Saturday, June 30, 2012

Review: The Harder They Fall by Trish Jensen


SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Food fight, love match, or both? She’s a lovable klutz trying to save her family’s restaurant chain. He’s a stuffed shirt angling to buy it. Who will trip up and fall in love first?
Darcy Welham’s dad is ready to sell his five-star restaurants and retire, but she’s determined to prove she can be trusted to keep the family business going. Darcy’s sure it’s what her mother would have wanted. Only one problem: her life turns into a comedy show when she’s nervous. Pratfalls, spills, slips and fires—all in a day’s misadventures for Darcy. She can’t even wait on tables without dumping food into the customers’ laps. When supper lands on a sensitive area of businessman Michael Davidson’s finely creased trousers, he tries to have his gorgeous but careless waitress fired, only to discover that she’s the person he has to win over if he wants to buy the restaurant chain for his bosses. From that antagonistic start, Darcy and Michael soon find that there’s more to each other than first expected. She’s clumsy because she’s got low self-esteem. She may be a disaster as a waitress, but she’s a genius as a cook, with a talent for creating mouth-watering new dishes. Darcy begins to realize that Michael is not a stuffed shirt at heart—he’s patient, strong and brave, which any man who dates Darcy has to be, because she turns into a Danger Zone every time he makes her heart flutter.
“I laughed so hard I fell off the couch . . . . Don't read this book while eating or drinking, you might snarf something down the wrong way and hurt yourself. . . . on behalf of all fans of screwball comedies, I'd like to thank you Trish. More, please.” – All About Romance

MY TAKE:

I was looking forward to reading this book after reading the first few pages. However, as the story wore on, my enthusiasm left.

The Harder They Fall is about Darcy, a restaurant heiress who is trying to stop the sale of her family's restaurant chain to a corporation. Michael needs the sale to go through for him to get a much-awaited promotion.

The book started out strong. Michael is a well-developed character. He's nice, sweet and very alpha male. Darcy, though, reminded me of Bella Swan. Mostly, it's because she's clumsy, naive and self-pitying. She had her good moments, too, but for the most part, I did not enjoy her character very much.

As for the plot, since it's a romance novel, you already have an inkling of how it's supposed to go. This book had a lot of potential. The romantic scenes were the book's strongest point. However, the book focused more on the seduction and relationship and less on Darcy and Michael's back stories, which were very interesting.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bell Bridge Books for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

  1. The romance scenes are hot.
  2. Michael is a strong character.
  3. There's a lot of potential.

THE BAD:

  1. Darcy can be annoying sometimes.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:
"Brilliant. Who'd have thought tuna, sun-dried tomatoes and pistachio nuts would taste that good together!"
READ IT IF:

  1. You like fluffy romance reads.
  2. You like cooking.
  3. You like hot romance.

RATING:
Photobucket


SOUNDS INTERESTING?



Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Friday, June 29, 2012

Review: The Time Paradox by Eoin Colfer


SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS.COM:
After disappearing for three years, Artemis Fowl has returned to a life different from the one he left. Now he's a big brother, and spends his days teaching his twin siblings the important things in life, such as how to properly summon a waiter at a French restaurant.
But when Artemis Fowl's mother contracts a life-threatening illness, his world is turned upside down. The only hope for a cure lies in the brain fluid of the silky sifaka lemur. Unfortunately, the animal is extinct due to a heartless bargain Artemis himself made as a younger boy.
Though the odds are stacked against him, Artemis is not willing to give up. With the help of his fairy friends, the young genius travels back in time to save the lemur and bring it back to the present. But to do so, Artemis will have to defeat a maniacal poacher, who has set his sights on new prey: Holly Short.
The rules of time travel are far from simple, but to save his mother, Artemis will have to break them all.and outsmart his most cunning adversary yet: Artemis Fowl, age ten. 




MY TAKE:

This Artemis Fowl book is by far, the most infuriating, confusing yet clever installment in the series.

In The Time Paradox, Artemis Fowl must go back in time to save the silky sifaka lemur, the only creature that can cure the disease that is ailing his mother. With the help of Holly, Artemis must outsmart his more ruthless younger self, and another unseen enemy.

Funnily enough, I read this book right after we watched Men in Black 3. In that movie, Agent J travels back in time to save K's life. If you're familiar with the Time Paradox, or the Grandfather Paradox, then this seems like something that can't be done. That is, if Artemis goes back to save the lemur, wouldn't the lemur still be alive in his time and he won't have to go back to save the lemur? Same goes for Agent K. The amazing thing in both instances is, that their time travel is already built in to how the story is supposed to go. If you've already seen the movie, then you'll know what I mean.

I spent the better part of this book angry at Artemis the younger. If the logic behind the entire book wasn't so amazing, I probably would have hated this book. Artemis the elder wasn't exactly in tiptop mental condition either, so his failed plans annoyed me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

  1. It tackles an interesting concept.
  2. The plot and the logic are brilliant.
  3. The book is exciting.

THE BAD:

  1. Artemis can get incredibly annoying.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:
File and save, thought Artemis. Koala in Cleveland.
READ IT IF:

  1. You are an Artemis fan.
  2. You enjoy science fiction stories.
  3. You like incredible plot twists.

RATING:
Photobucket


SOUNDS INTERESTING?



Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Review: The Lost Colony by Eoin Colfer


SUMMARY FROM GOODREADS.COM:
Ten thousand years ago, humans and fairies fought a great battle for the magical island of Ireland. When it became clear to the fairy families that they could never win, they decided to move their civilization underground and keep themselves hidden from the humans. All the fairy families agreed on this, except the eighth family, the demons. The demons planned to lift their small island out of time until they had regrouped and were ready to wage war on the humans once more. However, the time spell went wrong, and the island of Hybras was catapulted into Limbo, where it has remained for ten thousand years. Now the tainted time spell is deteriorating and demons are being sucked back into the present space and time. The fairy council is concerned about this and is monitoring any materializations. But when the spells deterioration accelerates, the materializations become unpredictable. Even the fairy scientists cannot figure out where the next demon will pop up. But someone can. Artemis Fowl, teenage criminal mastermind, has solved temporal equations that no normal human should be intelligent enough to understand. So when a confused and frightened demon pops up in a Sicilian theater, Artemis Fowl is there to meet him. Unfortunately, he is not the only one. A second, mysterious party has also solved the temporal equations, and has managed to abduct the demon before Artemis can secure him. Once again, Artemis will have to pair up with his old comrade, Captain Holly Short, to track down the missing demon and rescue him, before the time spell dissolves completely and the lost demon colony returns violently to Earth.
MY TAKE:

It's been awhile since I've read an Artemis Fowl book. I've definitely missed his adventures.

The Lost Colony is the 5th book in the Artemis Fowl series. In this book, Artemis and Holly must track down a demon, battle a new nemesis and stop a demon colony from invading Earth.

Eoin Colfer introduces a new character in this book. This demon is a great new addition to the Artemis Fowl family. He's different from all the other demons and over the course of the story, you get to find out why.

As usual, the book has unexpected twists. The best twist comes prior to the happy ending. It's unexpected, not necessarily happy, but definitely a necessary twist.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

  1. It's a worthy addition  to the series.
  2. We get to meet a fun, interesting new character.
  3. There are lots of unexpected twists.

THE BAD:

  1. The introduction of the new character takes away screen-time from Artemis and Holly.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:
Your move, Artemis Fowl. Minerva had said.
READ IT IF:

  1. You are an Artemis Fowl fan.
  2. You enjoy books with lots of plot twists.
  3. You like smart heros.

RATING:
Photobucket


SOUNDS INTERESTING?



Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Blog Tour and Review: Hey Canada! by Vivien Bower




SUMMARY FROM TUNDRABOOKS.COM:
Gran has decided that she is taking nine-year-old Alice and eight-year-old Cal on a road trip across Canada “before she’s old and creaky.” With a sparkling combination of poems, silly songs, tweets and blogs, the trio records the trip for readers everywhere to share. Starting in St. John’s Newfoundland, where they have a “find-it” list that includes a moose and an iceberg and going all the way to the Pacific Ocean, the gang in Hey Canada! offers a delightful way to learn about vast, varied, and surprising Canada.

The book combines narrative, poems, photos, comics about historical events such as the battle at Fortress Louisburg, maps (including provincial flags, birds, and flowers), in a lively, easily accessible format. Not only great fun to read, this is a valuable resource for young Canadians and for visitors across the country.


MY TAKE:


I have an aunt and uncle who live in Canada but I've never really gotten a good grasp of their locations as I keep mixing up Canadian geography.


Hey Canada! is the perfect book for kids and adults who want to learn more about Canada. The book is narrated by Alice, who is going on a cross-country trip with her grandmother and her brother Cal. You learn about the tourist attractions in each Canadian province, as well as assorted trivia about the place. The pictures and illustrations are nice. I didn't like the layout, however. Basically, it's two columns of text interspersed with pictures. drawings, and features like Cal's Tweet. It would be better if it was more scrapbook-like or magazine-like.

What makes this book great is the fact that it combines history, geography and general knowledge in one creative, easy-to-digest package. Kids will find this a non-boring way to learn a lot about Canada. I know that I learned a whole lot of new things about Canada in this book. In fact, I saw so many enticing attractions  that I'm already considering going to Canada.

Thanks to NetGalley and Tundra Books for the ARC. 


THE GOOD:

  1. You learn a lot of stuff about Canada.
  2. Alice, Cal and Gran are lovable characters.
  3. The book makes learning interesting.

THE BAD:

  1. The two-column layout takes a little bit away from the niceness of the book's concept.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:
First stop: Cinnamon Bun Strip. It's famous for cinnamon buns.
READ IT IF:

  1. You want to learn more about Canada.
  2. You are looking for a Lonely Planet book for kids.
  3. Your child wants to learn about other countries.

RATING:
Photobucket 


SOUNDS INTERESTING?



Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

People call me the little prince, and they often say that I'm very stubborn.
Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Review: Xoc: The Journey of A Great White by Matt Dembicki


SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:
Explore the ocean's wonders through the eyes of a great white as it treks from the Farallon Islands off the coast of California to the warm waters of Hawaii some 2,300 miles away. Along its journey, the 17-foot shark encounters natural prey and predators-from skittish seals to brazen orcas- as well as man-made impediments that threaten not only the giant fish, but the balance of ocean's ecology.
MY TAKE:

Before reading this book, I was under the impression that it would be literally through the eyes of a great white, kinda like stepping into their skin. Well, it's not exactly like that.

The book is a look at the life of Xoc, a great white shark. The story is not just about Xoc, though, as we do get to see a little about what life is like for other sea creatures.

I'm not really a fan of the illustration style, which is more realistic than I prefer, but the style is good for action sequences. The coloring was beautiful too, especially for the deep-sea creatures.

The story line and the style is generally okay. I did, however, notice a line that was repeated in succeeding panels/pages, plus a couple of typos, incomplete sentences, and one wrong tense ("This time, the whale drives the disoriented shark deeper, hoping to drowned it."). This is understandable for an ARC, though, so hopefully, this will be fixed by the time the book goes to print.

Thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for providing me with an e-ARC. Publication of Xoc: The Journey of A Great White is on July 25, 2012.

THE GOOD:
  1. Illustrations are able to evoke movement.
  2. It's a great way to introduce kids to marine life or to get acquainted with life under the sea.
  3. Realistic coloring.
THE BAD:
  1. Font is a little bit hard to read.
  2. There were a few typos.
FAVORITE QUOTE/S:
It is dawn. Light cracks the cold, dark waters of the Pacific.
READ IT IF:
  1. You like sea creatures.
  2. You would like to learn more about sea creatures, but don't want to read textbooks.
  3. You're looking for a well-inked educational comic book.
RATING:
Photobucket

Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

In My Mailbox



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

FROM NETGALLEY:


The Atlantis Complex & The Last Guardian (sneak peek) by Eoin Colfer
Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

First Book on the Left: Yes, Chef by Marcus Samuelsson


First Book on the Left is a new feature in this blog. Reading piles can get ridiculously huge so you don't get to read and review on time all the books you get. This feature is for the books on my pile that I wasn't able to read in time, but which I'm still excited about.


SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

It begins with a simple ritual: Every Saturday afternoon, a boy who loves to cook walks to his grandmother's house and helps her prepare a roast chicken for dinner. The grandmother is Swedish, a retired domestic. The boy is Ethiopian and adopted, and he will grow up to become the world-renowned chef Marcus Samuelsson. This book is his love letter to food and family in all its manifestations.    
 

Marcus Samuelsson was only three years old when he, his mother, and his sister-all battling tuberculosis-walked seventy-five miles to a hospital in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Adaba. Tragically, his mother succumbed to the disease shortly after she arrived, but Marcus and his sister recovered, and one year later they were welcomed into a loving middle-class white family in Göteborg, Sweden. It was there that Marcus's new grandmother, Helga, sparked in him a lifelong passion for food and cooking with herpan-fried herring, her freshly baked bread, and her signature roast chicken. From a very early age, there was little question what Marcus was going to be when he grew up.
 

Yes, Chef chronicles Marcus Samuelsson's remarkable journey from Helga's humble kitchen to some of the most demanding and cutthroat restaurants in Switzerland and France, from his grueling stints on cruise ships to his arrival in New York City, where his outsize talent and ambition finally come together at Aquavit, earning him a coveted NewYork Times three-star rating at the age of twenty-four. But Samuelsson's career of  "chasing flavors," as he calls it, had only just begun-in the intervening years, there have been White House state dinners, career crises, reality show triumphs and, most important, the opening of the beloved Red Rooster in Harlem. At Red Rooster, Samuelsson has fufilled his dream ofcreating a truly diverse, multiracial dining room-a place where presidents and prime ministers rub elbows with jazz musicians, aspiring artists, bus drivers, and nurses. It is a place where an orphan from Ethiopia, raised in Sweden, livingin America, can feel at home. 
 

With disarming honesty and intimacy, Samuelsson also opens up about his failures-the price of ambition, in human terms-and recounts his emotional journey, as a grown man, to meet the father he never knew. Yes, Chef is a tale of personal discovery, unshakable determination, and the passionate, playful pursuit of flavors-one man's struggle to find a place for himself in the kitchen, and in the world.
A James Beard Award-winning chef and author of several cookbooks, Marcus Samuelsson has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, Today, Iron Chef, and Top Chef Masters, where he took first place. His newest restaurant, Red Rooster, recently opened in Harlem ,where he lives with his wife.

MY TAKE:


I'm a huge fan of Top Chef, Iron Chef, etc., so I recognized Marcus Samuelsson's name right away. During his season of Top Chef Masters, I was actually rooting for Susur Lee. Marcus had some really interesting dishes, though.

Sometimes, he would say something about his upbringing and it seems like he had a really interesting life. This book goes into more detail about his childhood and his career. As such, this book will appeal to his fans. However, you don't have to be a fan to enjoy this, I think. If you like food and biographies, you'll probably like this too.

SOUNDS INTERESTING?



Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Friday, June 22, 2012

Review: Sorcery & Cecelia by Caroline Stevermer



SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Two girls contend with sorcery in England's Regency age.
Since they were children, cousins Kate and Cecelia have been inseparable. But in 1817, as they approach adulthood, their families force them to spend a summer apart. As Cecelia fights boredom in her small country town, Kate visits London to mingle with the brightest lights of English society.
At the initiation of a powerful magician into the Royal College of Wizards, Kate finds herself alone with a mysterious witch who offers her a sip from a chocolate pot. When Kate refuses the drink, the chocolate burns through her dress and the witch disappears. It seems that strange forces are convening to destroy a beloved wizard, and only Kate and Cecelia can stop the plot. But for two girls who have to contend with the pressures of choosing dresses and beaux for their debuts, deadly magic is only one of their concerns.
 This ebook features illustrated biographies of Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer including rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the authors' personal collections.

MY TAKE:

If you've ever wondered what would happen if you mix Jane Austen and magic, then you should read Sorcery & Cecelia.

Sorcery & Cecelia is a novel told through letters written by Kate and Cecelia. The story revolves around Kate, Cecelia, James and Thomas. The four of them are racing against time to stop horrible wizards from stealing a wizard's magic.

The language was Victorian English so I came across a lot of terms that were new to me. It slowed my pace down at first. The novel did start of slow too. I did enjoy the book once the pace picked up. The romance parts were predictable but still entertaining. The only thing that I didn't really like was how much Kate and Cecelia sounded alike. To keep from backreading who I was reading, I used the love interests as reference points.

Thanks to NetGalley and Open Road Young Readers for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

  1. Interesting concept.
  2. The romance is charming.
  3. The letters are a great storytelling medium.

THE BAD:

  1. It's easy to confuse Kate and Cecelia.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:
So, in the dark, to music only Thomas could hear, we waltzed the rest of the way up Berkeley Square.
READ IT IF:

  1. You like Jane Austen.
  2. You like magic books.
  3. You enjoy chicklit.

RATING:
Photobucket


SOUNDS INTERESTING?



Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

The Golden Flute: The Adventures of Lilli and Zane by Catherine Lanigan Giveaway Winner!


Photobucket



Your contact details have been forwarded to a Cedar Fort Books' representative. Thanks to everyone who joined!

Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Review: Runaway Girl by Carissa Phelps


SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

An astonishing story of triumph and a fierce determination to give back
Carissa Phelps was a runner. By twelve, she had run away from home, dropped out of shcool, and fled blindly into the arms of a brutal pimp, who made her walk the hard streets of central California. But even when she escaped him, she could not outrun the crushing inner pain of abuse, neglect, and abandonment. With little to hope for, she expected to end up in prison, or worse.
Her life was transformed through the unexpected kindness of a teacher and a counselor. Miraculously, by the time Carissa turned thirty, she had accomplished the the unimaginable, graduation from UCLA with both a law degree and an MBA. she had left the streets behind, yet her path would eventually draw her back, this time working to help homeless and at-risk youth find their own paths to a better life.

MY TAKE:

This book delivered what I expected.

Runaway Girl tells how the author was able to overcome a tough childhood to become what she is today.

I have heard about the child prostitution and what happens to runaways in America. However, this book takes a deeper and longer look at the fate of kids and teens who are on the streets on their own.

This book got hard to read sometimes because of the subject matter. The writing style is simple, though, and makes the story easier to digest. It also makes it easier to empathize with Carissa.

Did I love this book? Not really, but I can definitely see the value of this book. This book is perfect for those who have had a similar childhood or who are struggling with the same issues.

Thanks to NetGalley and Viking USA for the e-ARC. Publication date of July 5, 2012.

THE GOOD:

  1. It's an inspiring story.
  2. It raises awareness about an important cause.
  3. The flow of the story is natural.

THE BAD:

  1. It reads like it's written for a younger audience.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:
Imposed control. Or what I thought was control.
READ IT IF:

  1. You want to know more about prostituted children's conditions.
  2. You know what it feels like to be a runaway.
  3. You support charities and non-profit organizations.

RATING:
Photobucket


SOUNDS INTERESTING?



Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Teaser Tuesdays

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • Grab your current read
  • Open to a random page
  • Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I bought a pair for myself and have spilt coffee on them already. So you see London hasn't changed me yet.
Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Monday, June 18, 2012

Blog Tour: Royally BeSwitched by Molly Snow




For this blog tour, we have an interview with Molly Snow, the author of Royally BeSwitched.
What was the hardest thing about writing this book?
The research. Since it takes place in 1730 I had to study fashions, certain terms, the setting up of kingdoms and more. I took some fictional liberties in some areas, but always made sure to have a certain explanation for them to make sense to the reader who is really knowledgeable history-wise.
Which of your characters can you relate to the most?
I think I feel the most for Surla the cat. She seems to have my sensibilities and likes and dislikes (to an extent). I really feel for her as she has fallen in love with her human crush, Jax. And, I agree with her that he is pretty hot stuff... I mean, he already knew how to sword fight before going back in time :) And I am in love with his hair.  
Which part of the book was the easiest to write?
There are times as an author when I get into what I call "The Zone." It comes unexpectedly. I feel like I am one with the book and the words are flowing. That happened a few times during Royally BeSwitched. It is my belief that when I am in that zone, those scenes end up being the best. One time it happened during a sword fight where Jax takes on a giant in an arena, again it happened with Jax fighting black magic, and another time when Surla is thinking about her desires for Jax. Although the book is about getting Jax's predecessors to fall in love again, the plot is also heavy with Jax and Surla's personal journey.
Which actors would play the main characters in the movie version of the book?
Surla: A cool CGI animation to look like a real cat
Idis, the witch: Kathy Griffin (image from http://goodenoughmother.com)
Jax: Thomas McDonell, from the movie Prom (image from 
http://mharb.blogspot.com)
 
Nicolas, the prince: Kendall Schmidt (image from 
http://sharetv.org/person/kendall_schmidt)
 
Noella: Kate Mara (image from: 
http://davidsdialogue1.blogspot.com/)
Which songs would be on the soundtrack of the movie version of the book?



Any future books in the works?
I'm working on a 4th book in the series. We'll see how it comes out and if it will be the final book in the series ;)
ABOUT MOLLY SNOW:




Molly Snow, Founder of BreezyReads.com, wrote BeSwitched when she was just sixteen. As a bestselling author’s personal assistant at age twenty, she decided to do what her boss did and self publish. At age twenty-three, BeSwitched made its debut. Snow is married to her high school crush, has a set of silly twin boys and a bob-tailed cat named Meow-Meow.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Hexed back to the 1700s, when castles and sword fights abound, a magical black cat, Surla, and her human crush, Jax Morreau, have no idea what troubles await. When Jax’s distant relatives, a lowly maidservant and a pampered prince, miss their chance at love, evil gains a stronghold in the kingdom. It’s up to the duo from the future to reset the course of love before it’s too late. 

Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Review: Victory by Carla Jablonski; Illustrated by Leland Purvis


SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:
The final installment in Carla Jablonski’s Sydney Taylor Honor-winning Resistance trilogy.
World War II thunders to a conclusion in this third and final installment of Jablonski and Purvis’ critically-acclaimed historical trilogy. As the Allied Forces move to retake France from its Nazi invaders, siblings Sophie, Paul, and Marie Tessier must risk their lives once more and journey into the belly of the beast: Paris. They are on a mission to deliver top-secret intel for the Resistance movement . . . they are its youngest agents.
A perfect mix of deft emotional storytelling and hairraising, historically accurate wartime adventure make this final chapter of the Resistance Trilogy the most satisfying yet.
MY TAKE:

I wasn't born yet during World War II, so what I know of the war is from the things taught to us in school and told to me by my parents and grandparents.

Victory is the third book in Carla Jablonski's Resistance trilogy. This book chronicles the adventures of Sylvie, Paul and Marie as they fight for the French Resistance. I was a little disoriented at first when I was reading because I was looking for "Sophie", the girl mentioned in the marketing copy. In the book, however, Paul and Marie's older sister is named Sylvie. I haven't read the first two books, though, so I'm not sure if she was Sophie before.

Anyway, while it helps to read the first two books, Victory is still easy enough to follow. The characters explain the things that you might have missed, without resorting to info dumps.

It's action-packed, informative and very realistic. The illustrations are like sketches, so if you like that style, then this is definitely your cup of tea.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for the e-ARC. Publication date of Victory is on July 17, 2012.

THE GOOD:
  1. The book is very informative.
  2. The story is realistic.
  3. You don't have to have read the first books to understand this one.
THE BAD:
  1. There are some misaligned speech bubbles.
  2. The illustration style may not appeal to everyone.
FAVORITE QUOTE/S:
Stop fraternizing with the enemy and maybe I'll treat you with more respect.
READ IT IF:
  1. You want to know what life was like in wartime France.
  2. You're looking for a realistic comic book trilogy.
  3. You want to learn more about the Resistance in World War II France.
RATING:
Photobucket

SOUNDS INTERESTING?


Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.

Saturday, June 16, 2012

In My Mailbox



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

FROM NETGALLEY:


Girl Unmoored by Jennifer Gooch Hummer


Photobucket

Note: This post contains Amazon and Book Depository affiliate links.
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...