Zorgamazoo

Zorgamazoo byRobert Paul Weston

Are you a believer in fanciful things? In pirates and dragons and creatures and kings?

Then sit yourself down in a comforatable seat, with maybe some cocoa and something to eat, and I'll spin you a tale of Katrina Katrell, (a girl full of courage and daring as well), who down in the subway, under the ground, saw something fantastical roaming around ...

What was it she saw? I'd rather not say. (Who's ever heard of a Zorgle anyway?)

But if you are curious, clever and brave, if intreped adventure is something you crave, then open this book and I'll leave it to you to uncover the secret of ZORGAMAZOO.

Join Morty the Zorgle and Katrina on a fantastically illustrated, you'll wanna read every word aloud, sophisticated rhyming adventure for all ages.

If you'd like to hear a chapter read by the author check out this his Zorgamazoo website -

www.zorgamazoo.com

I've had one reader say "it's like reading a really long Dr. Seuss story", so if your a Dr. Seuss fan, or if you liked The Name of This Book Is Secret than you might have found your next book.

Read On

Crocodile Tears

Crocodile Tears by Anthony Horowitz

It's just another day in the life of an average kid. If you're Alex Rider that is. A con-artist has realized that there is big money in charity- the bigger the disaster the more the money flows. So that is what he will produce - the biggest disaster known to man, all thanks to genetically modified wheat that can release a virus so potent it can knock out an entire country in one windy day. But Alex Rider will face whatever it takes -- gunfire, explosions, hand-to-hand combat with mercenaries -- to bring down his most dangerous advisary yet.

Fans of this series, snap up the couple of copies we had at the library before I could even take one home with me, and from their reviews this one is a winner. We were led to believe that this would be the final Alex Rider book, and surprize at the end of this one we learn that there willl be two more. Bravo Mr. Horowitz, Bravo!

I hope there will be a copy for me, waiting under the tree.

Read On.

Here's and interview with Anthony Horowitz.

The search for Wondla

The Search For Wondla by Tony DiTerlizzi

Eva Nine had never seen the actual sun before, or walked outdoors. In fact, she had never even seen another living person in all twelve years of her life. That changes when a marauding huntsman destroys her underground home and sends her fleeing for her life. She is desperate to find someone else who is like her, and a single clue gives her hope: a crumbling picture of a girl, a robot, an adult, and the word WONDLA.

The search for Wondla begins a trilogy whose imaginative text and breathtaking illustrations are sure to inspire dreams.

This book has been reminding me of bits and pieces of Star Wars, weird creatures that look like bugs, robots, a girl with Princess Leah hair - and then there are pieces of Lord of the Rings - moving, talking forests. It kind of seemed like I had read this somewhere before. I'm left wishing I could say I loved it, but I kind of just put up with it. The are work was beautiful and very in keeping with the original illustrations of The Wizard of Oz - tone on tone. And if you visit the website Wondla.com you can use the book to make the maps and story come to 3D life (kind of cool). I'm never a huge fan of fantasy, so maybe this is why I wasn't totally hooked by this one. But I hope for some of you, you won't be put off by my review and will try it for yourselves.

Here's the book trailer.

The Unsinkable Walker Bean

The Unsinkable Walker Bean by Aaron Renier

Wow! Another graphic novel winner, Loved it!! but then I do love a good pirate story and this one has a little bit of everything I could love in a story - an underdog of a main character Walker, chubby, shy, stay at home kind of guy - Grandpa, with a strange curse cast upon him and memories of great adventures that all should aspire to - pirates, battles, a skull with a powerful curse, seawitches, friends, banjos, castaways and the promise of more. Whew, that was a lot to pack into a sentence let alone a book.

If you're a fan of graphic novels, a fan of Rapunzel Revenge or Calamity Jack, a fan of Bone, a fan of Pirates of the Caribbean, then I think you've just found your next book to read.

Here's a taste more of what it's about:

Walker Bean never wanted to be a high-seas pirate waging a pitched battle with the forces of the deep. It just worked out that way.

Meek, mild and a little geeky, Walker is always happiest in his Grandfather's workshop messing around with his inventions. But when his beloved Grandfather is struck by an ancient curse, it falls on Walker to return an accursed Pearl Skull to the witches who created it, and his path will be strewn with pirates, magical machines, ancient lore and deadly peril.

Can't wait for more of this story to be told.

Read On.

Things not seen

Things Not Seen by Andrew Clements

Thank you to Mr. Newman for recommending this book to me. It just recently came back into the library and I felt so strongly about it that I felt I should include it in my blog - even though I read it awhile ago. (Last year I read it aloud to a group of grade 7's- and although it took us a long time to get through it, I think we all felt it was worth while).

What would you do if one morning you woke up invisible? Well that is exactly what has happened to Bobby. I know your thinking this is stupid and could never happen, well that's pretty much how Bobby feels too. And even though the premise of this book is highly unlikely, it's told in such a way that you can't help but wonder if such things are possible. Sure being invisible would be cool for awhile, but it also has its complications, and what if you really want your old life back, what then?

This was an awesome story.

From the back cover:

It's a Tuesday morning in February, and I get up as usual, and I stumble into the bathroom to take a shower in the dark. Which is my school-day method because it's sort of like an extra ten minutes of sleep.

It's after the shower. That's when it happens.

It's when I turn on the bathroom light and wipe the fog off the mirror to comb my hair. It's what I see in the mirror. It's what I don't see.

I look a second time, and then rub at the mirror again.

I'm not there.

That's what I'm saying.

I'm. Not. There.

The Amulet of Samarkand

The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, art by Lee Sullivan

This is the graphic novel adaptation of The Amulet of Samarkand, and I have to admit that at first I was skeptical of such an undertaking, but I have to say Stroud has adapted and condensed the story with finesse. the humor of Bartimaeus still comes through loud and clear. The art work has a wonderful clarity for what could have become an overly dark work.Characters are fully recognizable and distinctive (a feature that can sometimes be confusing with manga and some graphic novels). I'm hoping that the graphic novel will lead readers into this magical trilogy.

Here's the summary from the back:

Nathaniel, a twelve-year-old magician in training, thinks he's ready to take on more challenging spells. With revenge against the proud and ambitious Simon Lovelace on his mind, he masters one of the toughest spells of all and summons Bartimaeus, a 5,000-year-old djinni, to assist him. But summoning a djinni and controlling him are two different things entirely. When Nathaniel sends Bartimaeus to steal Lovelace's greatest treasure, the Amulet of Samarkand, he finds himself caught in a whirlwind of espionage, murder and rebellion.

The magic comes to cinematic life in The Amulet of Samarkand. This is Bartimaeus as you've never seen him before.

Dear George Clooney, please marry my mom

Dear George Clooney, please marry my Mom by Susin Nielsen

Twelve year old Violet's TV director father has caused a huge upheaval: he has left his family in Vancouver to start afresh with his new blonde trophy wife in LA. To Violet, it seems like he's traded his old life for a new and improved one - complete with new and improved children.

When her mother takes up with the unfortunaltely named Dudley Wiener after a series of disastrous relationships, Violet - with the help of her best friend, Phoebe - decides to take conterol. If her mom can't pick a decent man herself, Violet will help her snag the most perfect one of all: George Clooney. In turns brazen, infuriating, and hysterical, Violet's antics will delight readers, who will root for her even when she's at her worst.

In this poignant, funny new novel , author Susin Nielsen explores the emotional fallout of divorce by creating a true original in Violet, whose outrageous yet heartfelt ploys to set things right will resonate with readers for years to come.

What a great, fast read. I read it Friday afternoon. Characters you can relate with. Funny stuff that will make you kringe, teenage struggles and of course an encounter with George Clooney, make this into a very enjoyable read.

Read on

Beverly Hills Maasai

Beverly Hills Maasai by Eric Walters

Another title that will be at the bookfair -- $12.50

From the back cover:

When Alexandria answers the phone in her California mansion, the last person she's expecting to hear from is Nebala, the Maasai warrior she befriended during her life-altering trip to Kenya. Not only is Nebala calling, he, along with two other Maasai, have just arrived at the LA airport. They are there to compete in the Beverly Hills marathon, a race they plan on winning so that the prize money can be used to build a well in their village back home.

Before the big run, and with Alexandria as their guide, the Kenyan trio spend some time getting to know their urban surroundings. The Maasai find life in the world's most famous zip code as baffling and intriguing as the citizens of Beverly Hills find them. But in a day full of drama and surprise, whent he Maasai approach the marathon finishing line they demonstrate that what unites us is more powerful than what divides us.

This is the sequel to Alexandria of Africa.

Dark Life

Dark Life by Kat Falls

Here's another title that will be at the Bookfair - $11.00.

from the back cover --

The oceans rose, swallowing up the lowlands. Earthquakes shattered the continents, toppling entire regions into the rising water. Now, humans live packed into stack cities. The only ones with any space of their own are those who live on the ocean floor, the Dark Life.

Ty has spent his whole life living deep undersea, helping his family farm the ocean floor. But when outlaws attack his homestead, Ty finds himself in a fight to save the only home he has ever known. Joined by Gemma, a girl from the Topside who has come subsea to look for her brother, Ty ventures into the frontier's rough underworld and discovers some dark secrets to Dark Life ... secrets that threaten to destroy everything.

In Dark Life, Kat Falls has created a breathtaking world where the deep can be dangerous, the darkness can be deadly, and sometimes it takes extraordinary power to survive.

And the book trailer

Kat Falls - Author of Dark Life - Book Trailer - Free videos are just a click away

The strange case of origami yoda

The Strange Case of Origami Yoda by Tom Angleberger

A fun light-hearted read, if you like diary of a wimpy kid and such - you might try something like this.

Here's a more detailed write up:
Meet Dwight, a sixth-grade oddball. Dwight does a lot of weird things, like wearing the same T-shirt for a month or telling people to call him "Captain Dwight". This is embarrassing, particularly for Tommy, who sits with him at lunch every day.
But Dwight does one cool thing. He make origami. One day he makes an origami finger puppet of Yoda. and that's when things get mysterious. Origami Yoda can predict the future and suggest the best way to deal with a tricky situation. His advice actually works, and soon most of the sixth grade is lining up with questions.
Tommy wants to know how Origami Yoda can be so smart when Dwight himself is so clueless. Is Yoda tapping into the force? It's crucial that Tommy figure out the mystery before he takes Yoda's advise about something very important that has to do with a girl.
This is Tommy's case file of his investigation info "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda"

It will be available at the bookfair -- $6.00
Want to learn how to make an Origami Yoda -- check out the author Tom Angleberger showing us how

Read On