Book Review: Earthquake Shock by Marlane Kennedy (Disaster Strikes #1)

Stars: 5 out of 5 (for the target audience)

Pros: Action and good characters

Cons: None for beginning readers in early elementary school.  Adults will find it light and short

The Bottom Line:

The earth starts to shake

Will these four friends make it home?

Early chapter book

This New Series is Not Off to a Shaky Start

Growing up in California, earthquakes are a fact of life.  I’ve been in quite a few small ones, but only one major earthquake.  Even then, it wasn’t located close enough to really disrupt my daily life.  Still, I found it interesting that earthquakes were the main focus of the first in the new Disaster Strikes series from Marlane Kennedy.  I approached Earthquake Shock with a little more interest than I will some of the others just because I know a little more about them.

Joey is thrilled to be allowed to stay late at the skate park even if it does mean having to come home with Dylan.  He is trying to learn some new tricks on his new skateboard, and he’s enjoying practicing them with his friends Fiona and Kevin.  However, as the four of them are on their way home, an earthquake hits Los Angeles, separating the group.  Is everyone okay?  What will they find when they get home?

The series is aimed at young readers just graduating up to chapter books.  It’s only 110 pages long, and there are pen illustrations once or twice a chapter.  As a result, I found it to be a very fast read, and it certainly isn’t over complicated.  But it is just right for the target audience.

Take the plot.  It’s really more a series of encounters that the friends have after the quake hits as they try to get home.  There are some close calls, which definitely caught my interest, but they were resolved fairly quickly so we could move on to the next thing.  Still, it works well for the target audience, who will find each encounter very interesting.  I know I did.

Considering how short the book is, I wasn’t expecting much in the way of character development, and the characters and their growth are fairly obvious to adults.  However, kids won’t care because they’ll be interested in the action.  And even with the limited amount of page time she had to work with, Marlane still managed to give us some good characters we care about.  I did tear up at the end, after all.  And I really did like Joey, who bravely did what he needed to do in several situations.  He makes a great hero.

The author even manages to work in just a bit of humor.  It’s not enough to make light of the bad situation, but it does help lighten the mood.

So what about details of the quake itself?  Again, I haven’t been as close to the center of a big quake as these characters are, but I certainly did recognize the way it was described from the quakes I’ve been through.  The aftermath felt real to me as well.

Earthquake Shock really is a great book for young readers because the story will catch and keep their interest.  Heck, I might have a few nitpicks, but even so I got caught up in it and am glad I read it.

This review of part of this week's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

Book Review: I Even Funnier by James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein (I Funny #2)

Stars: 4 out of 5

Pros: Good month in the life type story

Cons: Most characters a little flat

The Bottom Line:

Preparing for laughs

Dealing with serious school

All within this book

The Next Joke in the Life of Jamie Grimm

I seem to be reading collaborations because of the lesser known coauthor.  There are several series out there I do that with, and one of them is this middle grade series from James Patterson.  I'm a marginal Patterson fan on his best days, but I love the novels of co-author Chris Grabenstein.  I Even Funnier is their second book together in this series, and I liked it.

The series look at Jamie Grimm, a middle schooler who has had a harsh life.  He's living in a wheel chair and living with his uncle and aunt.  However, he's learning to make the best of a very bad situation through humor at the encouragement of his other uncle.  The first book found him entering a local contest for stand up comic kids.

This book follows Jamie Grimm as he takes the next step in the Planet's Funniest Kid Contest.  Having won his state, regionals are coming up in Boston, and Jamie has to prepare all new material.  But that's not the only thing he has to contend with.  Being a middle schooler, he still has to contend with tests, homework, figuring out girls, the other comedian in school (whose jokes are old and painfully unfunny), and tutoring the class bully, aka his cousin Stevie.

To be honest, I wasn't a fan of the first in the series, so I got this one from the library.  I was surprised at just how much more I enjoyed it.  (Maybe the price had something to do with that?)  The characters are still a little shallow here.  It's not that they are completely flat, but they just never fully come alive.  Fortunately, Jamie does, so when something happens that affects him, you feel it.  Heck, I found myself tearing up a time or two as I was reading.

My bigger issue with the first was the plot.  It felt like story lines were introduced and then rushed or dropped.  Maybe I was just ready for it this time, but I saw the book as more of what it was - a couple of months in the life of Jamie while he prepares for the next round of competition.  That's not to say that the plotting was better, but when a sub-plot ended early, I recognized it as being part of real life.

If you are looking for laugh out loud jokes in this book, you will probably be disappointed.  Yes, there are jokes and humor, but Jamie spends more time telling us what his jokes are about than actually telling us his jokes.  And there are plenty of cheesy groaners from his rival at school (although I found them plenty funny).  I certainly enjoyed the humor there was.

Laura Park does the illustrations in the novel, and there are plenty of them.  They provide some of the humor, and I enjoyed them.

Because of Patterson's famous short chapters and the illustrations, this is a very fast read.  Even reluctant readers will find themselves zooming through the story, which is a good thing.

So I'm glad I gave I Even Funnier a chance.  The book definitely left things open for the next chapter, and I will be looking to find out exactly what happens next.

This review is part of Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.

Book Review: Moxy Maxwelll Does Not Love Stuart Little by Peggy Gifford

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Funny situations and basically good characters

Cons: A few of the chapters were too short

The Bottom Line:

Procrastinating?

This is a pleasant way to

Avoid something else

I Loved Watching Moxie Maxwell Procrastinate

Okay, I'll admit it.  I am a procrastinator.  I find doing what I need to do extremely hard while doing what I want to do extremely easy.  For that reason, I took the recommendation of Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little to heart and checked it out of the library.  Yes, the book is meant for kids, but I found it very entertaining anyway.

Moxy Maxwell has had all summer to read Stuart Little.  There's going to be a quiz on it tomorrow, the first day of school.  But has Moxy read the book?  Of course not.  She's been too busy reading what she has chosen and doing other fun things.  Now Moxy needs to get it read today before she is part of a swimming show tonight.  And she plans to, too.  Just as soon as she cleans her room and comes up with a way to pay for college.  Will she ever get it read?

This book was an absolute hoot.  I saw too much of myself in Moxy's attempts to get out of reading the book.  This was especially true when she decided cleaning her room was more fun than reading the book.  And the results of her next great brainstorm must be read to be fully appreciated.

Probably because I am a procrastinator at heart, I identified with Moxy right off the bat.  She may only be about to start fourth grade, but she is a likable character with one exception.  I didn't appreciate the way she took advantage of her younger sister and a neighborhood friend.  Hopefully, that will be dealt with in later books.  On the other hand, I appreciated the way her mother handled the overall situation.  She was an authority figure while still being fair to other people involved.  The rest of the characters are fine but are there more to serve the story and therefore are only partially developed.

The book is only 92 pages long and includes illustrations in the form of black and white photos supposedly taken by Moxy's twin brother Mark.  Those photos add much to the humor of the book, especially the captions.  I found it a very fast read, but I'm sure it will take the early elementary target age a little longer to get through.

My only true complaint about the book is the occasional short chapter.  Most of the chapters were fine, but occasionally one was only two or three sentences.  A couple times, the chapter was one word while the chapter title was much longer than that.  I could tell it was designed to be funny, but I found it distracting.

Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little was a funny book well worth reading.  I definitely plan to read the sequel soon.  Assuming I don't put it off for some other book that catches my interest, that is.

Book Review: The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes by Marlane Kennedy

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Heart warming story kids will love

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Heart warming dog book

And I'm not a dog person

So you know it's good

Melt Your Heart with the Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes

I read Marlane Kennedy's first book when it came out and enjoyed it, so I planned to read The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes.  This book features new characters and a new situation, so if you haven't read that book yet (and why haven't you?) you can read this one immediately.

Charlotte Hayes is not a dog person.  She tolerates them okay, but she doesn't love them the way her father and older sister do.  And yet, she's the one who is taking care of the family dog, a big, friendly Saint Bernard.  Poor Beauregard (or Killer, depending on who you ask) spends all day chained up in the backyard.  Charlotte spends some time with him after school, but she can tell he isn't happy.

So Charlotte decides it is time for her to find a new home for the family pet.  Her initial attempt is met by a family who insists they want the dog even if they won't spend any time with it.  Can Charlotte come up with a plan that will reduce her family's resistance and find Beauregard a loving home?

Now I will admit I am not a dog person, either.  Of course, part of the reason for me is my allergies.  But, like Charlotte, I'm not a fan of being jumped or drooled on.  But that didn't dampen my enjoyment one bit.  I fell in love with Beauregard the first time we saw him.

And that love for Beauregard makes it even easier to root for Charlotte to find him a good home.  She is a very responsible and persistent 12-year-old, and I have to reward her ingenuity even if she does lie a couple of times along the way.  Still, when she does reach a good plan, she goes after it with all her heart.

The entire family is well developed here by several sub-plots that weave their way through the book.  Honestly, I fell in love with the entire family.  Yes, that includes baby brother Justin Lee.  Spending time around them was a pleasure.

The same can be said for Charlotte's friends.  We really only get to know two of them well, but I like them.  Another character comes into play later in the book who is well developed, especially considering how late she shows up.

The book is targeted at last elementary school age, and I'd say it is perfect for them.  The writing is fluid and just challenging enough.

The ending of the story actually brought tears to my eyes.  I couldn't believe I had come to root for a girl and her dog that much.  So whether you like dogs or not, pick up a copy of The Dog Days of Charlotte Hayes.

This is my entry in this week's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.  Stop by Shannon Messenger's blog to see the other entries.

Book Review: Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Timeless humor and wonderful characters

Cons: None

The Bottom Line:

Classic comedy

As Ramona goes to school

Real characters, too

Read This Book by the Light of Your Dawnzer

Some kids' books are a true delight. They speak to anyone, no matter the age. They entertain. They bring up warm memories. Ramona the Pest by Beverly Cleary is one such book.

It's finally happened! Ramona Quimby is old enough to attend kindergarten! She can't wait to do big kid stuff like learn to read and participate in show and tell. Parts of school are confusing, like the song about the dawnzer. You know, "Oh say, can you see by the dawnzer lee light." But she is making new friends, like Davey, her first crush, and Susan, whose hair is so curly it just cries out to be tugged. But when things go horribly wrong, will Ramona ever return?

I think my first experience with this book was when I was in junior high school and my mom read it aloud to my family. All four of us loved it then. And I loved it just as much on the reread.

The story is a bit episodic in nature. Each of the first five chapters tells a single story with bit a pieces carrying over from one chapter to the next. The final two chapters are definitely connected. But that doesn't mean that the story isn't enjoyable. I loved every page, laughing several times and smiling throughout.

What absolutely makes this book charming is Ramona. Older people may consider her a pest, but her actions are certainly understandable. I'd call her more excited than a pest, frankly. And she is real. I don't know how Ms. Cleary did it, but she expertly captured a 5 year old here. Every emotion and action rings true for the age. Ramona isn't an adult trapped in a child's body or anything like that. She's a kindergartener who can't help herself when she wants to do something. And she is perfectly honest. Her reaction to being told to share is priceless, for example. Obviously, not all of her behavior is a model for readers. While it is presented in a sympathetic light, it is also rather obvious that this isn't to be emulated.

The other characters are just as great. I especially like how Ms. Cleary created her adults. They are to be respected, but they are kind and understanding. True, they are firm when they have to be. But they aren't needlessly harsh.

The book was originally published in the late 60's, so some of the references might be a little dated. However, I didn't find anything that jumped out to me while I was rereading it.

The book has gone through several editions and illustrators over the years. The edition I borrowed from the library was illustrated by Louis Darling. There are a couple small and one full page pen illustrations per chapter. They are charming and enhance the story.

While this is the first book that Ms. Cleary has dedicated to Ramona, she and several other characters appeared in previous books about Henry Huggins. Honestly, you don't need to have read those books to understand the characters here. They are reintroduced from Ramona's point of view.

Mid to late elementary school students can read this book to themselves with no problems. But it can be equally enjoyed as a read aloud story. Ms. Cleary is a master at writing that absolutely flows off the tongue. As a read aloud, I'd say it can be enjoyed by kids as young as Ramona if shared a chapter at a time.

You really can't go wrong with Ramona the Pest. This book will bring memories flood back to anyone who reads it, no matter how long it has been since they were five.

Book Review: Me and the Pumpkin Queen by Marlane Kennedy

Stars: 5 out of 5
Pros: Great story for all ages
Cons: One scene won't appeal to boys
The Bottom Line:
A moving debut
That sneaks up and pulls you in
An author to watch




Mildred and the Giant Pumpkins

Mildred may only be eleven years old, but she has an obsession. Unlike most girls her age, it isn't clothes or boys. It's giant pumpkins.

Now this isn't as strange as it sounds. Mildred lives in Circleville, Ohio, and has spent every October enjoying the annual pumpkin festival. The display of giant pumpkins always fascinated her mother, and her mother always planned to try to grow one herself some day.

The year Mildred's mother died, Mildred decided to grow a giant pumpkin herself. Over the last five years, she has learned everything she can. And over the last five years, something has happened every year to ruin her chances. Will this be the year that Mildred is able to submit a pumpkin of her own for the contest?

This book may be targeted to elementary school kids, but I thoroughly loved it. All the characters are wonderful and real. Mildred is quite obviously dealing with the loss of her mother, yet it is always in the background. Her relationship with her father is very close, and I enjoyed seeing that. Even the aunt who thinks that Mildred needs to give up her pumpkin growing is realistic, well drawn, and likable in her own way.

I have no interest in growing pumpkins period, but I got so caught up in the story, I felt every joy and set back right along with Mildred. And the obstacles that Mildred faces along the way are realistic. I got so caught up in the simple tale, I had a hard time putting the book down. The ending was absolutely perfect.

The first couple chapters were only a couple pages each, and that made it a little harder to get lost in the story from page one. But the book soon overcame that. What I found more interesting about the writing style was the constant switching from present to past tense. Mildred narrates the book, and anything currently happening is told is present tense while any time she tells us about something from the past, the narration switches to past tense. To be honest, I caught it only because I was looking for it. The switches are done so smoothly that most people will never notice.

Since this is a coming of age book, there are a couple scenes that might make boys uncomfortable involving Mildred getting her first bras. For this man, they were worth noting only in passing.

This is author Marlane Kennedy's first novel but hopefully not her last. Me and the Pumpkin Queen will easily entertain the target audience of kids as well any adult to picks it up.

This review is my entry in this week's Marvelous Middle Grade Monday.  Stop by Shannon Messenger's blog to see what else everyone is posting about.