Wacky Fairy Tale

Just to let my readers know, I love wacky fairy tales, so there will be a lot more posts like this.
 Title: The Hero's Guide to Saving your Kingdom
                                        # of Pages: 419
                                        Author: Christopher Healy
                                        Illustrator: Todd Harris
                                        Previous Work: 
                                        He wrote many nonfiction books for
                                        adults

                                        Summary: (The part in italics is from the book cover)
                                        Prince Liam. Prince Frederic. Prince Duncan. Prince
                                       Gustav.You've never heard of them, have you? These are
                                       the princes who saved Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow
                                       White, and Rapunzel, respectively, and yet, thanks to those
                                       lousy bards who wrote the tales, you likely know them only
                                       as Prince Charming.
                                       This book is about the Prince Charmings (or Princes
                                       Charming, there was an argument in the book about which
                                       was correct.) who are sick of only being known as Prince
                                       Charming, not Liam, Frederic, Duncan and Gustav. They
                                        go on a quest to let their true names be known, and along
                                        the way discover each other. They become friends, despite
                                        their various issues. (Liam always has to be a hero and
                                        can't handle when he isn't, Frederic is overly cautious,
                                        Duncan is very odd and believes he has magical luck, and
                                        Gustav always feels inferior to his brothers, so he isn't
                                        good about expressing his feelings.) Then they end up having
                                        to save their kingdoms!
                                        Rating: I give it a 2. It wasn't the best wacky fairy tale I've
                                        ever read.
                                        Awards:
                                        The New York Times Notable Children’s Books of 2012
                                        Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Books of 2012 
                                        2013 Mythopoeic Award Finalist
                                        IRA Children's Choices
                                      
                                        Opinion: This book is witty and funny; defintely worth
                                        reading. The characters are quirky. My favorite character
                                        is Liam's sister, Lila. She's smart, insightful, helpful and will
                                        never sit around when something has to be done. Another
                                        reason to read this book is because of amazing pictures. I
                                        would seriously read this book just for the see pictures. I
                                        have one below. So this book is a good book to read if
                                        you need a pick-me-up!

Lila's Wild Ride!

             

The Poll is Closed!

 

I conducted a survey to find out which of three possible books, you, the readers of my blog wanted me to review first. The results are in and the winner is...

 Title: Warped
                                     # of Pages: 339
                                     Author: Maurissa Guibord
                                     Previous Work: 
                                                               Warped is her first novel.
                                     Summary: Tessa is a normal teenager. She hangs out in her
                                     father's book shop with her friend, Opal. Then one day she
                                     finds a creepy unicorn tapestry and is drawn to it. From there
                                     her life changes. She pulls a thread out of the tapestry and
                                     ends up with handsome nobleman, William de Chaucy in her
                                     room. The three Sisters of Norn, mythological figures, believe
                                     that  Tessa has been controlling peoples' lives, which is
                                     their job. She has to give all the people she supposedly
                                     controlled back, or they'll take away everything good in her
                                     life.
                                     Rating: I give this book a four.
                                     Awards:
                                                  2012 Rita award finalist for:

                                                  Best First Novel and
                                                  Best Young Adult Romance

                                     Opinion: Warped was an amazing romantic fantasy. The
                                     characters had depth. I have a major complaint, though.
                                     The end of the book promised a sequel, but the author has
                                     said that there won't be another. Besides the ending the
                                     book is one you have to read. And maybe the author will
                                     change her mind.

A side note is, that this book was the reason I decided to start my blog. I had read many reviews on it, and disagreed with all of them. All the adults said the story lacked, and I thought besides the ending, it was perfect. I thought I could do a better job reviewing books than them, if only because I'm a teenager.

For International Readers Part 2

 Title: Ruby Red (Rubirot in German)
                                   # of Pages: 330
                                   Author: Kerstin Gier
                                   Translator: Anthea Bell
                                   Country: Germany
                                   Previous Work: 
                                                             The Ruby Red Trilogy 
                                                             (The other two books are not yet fully translated
                                                              to English.)
                                                             Many books for adults with German names
                               
                                   Summary: Gwyneth Shepherd has known her whole life her
                                   cousin Charlotte is going to travel through time. So when she
                                   does, she is taken completely by surprise. Soon her life is a
                                   whirlwind. She's time traveling every day, and taking turns
                                   being annoyed by and crushing on, the handsome Gideon.
                                   There's lots to think about. Why did her Mom lie about her
                                   birthday? How did she hide it? And much more.
                                   Rating: I give this book a 5.
                                   Awards: 
                                   International Bestseller
                                   Opinion: This book was full of mystery. You don't know who
                                   the "bad guys" are, and she finds out that her Mom has been
                                   hiding something from her, for her whole life. This book is
                                   definitely a must read!

For International Readers Part 1

Recently, I figured out how to find out exactly where the people who read my blog come from. To my surprise, I saw five views from Russia, four from the UK, and one each from Germany, South Korea, Turkey, and South Africa. Now I don't know if they read my blog by mistake, or if they're even kids around my age. But in honor of whomever they might be, I'll be reviewing two International books, with the country they were written in listed beside them. I will still put out the reader's choice book sometime next week.


 Title: Flyaway
                                      # of Pages: 260
                                      Author: Lucy Christopher
                                      Country: United Kingdom
                                      Previous Work:
                                                                Stolen
                                      Summary: (For this summary I think an excerpt from the
                                                         book will best explain it. Isla the main character
                                                         is speaking.)
                                                        One cold winter morning, Dad gets sick – and 
                                                        goes into hospital. It’s there I meet Harry, with 
                                                        his scruffy hair and firefly eyes. From his window
                                                        we watch a wild swan on the frozen lake outside. 
                                                        There’s something different about her, truly 
                                                        different. Almost magical. Perhaps, if we can help
                                                        her, everything else will begin to make sense.
                                      Rating: I give this book a 2, which is excellent. It was very in
                                      depth at the beginning, and towards the end it was very sweet,
                                      but slightly unbelievable. The rest of the book makes up for
                                      that, though.
                                      Awards:
                                                    Short list for the Costa Awards
                                      Opinion: Flyaway was a great book about believing in the
                                      impossible. Isla thinks if she can just save a swan, her father
                                      and Harry will be all right. As things change in her life, the
                                      swan helps her fly.

I Need Your Opinion

I want you to help me pick which book to review. Feel free to tell me your own suggestions. I'll tell you the winner in a week!

Vote in my poll!

For All Historical Fiction Lovers

 Title: Bread and Roses, Too
                                     # of Pages: 288
                                    Author: Katherine Paterson
                                    Previous Work: (In Aphabetical Order)

                                                             Bridge to Terabithia
          
                                                             The Great Gilly Hopkins

                                                             The Master Pupeteer

                                                             Of Nightingales that Weep

                                                             Park's Quest

                                                             Preacher's Boy

                                                             The Same Stuff as Stars

                                                             And many more I didn't put because
                                                             there were too many. All these listed have
                                                             awards, and some I didn't list do, too.


                                     Summary: Rosa is a girl from 1912. She does well in school
                                     and wants to be a perfect American and Catholic.
                                     Unfortunately, her mother and sister have another idea. They
                                     feel they aren't working in fair conditions at the mill, and
                                     decide to strike. Rosa is horrified, thinking they might get hurt.

                                     Jake has met Rosa a handful of times. He slept on her kitchen
                                     floor, once. That wasn't because he was and orphan, but
                                     because his father doesn't treat him right. But then he hears
                                     the kids are being sent away because of the "Bread and
                                     Roses" strike. All he needs is a parent's signature. Then, he
                                     can't get one.

                                     Jake asks Rosa (who is so scared she's being sent away) to help
                                     him leave. Her answer sets the stage for the rest of the story.
                                     Rating: I give this book a 3. (Which means fantastic.)
                                     Awards:
                                    
                                    VOYA's 2006 Top Shelf Fiction for Middle School Readers

                                    Christopher Award, 2006
                                  
                                    Parents' Choice Gold Medal, Fall 2006, Historical Fiction
                                                  

                                    New York Public Library Best Books for Teen Age, 2007
                                

                                    Bank Street Best Children's Books of the Year, 2007

                                   

                                    Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People, 2007

                                   Opinion: This book was amazing. It tells about a part of the
                                   1900's strike you don't often think about. What happened to
                                   the kids? How did they feel about the strikes?
                                   It was also interesting how the book was told from two
                                   points of view. I think any one who has interest in the strikes,
                                   or needs to do a report on them, should read this book. It is
                                   well worth your time.