Fall Reading 2013 Dogs of War

This is a wonderful introduction to the roles that Military Working Dogs (MWDs) have played in our history. There's Boots, the mercy dog who serves in the trenches of World War I. Boots and her owner Donnie assist a doctor by locating wounded soldiers that need to be brought back to the trenches for care. It even shows them participating in the Christmas "truce" of 1914. Then we meet Loki who is a sled dog with a team building airstrips and watching the coast for German U-Boats in Greenland during World War II. Military personnel used sleds and skis to travel in the snowy conditions Finally we read about Sheba, a patrol dog in Vietnam. These patrols were sent out to scout for booby traps and enemy forces. Of course, we also learn about their human partners and the war going on around them. The author's note gives more information about each war and the number of canine service members. (The part about dogs being classified as equipment and left behind in Vietnam made me very angry.) There is also a list of books, DVDs, and websites to turn to for more information. 

I would recommend this to readers who have an interest in military history or enjoy reading about dog heroes. You can visit the author's website

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It will be released for sale on October 29, 2013, but I found an advance copy and added it to the library this week.

Fall Reading 2013 Cassie and the Woolf

I enjoy fairy tales that have been given a modern twist or a uniquely different ending. Twicetold Tales all re-imagine a familiar fairy tale. This one sets Little Red Riding Hood in modern Forestville and has Cassie Cloak picking up her grandmother's supper from the deli. Caleb Woolf is playing basketball with some friends nearby and sees the bags of food she is carrying. He decides it would be easy to get some free supper from the younger girl and her sick grandmother, so he sets off to do just that. Things don't go exactly as he has planned. Cassie and her grandmother have their own way of dispensing justice to the big, bad Woolf.

Choosing an urban setting in a modern city are just a few of the changes to the story that author Olivia Snowe makes in her retelling. You'll have to read it yourself to find out exactly what happens to Caleb, Cassie, and Grandmother. If you like it, then you should check out the rest of the series.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It was published on August 1, 2013. You can see the other titles in the series on the publisher's website.

Fall Reading 2013 I Am John F. Kennedy

The biography is written in an easy-to-read style by Grace Norwich. The timeline at the beginning of the book lays out all the major events that will be covered. Illustrations break up the text with scenes from Kennedy's life, showing his family and other leaders of the time. The text boxes provide extra information about things like communism, the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, or the way school children were taught to "duck and cover" in the event of a nuclear attack. The glossary provides support for unfamiliar vocabulary. The "10 Things You Should Know about John F. Kennedy" help to review the highlights of his life. Including a list of places to visit where readers could learn more about President Kennedy is an excellent idea - and may help plan some family vacations of future political leaders. For those whose curiosity has been whetted by this fairly short biography, there is a bibliography of other works on the president's life.

I would recommend this to anyone interested famous historical figures and leaders. There is a video trailer you can watch on YouTube.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The book was published September 24, 2013. We have several other books from the series in our library and we added this one from our fall book fair.

Fall Reading 2013 Plants vs. Zombies: Lawnmageddon

This was zany fun. Nate and Patrice team up with the plants her Uncle Dave has been developing and protect the town of Neighborville from the zombies. There are tons of zombies, even some giant-size monsters, and they are under the command of the Zomboss. The kids and plants have Uncle Dave (a.k.a. Crazy Dave), the wind machine at the top of the family mansion, and a life-size fire-breathing TRex (if Dave has time to build it before the zombies overrun everything). My favorite quote from the story is when Nate says, "So, we're being chased by zombies and running toward an abandoned mansion?" Patrice replies, "Yeah. Doesn't sound very smart, does it?" And Nate tells her, "That's okay. I'm not very smart anyway!" 

If you've ever played the game, or just enjoy funny stories with zombies, mutant plants, or mad scientists, then you'll have fun reading this one. And for those who do play the game, the creative team behind the story all have their own ideas for the best defense against zombies - just read the info about them at the end of the book.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. It will go on sale November 19, 2013. You can pre-order a copy  from Dark Horse Comics.

Fall Reading 2013 The Lost Boy

Nate's family moves to a new home and, as he's choosing his bedroom, he finds a tape recorder hidden under the floorboards. The tapes were made by a boy named Walt who disappeared from that very house years ago. Tabitha, the girl who lives across the street from Nate, says that Walt's disappearance has become a local legend over the years. They listen to the tapes trying to find clues that will solve the mystery and find themselves mixed up in something bigger than they could have imagined. Beings like Buglings, Woodlanders, Button Folk, Shadows, and doorways to ancient woodlands are all part of the story. Finding the tape recorder is a bit like finding the Field Guide in the Spiderwick Chronicles - once Nate and Tabitha know about the beings that most humans don't believe in, they become targets for the darker forces. You will have to read and see if they survive this adventure and if they ever find the lost boy.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy stories like the Spiderwick Chronicles and other fantasies where our world holds more than meets the average eye.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. This graphic novel by Greg Ruth was featured on our fall book fair and we now have a copy in our library. Visit the author's website for more information.

Special Announcement

The Fairview Review is proud to announce that we are part of The Scroll Blog Tour.

Blog Tour Schedule:

10/14- http://www.firstpagetothelast.com/

10/15- www.girl-who-reads.com- review

10/16- peddlerofdreams.wordpress.com- review and guest post

10/17-http://yogateachertrainingjourney.blogspot.com-excerpt

10/18- http://Strohschein.wordpress.com

10/19-  http://paperbookprincess.com/- review and guest post

10/20- cafeartspace.blogspot.com

10/21- www.girl-who-reads.com- guest post

10/22- http://sunshineandmountains.wordpress.com- review and guest post

10/24- http://fveslibrary.blogspot.com

10/31- http://arraabella.blogspot.com/- soundtrack

11/1- http://arraabella.blogspot.com/

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Click here to read my review of The Six, the first book in the Gateway Chronicles.

Fall Reading 2013 The Time Fetch

Amy Herrick's story of a Fetch in which Foragers gather lost moments that no one will miss is clever and exciting. The book begins with the Fetch closing up and waiting quietly for the Keeper to come claim it. Before that can happen, Edward scoops it up and takes it in as part of a science assignment to bring in a rock. Feenix carries it off and that leads her into an encounter with some rather nasty witches. Danton and Brigit also get caught up in the events. The four teenagers seem an unlikely team to save the world- and unlikely friends. Edward tries hard to avoid exertion of any kind and is trying to perfect "his cloak of invisibility," meaning he blends into the background and chooses to be ignored as much as possible. Danton is full of energy and moves effortlessly from one social group to another, athletic and outgoing in style. Feenix dresses more like a typical "alt" girl (if there is such a thing), with her boots, long coat, and multiple earrings. She thrives on leading teachers off on tangents, disrupting class, or calling attention to people like Edward who would rather go unnoticed. Brigit never speaks, not even to her family, and blushes bright red (like her hair) if anyone looks at her. Together they must follow the advice of Edward's Aunt Kit and prevent the Unraveler from getting the Fetch. I appreciate the way each character grows and changes because of the events. The friends help each other to smooth out some of their rough edges as they work to keep the Fetch safe.

This story reminds me of The Dark Is Rising Sequence by Susan Cooper. It isn't the style of writing, but the inclusion of things like the solstice, the boundaries of time wearing thin, and the mention of the Old Ones that give it a similar feel. With its talk of entropy and space-time, it is also a bit like Madeline L'Engle's Time Quintet. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy adventures.

I read an e-book provided by the publisher through NetGalley. The book was published on August 27, 2013. Click here to visit the author's website or check out the trailer.