ARC Review: Lou Lou and Pea and The Bicentennial Bonanza

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

img_2084Title: Lou Lou and Pea and the Bicentennial Bonanza
Author: Jill Diamond ; Pictures by Lesley Vamos
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary, Realistic
Pages: Print 251
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Rating: ★★★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of this book from @KidLitExchange #partner in exchange for my honest review. Thanks again to @KidLitExchange  #partner for access to review a free copy of this book! The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or KidLitExchange. 

This Middle-Grade contemporary novel provides a realistic view of two friends, Lou Lou and Pea. This book is the second book written by this author about these two friends who seem to have an eye for solving mysteries. Lou Lou and Pea are incredibly excited about their neighborhood hosting the two hundred year anniversary of the town. The Flyers have both their names showcased. Lou Lou is a horticulturist and will be showcasing her prized honeysuckles at the event. Pea is a designer and will be showcasing her hats from the hat shop where she is an apprentice. Unfortunately, Mayor Montoya’s dog becomes ill a few weeks before the ceremony, leaving the vice mayor in charge. Andy Argyle will stop at nothing to get to the Bicentennial Bonanza moved to Verde Valley from El Corazon. Andy and his daughter Amanda create a scheme together to get the event relocated. How far will these two go to get what they want? Will Lou Lou and Pea save the day with the help of a few friends?

Favorite Quotes:

” If conclusions were a pool, Lou Lou would be constantly wet.”

I laughed so hard after reading this because it is just too clever. This is an iconic moment in the story where the plot starts to unravel.

“‘Being kind is always in style,’ Pea replied with one of her fashion quotes. ‘Who said that?’ Lou Lou asked. ‘Peacock Pearl, of course.’ Pea winked one bright blue eye.”

This is an absolutely amazing lesson to teach young readers. Kindness is important regardless of the way others may treat you.

Final Thoughts:

I adored this novel and thought the author did a great job capturing the essence of Lou Lou and Pea. I also loved the author used a Spanish influence throughout the entire novel, providing text in a bilingual manner was very creative. I was able to learn a few words throughout the story. I enjoyed the instructions on how to make a hat and the Spanish-English dictionary at the end of the story. I loved the connection between friendship throughout this novel and the emphasis on kindness. The author spent time providing details of the characters that fueled my imagination throughout the entire book. I loved the portrayal of Lou Lou’s parents and their uniqueness. I thought it was a bit strange that her parents went with a nautical theme for their home, but it does happen. I would have liked a bit more explanation of Pea’s parents instead of the full focus on her grandmother. This novel is well written, and I recommend it to any in middle school who is interested in a little bit of mystery, friendship, and excitement.

Interested in me reviewing your book or have suggested reads? Email me at librarielbookreviews@gmail.com

The Book of Storms by Ruth Hatfield

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

img_2051Title: The Book of Storms
Author: Ruth Hatfield
Genre: Middle Grade, Fantasy
Pages: Print 357
Rating: ★★★★.5

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I purchased a copy of this book on my own from book outlet. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher.

This Middle-Grade fantasy fiction novel follows the life of Danny. He awakes one morning to find out that his parents are missing after a harsh storm that occurred the night prior. Danny searches outside in hopes of locating his parents and discovers the sycamore tree in his yard has been struck by lightning. As he examines the tree more closely, gazing upon the charcoal color, he finds a piece of the tree that looks different. Danny reaches to pick up the stick, and from that moment on he can hear the sounds of the earth. This startles him, and he takes the stick places it in his pocket and heads to school assuming his parents will be home when he returns. Danny returns home and realizes his parents are indeed missing. He must journey to find his parents and uncover their secrets. While searching his parent’s room for clues, he stumbles upon a journal that explains that his parents were storm chasers. With the help of the neighborhood cat, Mitzy, Danny journeys to the home of Abel Korsakof in hopes of discovering what the Book of Storms is. Danny must learn who to trust and who not to trust. He must also find his parents, the Book of Storms, and try not to be killed by Sammael. Will Danny see his parents or will he be killed?

Favorite Quotes:

“What would you do if you woke up and your mum was missing?”

Danny said this line to his cousin Tom after arriving at his Aunt’s farm.

“He waited for an uncountable time in the hop of seeing the earth re-form and rise up into the shape of the great gray dog he had loved, but there was nothing there.”

This was one of the saddest parts for me. Even though I know Sammael is the villain in this story, he still had a heart for his dog. I am assuming Sammael will seek vengeance for the death of his dog and still continue to try to control the storms.

Final Thoughts:

I thought this was a great story. I liked the way this book was written and felt the same feelings Danny felt. Danny was in complete shock at the beginning of the book, not realizing his parents were indeed missing. He struggled to come to terms with the fact that he had to journey alone to find them but continued to seek out help from others such as Mitzy and the creatures of the earth. I did not wholly understand the power that Sammael had or the importance of his dog, other than being a companion. I also did not understand the concept of a Lurcher and felt that could have been explained more in the book. Overall, I thought this book did a great job of capturing my attention and had me on the edge of my seat a good portion of the time. I recommend this book for anyone in middle school interested in a fantasy novel that focuses on the importance of working together. I assume the overall lesson in this book is not to give up and to seek out help when needed. It is also important to be careful who you trust because Tom made a mistake in this book towards the end and I am curious as to how his error will affect everyone else.

What would you do if you came home and your parents were missing?

ARC Review- Bringing Me Back

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

img_2029Title: Bringing Me Back
Author: Beth Verabel
Genre: Middle Grade Contemporary
Pages: Print 244
Release Date: February 6, 2018
Rating: ★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of this book from @KidLitExchange #partner in exchange for my honest review. Thanks again to @KidLitExchange  #partner for access to review a free copy of this book! The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or KidLitExchange. 

This Middle-Grade contemporary novel takes a realistic approach to connecting the life of a bear trapped in a bucket to the life of a young boy stuck in a small town. Noah is smart, quiet, once favorite seventh grader facing the challenge of another year of school. A mistake made during his previous school year not only cost the school their football team but also cost his mother her freedom. He is forced to pay for the mistakes made by his mother now being deemed an outcast in his town. In a school filled people who dislike him, he has one friend, Raina. Raina is a spunky, out-spoken, pre-teen who feels she is more cultured than any person in this entire school. She will do whatever it takes to get her message across to people, even if that means starting a school newspaper to spread the word. The town of Ashtown has a known problem with bears. The school begins an “ice-bucket themed” challenge to raise money for charity in hopes of appealing to the Football League to get the football team reinstated. This challenge has now caused a surplus of buckets around town, and a small cub seems to have its head caught in a bucket. As Raina and Noah try to save the cub, Jeff (Noah’s now guardian) seeks to help Noah mend his relationship with his mom. I recommend this novel to anyone who interested in a middle grade novel that focuses on forgiveness, dealing with guilt, and friendship. I recommend this book for any middle schooler having a hard time fitting in.

Quote Examination:

” The bear rose on her back feet, slamming down to her front paws so hard the impact echoes through the woods. Head swinging, she pawed the dirt in front of me with long, sharp claws. A fierce rumbling growl ripped through her and over me. That was it. We were both out of time.” Page One

Okay, let’s discuss this opening line in the book. This quote is directly from the first page of the book. First glance I was intrigued. This quote does a bit of foreshadowing of what is to come closer to the end of the novel.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I thought this novel was just okay. I did not completely dislike it, but I felt it could have developed more. There are a few areas that felt forced. I wanted a bit more character development of Diane, Noah’s mom. I would have liked more character development of the supporting characters in this novel as well, such as Jeff and Raina. These characters play a vital role in this book in supporting the main character and the development of the plot. Typically when I read any book made for teens or under I look for two things, the overall lesson and the intended influence. I assumed the experience was to find something you believe in and don’t let the struggles of things you can not control get you down. This is a great lesson to provide.

I am giving this book three stars because I can tell the author tried with this novel. The life lesson is present, but I did not entirely like the delivery or fully understand the purpose of the bear.

A Cactus in the Valley by Olivia Bennett

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

img_2026Title: A Cactus in the Valley 
Author: Olivia J. Bennett 
Genre: YA, Contemporary, Realistic
Pages: Print 387
Rating: ★★★★★

Author Q& A Below: Check out her inspiration for this novel!

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was given a copy of this book from the author Olivia Bennett, in exchange for my honest review. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author.

This contemporary novel follows the journey of the two main characters, Terra and Wyatt. This book is written well and focuses on the lives of both the main characters. Each is struggling with their demons and are forced to face them head on or not survive. The book This novel begins from the perspective of Terra waking up from a terrible plane crash. She comes to her senses realizing that something terrible has happened. We then are shifted to the point of view of Wyatt and his view of waking from the plane crash. In the beginning, both experience grief, strength, awareness, and physical pain all before we get to the first 50 pages. The author spent time explaining each character’s past, using foreshadowing as a method to do so. The reader gains an understanding of the moments leading up to the day of the crash and the moments both characters face to survive. They are both stranded in a desolate area hoping to survive long enough to make it to their families. Terra and Wyatt must decide what they are living for, they must not lose hope, and they must rely heavily on each other. We watch as these two spring into action, noting their survival instincts, rooting for them to survive, mourning their losses, and crying for their pain. A Cactus in the Valley is an incredibly captivating novel, and I recommend this to anyone. The author did a fantastic job capturing the attention of the reader throughout the entire story.

Favorite Quotes

“Take chances, Terra. Make mistakes, because nothing is so terribly messed up that it can’t be fixed.” -Abigail, Terra’s Grandmother

” But eventually, I would get doused with cold water, putting out the flames of rejection and betrayal, downing out the perpetual grief, and overflowing the void left by my parting grandmother. But, I guess that’s a story for another day.” – Terra

In these quotes, I feel Terra’s pain for the loss of the only person in her life that cared for her. There are many quotes like this throughout the novel showcasing the challenges Terra faced in her life before the crash.

” Before long, I was sobbing at the kindness of the truth before me. And that night, I, Wyatt Hartman, came to know the truth.” -Wyatt after a night of partying

Final Thoughts

Overall, this is novel one of my favorite novels. I loved the writing style throughout the entire book and enjoyed the style diary chapters. I was captivated by the dates in each section and the point of view from both of the main characters. These two found each other in a time of grief and let their faith continue to inspire them to have hope. There is a hint of religious influence in this novel, but it is not overbearing. I could tell that the author has a bit of power on this part. The secret that Terra shared at the beginning of the novel was jarring, but it emphasized the hardships she faced and her inner battle. Wyatt is sometimes demanding and other moments loving. These two find solace in each other’s presence and there is a short period in the novel where a natural force separates them. During these moments, each character fights to face the past that continues to hold them captive.  The moments leading up to the crash explained in detail from the perspective of both characters, and we finally get the full details of the accident closer to the ending of the novel. I say that was strategically placed at the end because I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. These two characters are developed so well that you have no choice but to get tangled up in this story.

Question and Answer with the AUTHOR:

1.What was your inspiration for the novel?

​I don’t think I had a direct inspiration for A Cactus In the Valley, but I was inspired by other survival stories, both real and fictional. I saw that there was potential for a good story in the heightened emotions and desperation that came with the territory. But overall, I wanted to create an allegory of my own experience becoming a young adult, finding oneself, and overcoming the past.

2.Is there any other novels in the works?

There is! I’m actually in the process of editing the companion novella to A Cactus In the Valley. It centers around Harper, Lilly, and Nick as they grapple with the loss of Terra and Wyatt. It kind of tells the story of what goes on behind the scenes. I’m planning on publishing it this summer!
3. I saw a bit of a religious aspect in this novel, is this stemmed from you have a religious background? 

​I am a Christian, but I also know that life isn’t all sunshine and roses, so why should I write that way? This novel does stem from my religious background of being nondenominational/charismatic Christian.

Because of my circumstances, I find myself around people (and Christians) who don’t conform to the squeaky-clean Christian stereotype. I ultimately saw a need for gritty, real fiction for broken teens. I hope to bridge the gap and create a new genre of fiction that’s too secular to be Christian but too Christian to be secular.
Special thanks to the author for agreeing to answer my questions and for sending me a copy of this book!

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Disclaimer: The opinions in this review are solely my opinions and do not reflect the views of the author. I purchased this book on my own from Barnes and Noble.

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson is a Young Adult Contemporary Fiction novel. This novel follows the life of Melinda, an incoming freshman who faced challenges over the summer which have followed her into her new school year. Melinda starts the new school year as an outcast, not having any friends, people now stare, her old friends now snicker behind her back, and she is currently silent. She only speaks when it is necessary. Speak is a compelling novel regarding the challenges faced by those who harbor a secret that could affect many but most importantly the fear of sharing. Melinda has a dark secret she is afraid to share, and this secret is eating her up inside. She can’t seem to make friends or even talk with her parents. Her parents continue to argue with each other about Melinda’s situation as they watch her withdraw from social situations. Melinda’s grades are falling, she is skipping school, and hides any chance she can. Why won’t she speak? What is this secret? What will happen when she speaks? Unfortunately, I do not want to share too much information, but I recommend you read this book.

Overall, I thought this book is well written. This entire book had me on the edge of my seat. I thought it was different the book did not have chapters but separated by marking periods. The book is only 175 pages which made it a short read for me, but I did love the authors comments at the end. The author provided a question and answered at the end of the novel. I enjoyed learning about how she thought of the Melinda character, and I hope for another book that gives a glance at Melinda’s future after high school. I gave this book a four-star rating because it was a little bit predictable. I knew why Melinda was troubled and why she was an outcast from the beginning of the novel. There are numerous reasons why people tend to decide to go mute. Her reasoning was because of a traumatic event that occurs in the story. In the end, I wanted more action and more of a love story for Melinda and David. I wanted a little bit more happiness for Melinda, but I did like that the happiness wasn’t overbearing or unrealistic. I also wanted more added to the storyline, and i felt like there just was not enough in this book for me. I did however still love this book which why I did not give it a low rating.

I recommend this book to anyone who interested in reading a compelling contemporary novel that allows you to gain a better understanding of the effects traumatic events have on everyone involved.

Asylum by Madeleine Roux

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Disclaimer: This review is solely my honest opinion. I purchased this book on my own from Barnes and Noble. The opinions in this review do not reflect the views of the author.

Asylum by Madeleine Roux is a suspenseful young adult novel following the journey of Daniel Crawford and his two friends. Daniel Crawford signed up to go to a college prep school the summer before his senior year. He had heard there were trouble with the previous dorms and the school had decided to house the student a in an old asylum. When that voice inside his head told him to turn around, he did not listen and there will be consequences. This novel has an interesting take on asylums and describes how a little bit of fate brought Daniel Crawford and his two friends to this school for the summer. These three “Nancy Drew’s” decide to walk around the campus and explore the old asylum hoping to learn more about the place they will be housing in for the next six weeks. They find more than old papers, they find connections between themselves and the asylum. Will these three let their curiosity get the best of them? Will they head the warning signs? Who can you really trust in an asylum? You will have to read the book to find out!

Here is the synopsis, this is pretty convincing!

For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, the New Hampshire College Prep program is the chance of a lifetime. Except that when Dan arrives, he finds that the usual summer housing has been closed, forcing students to stay in the crumbling Brookline Dorm—formerly a psychiatric hospital. As Dan and his new friends Abby and Jordan start exploring Brookline’s twisty halls and hidden basement, they uncover disturbing secrets about what really went on here . . . secrets that link Dan and his friends to the asylum’s dark past. Because Brookline was no ordinary mental hospital, and there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.

HarperCollinsPublisher Book Summary

Overall, I thought this book was great. It definitely had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I gave it a four star rating because I wanted to know more about Daniels “real” parents and find out exactly his connection to the asylum. We find out about Abby and her connection but not Daniel. Also, I wanted to know what Jordan had to do with anything besides being an extra person in the story. The development of Abby as a character was great but I thought Dan was the main character in the story. I did like the excerpt at the end of this book for the next book in the series, it definitely makes me want to go out and get it. I also thought there would be a bit more romance in the novel but there wasn’t any. I did love the whole mystery of the entire novel and the suspense. The author did a great job keeping me engaged the entire time.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in The American Horror Style books. This book gave off that feel the entire story. It is still technically young adult.

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Disclaimer: This review is solely my honest opinion. I purchased this book on my own from iBooks and checked out the audiobook from my local library. Here is a link for you to buy the book from Amazon. The opinions in this review do not reflect the views of the author.

The beginning half of this review gives you a background of the main two characters and gives away information about how the story begins but not how it ends. Proceed with caution as there is information that is not in the synopsis of the book. 

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is an adult historical fiction novel that follows the life of Vianne Mauriac and her sister Isabelle during World War II in France. This compelling book showcases acts of kindness, bravery, struggle, and the real meaning of family. These two ladies go through great hardships and showcase their strength by pushing themselves to the limit to do what is right and protect their families. The novel begins in America with Vianne, now old, in her home cleaning out her attic with her son as they prepare to move her to an assisted living home. She goes into her attic and finds a trunk with old items, and this is where we were taken back to France in 1939. We are transported back in time to V’s home in Carriveau with her husband Antoin and daughter Sophie. This is during the time in which we find out that Antoin has been drafted to go to serve in the war. V has never lived on her own and must learn to adjust to life without her husband. During this time we learn intimate details about V’s character, learning about her past, her relationship with her father, the location of her mother, and her relationship with her sister Isabelle. Vianne’s character is developed well in this story, and it is so heart wrenching to hear about her struggles to find a place she feels loved. The story then takes us to the point of view of Isabelle, who is a spunky eighteen years old stuck in a boarding school. She is continually trying to find her place, being shuffled from one boarding school to another. She is then expelled from her last one before she is sent to Paris to live with her father, a bookstore owner. The war is nearing France, as many hope for the end, but that is something we will soon find out is not shortly. It is after Isabelle has moved in with her father that they find out in 1940 that the Germans were coming into Paris. Isabelle’s father tells her to pack up her belongings and get ready for a journey out of Paris and head to stay with her sister. Isabelle will make a treacherous trip to Carriveau, meeting many people on the way. Throughout the rest of the story, we learn so much more about the challenges faced by many women during the war. The hardships of those who were born Jewish during the Nazi invasion of France. The women of the war made a huge impact and were underestimated by the Germans significantly. I do not want to give any more information away, but I hope the beginning of half of this review provides some background of the characters.

This book was amazing. I know that it is historical fiction, but it is one of few that I can say I enjoyed. I have a BA in History, and the tale of the Nazi’s entering France is nothing like I have read in the past. Kristin Hannah does a fantastic job of capturing the attention of the reader and bringing awareness to the war efforts made by women. These two women are amazing. Isabelle does some very risky maneuvers in this story, risking her life and the lives of others to save many. She starts out as a rebellious character and continues with this mentality throughout the entire story. She stood up for what she believes in and continued to surprise me throughout the whole novel. I loved the development of both characters and the backstory provided. I could not have predicted that through so much tragedy there could be bonds formed. I could gush about this book for hours and talk about how it was outside my usual realm of Young Adult books, but I just wanted to tell you that you need to read this. It is so wonderfully written, captivating, emotional, and thrilling that you must go get this book.

I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in historical fiction books or anyone looking to read something outside of their comfort zone.

Busted by Gina Ciocca

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 Stars

Busted by Gina Ciocca is a contemporary young adult fiction novel that follows the journey of the main character Marissa. Marissa has been placed in a position that she did not necessarily want to be in after helping her best friend. Busted focuses on the lengths of friendship, trust, forgiveness, high school drama, and deciding how far you will go to capture the story.  Marissa is a spunky main character who wants to go to college to study journalism, but when choosing how to pay for school, an option is thrown into her lap. This new option may or may not have consequences. This new opportunity is thrown into her lap by her ex-best friend Kendall. Kendall reenters Marissa’s life after finding out that Marissa helped her best friend Charlie, who goes to a different school than Marissa, bust Charlie’s boyfriend cheating. Kendall begs Marissa to do the same with her boyfriend after she assumes that he is cheating. Marissa attends the same school as Kendall’s boyfriend and accepts the new challenge. The story continues with a lot of twists and turns and betrayal. Marissa must learn to put her feelings aside during the investigation and not get tangled in Kendall’s love life. This story has high school drama written all over it.

This is the synopsis of the book found on Amazon:

And her next case? It’s for ex-frenemy Kendall. She’s convinced her boyfriend, TJ, has feelings for someone else and persuades Marissa to start spying on him. But the more Marisa gets to know sincere and artistic TJ, the more she starts to fall for him. Worse yet, the feelings seem to be mutual. Marisa knows she needs to give up her investigation—and the spoken-for guy who may just be the love of her life. Then she uncovers new secrets about Kendall and TJ, secrets that take “cheater” to a whole new level…

I purchased this book after reading the portion of the synopsis above. This sounds like it is going to be amazing, right? I thought that it would be amazing.  I liked this book and thought it had a good storyline but the plot twist was a lacking. There was a lot of build-up to the plot, but I did not think it met my expectations. I assumed there would be more drama or connection between the characters. I mean everything felt a little bit forced. Of course with most contemporary novels, it has a cliche happy ending. I wanted more development in this story. There could’ve been more done with this book with the title. It is definitely a contemporary drama, mystery, romance novel. I did love the development of the friendship between Charlie and Marisa. I love the style of writing but not necessarily all the content.

I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in a bit of cliche high school drama with a little bit of romance and betrayal.

Disclaimer: This review is solely my honest opinion. I purchased this book on my own from Barnes and Noble. Below is a link for you to purchase the book as well. The opinions in this review do not reflect the views of the author.

You can purchase a copy of this book from Amazon  or Barnes and Noble. This book was published on January 2, 2018.

The Forgotten Lands by Jennifer Strain

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

 

Rating: 5 out of 5 Stars

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was given a copy of this book from the author Jennifer Strain, in exchange for my honest review. The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author.

The Forgotten Lands by Jennifer Strain is a fantasy juvenile fiction novel. It follows the story of Sadie and her two cousins. The Forgotten Lands is a short story, being only seventy-five pages long but it is filled with adventure. It makes you remember those stories you grandfather used to tell you as a kid. The stories about when they were younger and how they loved to go on an adventure. This is exactly how this story begins. Sadie’s grandfather tells her the tales of this mysterious apple in the family’s orchid that will lead any child who finds it, on a wonderful adventure through the forgotten lands. I don’t want to give too much away since this is a short book. I do recommend this book to anyone who has a child and is interested in reading it. It is a quick read and is appropriate for any child learning to read chapter books as this is not too overwhelming.

If you are interested in purchasing the book or learning more about the author, use the links below.

Link to purchase the Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1684014522

Link to learn more about the author:  https://www.instagram.com/theforgottenlands_books/

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

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Rating: 4.8 stars out of 5 stars

*This review contains a few spoilers in the beginning. This review is solely my own opinion.*

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris is a juvenile fiction read that focuses on the life of Carter. Carter has had a rough start to his life and continued to face challenges. He is left in the care of his Uncle Sly; the name fits perfectly with his personality. All his life he has just wanted to belong, and you hope that he does. In an attempt to separate himself from his Uncle and no longer be subjected to his Uncle’s foolery, he decides to run away. Carter hops on a train and lands in an unusual town known as Mineral Wells. Carter embarks on a tremendous journey to find a place where he belongs. Of course, this would not be a story without a villain; the villain is B.B. Bosso, a carnival owner, and magician. Carter would not call himself a magician because he did not believe in magic but he did know tricks and had a keen eye for noticing them. Carter stumbles upon the carnival as he enters the town and is amazed by all the tricks. Carter later runs into a gentleman called Mr. Vernon, a man who considers himself to be a magician. As Carter continues to stay in this new town, he must learn who to trust and who not to trust after he is offered a deal that some would not refuse. In this novel we watch Carter meet new friends, build new relationships, and accept himself for who he is. Carter learns to trust his instincts and be more open-minded when it comes to magic. Will Carter stay in Mineral Wells after everything? Who is B.B. Bosso and what is his involvement in the plot twist? I guess you will have to read this book to find out. I have already shared a lot of information.

This book is a selected title for the book club I host. I knew that this is something I must read. The author serves as the narrator in the story by providing inserted magic lessons and interacting with the reader. I love the connection that is made between the narrator and the reader. It feels like the narrator is talking directly to you and it feels like someone is merely telling you a story. This book is very much appropriate for young children as it is filled with magic, adventure, life lessons, and family. It teaches to youth to explore their imagination, to believe in magic, and to always be honest with your friends regardless of the potential outcome. There was one piece of this story that left me wondering. Carter was given a box from his parents, but in the end, we still have no idea what is in that box. I wanted to know more about his parents and what was in that box. I am excited to note that this is the first novel in the series and that there will be more.

This book is available for purchase on all major book outlets such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.