Spring Reading 2014 Annaleise Carr: How I conquered Lake Ontario to help kids battling cancer

Several things attracted me to this book: it as a true story told by the middle-school student who accomplished this record-setting feat, it had plenty of photos to bring the story to life, and author Deborah Ellis (Parvana's Journey, The Breadwinner) had helped Annaleise to write it. Once I started reading, I went straight through it without stopping. Annaleise's personality shines through so clearly - her generosity, determination, courage, and humor all become clear as she talks about her famous swim. She decided to swim across Lake Ontario to raise money for Camp Trillium (a camp for children with cancer and their siblings) when she found out she was too young to be volunteer at the camp. Rather than waiting for 5 years and then volunteering, Annaleise came up with another way to help.

The book takes us through the events that led to her decision to swim the lake, her preparations for the swim, and then the details of that amazing 26 1/2 hours of the swim itself. Photos show Annaleise, her family, Camp Trillium, scenes from the swim and her return to dry land. It is amazing that a 14-year-old not only completed the swim, but also organized all the sponsors and support necessary. She is remarkably humble about her success and makes sure to thank everyone involved - from her family to the corporate sponsors and everyone in between. Annaleise is a great role model for other teens and her book is an inspiring read for all ages.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The book was released March 11, 2014.



There is a video showing the last couple of minutes of her swim as she reaches the shore after crossing Lake Ontario. You can also watch video about Camp Trillium and Annaleise's desire to raise money for the camp.

Spring Reading 2014 How to Outrun a Crocodile When Your Shoes Are Untied

Anyone who has ever had a best friend move away, had their parents embarrass them in front of their classmates, been tormented and teased by "popular" kids at school, or had to do a presentation that they are terrified will be a disaster will understand Ana completely. Her best friend Liv has moved to New Zealand, her parents are zoologists who have moved the family into one of the research houses at the zoo, the Sneerers (Ana's name for a group of popular girls who tease her constantly) have done everything they can to bug her all year, and her grandfather is a famous animal expert that is including his family in the new documentary he is filming. Could the end of seventh grade get any worse? Yup, it sure could. Pesky things like oral presentations in English, a sneak attack involving chicken parmesan in the lunchroom, the horror of her parents participating in Career Day at school, the possibility of failing math, a final art project to illustrate "Your True Seventh-Grade Self"...the pressure and possibilities for public shame keep mounting. Will Ana survive these last weeks of seventh grade and make it to summer vacation?

I think having any one of these problems is enough to give someone a bad day, or a stomach ache, or both. Having them all one after another and overlapping seems like a greatest hits parade of teen pain. It doesn't help that Ana seems to be the only one in her family who is shy and nervous about being the center of attention. Our empathy with Ana makes us especially grateful for the glimmers of kindness and friendship that help get her through these tough times. Readers who haven't reached seventh grade yet need to remember that all these disasters don't befall every student - and they can be survived. For those of us who have completed middle school, we will probably suffer some sympathy pains as her struggles bring up memories of our own embarrassments at that age.

If you enjoy realistic fiction and stories that reflect school and family situations (especially with comic relief and random animal facts mixed in), then you should definitely read this book. Also a great read for anyone who roots for the underdog and always hopes that bullies and mean-spirited peers get paid back for their evil. For anyone who enjoys Andrew Clements and his school stories or Carl Hiassen and his stories that include Florida's wildlife, this is a blend of those two styles that will have you sympathetically teary-eyed over Ana's misfortunes and cheering for her victories.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The book will be released on June 1, 2014 - just in time to be a great summer read.

Spring Reading 2014 Tabula Rasa

You're in a hospital-like setting. There are nurses and doctors, treatment rooms, rec rooms, waiting rooms. You wear a hospital gown and nonskid socks. You are told that the treatments you receive are to help with severe PTSD, so that you can get a fresh start on life. Nothing that can remind you of your old life is allowed, not even a reflection of your face. But you overhear a nurse talking about some of the patients being victims of violence and some being perpetrators. You begin to wonder in which category you belong. You're not even sure if the name they call you is actually yours, or just something that's been assigned to you. You're adrift, disconnected from the world, not even the location of this building is in your memory. So what happens next? What if your memory starts to return, despite the treatments?

That's the situation Sarah (if that's really her name), finds herself in. None of the staff will tell her what she did to be placed in this program, or where she came from, where they are now... Any time she does something different, like too many push-ups in the gym or building the same structure over and over with the Lego blocks in the therapy room, she is forbidden to try it again. No more gym time. No more Legos. How can those things be a threat? How would working out in the gym cause a setback in her treatment? Why does the nurse go ballistic over the Legos? And what sort of hospital only has a handful of patients, but state of the art equipment and therapy that costs millions for each patient? Even with a spotty memory, Sarah knows things aren't adding up. And she's starting to get the feeling that time is running out.

If you like mystery, suspense, action and the possibility of a good conspiracy theory - with the added bonus of a tough female protagonist - then you should give this a try.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The book will be released September 23, 2014.




Visit the author's website for more information.

Check out the book trailer by Naomi Bates.

Spring Reading 2014 If It Rains Pancakes

Brian Cleary has a way of making things fun. His book series like Words Are Categorical help students learn about the parts of speech and other topics in a humorous way. This latest book is filled with examples of haiku and lantern poems that are sure to tickle the funny bone while stimulating the brain. Cleary explains that haiku are traditionally about nature, but that he has chosen some other subjects for his poems including pets, sports, and food. He does the same with the lantern poems. The explanations are clear and easy to understand and the poetry is about things that appeal to young readers. (There really ought to be more poems about pizza and pancakes in the world.) This is the perfect book for a lesson or unit on poetry, or for a poem a day to read aloud. And Cleary points out that, "Poetry's not just a spectator sport." Once you enjoy his poems, you may just be inspired to write a few of your own. I did.

If poems were fruit,
These would be sweet, sweet berries
I could eat all day.

(How's that, Mr. Cleary?) To find out more about his other books and about the author himself, check out his website. There are some cool activities to try out, including creating your own rebus poem.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The book will be published on May 1, 2014.

The Ninja Librarians Blog Tour Week 6

The Ultimate Keyhand Quest: You're going on a quest to save a person who is being punished for standing up for the truth. What time period are you traveling to? Who are you trying to save? What are you taking with you?

  

I would travel back to 1633 and rescue Galileo from the Inquisition.



He was accused of heresy due to his support of the Copernican theory that the sun is the center of the universe.

  


He formally abjured his statements and was placed under house arrest for the remainder of his life. It is a popular story that after he recanted his belief in the Copernican system and the earth revolving around the sun, he said to himself, "And yet it moves."



During that time there was danger from the plague, so I would want a hazmat suit to take with me on my quest.



I'd probably also take a laptop or iPad with NASA photos of the solar system. He would definitely want to come back with me to Petrarch's Library when he saw that his ideas had led to such wonderful scientific discoveries.

Spring Reading 2014 Loki's Wolves (The Blackwell Pages #1)

Matt Thorsen is the youngest son of Blackwell's sheriff, brought up on Norse legends and expectations of always doing the right thing and being a team player. Fen Brekke is part of family full of con artists who take turns offering him a place to live while his father is in prison - put there by Matt's father. Fen is a loner, only letting his cousin Laurie get close. He and Matt often argue with each other since their backgrounds and behavior are so different. But they have more in common than it appears; they are both descended from the Norse gods, Matt from Thor and Fen from Loki. At the festival of Vetrarblot the Seer reads the runes and announces that Matt is to be the champion to fight the Midgard Serpent at Ragnarok. A few hours later, Matt meets the Norn who tell him that he needs to find other children of the gods, including Fen and his cousin Laurie, and have them help him in the battle. But how do you get someone you've never gotten along with to become an ally? And how will they track down all the other Children of the North and the magical artifacts that they need? 

This is a great start to a new series. It has plenty of action, humor, realistic personalities, and suspense to keep you glued to the page. Readers who enjoy a mythological element (like what is woven through Percy Jackson and the Kane Chronicles), or the powers associated with mythology (like what Thor and Loki have in the movies) will find plenty of it in this series. Matt, Fen and the rest of the kids are just a bunch of middle-schoolers trying to save the world, not from pollution, but from Fimbulwinter. Let's hope they succeed.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

Spring Reading 2014 Henry Searches for the Perfect Family

Henry the Hedgehog has a few complaints about his family. One day when his father doesn't have time for what Henry wants to do, Henry decides to leave home. After he sneaks off, he meets lots of other animals and their families. Each animal thinks its family is best, but Henry doesn't want any of them for his own. (My favorite are the wolves, with all the aunts, uncles, etc. all in one big den.) Henry learns that families come in all shapes and sizes. He also learns to appreciate what he has.

This would be a good book to explore types of families and how none of them are perfect, but they may be "just right."

I won a copy from a giveaway sponsored by the publisher. It will be published on May 13, 2014.

Spring Reading 2014 The Wolf Who Wanted to Be an Artist

Mr. Wolf takes a comment from owl and turns it into a recommendation that he should become an artist. After seeing his painting, Mrs. Wolf has to set him straight about his lack of artistic ability. Her comment about his poetic soul causes him to decide to be a poet. That doesn't work too well either. As friends and acquaintances comment on each of his endeavors, he always finds an inspiration for his next attempt - sculpture, stand-up comedy, acting, etc. When he finally does show an aptitude, everyone is surprised and pleased.

This book would be great for a discussion about finding your strength(s) or about perseverance.

I won a copy of the book through a giveaway sponsored by the publisher. It will be published on May 13, 2014.

Spring Reading 2014 There's a Mouse Hiding in This Book!

This book will be a bit of nostalgia for parents and grandparents, bringing back those cartoons we watched after school (before there were cable channels). Tom chases Jerry through the entire book, with classic mishaps along the way such as angering a large dog or getting his tail caught in a mousetrap. The inky footprints Jerry leaves behind are reminiscent of the Pink Panther leaving a trail for Inspector Clouseau, either in the movie credits or in their own Saturday morning show. Tom's directions to the reader create an added layer of interaction with the book as he urges us to turn the page, shake the book, etc. to help him catch Jerry.

With the success of similar books such as Tap the Magic Tree and Don't Push the Button, this approach to picture books has proven its charm. This new addition to the group will provide a fun time for kids and adults alike.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It will be published September 1, 2014.

Spring Reading 2014 The Demon Notebook

When I first saw the title, I thought of the books Hagrid had everyone buy for the Care of Magical Creatures class. You know the ones I mean - they tried to bite the hand of anyone that came near them. That is what a demon notebook sounds like to me. But actually, it is just an ordinary notebook in this story...at the beginning anyway.

We've all heard the saying, "Be careful what you wish for." Five friends learn that the lesson the hard way in this story of magic and middle school. Grace, Una, Rachel, Jenny and Adie decide to form a coven and try out some spells. They keep a record of all the spells in a notebook, even though they never work. Then, one night, everything changes. Suddenly there is a demon loose in their school, Una goes from mischievous to prim and proper, the cutest boy suddenly has a crush on Grace, and the school bully even gets taken down a peg. How is all this possible? The girls have no choice but to seek out adult help to try and return things to normal. Mix in Career Night, a crazy cat lady, continual threats from the bully, an embarrassing game of basketball, schoolwork, and a babysitting job - and you can see why the friends are looking a bit ragged around the edges by the final showdown. 

The story captures the fears and concerns that most middle-schoolers face: wishing a crush would notice you, being chosen last for a PE team, being stuck with detention, bullies, boring lectures, and the general dread of being embarrassed. It also shows the way friendships work with all the teasing, whispering, shared secrets, and sleepovers. Most schools don't have demons among the student body (not that anyone will admit to), but those years are always a time of trying out new things and pushing the limits. Readers who enjoy a mix of the supernatural and everyday life will be rooting for the girls to win their face-off with evil in this book that has a bit of a junior "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" vibe. The author does a spooky reading from the book in this video.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It will be published June 1, 2014.

The Ninja Librarians Blog Tour Week 5

As we wind up the blog tour, our final prompt is to tell which historical figure we would like to be an apprentice for and what we would like to learn from them. My choice is Hypatia of Alexandria. Her father was the last librarian of the great Library of Alexandria and she was his student and coworker, but also taught students of her own and wrote about astronomy and mathematics. She was part of the last generation to actually work in the library before its destruction. In the book, The Accidental Keyhand (the first book in the Ninja Librarians series), the Lybrarians have saved Hypatia from death at the hands of an angry mob. I was a Classics major in college, so getting to study with someone actually from that time period would be an incredible experience. I could ask all the questions that used to cross my mind as I studied the history and culture of the Mediterranean area. Plus - she could teach me how to speak the Egyptian of that time. That would really come in handy if I ever traveled back in time, went through a portal to another world ("Star Gate"), or met a priest like Imhotep ("The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns").

Do you have a favorite historical figure? What would you like for them to teach you? Keep reading to see what the Lybrarians do next!

Spring Reading 2014 Bobby Ether and the Academy

Bobby Ether is a fourteen-year-old basketball player when the book begins. While making a rather desperate 3-pointer, he notices the ball do something odd; it seems to get an extra push from somewhere. In the locker room after the game, he meets a mysterious woman named Cassandra. She says she's a friend of his grandfather and that she has come to take him somewhere safe. Another group is also trying to find him and take him away. Which one should he believe? He eventually winds up at a place called The Academy.

Since the advent of Harry Potter, stories about schools that train kids with special abilities have been very popular. Charlie Bone, Percy Jackson, the Seven Wonders series - they all share this similarity. And in several of these stories there are secret agendas at the school. The Academy falls into this category. On the surface it is a school with Tibetan monks training gifted youngsters to harness the energy of their connection to the universe. But if it is so benign, then why do they kidnap Bobby? Or are they actually rescuing him, as they claim? 

Ancient meditation techniques, sacred scrolls, strange elixirs, plots and more plots, field trips, bullies, detention - the school is a very busy place. And the end leaves us wondering what will happen next.

If you enjoy the stories of Harry, Percy, and the others - then you should give this a try. 

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. For further information, you can check out the author's website. The book was published on September 12, 2013.

Spring Reading 2014 Push Girl

Let me start off by saying that I am not a big chick-lit fan, I don't watch a lot of Lifetime television (or similar channels), and I am not a big cryer, but... This book had me going through the tissues rather quickly. Written by Chelsie Hill and Jessica Love, the story is inspired by Chelsie's real life experiences. The protagonist, Kara, is a gifted dancer whose car is hit by a drunk driver and she wakes up in the hospital with a severe spinal injury and no feeling in her legs. The story of how she works through recovery, comes home, goes back to school, and tries to go on with her life while adjusting to using a wheelchair is sad, funny, frustrating, and honest in its portrayal. Although this story focuses on Kara's journey to becoming Kara 2.0 (the new version of herself after the accident), it also is about family and friendship and what really matters in our relationships and our lives. 

My father had a stroke that has caused him to need a wheelchair for the last few years. Reading Kara's reactions to people trying to do things for her without even asking if she wants help sounds very familiar. That's one of the things that rang so true about this story. I think it is natural to offer assistance, but acting as if someone who uses a wheelchair is helpless is very rude (whether we mean it to be or not). Sometimes it is hard to wait and watch as someone you love struggles to do what you could do easily. I have learned to ask, "Is there anything I can do?"

I also loved the way Kara used the Homecoming Queen competition as a way to spread the word about drunk & distracted driving and how it can change lives. The Walk & Roll Foundation that she forms a chapter for at her school is a real organization  and has a dance team like the one Kara joins in the book.

If you enjoy realistic fiction about people picking themselves up and going on with their lives despite obstacles, then you should read Push Girl, just keep the tissues handy. (This is a Young Adult book from Griffin Teen.)

I was provided an advance copy by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Spring reading 2014 Cupcake Cousins

Willow and her cousin Delia are fourth-graders. They both believe they are too old to be flower girls for their aunt's wedding, especially since they have to wear bubblegum pink dresses that they hate. (I can't blame them. At least when I was a flower girl I wore an icy blue dress.) What they really want to do is help to make the food for the wedding reception. But when they arrive at the vacation house where their families are staying for the week, everything begins to go wrong. The owner of the house has hired a chef to do the cooking; the girls keep trying to help her, but disaster strikes every time. Added to that, Willow's little brother, Sweet William, collects wild animals and brings them in the house as pets, their dog eats some of the appetizers for the big day, everyone keeps telling them how ADORABLE they will look in the awful dresses, and someone is stealing veggies from the garden. What else will happen? (I can't really tell you without ruining the ending.) 

The characters are so amusing, especially Grandpa with his flower jokes and Sweet William who misunderstands and mispronounces everything. For instance, William practices growling because he is going to be the "ring bear" in the wedding (rather than ring bearer). Besides the drama of the wedding and the hideous dresses, there are also snotty older sisters to deal with, Delia's dad has lost his job due to budget cutbacks, and the new chef may have to sell her family's home if she can't get her catering business off the ground. There's plenty of action all packed into one week's vacation.

Readers who enjoy stories about best friends like Ivy + Bean should feel right at home with Willow and Delia. And anyone who is an aspiring cook will enjoy the recipes that are included for each of the girls' kitchen projects.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It will be published on May 13, 2014.

Spring Reading 2014 Silver People: Voices from the Panama Canal

An amazing piece of historical fiction in verse form, Silver People portrays the construction of the Panama Canal from the viewpoints of workers, geologists, project leaders, and residents of Panama (humans, animals, and even trees). The text is a heartbreaking tale of mistreatment, loss of habitat, and sickness - but also shows friendship, kindness, and first love. I'm amazed at the way each character's voice rings true, from the howler monkeys to the native girl who sells herbs, each is distinctive and recognizable. Here is a brief description of the forest from one of the workers as he arrives:

Some of the rain-shiny leaves
are shaped like green hands,
others like hearts, livers, or kidneys,
making the whole forest seem
like one enormous,
magical creature
with an endless body
and a fiery mind.

The author includes historically accurate details such as the anarchists who were part of the work crew (but planned to blow up the canal), or the practice of paying white Americans in gold, while the darker skinned workers only received silver for their wages. This would be excellent to use with units on America as a world power, segregation and discrimination, threats to tropical habitats, and other themes that weave through the poems. Language arts teachers can take advantage of the multiple points of view and teach lessons on perspective. The whole book is a job well done, whether you like poetry or historical fiction.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It was published on March 25, 2014.

Spring Reading 2014 Under the Egg

Fans of mystery, history, and art will love this book. Theodora "Theo" Tenpenny lives with her mother (Angelika) and grandfather(Jack) in their family home, a home that has seen better days. Her grandfather paints and also works as a security guard at the Metropolitan Art Museum. Her mother has been working on her dissertation for her degree in mathematics for the last 15 years and rarely leaves the house. So Theo and Jack take care of the errands,chores and repairs. When Jack dies, Theo is left as a 13-year-old in charge of the household and her mother withdraws even more into her number theorems. Jack's last words to Theo were to find a treasure "under the egg" in his studio. What Theo finds leads her into a mystery dating back to World War II. Along the way she makes a new friend and develops relationships with many of the people she meets, all of which is rather new for her. Until this adventure, she has been content to have Jack as her main companion. Now she has Bodhi, whose parents are famous movie stars, and who lives just down the street. Together the girls use the Internet, the public library, the expertise of various community members ranging from the pastor of the church to the vendor with the snack nuts cart, and even interview a WWII veteran to piece together the puzzle Jack has left behind. 

This is a story full of interesting personalities, historical details, and the excellent detective work of two young teenagers. One of my favorite characters is the reference librarian, Eddie. His enthusiasm for helping the girls and his free-spirited attitude are very appealing. With the art aspects and the kids working on the mystery, Under the Egg reminds me of Chasing Vermeer; if you have read and enjoyed Blue Balliett's book, then I think you will love this one, too.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It was published March 18, 2014. For more information about the author, check out her website.



In a funny twist of fate, this is the painting (below) that Lydon thinks Theo has in the book, a self potrait of the artist Raphael. But after Under the Egg was published, the painting was reported to have been found in a Swiss bank vault!

The Ninja Librarians Blog Tour Week 4



This week's topic is: "What animal would you take with you if you were going on an adventure?" The question was inspired by Moe, the pet mongoose that accidentally caused Dorrie and Marcus to discover Petrarch's Library. My choice would be my Corgi, Bugaboo, for many reasons. She is friendly and loves meeting new people. She is so cheerful and easygoing that everyone likes her. She is not at all timid. She is very sturdy and full of energy. Of course, I would have to bring lots of treats because she has a very healthy appetite.

Here is a photo of Bugaboo working on my lesson plans for me - she really is a teacher's pet. LOL

 

There is now an official website for all the ninja librarians out there. Visit and see if you might have the potential to be a Lybrarian! 

Spring Reading 2014 The Here and Now

There were several things that drew me to The Here and Now, but the top two were that it was something very different than the usual Ann Brashares book and I love time-travel stories. Once I started reading, I also loved the characters of Prenna and Ethan. Prenna has immigrated to New York from the future. Her previous life was in a world reeling from a pandemic of the Blood Plague and suffering from shortages of all sorts due to the effects of climate change. When she and the other travelers come to our era, they must adapt to different social norms, foods that they have never seen, even the type of money is different. To prevent causing harm to the future, there are 12 rules to follow and they are strictly enforced. The enforcement is also for the protection of the travelers, so that no one ever learns where, or rather when, they have come from. One of the most important rules is to never become intimate with a "time native." Prenna has liked Ethan since they met in their AP Physics class, but what she doesn't know is that Ethan actually saw her arrive in this time and he has been keeping her secret for four years. 

It may sound like Romeo and Juliet meets The Time Machine, but it is not remotely that simple. There are so many threads to follow within this story - love and loss, the long-term effects of mankind on the environment, wormholes, energy research, selfishness versus sacrifice, fear and courage, friendship, loyalty... It all meshes together to propel the story and draw the reader along. You want so much to cheer for Prenna and Ethan, boo the oppressive leaders of the time travelers, and find a way to make everything work out that it's hard to put the book down. All of which explains why I still can't stop thinking about it. Readers who enjoy strong (and a bit rebellious) female protagonists will add Prenna to their collection. There is a video where the author is interviewed about the book.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The book will be published on April 8, 2014. (This is a Young Adult novel.) 

David Sargent Author Visit

The afternoon of April 2, 2014 was an exciting time at Fairview Elementary. Arkansas author, David M. Sargent Jr. came to visit us. He also brought the dogs who are the inspirations for his books - Emma, Tatum, Daphne, and Spike. I snapped as many photos as I could and here are some of the highlights.

 Ms. Godfrey holds Tatum.

Emma sings for us while cuddling with Mrs. Guion and Mrs. Freeman.

A dance for us to enjoy.

 Kaylee and Spike read together.

 Riley and Spike choose books in the library.

 Sawyer, Kaylee,and Riley help pack up after the visit.

















Riley, Sawyer, and Kaylee pose with Tatum.

An actual "pup"tent for the dogs to rest in during the visit.

 David Sargent and Tatum, "Queen of the Universe."

 Mrs. Kerr and Mrs. Baxter both wanted to hold Spike during the rest of the presentation.

 David reads aloud from Emma! He's showing the page where she is eating his shoes.

 Ms. Costner with David and Spike.

 Mrs. Guion was very pleased to hold Emma after her part in the presentation.

 Mrs. Baxter helped Spike say good-bye to everyone as they left the gym.

Mrs. Kerr and Mrs. Campbell gave Spike some attention as he sat with the fourth grade on the bleachers. After their race to see who would get to hold Spike, Mrs. Baxter was kind enough to let Mrs. Kerr have the first turn.

Rose and the Lost Princess Blog Tour

I've talked about Rose and also Rose and the Lost Princess in earlier posts, but now the official blog tour has included The Fairview Review.

                

The second book featuring Rose, the character created by author Holly Webb, follows the continuing magical education of the orphan girl. In the original adventure Rose is chosen from among the girls at the orphanage to serve as a maid in the household of Mr. Aloysius Fountain, a powerful magician. After it is discovered that Rose has magical abilities, she becomes one of Mr. Fountain's apprentices. The new story has Rose, and her fellow apprentice Freddie, trying to help Mr. Fountain protect the daughters of the king. It seems that someone has tried to kidnap one of the princesses through magical means, and everyone is worried that another attempt will be made. With favorable reviews already given by Kirkus and others, this series has been described as a cross between Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. The period feel reminds me of reading The Little Princess or The Secret Garden and trying to imagine myself in such a class-conscious society.

     

If Holly's name sounds familiar, it is probably because you have seen some of her other books. I am looking forward to reading more of Rose's adventures, like the upcoming Rose and the Magician's Mask and Rose and the Silver Ghost. In the meantime, enter the contest below for a chance to win a copy of Rose and the Lost Princess.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out the rest of the tour:

Date	Name	Blog	Blog Link
Tu April 1	Bonnie Wagner	A Backwards Story	http://abackwardsstory.blogspot.com/
Wed April 2	Heidi Grange	Geo Librarian	http://geolibrarian.blogspot.com/
Th April 3	Suzanne Costner	The Fairview Review	http://fveslibrary.blogspot.com
Fri April 4	Pamela Thompson	YA Books - What We're Reading Now	booksbypamelathompson.blogspot.com
Sat April 5	Kristen Harvey	The Book Monsters	www.thebookmonsters.com
Sun April 6	Jessica Nottingham	Hopeless Bibliophile	www.hopelessbibliophile.com
Mon April 7	Stephanie Turner	Cover 2 Cover Blog	www.cover2coverblog.blogspot.com
Tues April 8	Sharon Schmidt Tyler	Sharon the Librarian	http://sstwriting.blogspot.com/
Wed April 9	Dena	Batch of Books	www.batchofbooks.com
Th April 10	Aeicha	Word Spelunking	http://wordspelunking.blogspot.com/
Fri April 11	Kelly Hager	Kelly Vision	http://kellyvision.wordpress.com/
Sat April 12	Karen Nelson	Central MN Mom	http://centralmnmom.com/
Sun April 13	Sarit	Coffe & Books & Art	http://sarityahalomi.blogspot.com/
Mon April 14	Sara Grochowski	The Hiding Spot	http://thehidingspot.blogspot.com
Tues April 15	Deborah	Debz Bookshelf	http://debzbookshelf.blogspot.com/
Wed April 16	Tiffany Erickson	Miss Tiff Reads	www.misstiffreads.blogspot.com
Th April 17	Teri Crosby	Snarky Mamma	http://snarkymamma.blogspot.com/
Fri April 18	Lory Widmer	Emerald City Book Review	http://emeraldcitybookreview.blogspot.com/
Sat April 19	Debbie Alvarez	The Styling Librarian	http://thestylinglibrarian.com/
Sun April 20	Erin Al-Mehairi	Hook of a Book	http://hookofabook.wordpress.com/
Mon April 21	Orsayor Young-Simmons	Book Referees	http://bookreferees.blogspot.com/
Tues April 22	Megan T	Inspired by Fiction	http://inspiredbyfiction.blogspot.com/
Wed April 23	Kyra Morris	Blog of a Bookaholic	http://blogofabookaholic.blogspot.com/
Th April 24	Jenny	Wondrous Reads	http://www.wondrousreads.com/
Fri April 25	Tanya Johnson	Tanya's Book Nook	http://tanyasbooknook.blogspot.com
Sat April 26	Pam Torres	Madison and Cooper's Blog	http://www.madisonmorgan11.com/madisonmorgan11.com/Home.html
Sun April 27	Allie	In Bed With Books	http://inbedwithbooks.blogspot.com
Mon April 28	Erin PreFontaine	Jump Into Books	http://jumpintobooks.blogspot.com/
Tues April 29	Amanda	One Momma Saving Money	http://www.onemommasavingmoney.com/
Wed April 30	Natalie	Literary Rambles	http://www.literaryrambles.com/
Th May 1	Hope Clippinger	Hope to Read	www.hopetoread.com
Fri May 2	Ashley P.	Tales of Mommyhood	www.talesofmommyhood.com
Saturday May 3	Marcie Turner	To Read or Not To Read	http://www.toreadornottoread.net
Sunday May 4	Rubina Ramesh	The Book Club - Rubina Ramesh	http://rubinaramesh.blogspot.com/
Mon May 5	Sheila Ruth	Wands and Worlds	http://blog1.wandsandworlds.com/
Tues May 6	Brandee Foster	One Crazy Kid	http://onecrazykid.com/
Wed May 7	Inma Leonard	Inspired Librarian	http://inspiredlibrarian.blogspot.com/
Thurs May 8	Alanna Shaw	The Flashlight Reader	http://www.theflashlightreader.com/
Fri May 9	Colleen Bohensky	A Madison Mom	www.amadisonmom.net
Sat May 10	Laura	Got Fiction?	www.gotfiction.com
Sun May 11	Jean Vallesteros	Jean Book Nerd	http://jeanbooknerd.com/
Mon May 12	Karen DeWysockie	Books Beside My Bed	www.booksbesidemybed.com
Tues May 13	Jennifer Szoch	Novel Nutritious	www.novelnutritious.com
Wed May 14	Kim (KJ) Bateman	Tea and Savories	www.teaandsavories.blogspot.com
Thurs May 15	Karen Cassey	The Bookaholic Blurbs	http://thebookaholicblurbs.blogspot.com/
Fri May 16	Lindsay Karson	Live to Read	http://livetoread-krystal.blogspot.com/
Sat May 17	Emily Harris	Read Your Bookcase	http://readyourbookcase.blogspot.com/
Sun May 18	Liz Engebrecht	Redd's Reads	http://reddjena.tumblr.com/