Paths and Portals by Gene Luen Yang - Blog Tour

Yang, Gene Luen. Paths and Portals (Secret Coders, 2). First Second (Macmillan), 2016. 96 pages. $10.99.  978-1-62672-0763.  

Affiliate Links: Amazon | IndieBound | Book Depository

Genre: Fantasy, Graphic Novel
Cover Appeal: It's not as bright as other graphic novel series, the red is pretty faded looking. Kids who loved Secret Coders, 1 will definitely be looking for this but others will need a bit of convincing. 

Immediately After

WHAT??!! And the next book doesn't release until 2017??!! ARGH!

Paths and Portals picks up right where book 1 left off, with the answer to the code! We jump in with Eni (must be named for the ENIAC right?) and Hopper (Grace Hopper, computer programmer) are joined by Josh and start writing code using Logo. The coding will lead them to solve the mystery of Stately Academy. We know it involves Principal Dean, with the help of the rugby team, but what do they want?

Layout

The novel itself is two color - green and black. Because this is a graphic novel that is also teaching you programming, many of the pages have side by side panels of Hopper thinking and the robot turtle moving in accordance with her thoughts, which will help students "see" her thoughts in action.

There are also full-sized pages where students can write in their solutions to the given coding problem.

Don't miss more inside shots at Macmillan's Path and Portals page!

Overall

These books score on both the story and the coding activity. The activities are woven naturally into the book and will not push you out of the action. Each book in the series, so far, seem to stick to one narrative so they are straightforward. The books, however, are super short. You barely get into the story before you are left with a giant cliffhanger. This would not be so bad if the books were being released shortly after one another. With a count of less than 100 pages though, it seems unnecessary. I give this a 3.5 out of 4 copies. I would buy it for both my LS and MS libraries as well as the coding option classroom.

Want more Secret Coders? Check these places out!

A special short comic story featuring Eni, Hopper and Josh! Lost and Found (scroll down and don't miss any pages!)

Five Reasons You Should Be Reading Secret Coders from WIRED Magazine

Gene Yang online: Blog | Twitter | Secret Coders (lots of fun activities and programming!)

Mike Holmes' online: Blog | Twitter | 

Macmillan Gene Yang page.

Visit other great tour stops below!

READING WITHOUT WALLS BLOG TOUR 

August 31: Colby at Sharp Read

September 1: Jess at Reading Nook Reviews
September 2: Samantha at Forest of Words and Pages

September 5: Jennifer at YA Book Nerd

September 6: Maria at Maria's Mélange

September 7: Gigi at Late Bloomer's Book Blog

September 8: Jen at Starry Eyed Revue

September 9: Cheyenne at The Hollow Cupboards

September 12: Anya at On Starships and Dragonwings

September 13: April at Good Books and Good Wine

September 14: Cindy at Charting by the Stars

September 15: Erica at The Book Cellar

September 16: Sandie at Teen Lit Rocks

September 19: Asheley at Into the Hall of Books

September 20: Daphne at Gone Pecan

September 21: Mary Ann at Great Kids Books

September 22: Kathy at The Brain Lair

September 23: Michelle & Leslie at Undeniably (Book) Nerdy

September 26: Laurie at Reader Girls

September 27: Margie at Librarian's Quest

September 28: Victoria at Art, Books, & Coffee

September 29: Cee at The Novel Hermit

September 30: Amanda at Forever Young Adult

Wig in The Window by Kristen Kittscher - Blog Tour Giveaway - June 2013

Kittscher, Kristen. Wig in the Window, The. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2013. 368p. $16.99, 9780062110503.

About the Book

Sophie Young and Grace Yang have made a game of spying on their neighbors, but when they stake out the home of bizarre middle school counselor Dr. Charlotte Agford (aka Dr. Awkward), they stumble across a terrifying scene.

Or do they? The girls are convinced that Dr. Agford’s sugary sweet façade hides a dark secret. But as they get closer to the truth about Agford, the strain of the investigation pushes Sophie and Grace farther apart. Even if they crack their case, will their friendship survive?

Perfect for fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society, The Wig in the Window is a smart, funny middle-grade mystery with a Rear Window twist.

After following the blog tour for Kristen Kittscher's debut novel, The Wig in the Window, you now want your own copy! Guess what? I'm giving it away, giving it away, giving it away now (apologies to the Red Hot Chili Peppers)!

Animated Trailer



Giveaway

Complete the form!

The giveaway is open from June 21, 2013 - June 26, 2013 at 11:59 pm, EST.

Winners will be chosen randomly.

Giveaway is open to US only!

Only one entry per person/address!

Must be at least 13 years-old to enter.

Why My Book Isn't Called Spying on The Neighbors - Kristen Kittscher Guest Post - June 2013

Kittscher, Kristen. Wig in the Window, The. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2013. 368p. $16.99, 9780062110503.

In The Wig in the Window by Kristen Kittscher, we learn about two friends, Sophie Young and Grace Yang, who fancy themselves as FBI trainees.  They sneak out to spy late one night and come across a sight so gruesome it can only mean one thing: MURDER!  

Pick up your copy today! Affiliate Links: Amazon | Shop Indie or wherever it is you get books!  Check out my review.

Keep reading to get a glimpse into how Kirsten picked the TITLE for The Wig in the Window. Somehow she didn't go with my title - How to Spy on The Neighbors! Strange! 

I’m delighted to be continuing the blog tour for The Wig in the Window at The Brain Lair! Given the prying nature of my enterprising tween sleuths, Young & Yang, I’ve been taking you all behind-the-scenes for some top secret investigations into how a manuscript is turned into a real, live book.

We've already investigated what goes into Designing a Cover, Naming Characters, and the Editorial Process.

Today you'll get a peek at some of the behind-the-scenes silliness that went on as Harper Children’s and I decided upon a title. Somehow they weren't feeling the “Untitled Middle Grade” my manuscript sold under. Go figure!

We had a week to come up with a title in time for a key sales meeting. The task? Come up with something that would communicate “funny mystery,” but wouldn't sound too old-fashioned or wacky.

I’d been referring to the story as “Young & Yang” for as long as I could remember, so it was hard imagining something new. The entire week I appeared to be afflicted with a rare title-focused form of Tourette’s Syndrome. I’d sit down to a movie with my husband and suddenly erupt, “The Dubious Deeds of Dr. A!” or “The Luna Vista Lunacy!” (Poor man.)

I ran around “testing” titles with my students, none of whom had actually read the manuscript."It should have "massacre" in it," said one eleven year old. "Definitely 'massacre.'"

Kittscher's crazy brainstorm notes on possible titles

A writing friend's two kids turned one title suggestion, The Trouble with Dr. A, into a catchy song to
the tune of "Another One Bites the Dust," which they ran around singing for days. Desperate, I even roped poor unsuspecting friends into a book-titling dinner party that quickly devolved into general hilarity. Among the suggestions? The very catchy “Dude, What’s Wrong with My Guidance Counselor?” or, more to the point, “Dr. Agford: WTF?” A guest nostalgic for 70s detective shows was pushing hard for “The Agford Files.”

During the peak of title fever, I had a dream my editor told me she had the perfect title for the book. She smiled triumphantly and announced the book would be called BOTTOMS IN THE MIDDLE. (Surprisingly somewhat fitting, considering a character named Trista Bottoms dives a wedge in Young & Yang’s friendship.) “Hm,” I replied in the dream, surprised by my own calm. “It doesn't really say mystery to me.”

We certainly had a good laugh over that one. In the end, I provided four favorite titles and a list in descending order of other ideas—including many ridiculous ones. Near the end, I crammed various nonsense onto the list, including the question, “Are you still reading these?” In my email along with the lists, I explained I was just providing fodder for ideas, adding:

“To be clear, should you come back and say, "We just love 'Booby-trapping Dr. Bigwig!' That's the one!" I might require medical attention, but then I can discuss variations, etc.”

Associate editor Andrea Martin replied:

We’re giggling over them, and yes, we read all the way to the end:) We’ll narrow down the options to our favorites and will run them by our editorial director and Sales to make sure that we wind up with one that everyone likes. And as hilarious as “Booby-Trapping Dr. Bigwig” is, I don’t think it’s going to make the cover, so you can rest easy.

What would work as first in a series?

These were my thoughts on the title The Wig in the Window, which I presented as one of my top picks, along with The Trouble with Dr. A.

Pros: Wig! Who doesn't want to buy something with "wig" in the title! Wig = fakeness, too -- which I think kids respond to. I think it lends itself to a very good cover that is still potentially Rear Window-esque. Alliteration makes it catchy. The phrase is mysterious and a bit spooky and funny at the same time.

Cons: doesn't lend itself to a series

Funny that I couldn’t see the potential for all the headgear and architectural features variations! I happen to be working on The Tiara on the Terrace right now…and who knows, maybe The Beret on the Balcony is in Young & Yang’s future!

Hope you enjoyed this peek at some behind-the-scenes silliness. As of June 18, you can judge for yourself whether The Wig in the Window is a fitting title. The book is available at your local independent bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon.

About the Author

Kristen Kittscher was a child neighborhood spy but (allegedly) grew up to be an upstanding citizen and middle school English teacher. A graduate of Brown University, she now works as a writing tutor in Pasadena, California where she lives with her husband, Kai, and their hyperactive lab mix. The Wig in the Window is her first novel. Visit kristenkittscher.com to investigate more about her and Young & Yang’s next adventure, The Tiara on the Terrace.

How to Spy on the Neighbors AKA The Wig in the Window

"Never underestimate Nerds." "I wouldn't dream of it, nerd

Kittscher, Kristen. Wig in the Window, The. HarperCollins Children's Books, 2013. 368p. $16.99, 9780062110503.

Affiliate Links: Amazon | Shop Indie

Genre:Mystery (real and not real)
Cover Appeal: A good representation of the girl's personalities. Youngish with the character's drawn more cartoonish than graphic. Will appeal to 4th and 5th and some early 6th graders.

Immediately After
"I'm like...Mr. Miyagi and Yoda rolled into one." Michael Scott, The Office (substitute this book is for I'm)
Right Before
Grace is all about the spy business. She's got the clothes and the lingo down. Sophie considers herself more of a shy-retiring type who needs Grace to bring a little action into her life. The girls have upped their spying game by sneaking out of the house at night and investigating FBI bulletins, pretending that the people in the neighborhood represent wanted criminals and are just hiding out in their town.

Things take a turn towards the serious when they accuse someone of murder and then find themselves being watched. To Sophie's horror, she also now has to spend MORE time with the suspect. Resentment starts eating away her and Grace's friendship.

Were they ever true friends or was she just someone Grace used and pitied?
During
I was drawn in by Sophie and Grace's quick banter. They seemed to know and love each other. There was lots of eye-rolling and compromise. Just like a normal friendship. Using the Walkie Talkies gave them an additional sense of being connected even though Grace was homeschooled, so didn't share in Sophie's daytime world.

The friendship gets strained when Sophie finds a new friend in Trista. Even though Grace has friends from Chinese school and piano lessons, she's never had to compete for Sophie's attention. Soon Trista has Sophie questioning herself and Grace's relationship. Not as a way to get Sophie to herself though. She just calls it as she sees it.

Sometime After
The mystery, a little gruesome and over the top, was well-developed but didn't seem like the heart of the story. That was the girl's friendship. As such, I was baffled by how much the parent's trusted Dr. Agford, the school counselor. I understand that they were stressed at work, but the strong girl characters we were getting to know, should have stemmed from loving, concerned, and involved parents. Sophie's parents didn't even pretend to listen to her side of the story and they never confiscated her spy equipment, not even the rope she'd used to climb out the window. While Grace's homeschool teacher conveniently leaves the picture, meaning Grace could be at home alone during the day.

On the mystery-side, I was able to follow along with Sophie and Grace's spy work and uncover the culprit but I liked that Kittscher threw in a couple of red herrings. Though I guessed the identity of the white truck owner, it took some doing to figure out rest. 

Fun Quotes
"At one point she went after the school librarian. The librarian! Could there be a more noble soul?"

"...on the bright side, our school counselor is not a fugitive."

"If I'd known dropping teeth into drinks could so effectively remove Jake from my presence, I would have made it a more regular practice."

Overall
It was refreshing to read a book about two twelve-year-old girls who sounded like two twelve-year-olds. Many middle grade novels make the characters sound too young while the young adult books cast them as precocious. When Grace joked that Sophie and her should trade families, I laughed because my daughter has a friend who's similar to me and they joke about trading all the time.

I give this 4 out of 5 stars for the mystery and the realistic portrayal. It lost a star due to the lack of parenting. Though the SMILE organization almost brings it back to the top, the confusing love interest struck me as unneeded and brings it back down to 4. 

Tune in tomorrow when Kristen Kittscher guest stars on The Brain Lair!

Click the button in the sidebar for more tour stops!

Make sure you stop by some of my favorite bloggers!
Read Now Sleep Later
Great Kid Books
Kid Lit Frenzy
HeiseReads
Teach Mentor Texts
Sharpread

Want to use The Wig in the Window in a group setting? Here's The Wig and The Window Discussion Guide!

Find Kristen around the internets:

You can find more about Kristen at http://www.kristenkittscher.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kkittscher

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kittscher

Middle Grade Monday–Unseen Guests by Mary Rose Wood

 Wood, Maryrose. Unseen Guests (Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place, 3). Balzer + Bray, 2012. 352p. $15.99. 978-0061791185.

REVIEWED BY: MGANNIE

I enjoyed Maryrose Wood’s “The Mysterious Howling” and “The Hidden Gallery” and because of the ending of this one, I believe that there will be more. I wouldn’t understand this book as much as possible, if I hadn’t read the first two. I give this book five stars because of the mysteries explored and the odd yet loving characters that I feel like I know.
Maryrose Wood is an amazing author. I recommend this series to anyone who is ready for books filled with excitement, fright for characters, love, and journey as the children raised by wolves have yet another adventure!

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

12.21 by Dustin Thomason - Blog Tour

Thomason, Dustin. 12.21. Dial Press (Random House), August 2012. 338p. $27.00. 978-0-385-34140-0.

Genre: Mystery/Thriller (race against time)
Rating: Reminded me of a movie
TLC Blog Tours: blog tour stops

Gabriel Stanton, the go-to guy when it comes to prions, just received a call from Dr. Michaela Thane about a patient she has. She's sure that the patient has FFI, fatal familial insomnia. Gabriel tries to talk sense into Dr. Thane because this disease is so rare as to be impossible that someone would have it. But, the long-lasting full insomnia, the pinprick pupils, and the excessive sweating suggests that this case is real. Which is unfortunate, because FFI is not only fatal, it's highly contagious. 12.21 opens on December 11, 2012. We  meet Stanton and Thane and their fatal patient, and soon after, Chel Manu.  Manu, is called in to translate for Drs. Thane and Stanton. They need to find out where the patient has come from and all the places he's been in between. And they need this information before he dies. So we have a race against time to find out the origins of Volcy's, the patient's, FFI as well as the impending end of the Mayan Long Count, which could signify the end of the world.

Although not technically action-packed, the story of 12.21 compels you forward. You not only want  to know where Volcy is from but how he got sick.  As Stanton and Chel, each in their respective fields, try to track down the origins of the disease, we start piecing together all the pieces. Coincidentally, Chel, a leading expert on Mayan antiquities and epigraphy, has what she believes to be a codex from an early Mayan period. She also thinks that Volcy had something to do with this important historical artifact being in her possession. This book is filled with coincidences. The connections between the characters were a little unbelievable but the only way to have the story make any sense.  And Thomason's dislike of meat, or at least the way it's processed, was a little over the top and preachy.

12.21 was just okay for me.  Not good and not bad. It was like reading a version of the movie Contagion. The Mayan connection was very tenuous. It felt more like a sub-plot than the drive behind the novel.  That being said, I already know someone that will enjoy this and will be happily passing it along.

About the Author

Dustin Thomason attended Harvard University, where he studied anthropology and medicine. He won the Hoopes Prize for undergraduate writing, and graduated in 1998. Thomason also received his M.D. and MBA from Columbia University in 2003.

2012 Battle of The Kid's Books - Round 1 - Amelia vs Anya

Each judge has been getting his/her due over at SLJ's Battle of the Books headquarters.  Make sure you check them out! Which judge will judge which books? Say that 5 times fast!

Let the Battle Begin!

Amelia Lost by Candace Fleming

The full title of this one is The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart. And there-in lies what sets this biography apart from others.  Candace Fleming does an amazing job of interspersing Amelia's life (I can call her Amelia, right?) with the story of her last flight. She also uncovers some heretofore unknown facts about Amelia as well as that flight. At least, unknown by me.

Fleming opens by telling us that we don't know Amelia as well as we thought we did.  Did we know that she was a marketing machine? That the "facts" we've always just known about Amelia's life are, at best, designed to make her appear a certain way.   Fleming also tells us that there is a possibility tht something small, like learning to use a radio, could have changed history as we know it.

The book is filled with pictures and charts, including Amelia's first report card and an ad for some clothes she designed. Amelia even wrote magazine articles and gave lectures.

One of the final passages in the book talk about how George Putnam was afraid "the mystery of her disappearance would overshadow Amelia's legacy." And, unfortunately, his fears were realized, at least for me, until Fleming wrote this book. I conclude with the beauty of the title - Amelia Lost - we lost what she meant to us beyond her flight. Now we can remedy that.

Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Graphic novel? Love it already. Brosgol's drawings are expressive; even the pages without words are full of emotion.  Anya's totally in love with this guy at school but, of course, not the guy whose in love with her. She has this friend Siobhan who alternately helps her out and rags on her. Just like most friends. Anya's so distraught about the way her life is going, er not going, that when she ditches school she's not paying attention to where she's walking and she falls into a hole. And there's a skeleton down there! And the ghost of the skeleton! And when Anya get's rescued, so does the ghost.

At first Anya and ghost Emily are like, BFFs. Emily helps her with her homework and her boy problems. But, you know ghosts, they.are.never.satisfied.

"Are you...are you smoking a ghost cigarette?"

Soon Emily doesn't want to stay dead. Or at least not alone.

The Winner?

What a complex pairing. Graphic novel murder mystery vs nonfiction biography. Both about girls whose names start with A. Amelia Lost brings to the forefront the rest of the story. We have a better idea of who Amelia Earhart was as a person, not just some soul who disappeared. In Anya's Ghost we take a trip back to high school. A time of trying to find out who you are and where you fit in. And avoiding the "wrong sort" of person and not turning down help. Even if it comes from a questionable source.

I enjoyed learning all about Amelia Earhart; how her hair wasn't naturally curly, how she went to live with her grandmother at the age of three to distract Grandma Otis from recent losses, and how George Putnam provided the opportunity for her to be the first woman, an American at that, to complete a flight across the Atlantic. But on second reading, I was a little bored.  On the other hand, I was even more intrigued on my second reading of Anya's Ghost. This time I could focus on the drawings and when and how Emily and Anya changed throughout the story. I ended up giving a booktalk for Anya's Ghost on our school's morning news show. 3 copies were checked out before 11:30. The fourth wasn't checked out because I still had it.  So you know what this means?

I give the go ahead to:
Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

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Holiday Bookaday Update - Fall 2011

I'd listed several books I wanted to read over my 16 days off, 18 to be exact. I'm six days into the challenge and I've only finished 4 books! What's slowing me down? Two re-discovered loves; Twitter and Puzzles.

I picked up a puzzle of my favorite picture - Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte - and have been spending hours on it. I haven't done this in a very long time and it has been so relaxing!! I hope to find slightly smaller puzzles though, this one is 1000 pieces.

I've always been a fan of Twitter but I'd pulled back to read more - putting in a word here, a retweet there, but not really interacting. Since most of my tweeps are educators, we are all on break right now and the conversations have been awesome. So, less reading time but a touch more connection with self and others.

So, what have I finished?
Shelter by Harlan Coben - one of the LA teachers does a mystery unit each year, so I'm always on the lookout for new books for her to add to her repetoire. I haven't read any of Coben's adult books but this young adult one sounded intriguing and maybe it could be a gateway for some students.  Although Shelter started out well, despite having the stereotypical sidekicks - a nerd adn a fat girl - it had promise.  Coben did tend to tell too much, I never had to figure out anything, each question would be answered about 2 sentences later.  And then the ending was so far-fetched as to be impossible. The age of the alleged villian would make the antics impossible. My disbelief came crashing to the forefront and wiped away most of my good feelings about the book.  The good news is there can still be a good discussion about this one. Pair it with Virals by Kathy Reichs and then talk about craft and writing for a variety of audiences.

Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins - I had been looking forward to this one, as I enjoy sappy romance. While there were enjoyable moments, they got sidetracked by the author's frequent exclamation of "bieber" or "elvis presley". I mean efron, lautner, gosling - yeah, I can see that working once or twice, jk. Throw in how often she told us Liam was hot (in a stereotypical bad boy in leather jacket with motorcyle way) and I was just happy to finish.

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - I had really been looking forward to this book! I like science fiction and this has girl protag! It started out slow and ended on predictable. But, the middle was fantastic. I just don't understand why she didn't use her undisclosed till later powers more.  Also, she never wore that awesome dress on the cover! Pair this one with Legend by Marie Lu and you are destined for a great conversation.

Darth Paper Strikes Back by Tom Angleberger - This follow-up to Origami Yoda focuses on Dwight and whether Yoda is helpful or hurtful. Dwight's nemesis, Harvey, makes a Darth Paper puppet and uses it to taunt this students, trying to convince them that Yoda is fake. The problems brought to Yoda this year seem much more serious. I like that turn. Obviously, pair this one with Origami Yoda and some actual origami.

Ok, back to reading! How are you doing on your reading goals?

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The Sunday Salon: Introducing Anusha and Isabella

Over the next several weeks, I'll be introducing you to several student bloggers from my summer book club. Each blogger will be answering questions from Welcome to My Tweendom.  These students are new to blogging and look forward to sharing their book thoughts with you.  Please help me welcome:

Anusha and Isabella of

Bellanush, we think...

What are your favorite genres to read? 
I like fantasy, realistic fiction, and anything that has action.
Fantasy

How do you select the books you want to read?  
I read the inside cover of a book, and if it intrigues me, I read it.Sometimes the name, sometimes the cover. Then if it interests me I read the description of the book.

What is your favorite book so far?  

I have alot! Basically, anything by Rick Riordan, Maximum Ride Series, City of Bones Series by Cassandra Clare,  and the Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore. I've got lots of others!!!!!
I don't have a favorite book so far. I like a lot of books and I really can't pick just one book to be my favorite. Always seems to change too!

What is your favorite thing about reading?  
It's just cool. :)
I like being able to go to a different place that may not exist, or being halfway around the world. It's fun being able to be someone else and to live their life even if its only for the expanse of the book.

Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer?
Nope, not at all!
I read on my Nook and my moms Kindle sometimes and I read on the computer a lot. Mostly Japanese comics though.

What kinds of books do you think are most popular with kids your age?  Why?  
Alot of action/fantasy books, because people have short attention spans [like me!]  and need to be intrigued. 

I think action for guys because its almost always about fighting,blood and death. I think girls also like action but do enjoy a good romance book because everyone loves when the gorgeous guy comes and helps the girl and how they will always be together. But I think most girls like when it doesn't end well and they have to work it out.

What book are you waiting to be released?
Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan, the rest of the Lorien Legacies series, the rest of the Red Pyramid series, Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins, Hallowed by Cynthia Hand, City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare, and Nevermore by James Patterson.
I'm waiting for a lot of books to be released but I will only name a few: Crossed, Son of Neptune, Goddess Interrupted, Allegiance, Hallowed, Catching Jordan, and Darker Still.

What are you currently reading?  

The Maximum Ride Series!!!!! 

I am currently reading The Power of Six and Divergent.

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Introducing The Sisters

Over the next several weeks, I'll be introducing you to several student bloggers from my summer book club. Each blogger will be answering questions from Welcome to My Tweendom.  These students are new to blogging and look forward to sharing their book thoughts with you.  Please help me welcome:

Courtney and Sydney of

The Sisters Read

(still contemplating it though) any ideas?

What are your favorite genres to read? 

Both of ours are fantasy and mysteries. 

How do you select the books you want to read? 

We choose our books by how interesting the summary is, by recommendations, and by Good Reads. 

What is your favorite book so far? 

Oh wow thats a really hard question. But I guess we'll have to say Harry Potter, Percy Jackson (not as much as Harry but a really good series), The Mysterious Benedict Society trilogy. 

What is your favorite thing about reading?

It makes both of us feel like were in the book. Like in Harry Potter, we both feel like were in the Gryffindor commons room having one of those late night conversations. 

Do you read on an e-reader/phone/computer? 

Sydney reads on a nook a lot, but only when I doesn't have that book in paper. Neither of us really ever read on a phone or computer (maybe we will if we ever get iPhones). Courtney has only read 100 pages on a nook, I just don't like the feel of reading on a nook 

What kinds of books do you think are most popular with kids your age? Why? 

We would both have to say fantasy, mystery, Sarah Dessen (for girls), adventure, fantasy romance (once again girls, I have never seen a boy even look at twilight), sports books (for boys, and last but not least adventure. 

What book are you waiting to be released? 

The next book in the Nightshade by Andrea Cremer series… Spiral, the fifth book in the Tunnels by Roderick Gordon series… The next book in the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan… The next book in the Maze Runner by James Dashner series….the next book in the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan series

The next book in the Kane Chronicles by Rick Riordan… The next book in the Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan series… The next book in the Maze Runner by James Dashner series… Theres more but I can't think of them right now...

What are you currently reading? 

I am currently reading The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Stewart.

I am reading Closer by Roderick Gordon, the 4th book in the Tunnels series, currently.

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You Killed Wesley Payne by Sean Beaudoin - Guest Post

Guess what? I was reading You Killed Wesley Payne and the main character, Dalton Rev, decided he wanted to talk to you guys. He stopped by The Brain Lair this morning with an introduction and a few rules.

 So let's give a warm welcome to Dalton Rev!

 ::applause::



Hey. I’m Dalton Rev. Pretty much the main character in the new book You Killed Wesley Payne. You can call me Dalton. Or, you don’t really have to call me at all. Unless you need a problem solved. Then I bet you’ll get my digits somehow. Yeah, that’s what I do. Solve problems. Got a bully hassling you? Someone steal your Trig final? Happen to find a body wrapped in duct tape hanging from the goal posts at the end of the football field? I can transfer to your school and take care of it. In and out. Nice and discreet. Of course, it’s going to cost you a fat packet of folding green. And by folding green, I mean cash money. Yeah, I’m a Private Dick. And here’s the three most important Private Dick rules:

The Three (3) Most Important Private Dick Rules:

1. Never let anyone mess with your ride. On the other hand, feel free to mess with theirs, especially if there’s a chance they’ll be chasing you in it later.

2. Avoid beautiful girls. Helping beautiful girls out of tight situations never comes to a good end. Continue to charge maximum fees and take lots of cold showers.

3. Tough guys are only as tough as you’re inclined to let them be.

4. Be nice to your mom.

5. If you’re going to carry a weapon, drive a scooter, smoke a cigar, wear a leather jacket, or have an unusual haircut—make sure it’s big and mean and intimidating. Especially the cigar.

You Killed Wesley Payne is a murder mystery. Who killed Wesley Payne? You did. Probably. Either way, I’m onto you. So don’t be surprised if there’s a Dalton-sized shadow looming up on your doorstep soon. Oh, yeah, those last two rules are free, this time.

Your Pal,

-Dalton Rev


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The Death (and further adventures) of Silas Winterbottom by Stephen M. Giles - Review

The Death (and Further Adventures) of Silas Winterbottom: The Body Thief
Stephen M. Giles
Sourcebook Jabberwocky
August 2010

They all received the check for $10,000.  And the letter.  They all needed the money.  But only one of them really wanted it.  Adele Winterbottom did not want to leave her dad and her books for two months to visit an uncle she'd never met.  But her mom threatened her with Ratchet's House, a boarding school that no one ever left.  Milo Winterbottom never wanted to see the man who killed his parents.  He would be fine if Uncle Silas dropped dead today.  But maybe he should go and make sure it happened sooner rather than later.  Isabella Winterbottom was running out of money. There were only so many times you could pilfer items from your rich "friends".  She did not want to go back to being poor.  She would not only visit Uncle Silas, but convince him that she was the only one worthy of his money, and she would do whatever was necessary.The three cousins arrive on the strange island with one thought - Uncle Silas is a weirdo.

The Death and Further Adventures of Silas Winterbottom has a cover that makes you believe this will be a light, funny, tongu- in-cheek sort of tale but alas, it's anything but!  Uncle Silas is creepy and sinister.  He rolls around in his wheelchair pretending to be nice but the next scene uncovers his true colors.

"Silas moved his chair forward rolling the front wheel directly over Bingle's right foot."

Someone tries to murder Silas but he senses it and gets away and then uses the attempted murder to carry out his own sinister plan.

"...the...children must never leave Sommerset.  Not alive anyway."

The Death and Further Adventures of Silas Winterbottom is a fast, engrossing read.  I kept trying to figure out what Uncle Silas was up to and hoping the cousins could figure it out before it was too late. I really enjoyed this one and give it 4 copies.  Hand this to a middle grader who likes mysteries and suspense with a just a little peek at danger.

About the Author

Stephen M. Giles lives in a shambolic apartment not far from the beach and spends most days wandering about his imagination – which is where he met the Winterbottoms. When Stephen is not busy writing he likes to collect old people and hopes one day to have enough of them to open a shop.

Stephen M. Giles website




Thank you to Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for this ARC.