Kidzworld's Official Blog

This week was all about the spooky, the terrifying and the ghostly. I’ve read tons of books about ghosts, and most aren’t worth remembering. It’s a typical topic, making it hard for authors to put a new spin on it. The Haunting of Derek Stone #4: The Ghost Road by Tony Abbott and Rebel Stone and the Ghost Whisperers by Walter Rouzer were just that–typical. The Ghost Road was decent, assuming you start by reading the other books in the series. It was high-action, but in my opinion it’s a story that is more interesting for boys than girls.

Rebel Stone and the Ghost Whisperers mixed ghosts and aliens, which I’ve never seen before. But the writing sounded amateur. The constant flaws and overuse of metaphors made it hard to read.

Malice, on the other hand, was fantastic. While it wasn’t about ghosts, it was definitely spooky. The story was about a comic book called Malice. Kids who perform a ritual and summon Tall Jake (like Bloody Mary), are stolen from their homes and brought to the dangerous world of Malice–the world inside the comic book. The writing is easy to follow, the characters are relatable and the concept of part-novel, part-comic book is very unique.

Wow, what a wonderful week of books! The two sequels to The Book of Time by Guillaume Prevost are even better than the first. In The Gate of Days, Sam finally rescues his father from his six month lockdown in the dungeons of dracula’s castle. But his trip through time left him in a coma. In The Circle of Gold, Sam knows that in order to wake his dad up from his coma, his must once again travel back in time and save his mother from dying. But evil forces are at work. Sam’s crush, Alicia, is kidnapped and trapped somewhere in history. Before Sam can even think of altering the past, he needs to deal with more pressing issues…like getting Alicia back!

Last but absolutely, 100% not least — The Hunger Games. Wow. That pretty much sums it up. Suzanne Collins is unbelievable. When I first learned the plot of this book — a sci-fi novel about mandatory competition forcing teenagers to fight to the death — I really wasn’t interested in reading it. But boy, am I glad I did. I was reassured by Stephenie Meyer‘s quote on the cover calling the book “amazing.” And she was definitely right. The Hunger Games was risky, edgy, barbaric, and so gripping I just couldn’t put it down. Could this series become the next Twilight? Quite possibly.

As a book reviewer, I read over 100 books each year. I come across many decent novels and many good novels. But only once in a blue moon do I find a story that really blows me away. This year, The Legend of Vinny Whiskers by Gregory Kemp was that story.

It follows a set of characters you rarely see in young-adult fiction, or any fiction for that matter–black-tailed prairie dogs. Some people immediately dismiss a story that is writing solely about animals, unless of course it’s a children’s picture book. But The Legend of Vinny Whiskers isn’t silly or unrealistic. It’s mature, deep and adventureous–great for kids and adults alike. It’s the story of an underdog proving that he’s strong, courageous and capable.

It’s a fabulous accomplishment for a debut novel. The Legend of Vinny Whiskers is the kind of story you’ll remember forever, the kind you’ll want your kids to read one day.

Unfortunately the book isn’t sold in stores. But it is available at most online book retailers. Trust me when I say that this is the type of book you can purchase in blind faith. It won’t disappoint you.

Moxy Maxwell is everyone’s favorite preteen procrastinator. In Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Practicing the Piano, Moxy is trying to avoid praciticing the piano, even though she has a recital that very evening and has yet to figure out where to end the song. She’s too busy assembling her costume, practicing her bow and preparing for her dress rehearsal. But when it comes time to step out on stage, Moxy freezes up. It’s your classic case of overcoming stage fright.

The Moxy Maxwell books are quick reads, filled with pictures, large font and short chapters. They’re perfect for the budding reader.