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Book Review #55

 Ruby Red 

Author: Kerstin Gier
Publisher: Macmillan Audio, 2011 (Audiobook)
ASIN: B0062QRSL0
Narrator: Marisa Calin

Reading Level: 12 to 18 years

Main Characters: Gwyneth Shepherd, her cousin Charlotte, fellow time traveler Gideon, Leslie, Gwyneth’s best friend, and Gwyneth’s Mother.

Plot: Gwyneth unexpectedly inherits the time travel gene instead of her cousin Charlotte. Gwyneth was not prepared for the job. She finds herself unsure of who she can trust in the mist of conspiracy theories, and secret societies.

Settings: London, but the settings change as they move through time.

Genre/Theme/Style: Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Young Adult Fantasy 

I Gave This Book 4 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 4 Roars? I gave this book 4 roars only because it is not really a stand alone book. It does not have much of an ending. The reader will need to read the other books in the trilogy. However, the entire trilogy is worth reading. If you read it as a stand alone, it will be disappointing.

Critical Analysis: It was great as an audio book series. I liked the English accent of the narrator and moved through it quickly. 

I enjoyed the characters and became attached to them. Murder, mystery, secret societies, and well developed relationships make trilogy a worth while selection. 

   

“As she narrates this fast-paced puzzler, Gwen convincingly conveys the bewilderment, fear and excitement of a teen rooted in the present but catapulted from her school-girl routine into the past. Bell's deft translation captures an engaging heroine with a cell phone and a sense of humor, an emerging romance and a complex, unresolved time-travel mystery spanning four centuries.” 

~~Kirkus Reviews

The book was originally translated from German. I like the idea of reading books by authors from all over the world. It gives the read a wider scope and perspective.    

“Exciting fantasy with lots of wordplay and a pinch of romance. Now the impatient waiting for Volume Two will start.”

~~Westfälische Nachrichten

Connections: The other books in this trilogy are Sapphire Blue (The Ruby Red Trilogy, 2) and Emerald Green (The Ruby Red Trilogy, 3).

Book Review #54

The Pigeon Has to Go to School!

Author: Mo Williams
Publisher: Hyperion Books for Children, 2019

ISBN: 978-1368046459
Reading Level: 3 to 5 years
Main Characters: Pigeon 

Plot: Pigeon is back and has to go to school. In typical Pigeon fashion, he is concerned that his head will pop off if he learns too much. Besides, Pigeon already knows everything! And "reading can be hard with one big eye."

Settings: Bright colored, mostly bare, pages that focus the attention on Pigeon.

Genre/Theme/Style: Children's Humor, Picture Books. 
 
I Gave This Book 5 Roars! 🦁🦁🦁🦁🦁

Why 5 Roars? Because who doesn't love Pigeon? And his enthusiasm about school buses cracks me up. It is hard not to see a little bit of Pigeon in all of us from time to time. 

Critical Analysis: The book is lighthearted and fun. Kids can related to Pigeon's fears and anxieties about going to school. 

“Yes, the Pigeon has to go to school, and so do readers, and this book will surely 

ease the way."

~~ Kirkus Reviews

Illustrations: Williams uses subtle cues in his illustrations to add to the story. Pigeon becomes smaller in size when he admits that he is scared. These types of additions to the illustrations keep the momentum of the story in line with classical Mo Williams storytelling style. 

Connections: Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus. by Mo Williams

This book is great for all those little lion cubs starting school! 

Have fun and stay safe!