Blog Tour Review: Bran Hambric - The Fairfield Curse

Title: Bran Hambric-The Farfield Curse

Author: Kaleb Nation

Review Copy Provided by: Sourcebooks

About the Book: Bran Hambric was found locked in a bank vault at six years old, with no memory of his past. For years, he has lived with one of the bankers, wondering why he was left behind -- until one night, when he is fourteen, he is suddenly confronted by a maddened creature, speaking of Bran’s true past and trying to kidnap him.

Bran finds that he is at the center of a plot that started years before he was even born: the plot of a deadly curse his mother created…and one that her former masters are hunting for him to complete.

Haunted by the spirit of his mother’s master and living in a city where magic is illegal, Bran must undo the crimes of his past...before it is too late.

Who could possibly have put a six-year-old into a locked bank vault if not mages or gnomes? The answer is larger than Bran. In fact, it is larger than Dunce. It just might be larger than magic itself. It might be about as big as the universe. And Bran is the key. But what’s the lock?

For more about the book see Bran Hambric.

My Review:  This was a fun, Middle Grade book!  Fun because it was chock full of magic.  What tween doesn't love magic?  I liked the fact that the main character is a boy.  I haven't read a lot lately with male main characters, so this was a welcome treat.

When I first started this story, I was reminded of Harry Potter because like Harry, Bran is basically alone.  He lives with a family that usually ignores him, just like Harry did.  If you are a Harry fan, then chances are you will enjoy this one.  It did start off a little slow, but once it got going, it kept me intrigued.

Kaleb Nation is a great writer!  There is such imagination in his words, especially for him being so young.  He got the idea for Bran Hambric when he was just fourteen, but spent most of his teenage years writing it.  Now, at the age of 20, he's got his first published book, that is sure to be a hit!

I found myself laughing out loud many times during the reading of this book.  It was just funny at times!  One scene in particular, at the beginning, when they are chasing the burglar, just kept me in stitches.  The people in Dunce, where Bran lives, do some strange things.  It takes a lot of imagination to write a story like this, because so much is going on, magic, mystery,  mayhem, and menace.

Bran learns a lot about himself throughout the story.  Where did he come from?  Who was his mother?  What are these magical powers he has?  Find out all of this and more by reading Bran Hambric.

I have a hardback copy of this book to give away to one lucky commenter.  Good luck!!  I will run the contest from today until next Wednesday, so you have a week.  Extra comments for promoting this on any social network or blog.  U.S./Canada only.  I am extending this contest through the 27th, because a new prize has been added:  Sourcebooks has generously offered an autographed poster of the cover art for one of my readers.  Please spread the word!

Here is the complete tour list.  Make sure you check out some of the other stops on this great tour!

Sunday, August 30<sup>th 
Jenn’s Bookshelf
Homespun Light

Monday, August 31st
StevenTill.com
Dolce Bellezza
Bobbi’s Book Nook

Tuesday, September 1st
The Looking Glass Review
Edward-Cullen.net
Beth Fish Reads
SMS Book Reviews
James Holder’s YouTube Channel

Wednesday, September 2nd
Bookalicio.us
Reading Rumpus
Katie’s Literature Lounge
Ultimate Bookhound

Thursday, September 3rd
Brimful Curiosities
Charlotte’s Library

Friday, September 4th
BriMeetsBooks.com
Bran Hambric by Kaleb Nation

Saturday, September 5th
Library Lounge Lizard
Sarah’s Random Musings
Saulchichas
GreenFyr.com

Sunday, September 6th
Cindy’s Love of Books

Monday, September 7th
Lauren’s Crammed Bookshelf
Grasping for the Wind
Life After Twilight vlog channel

Tuesday, September 8th
Shooting Stars Magazine
Mrs. Magoo Reads
Lori Calabrese Writes

Wednesday, September 9th
The Brain Lair
Dulemba.com
The Children’s Book Review
TV Watch Online

Thursday, September 10th
The Friendly Book Nook
Book Journey
Stephanie’s Written Word
Home School Buzz
Spidurmunkey.com

Friday, September 11th
The Inside Scoop With Chandelle
Booking Mama

Saturday, September 12th
Zoe’s Book Reviews
Lit for Kids

Sunday, September 13th
Never Jam Today
A Bibliophile’s Reverie

Monday, September 14th
Café of Dreams
Marta’s Meanderings
Galleysmith.com
A Book Blogger’s Diary
The Reader’s Quill

Tuesday, September 15th
a book in hand
MistiSchindele.com
Not Just for Kids

Wednesday, September 16th
Write for a Reader
CumpulsiveReader.com

Thursday, September 17th
Howling Good Books
The Written World

Friday, September 18th
Always Riddikulus
YA Books Central

Saturday, September 19th
Ms. Bookish
Into the Wardrobe</sup>

Blog Tour Review: Miss L'eau

 

Title:  Miss L'eau

Author:  T. Katz

Review Copy Provided by: Pump Up Your Book Promotions

About the Book:  James and David had always known there was something unusual about their elementary school teacher, Miss L'eau, but they could never quite put their finger on it. David discovered their first clue, was in her eyes-- Miss L'eau had the most unusual pair of eyes! She wore glasses when she taught, but when she had to deal with just you--she would lean over your desk, move her glasses down to the end of her nose . . . and there they were! Miss L'eau's eyes were as blue-green as the sea, and if you could get up the courage to stare right into them, you'd swear you could see angel fish, sea plants, coral beds and even sea anemones! It was the most wonderful, yet frightening, experience when she would talk to you face-to-face. The boys lived their whole lives near the ocean, but never thought about how import it was or how vulnerable it might be. Through Miss L'eau, and her unexpected relationship to the sea, they develop a love and understanding of the ocean and become involved with the nearby aquarium and organize an annual clean-up.

About the Author:  T. Katz, a resident of Southern California has been involved in the children's entertainment industry since the early 80's working on hundreds of episodes of animated television and as a music instructor to hundreds of very animated children. She is also the honorary conductor of a four-part harmony household, consisting of her two children (three if you count the spouse on a bad day) and Alice the cat. The people that surround her help her to continue seeing the world with all its magic, beauty and potential. She lives by the motto "a good book, a cup of tea and somehow all is right with the world." Her adventures in life are adding welcome lines of character to her face and scattered optimistic silver linings all over her head. You can visit her website at www.tkatz.com. 

My Review:  This is a quick read, small book, with a powerful message!  I wish school age kids could read this as part of an ocean unit.  It would so enhance their learning.  No, this book does not teach about the ocean, per se, but it does teach about how to take care of it and keep it around for the generations that come after us.

I don't want to say too much about this one, as I don't want to give the whole story away.  The main character is a boy, in 5th grade, so I'm sure that will appeal to boy readers.  This book, I think, would also appeal to reluctant readers because it is not overwhelming in length, but strong in story!  I will definitely share it with some of the boys in my school this year.  The main character and his best friend are strong, determined characters, who put aside what others might think, to help out someone they love, their teacher.  They swear to keep her secret, even though it is hard for them to let her go.  I loved the premise behind this story!  Teach kids to take care of the ocean, by bringing a part of the ocean to them.

4 out of 5 stars for T. Katz and Miss L'eau. Be sure to visit the other stops on the tour.

Blog Tour Review: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

 

Title:  Where the Mountain Meets the Moon

Author:  Grace Lin

Review Copy Provided by:  Little, Brown

Grace Lin's book, Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, will be released on July 1st.  She is hosting an online book launch on her facebook fanpage and on her online book launch page.  She would love it if you would join her as she launches her book! 

Grace was nice enough to answer some questions for those of us on the tour, so make sure you check out the other tour stops to see what she has to say.  Here are my questions and her answers.

In the story, Minli's father tells her folktales.  Did you listen to folktales growing up?  If so, what were they?

I did not listen to folktales when I was growing up, but I did read them.  I loved fairy tales and my mother sneaked in some Asian folktale/fairytale books into my library.  So, as a child I read almost all the traditional European ones—from Grimm’s , Hans Christian Anderson,  to Howard Pyle and Kate Greenaway; and a good many of the Asian ones. “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” is very, very roughly on a Chinese tale called “Olive Lake.” However, I took quite a bit of creative license—there is no Fruitless Mountain, Magistrate or Paper of Happiness in the tale and the protagonist of that story is an adult male!

Your sisters are scientists.  What did your parents think of your career choice? Have their thoughts changed?

Well, my parents were quite horrified when I decided to go to art school to pursue children’s book illustration. But even though they did not really understand, they tried their best to support me.  But over the years, they have really come around and seem to be very proud! My mother is always telling people to buy my books. And they were especially pleased on how I portrayed them in “The Year of the Dog,” though my older sister insists my father was never that funny.

The story was somewhat inspired by your travels; what else inspired this book?

Well, this story first was inspired by the folktales and fairytales of both Asian and European/American cultures that I read and loved as a child.I grew up in Upstate NY, the only Asian (except for my sisters) in my school. Because of this, my childhood was always tinged with a strange sense of identity. Was I Chinese? Taiwanese? American?

Books and stories were always a source of comfort. I loved folktales and fairy tales as a child. I loved the classics, “East of the Sun, West of the Moon,” “The Light Princess,” and "The Wizard of Oz"—all with gorgeous illustrations, which I devoured and gazed at in awe.

It was because of my love for these stories, that my mother knew she could pique my interest with the Chinese fairy tale books. At the time, she regretted that I knew and had so little interest in our cultural heritage—this was a way of “sneaking” it in. And it worked!

I began reading the Chinese folktales, and was at first disappointed. Used to lush illustrations and descriptions, the Asian books were plainly translated with an occasional simple b/w line drawings and seemed an inadequate comparison. However, slowly I discovered the stories had a magic and I began to imagine details of my own, tinged with Asian-American sensibilities. When I grew older and was able to travel Hong Kong, Taiwan and China--the stories came alive.

And "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" came into existence. An homage to the folktales and fairy tales I read in my youth, it is a mixture of Asian fairytales and North American classics. Not a traditional retelling of stories from either cultures, it is a mix-- like me, Asian-American. Hopefully, it is full of the magic from both that will satisfy readers everywhere.

My travels to Hong Kong, Taiwan and China brought the settings of the story to life for me, inspiring the imagery. Well, when I first began writing this book, I had visited Hong Kong (http://gracegoeshk.blogspot.com/) and Taiwan which were wonderful trips. Being Asian-American (and more American than Asian) it was a fascinating experience to be surrounded by a culture that was so foreign and familiar at the same time. Whenever I viewed the landscape, saw a temple or a sampan in the water, I suddenly would remember the Chinese folktales I had read as a child. I could see them happening in the setting around me and I knew in there was a book waiting to be written.

I was almost 3/4th finished with the writing the book when I went to visit China (http://gracegoestochina.blogspot.com/). This was the perfect time to go, as I had an idea of what kinds of things I wanted to see and research there but the book was still open enough to be changed. And it was wonderful! Actually seeing China with my own eyes and experiencing it added such a rich layer to the story. For example, one of the excursions we took especially for the book was a visit to a tiny mountain village (http://gracegoestochina.blogspot.com/2008/11/cold-village.html). I wanted to see a mountain village because I knew Minli (the main character in “Where the Mountain Meets the Moon” ) would be visiting one. The whole time we were there, we were freezing cold but the villagers were so friendly and red-cheeked (which I was to find out later was wind-burn, not good circulation). So, those element of mountain cold and a warm, friendly shelter became the back drop of the village Minli visits.

Wow!  Thank you so much for sharing your inspiration for the book and other thoughts with us.

About the Book:  In the valley of Fruitless mountain, a young girl named Minli lives in a ramshackle hut with her parents. In the evenings, her father regales her with old folktales of the Jade Dragon and the Old Man on the Moon, who knows the answers to all of life's questions. Inspired by these stories, Minli sets off on an extraordinary journey to find the Old Man on the Moon to ask him how she can change her family's fortune. She encounters an assorted cast of characters and magical creatures along the way, including a dragon who accompanies her on her quest for the ultimate answer.

My Review:  What a good book!  Where the Mountain Meets the Moon  is just a fun, inspiring, feel good read.  I enjoyed the mix of narrative with the folk tales in this book.  It gives you a glimpse into the lifestyle, culture and beliefs of the Asian people.  Without the folk tales, you wouldn't fully understand the story.  Each one is put in the book, in a certain place, for a reason.  This middle-grade book is a different read with a great message.  Children don't always understand that they can be happy with what they have, they always long for more.  Minli shows us that sometimes it's better to sacrifice what you want for the sake of a friend.  This is something that all children can learn from.  I really like the message in this story.  

Minli is such a strong character.  She knows what she wants and goes for it!  Even when faced with adversity, and nay-sayers, she presses on.  Her goal, to find the Old Man of the Moon.  Along the way, she meets some very interesting animals and people who help her and whom she'll never forget.  Each character is important to the story.  My favorite, besides Minli, are the twins, Da-Fu and A-Fu.  They add alot of humor to the story.

Grace Lin gets 5 out of 5 stars for Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Make sure you visit the next stop on the tour: The Mommy-Files.

Author Interview and Giveaway: Kate Messner

Sorry for the late post, but I had a bit of a diversion this morning that included a constable and loose horses. When you have pasture horses, it's a scary thing to hear there are horses out down the road. Checked out the front, no horses, so I feared the worst. Long story short, the horses weren't ours, so all is well.

Today is the BIG announcement of the Children's Choice Book Awards. I am excited to bring the news to you!

K-2nd grade - The Pigeon Wants a Puppy by Mo Willems

3rd-4th grade - Spooky Cemeteries by Dinah Williams

5th-6th grade - Thirteen by Lauren Myracle

Teen - Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

Author - Stephenie Meyer for Breaking Dawn

Illustrator - John J. Muth for Zen Ties

And now, for today's Children's Book Week Celebration post. I have another interview for you today. Today's author is Kate Messner, who has a book, THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z, due out in September. This is a book geared toward 8-12 year olds. Following the interview, Kate has a surprise for one of my readers!

Write For A Reader (WFAR): Please tell us a little about yourself.

Kate Messner (KM): I’m a children’s writer, mom, and middle school English teacher, and I love being all of those things. I live with my husband and kids on Lake Champlain, a gorgeous place that’s the setting for many of my books, including THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z.

WFAR: When did you start writing?

KM: In first grade, I remember writing a story about a girl throwing snowballs at her brother, and when my teacher put it up on the bulletin board, I remember thinking, “Hey! I might be good at this!” I’ve been writing ever since but got serious about writing for publication about eight years ago.

WFAR: Do you have writing “mentors?” If so, who are they?

KM: I feel fortunate to have a whole community of writing mentors – some I know in real life, some I only know online, and some I only know through their brilliant work. They all inspire me, but I’d be particularly lost without my online critique group that includes wonderful writers like Loree Griffin-Burns, Liza Martz, and Eric Luper. It’s a gift to be able to share works in progress and know that they’ll be appreciated and whipped into shape, all at once.

WFAR: Can you give us a little of the back story behind THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z? How did this book come to be?

KM: Well, I teach middle school English, and our 7th graders have to complete a legendary and infamous leaf collection project each year. I’ve heard a decade’s worth of crazy leaf-collecting stories (and some wild excuses, too!) and that was the inspiration for this novel about a Vermont girl who will miss her cross country sectional meet if she can’t finish her project on time.

WFAR: What’s next for you as an author? Do you have anything in the works?

KM: I have four more books under contract and at various stages in the editing process.

MARTY MCGUIRE, FROG PRINCESS will be the first in a chapter book series with Scholastic, starting in Summer 2010. It’s about a third grade girl who likes crayfish and frogs way better than dresses and tiaras, and who is forced to be the princess in the school play, with hilarious results. My second MARTY book is currently scheduled for Summer 2011.

My first picture book will be illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal and published by Chronicle Books in Fall 2010. It’s called OVER AND UNDER THE SNOW and is about a girl who goes cross country skiing and discovers the secret world of animals living under the winter snow.

And I’ve just signed up another middle grade novel with my editor for GIANNA Z at Walker Books. It’s called SUGAR ON SNOW, and it’s about a girl who lives on a maple farm and earns a figure skating scholarship to train with the elite in Lake Placid. My agent likes to call that one the “Mean Girls on Ice” book! I’ll be working on revisions for that novel this summer.

I’ve also started a new middle grade mystery that has me very excited. I’m going to Washington D.C. to do some research for that new book next week!

WFAR: What is your favorite piece or book that you have written?

KM: Oh gosh, that’s tough. When kids ask that question at my school visits, I always tell them it’s like asking a parent to choose a favorite child. And then I say that my favorite is the one I’m working on right now – the one I’ve been thinking about all day and will work on writing tonight.

WFAR: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

KM: We live in a beautiful part of the country, so my family loves spending time outside. We hike and ski in the Adirondacks and Green Mountains, and we love spending time on Lake Champlain, too. I’m just starting to get my garden rolling for the season. And of course, I love reading. I usually read a book or two a week.

WFAR: Describe your writing atmosphere…where do write, when, etc?

KM: When it comes to drafting a new novel, I almost always write at my desk in the office I share with my husband after my kids are in bed for the night. I’m more relaxed about where I revise & edit, though, and have been known to do that everywhere from the library to the bleachers at my daughter’s ice skating practice. Deadlines are great for making you more flexible!

WFAR: What are some of your favorites? Author, food, color, book, any others…

KM: I have way too many favorite authors to list them all, but a few current favorites who write for kids and young adults are Cynthia Lord, Linda Urban, Laurie Halse Anderson, Lisa Yee, Mitali Perkins, Kerry Madden, and Elise Broach. I love the Harry Potter series. And my absolute favorites when I was growing up were Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume.

Food? One word. Chocolate.

Color? Blue.

WFAR: What is a typical day like in the life of a children’s book author?

KM: A typical day in my life starts with a morning run and the usual hustle and bustle of getting kids ready for school. Then it’s off to school myself, where I either teach my own 7th grade students or visit another school for an author visit. After school, I run my kids to whatever events & practices they might have, and this time of year, we usually sneak in a bike ride before dinner. Then we all read, and when the kids go to bed, I write from about 9-11. Then I read in bed, (usually about a paragraph!) before I fall asleep, get up, and start the whole thing over again.

WFAR: Is there anything else you would like the readers to know?
KM: My website – www.katemessner.com -- has lots of resources for teachers, librarians, & parents, including information about my school & library presentations and book club visits. I’ve started doing virtual visits using Skype and found that’s a great way to connect with classes and book clubs. THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z is a perfect mother-daughter book club selection, and I’ve already had a few mother-daughter groups inquire, so I’m really loooking forward to those chats!

Kate, Thank you so much for chatting with me today! I look forward to reading the book you sent and your upcoming works as well.

I’ve loved chatting with you, too, Shelly. Thanks for inviting me to celebrate Children’s Book Week with you and your readers!

Gianna Z at Amazon
Gianna Z at Powells

GIVEAWAY

Kate has graciously sent me an autographed ARC of The Brilliant Fall of Gianna Z to giveaway to one of my readers. All you have to do to enter, is comment on this interview. Since this book is coming from me, it is open to US/Canadian addresses only. The contest will end a week from today, May 20th, with the winner drawn randomly, emailed and posted here on May 21st.

Extra entries for:

• Follower - +1
• Tweet This - +2
• Blog About It - +3
• Visit Kate's Website and tell me something you learned - +5