesting conversations, and Abby is excited about the state of the future and wants to leave this time behind. However, will she give up everything to jump into the future? Are Adam and Bix doing her any favors by sharing what the world will be like?

This story is fast-paced, with a minor mystery to figure out regarding text messages Abby receives on her phone. Abby does make a new friend, Julianna, who helps her integrate better into school and becomes a good friend. She even finds common ground with her mom, which forges a stronger bond between the two.

This would be a good read for anyone over 8. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Laura Schaefer is the author of The Teashop Girls, The Secret Ingredient, and Littler Women: A Modern Retelling. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Laura currently lives in Windermere, Florida, with her husband and daughter, where she enjoys visiting theme parks and watching rocket launches from her front yard.

 

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