SMS Book Reviews

The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 20:45:00 +0000

Stars: *****

Summary: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is the immensely engaging and inspiring true account of an enterprising African teenager who constructed a windmill from scraps to create electricity for his entire community. William Kamkwamba shares the remarkable story of his youth in Malawi, Africa. A nation crippled by intense poverty, famine, and the AIDS plague—and how, with tenacity and imagination, he built a better life for himself, his family, and his village. The poignant and uplifting story of Kamkwamba’s inspiration and personal triumph, co-written with Bryan Mealer, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind has already won ringing praise from former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore as well as Paolo Coelho, internationally bestselling author of The Alchemist.

This incredible book was published October 09 by HarperLuxe, a division of HarperCollins. I fully intended to review it in October but things didn't work out that way. I love reading about life in Africa and reading stories of people who are very poor come into their own and succeed makes me hope for the future.

The book is not only about how William made a windmill but starts from when he was younger and spending his days playing to as he gets older and tries to continue his schooling, through a famine, spending his days reading books from the library, learning about electricity, trying things out for himself, working his way up to a windmill, getting electricity into his home and eventually getting noticed. The last few chapters cover what people noticed him and what was done afterward.

The story was very interesting and I rooted for him when he was figuring things out and feeling sad and worried when his city was going through the famine. William Kamkwamba is a remarkable man and I bet his parents are so very proud of him. I fully agree with the following testimonial about the book:

This book should be required reading in our schools where far too many students drop out because they, apparently, do not value education. Mr Kamkwamba doesn't just tell about the windmill and how he built it, he describes life and culture in Malawi, the struggles and horrors of the hunger season (which puts faces and hardships on the word, famine) and because of the famine the lack of fees that would allow him to continue in school. He foresaw that life could be different-better and pursued his dream to completion. This is a wonderful, positive story. Thanks for giving me an early opportunity to read it, learn and have hope in young people again.

Dorothy @ Books & More in Albion, MI

Dorothy Dickerson

Thanks to HarperCollins and Shelf Awareness for the opportunity to read this book.

Links of Interest
Browse Inside or View Discussion Guide or visit The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
On Twitter? Follow the book @malawindmilbook or the author @wkamkwamba

Other Reviews
Ramya's Bookshelf, The Novel World, Killin' Time Reading Starting Fresh (talks a lot about what the author is up to now)

I missed everything... :(

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:57:00 +0000

I love reading and I love writing reviews and participating in special events in the book blog community. However since July I've gone into a funk that's made me not read as much and not want to blog. I'm just starting to get back into everything but I'm saddened to find out I missed:

Book Blogger Appreciation Week
The 24-hour Read-a-thon
Bloggiesta
Blog Improvement Project (I'm now way behind)

and probably more I can't think of right now. I am so mad! It's my fault but still, why did I have to lose interest when all the cool events were going on? I hope 2010 is better.

Top 10 Great Books for Children (from CTTC)

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:56:00 +0000

The Canadian Toy Testing Council has announced their top 10 books for children and I wanted to mention (and link to) the two books in the list that I've reviewed:

Bradley McGogg the Very Fine Frog by Tim Beiser
Chicken, Pig, Cow by Ruth Ohi
(the sequel to this book just came in the mail yesterday so keep an eye out for the review)

You can find the whole list at the Canadian Toy Testing Council.

Review Catching Up (Various)

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:59:00 +0000

Julia's Kitchen Wisdom by Julia Child
Subtitle: Essential Techniques and Recipes From a Lifetime of Cooking

Stars: ****

This little volume is a small book of cooking wisdom from none other than Julia Child which was released in honour of the Julie & Julia movie with Meryl Streep and Amy Adams that came out. Although I like cooking, I'm still learning and I don't know the fancy names of most techniques or the specific way to do them. This book is different from your usual cookbook because it's less about recipes and more about technique, although there ARE some recipes.

Contents are as follows: Soups and Two Mother Sauces, Salads and their Dressings, Vegetables, Meats/Poultry/fish, Egg Cookery, Breads/Crepes/Tarts, Cakes and Cookies and Kitchen Equipment and Definitions. Here is a very SMALL list of things you'll learn: Using Simmered Mushroom Caps as garnish, Cooking with Wine, How to properly dredge, How to tell when homemade bread is done, and much, much more. My only real complain is lack of photos. There were some times I would have liked picture demonstrations but for the most part, I suppose you can get by without photographs. I especially like the last chapter which explains the difference between baste, beat, blanch, fold, mince, puree, saute, toss and more.

You can find a MUCH better review of this book at Books I Done Read. Thanks to Random House for the book.

Dear Jo: The story of losing Leah ... and searching for hope by Christina Kilbourne

Stars: *****

Summary: Maxine and her best friend Leah used to have so much fun chatting with boys online. So what if Max and Leah lied about their ages and where they lived? But when Leah disappeared, Max realized they weren't the only ones telling lies online. Through her daily journal entries, Max shares the crushing loss of Leah and her desperate efforts to move on after all that has happened.

This was an AWESOME book but also heart-wrenching. This particular story isn't true but unfortunately, kids and teens being abducted by someone they met online IS true. Sharing this story with your preteen or teen may scare them but it will hopefully scare them from sharing personal information online.

The story is believeable and includes everything that a person in this situation would go through. The before part, right after the incident, finding out bad news, going to counselling, doing bad in school because you're depressed, working with the police, working things out in your mind and coming to terms with what happened, healing and moving on.

Other Reviews: Semicolon
Thanks to Lobster Press for the book!

Psychos, Players, Punks and Pervs: How to Become the Ultimate Guy Detector by C. Dean Hall, M.S.

Stars: ****

At first look this book seems like a book for rape prevention but it is intended as more than that. Here's a quote from the publisher:

"Our research proves doctors, therapists, teachers and parents all agree that it [the book] stands apart because of its uncanny ability to engage, inform and protect girls regardless of their age or level of maturity. Our hope in publishing this book is that we may have played a small part in helping you, and the girls you love, to safely lead happy, healthy lives."

You can take a look at the Table of Contents and download some sample pages at The Guy Detector (the website for the book.) It is intended for teens to collage age but I would recommend 18 and under. I showed it to my 20 something friend who is dating and she said it was young for her. The book is more for those who haven't dated yet or haven't dated much or seriously. It has some good points although I can't say I necessarily learned anything but then I'm not the target age and I'm married so it's not like I'm dating either. I do plan on sharing it with my daughter's when they're older though.

For the sections on psychos, players, punks and pervs shows you how to spot one (e.g. Players view every female as a potential score and identify women who are insecure and need to feel loved, attractive or important.) You'll also find a story about a girl who got caught up with that type of guy (doesn't say whether it's a true story or not) and finally some advice on how to get away from that guy. The only problem with the book is it's hard to find. Amazon.com has it, Barnes and Noble and Chapters do not. You can buy it online from The Guy Detector website too.

Thanks to Inner Vista Press for a copy of this book.

Backtalk: 4 Steps to Ending Rude Behavior In Your Kids by Audrey Ricker, Ph.D and Carolyn Crowder Ph.D.

Stars: ****

This is a short, (under 200 pages,) book to help you end backtalk from your kids from preschoolers to teens. I have a back talker so I was interested in reading this book. (Fireside (S&S) 1998) It has some good points which I've implemented (when I'm not already too frustrated to do them hehe) and it's helped. I can't say it works 100% mainly because I am not doing the 4 steps all the time, properly. That's the problem with any behaviour system book... it requires you to do each and every step in order, properly or it doesn't work. This sounds easy before you have kids but once they're here, you realize it's not that simple. It does have some good points though and also includes how to deal with your children's friends who backtalk.

Green Books Campaign: The Adventures of an Aluminum Can

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:00:00 +0000

This review is part of the Green Books campaign. Today 100 bloggers are reviewing 100 great books printed in an environmentally friendly way. Our goal is to encourage publishers to get greener and readers to take the environment into consideration when purchasing books. This campaign is organized by Eco-Libris, a a green company working to green up the book industry by promoting the adoption of green practices, balancing out books by planting trees, and supporting green books. A full list of participating blogs and links to their reviews is available on Eco-Libris website.
(Logo credit: Susan Newman)

Stars: *****

Summary: Peek into this diary of an aluminum can as it goes on a journey from inside a bauxite rock under the beaches of Jamaica, to the manufacturing line, to the store shelf, to a garbage can, and finally to a recycling plant where it emerges into its new life...as a baseball bat!

I think recycling is very important and that most people don't realize how important it really is. I am very happy to see this book in print, I hope it will help the next generation to learn about recycling and how important it really is.

The Adventures of an Aluminum Can is from Little Green Books at Simon & Schuster. The book itself is made from 100% postconsumer waste recycled paper. So it's about being green and was made green too!

It's a cute little story about a speck of alumina that is found under the ground and is brought to a refinery and processed into a can. It shows each step from the speck to the can and then after the can is used it's recycled and remade into something else. I won't spoil the story but what the (girl?) can is made into lasts a long time and is used by many children which makes her very happy. It's written almost like the aluminum is writing a diary. The pictures are adorable as you can probably see from the cover. I've read other pictures books on recycling but this is definitely the best.

Have a YA novel idea or manuscript? Here's your chance to get it noticed!

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:19:00 +0000

Get in Front of Top YA Editors and Agents with ONLY the First 250 Words of Your YA Novel!

Have a young adult novel—or a YA novel idea—tucked away for a rainy day? Are you putting off pitching your idea simply because you’re not sure how to pitch an agent? No problem! All you have to do is submit the first 250 words of your novel and you can win both exposure to editors, and a one-on-one chat with one of New York’s TOP literary agents Regina Brooks.

Regina Brooks is the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency and the author of Writing Great Books for Young Adults. Brooks has been instrumental at establishing and building the careers of many YA writers, including three-time National Book Award Honoree and Michael Printz Honoree Marilyn Nelson, as well as Sundee Frazier—a Coretta Scott King Award winner, an Oprah Book Pick and an Al Roker book club selection. As an agent, she is known for her ability to turn raw talent into successful authors.

ADDITIONALLY: The top 20 submissions will all be read by a panel of five judges comprised of top YA editors at Random House, HarperCollins, Harlequin, Sourcebooks and Penguin. All 20 will receive free autographed copies of Writing Great Books for Young Adults by Regina Brooks. Of the 20, they will pick the top five submissions and provide each author with commentary and a one year subscription to The Writer magazine. ONE Grand Prize Winner will have the opportunity to get feedback on a full YA manuscript and win a free 10-week writing course courtesy of the Gotham Writer’s Workshop.

Please submit all entries via the contest website at http://www.writingclasses.com/ContestPages/YAPitch.php. One entry per person; anyone age 13+ can apply. Open to the U.S. & Canada (void where prohibited). Entries for the YA Novel Discovery Contest will be accepted from 12:01am (ET) November 1 until 11:59pm (ET),

NOVEMBER IS NaNoWriMo
In honor of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo.org)—an international event where aspiring novelists are encouraged to write an entire novel in 30 days—this contest is meant to encourage the aspiring YA author to get started on that novel by offering an incentive for completing the first 250 words.

So apply now! http://bit.ly/1PYGaN

JUDGING

YA literary agent Regina Brooks, along with editors at Sourcebooks, will read all of the entries and determine the top 20 submissions. These submissions will then be read by Dan Ehrenhaft, head Acquisitions Editor at Soucebooks Fire; Alisha Niehaus, Editor at Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin); David Linker, Executive Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books; Michele Burke, Editor at Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House); and Evette Porter, Editor at Harlequin. These judges will whittle the top 20 down to four winners and a grand prize winner—all five will be provided commentary on their submissions.

The 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Stars: ****

Sourcebooks Jabberwocky (September 2009)
978-1402230967
Ages 4-8 32 pages

Everyone loves the 12 Days of Christmas well here is the 13 Days of Halloween. For each of the first 12 days the male creature gives the female creature a "gift" such as hissing cats, cooked worms, spiders, goblins and more. Now you can sing along as you read a Halloween song for the family. What happens on the 13th day you ask? The female gives the male a present in return.

I don't do spoilers but I will say I wasn't that happy with the ending, but that's just me. I loved the illustrations which are by Tim Raglin. They are absolutely hideous but not gruesome. My almost 4 year old doesn't like Halloween but I can see my younger one liking it when she's a bit older.

I'm glad I got a chance to review this book (Thanks Sourcebooks!) I think it would make a good book to read to a class of grade 2-3.

Other's Reviews

Diary of an Eccentric

I'm a Turkey by Jim Arnosky

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Stars: *****

Summary:
An illustrated version of Jim Arnosky's "I'm a Turkey" song which he has popularized in school performances all around the U.S. If you loved Gobble It Up, you will love I'm a Turkey. (PreK-3)

This is a great Thanksgiving holiday read and it teaches a bit about turkeys too. I love the way the words flow:

"I'm a turkey, they call me Tom. I got a turkey dad and a turkey mom.
I got a turkey brother and sister too. I'm part of a flock of 102 - wild turkeys. Every one. "

The ending is really cute too. No talk about eating the turkey or anything, it says that if you ever come across a flock of turkeys it might be him so gobble so he can gobble back basically. Very cute.

The illustrations are adorable as you can see from the cover art.

You can download the song the book was made from at Scholastic.

Amazon celebrates 10th anniversary of Amazon Wish List

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Amazon.com customers will be wishing big this fall as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of the much-loved Amazon Wish List with 10 lavish sweepstakes.

Each week, starting this week, customers will have a chance to enter one of the themed Wish List sweepstakes. Just create, add to, or share a Wish List, and you'll be invited to enter. Learn more.

These are just some of the prizes that will be generating lots of excitement.

* Week 1 (Oct. 5-11): The Twilight Saga: New Moon Premiere Wish List-- A trip for two to Los Angeles to see the premiere
* Week 2 (Oct. 12-18): Dream Kitchen Wish List -- New appliances include a range, refrigerator, dishwasher, and espresso maker
* Week 3 (Oct. 19-25): Meet the Jonas Brothers in London Wish List -- A trip for two to London to hear the lads in concert and then meet them in person
* Week 4 (Oct. 26-Nov. 1): Kindle Love Wish List -- 10, count 'em, 10 Kindles
* Week 5 (Nov. 2-8): Ultimate Backyard Theater Wish List -- $15,000 for a backyard makeover, plus all the equipment needed to start the show
* Week 6 (Nov. 9-15): Yellowstone Photo Expedition with Canon Wish List -- A trip for two to Yellowstone National Park, and a private lesson with a professional photographer
* Week 7 (Nov. 16-22): The Magic of Disney Wish List -- A trip for four to explore the wonders of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla., plus a $2,000 Disney gift card
* Week 8 (Nov. 23-29): High-Def Heaven Wish List -- A 55-inch HDTV, a Blu-ray home theater, and a Wii
* Week 9 (Nov. 30-Dec. 6): Glamorous Life Wish List -- A stunning set of 1½-carat diamond stud earrings
* Week 10 (Dec. 7-12): This one is under wraps until it launches!

You can learn more and enter for a chance to win here.

Guest Post: How to Tell If Your Family Is Out-of-Control...and How to Fix It If It Is

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:43:00 +0000

This post is by Scott Gale, author of Your Family Constitution:

Is my family out-of-control? Are my kids more challenging, my circumstances more difficult, or my mental wiring more loose than my neighbors, friends and colleagues’? Greg, a Southern California teacher and father of two, wrestled with these questions every day. He became convinced that his family was uniquely dysfunctional. He felt isolated and fearful, desperate and depressed. He wanted the perfect family like those whose perfect image permeated his thoughts and perpetuated his concerns.

The problem…he couldn’t answer those tough questions about his family with any sense of conviction. Confidence and family emotions changed more often than the clothes they wore. Without intimate knowledge of how other families operated, Greg could only assume the worst; that his family was somehow more messed up than all others. Anxiety set in, tainting his perception. Greg didn’t understand that all those other “perfect” families asked themselves the same question and came to the same conclusions as he did. To some, Greg’s family may even have been the “shining star” that others looked at as a bastion of health and prosperity. If only he knew the truth.

The truth…every family fits the description of “out of control” at certain moments. Every parent experiences self-doubts and challenges, both with themselves and their kids. So, behind closed doors, where all families fall flat on their face occasionally, how can any parent tell if the people they love most are “out-of-control?”

Although hindsight usually defines the magnitude of such problems, definite signs surface in the midst of chronic family “control” challenges. The first sign is lack of an identified plan or vision. To take a quality shot at developing an impressionable child into a responsible adult, parents must have a target and a path. Once Mom and Dad hit the point where they are simply reacting in a frantic attempt to “keep up”, it becomes difficult to put forth the focused effort it takes to regain control.

The reason…life inevitably speeds up. Parents optimistically think the pace will slow down as their kids get older and become more self-sufficient. This common myth almost invariably proves untrue as careers, activities, and societal pressures overwhelm families as they grow and evolve. In the face of diminishing time and growing tension, families don’t often take the time to evaluate the approach, inadvertently choosing to react to circumstances and accept shortcomings instead.

The second sign is that negative emotion begins to interfere with everyday family interactions. As arguments arise more frequently, human tendency causes parents and kids alike to fall into a defensive stance, paving the way for further tension and confrontation. Greg and his son Jeff argued incessantly, not because of lack of love or respect, but because of poor communication patterns and associated frustration on both sides damaged their ability to rectify even the smallest of problems.

The unfortunate truth is that Greg’s expectations, or lack thereof, bred confusion. He took Jeff’s failure to demonstrate responsibility as lack of motivation and consideration, rather than lack of clarity and consistency. Jeff perceived Greg’s blind attempts to teach responsibility as calculated attacks designed to pick on him unfairly, and intentionally. They went round and round in circles until their mutual desire to enjoy a healthy father-son relationship became overshadowed by emotional barriers.

The third sign is that a family repeatedly has communication failures. Once again, all families will have some communication challenges, but it is a continual pattern of misunderstanding that is most concerning. When people struggle to communicate, the natural reaction is to stop sharing feelings and ideas. This leads to poor coordination, unstated expectations, inefficiency and isolation. Greg’s biggest breakthrough came when he recognized his family’s need to meet regularly...even if they had nothing specific to talk about. They used this forum to share ideas and concerns, plan and prioritize efforts, hold each other accountable to the structure they created together, and most importantly, enjoy each other’s company.

The final sign, a significant gap between actions priorities, is more clandestine, requiring true introspection to uncover. For years, Greg worked very long hours to provide for his family, impairing his emotional availability to his family. When he finally took the time to examine his priorities, he realized there was conflict and contradiction between his choices and his core values. Introspection is hard, but it changed Greg’s life and the course of his family. Greg’s began to coach his children’s teams, to get home in time to eat with his family, and to plan activities for the weekends. His career didn’t suffer because he was more balanced and energetic; however, he and his family came to connect on a level which they had not experienced before...family bliss.

So, what can a family do if it exhibits some or all of the signs of being out of control? The short answer...exercise the 3C’s (clarity, consistency, and commitment) to wrap clear boundaries and incentives around a family’s most important core values. Clarity and consistency will foster shared expectations and respect for boundaries. Clear understanding of family rules, combined with appropriate rewards and consequences, motivates parents and kids alike to stay within the structure. Arguments cease because of the predetermined outcome of certain choices and behaviours.

Although it would be nice if clarity and consistency could make all problems go away completely, it is not the case. Whether it be a new issue that arises or a temporary deviation from the rules, the fortitude of the structure will be tested from time to time. As long as a family recognizes that issues will continue to arise and that adjustments will be made, then the commitment to steady improvement will prevail and positive momentum will be preserved. The system won’t fail, as long as family members stay committed to continually evolving. When someone slips up...don’t declare a failed experiment and throw away vital structure. Instead, evaluate what went wrong, make adjustments to the rules if necessary, and continue to allow core values guide your family’s efforts. It works...it just takes time and the 3C’s.

The Real Real by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Stars: *****

Summary: When Jesse O'Rourke gets picked for a "documentary" being filmed at her school in the Hamptons she's tempted to turn down the offer. But there's a tuition check attached to being on the show, and Jesse needs the cash so she can be the first in her family to attend college. All she has to do is trade her best friend for the glam clique she's studiously avoided, her privacy for a 24/7 mike, and her sense of right and wrong for "what sells on camera." . . . At least there's one bright spot in the train wreck that is her suddenly public senior year: Jesse's crush has also made the cast. As the producers manipulate the lives of their "characters" to heighten the drama, and Us Weekly covers become a regular occurrence for Jesse, she must struggle to remember one thing: the difference between real and the real real.

WOW! I received an ARC copy of this book from Good Reads. It's the first YA novel by the bestselling authors of The Nanny Diaries. I've been focusing on nonfiction so much lately I haven't read much YA but I'm glad I did. Although this book is for 14 and up, I think any young adult (up to 26 maybe) would enjoy it too. The characters live in The Hamptons of New York so their families either work near the rich and famous or work for the rich and famous (like cleaning their houses.) As the only "celebrity" I've ever met is Robert Munsch*, I can't relate personally to this lifestyle. However the characters of Jesse and Drew, except for seeing celebrities around town, are a bit more like me.

The summary seemed interesting, especially since I watch reality TV. I know it's not all real as they do makeup and wardrobe and change things to make sure people want to watch the show (like showing certain parts and not others etc..) but if reality TV is really like this book, I don't ever want to watch another reality show again. I wasn't in tears at the end but I had a terrible look on my face that would tell anyone seeing the face that I was horrified. I would never spoil an ending but I must say that this wasn't a "oh that's so horrible thank goodness it's a book" look but a "oh that's so horrible, this is happening to me, I'm the main character.. oh wait, no I'm not, it's just a book" look. In case anyone can't understand that, what I mean is, the book was so good, especially near the end, that I felt I was in it. This, to me, is what makes a fiction book a 5 star book. When I have to remind myself that it's just a book, it's a good book.

Something else that makes the book unique, is that instead of Chapter 1 or Chapter 4 it's Reel 1 and Reel 4 and then later it changes and the last chapter heading changes again. They all make sense with the storyline.

I thought the characters were well thought out. I learned a lot about each one and we are shown things later on that we wondered about at the beginning. We see them at their best and their worst and everywhere in between. It is because of this that one character that I didn't like in the beginning, I ended up liking (and I think you will too.)

* Don't get me wrong, Robert Munsch is an awesome author, I just mean, that's one out of how many famous people???

Others Reviews
Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf
Garden of Books (For Teens)

Interesting Links

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:00:00 +0000

I was surfing the web and found these...

Gather No Dust: Libraries, Management & Technology
- a blog of interest to those into libraries, especially American ones

100 Awesome Bookhacks for Students & Bibliphiles
- 100 interesting ideas, things to do/make or websites to make use of

Your Family Constitution by Scott Gale

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Stars: ****

Subtitle: A Modern Approach to Family Values and Household Structure

Summary: Your Family Constitution guides the reader through a personalized journey of introspection, visioning, household observation, prioritization, and ultimately the creation of manageable boundaries coupled with consistent rewards and consequences. The product of their labor is a Family Constitution, a clear and consistent set of rules customized to the needs and circumstances of their household.

I originally got this book through Bostick Communications but then signed up for a book tour through Pump Up Your Book Promotion. I'm not American and Canadians don't have a constitution but I knew the basics of what it meant and figured (correctly) that the information in the book would be useful to anyone, no matter where they live.

I've read books that include help on making chore charts or talks about family meetings but this is by far the best book on household structure I've seen. The front of the book says it's a step-by-step guide to:

"Reconnecting with your kids, anticipating and resolving common family issues, enhancing family communication and enjoying parenting to the fullest."

The author, Scott Gale starts by telling a story of his Black Sunday. It's basically when everything in his family his rock bottom and he realized something needed to change. He slowly came up with this idea of a family constitution and it came together. He tried it out, scrapped it and tried again and with his family's help eventually altered it to come up with what they have now. His family constitution is in the back of the book for inspiration and guidance. He explains why you can't just use his. It's not just about chores and rewards but also about house rules (for parents too), way to manage common problems (in the Gale household it's sharing TV and video games) and ways to keep the system working (such as monthly and yearly meetings and family input.)

The book is set up simply so that you can find the part you need if you are referring back to it and you're never unsure about what's being talked about. Also the book is littered with funny comics depicting situations being talked about. There are tons of the cartoons and they are pretty funny. I laughed out loud at a few of them. There are also a couple of hand-drawn cartoons of his family which are great too. The comics and cartoons make the book a bit light-hearted, even when it's tackling difficult issues.

The best part of the book is that he doesn't just tell you WHAT to do, he tells you how he did it, why he did it and what happened when he tried to put it into place. Not everything worked at first which is why he stresses working together to come up with your plan.

Tomorrow I'll share a guest post from the author. In the meantime, you can buy Your Family Constitution for your very own.

Guest Post: Inspiration From a Smile by Tim Whitney

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Tim Whitney is the author of Thanksgiving At the Inn. More details after the story.

Back in the spring of 1983 I was a 'typical' cocky high school senior, counting the days until I could escape my small home town and run off to college in Boston. My last hurdle before graduation was a volunteer project called the 'May Project' where we had to choose a community service to perform and then write a paper. As an athlete and captain of the swim team, I volunteered for the YMCA and the Boy's Club as a counselor. But the Jesuits had a little surprise for me. Instead of giving me a project in my comfort zone, they assigned me to a school for handicapped children.

I'll be honest, I led a very sheltered life and had never really been exposed to handicapped children, let alone autistic children. At the time the cases of autism were far fewer than they are today and I was so naive that I did not even know the difference between artistic and autistic. The overall experience was totally overwhelming and I went home exhausted every day. From gaining an appreciation for special needs teachers and parents to developing an incredible appreciation for so many things I had taken for granted in my life it was an amazing, humbling, and enlightening experience. It was a pivotal tim e in my life that changed my perspective on the many things I should be grateful for in life.

On the last day there, I was asked to spend time with a little girl in the class that was severely handicapped, both physically and mentally. Somehow I had managed to become her favorite and her smile touched my heart. We went out on the swings, enjoyed the beautiful spring day, and she spoke to me in basic sign language. Later that day as class was ending, the teachers thanked me for spending my time with her and how much it had meant. Then they let me know she only had a matter of weeks to live. I can still picture that day, the smile on her face, and the range of emotions that swept me up like a rogue wave pulling a drowning swimmer out to sea.

I tell this story because it changed my perspective on life and her smile still etched in my memory 25 years later, was in part the inspiration for my book. We all h ave two choices in life- to be grateful for everything we have, or be bitter for everything we don't. The little girl's smile has been a calibration point for my life. With so much adversity in her life, she still had a smile on her face, love in her heart and an appreciation for everyone around her. I learned more about life, gratitude, humility, and laughter in that month than I had in the previous18 years. When I wrote Thanksgiving at the Inn, I wanted to share this message and other life lessons I've learned along the way in hope that I could help someone else realize that we all have so much we take for granted when we should be thankful.

Inspiration takes many forms and for each of us it's unique. For me, it all started with a little girl's smile.

Wishing you a thankful holiday season,

Tim Whitney
Author of Thanksgiving At the Inn

Horrid Henry Continues His Reign of Mischief... (and a giveaway!)

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Horrid Henry's Underpants by Francesca Simon
Stars: ****

Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter by Francesca Simon
Stars: ****

Back in June I reviewed the first four Horrid Henry books to come to America from the UK. They are hilariously funny for me and my nieces, who are more in the targeted age for the books.

As of September 2009 there are three more Horrid Henry titles to collect, two of which I was able to review and the third which I will be giving away. [GIVEAWAY CLOSED]

Here's what happens in these two new books.

In Horrid Henry's Underpants, Horrid Henry makes a deal with his parents in return for eating his veggies; accidentally wears girls' underwear to school; tries to prove he is sicker than his brother; and writes the meanest thank-you cards ever (and makes money on it too.)

In Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter, Horrid Henry encounters the worst babysitter in the world; traumatizes his parents on a long car trip; goes trick-or-treating at Halloween (with disastrous results); and emerges victorious from a raid on Moody Margaret's Secret Club.

The stories were funny from an adult's point of view because they seem true. Each story is about something that could possibly happen. Parents of kids 5+ may recognize their own kids in the second story in Horrid Henry and the Scary Sitter (about the long trip)

I think the author and illustrator have something great going and that Horrid Henry will become more well-known then Junie B. Jones. The joy is, that Horrid Henry is liked by both boys AND girls. The books lists ages 7-10 but my 12-year-old niece loves them too.

GIVEAWAY (North America Only)

The Giveaway is now closed. Congrats Angela C.

Short Review of Many Books

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 19:28:00 +0000

I don't like doing this because I feel I owe a full review to those who sent me books to review but I read these all months ago and got behind on reviews and I just don't remember enough about them to write full length reviews. That's part of why it's taken me so long to get to them. If I don't write some short reviews, I'll never catch up.

Understand that just because I'm putting a bunch of short reviews in one post, doesn't mean these books weren't good or weren't memorable.

Confessions of a Former Child: A Therapist's Memoir by Daniel J. Tomasulo
Stars: ****

This book is exactly what it sounds like, a memoir of a therapist's life from thinking eating seeds will make him pregnant to accidentally locking himself in a psych ward rubber room. Hilarious!

You can read a small excerpt of the book at the author's website.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron with Bret Witter
Stars: ****

I think most people have heard of this book by now. You can read all about the most famous library cat and all his adventures in the book. You can also check out the webpage. I really enjoyed the book although I didn't like it quite as much as I thought I would because it's not only about Dewey but about the library and the people who run the library too and I guess I felt it should be only about the cat.

Not Remembered Never Forgotten: An adoptee's search for his birth family by Robert Hafetz
Stars: ****

This is a true story, not too long at only about 130 pages. I enjoyed reading it though. The idea behind the title is that although he doesn't remember his birth parents, he's never forgotten them. I think it's quite a poignant title.
A quote from the introduction about why he wrote the book:

"One pictures the smiling baby held by his adopted mother, hugged, nurtured, cherished and kept safe from harm. My adopted family loved me as their own. I coudln't have asked for better parents. What more could a human being ever want? Their love and affection sustains me, and gives me what I need to grow and survive but it doesn't replace what has been lost. I want what others have; a name given at birth, a heritage, and a memory of my mother's face. " - pg. 8

I've read quite a few adoption books, from all different points of view (the adopter, the adoptee, the birth parents) but this is the first one that really made it clear why an adoptee may not be content with not knowing his or her birth parents, no matter how much he or she loves the adopted parents.

Outside the Lavender Closet by Martha A. Taylor
Stars: ***1/2

This is a collection of stories about homosexual women (I don't really like that term but not sure what is the preferred term, hope I haven't offended anyone.) It's really more than that though. The author wanted to get some answers to the age old questions such as "What is it that makes us straight or gay? and Are relationships between two women really all that different than heterosexual ones?"

The stories were mostly quite interesting. One was a bit too long but for the most part, I learned a lot about women to women relationships and it was very interesting. I realize this book is not for everyone but I feel like it helped me to understand these women more.

GIVEAWAY: The 3 books in The Coping Series by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 15:06:00 +0000

All this week I've been reviewing the books in The Coping Series, great picture books for children with learning disabilities or for kids wanting to learn more about them, either in schoolrooms or by themselves. These would make great additions to a school or public library.

I'm giving away all three of the books, to three different winners. (North America only, sorry) All you have to do to enter is leave a comment with an email address and you're entered. You can read all about the books via the links below. If you are only interested in one or two of them, please mention that in your comment.

The Don't-give-Up Kid
Eagle Eyes
Houdini's Gift

Winners will be contacted by me for your mailing address which I'll forward to Verbal Images Press, the publisher. Your address will not be saved after they've sent your book. All non-winners will receive a one-time encouraging message via email. Your email addresses will not be saved and you will not receive any more correspondence from that after that.

Giveaway is open for 2 weeks, until Oct 2/09 so enter now!

Houdini's Gift by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:03:00 +0000

Stars: ***1/2

Children's Picture Book
Verbal Images Press (Sept. 2009)
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-2-3
32 pages Ages 7-9

Summary: Animal-loving Ben feels sad and guilty when he loses his beloved hamster. Knowing that he is not quite ready to care for a new pet, his parents help him develop responsibility by using a reward chart. Observant readers will enjoy sharing the secret that Mom keeps from Ben through the whole process of selecting and preparing for the new pet. Families living with ADD will take heart from seeing how to fine-tune desired behaviours through setting and pursuing goals. Fans of Eagle Eyes will be happy to have a chance to re-visit Ben.

This is one of three books in The Coping Series, all about learning disabilities.

I think this book would be good for any child who needs to show responsibility before getting a (new) pet, whether they have ADD or not. If your child is not very responsible, this book could show what might happen if the child without enough responsibility got a pet and a way to work towards more responsibility.

I think all three books in the series, including this one would be perfect for either families with children with ADD/ADHD or other learning disabilities or for teachers who work with children with special learning needs.

The author did a good job of of tying in this book with the other story about Ben, Eagle Eyes. It's not just that it's about Ben again but the author tied in his love for nature.

Oh yes and at the end of the book are Discussion Starters which you could do as a parent or teacher or as a class if everyone is learning together.

Thanks to KSB Promotions and Jeanne Gehret, M.A. for the chance to read this book.

Eagle Eyes: A Child's Guide to Paying Attention by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 01:06:00 +0000

Stars: ****

Children's Picture Book
Verbal Images Press (Sept. 2009)
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-1-6
32 pages Ages 7-9

Summary: Ben is fascinated with nature, but his ADD causes trouble at home and at school. The hallmarks of ADD - impulsivity, distractibility, and hyperactivity - as well as difficulties sleeping, are clearly shown, not told, in this story. Several commonly-used treatments are touched on, including relaxation techniques, medication, and a song to help get ready for school. Shortly after Ben's father compares the boy to his favorite bird, a mishap gives Ben a chance to show his concentration on nature as a strength. This edition revised from the 1996 one includes new 4-color illustrations, updated text and streamlining.

This is one of three books in The Coping Series, all about learning disabilities.

This one was really good at showing more than telling what was going on. It especially showed how a child can have trouble concentrating on one task but have no problem staying focused on something else (in this case, nature.)

Although the illustrator is the same for all the books in the series (Michael LaDuca) I think this book's illustrations are a bit better. I'm not sure exactly why but this book and its illustrations kept my attention better.

I think this would be a great book for a child just recently diagnosed with ADD or ADHD to have read to him/her.

An interesting fact:

"The setting for Eagle Eyes is Mendon Ponds Park near Rochester, NY, where chickadees feed from people's hands. The author's family frequently fed birds there."

Thanks to KSB Promotions and Jeanne Gehret, M.A. for the opportunity to read this book.

The Don't-Give-Up Kid and Learning Disabilities by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Stars: ***1/2

Children's Picture Book
Verbal Images Press (Sept 2009)
ISBN: 978-0-9821982-0-9
32 pages Children 7-9

Summary: Alex wants a cookie. If he could just read the directions on his mother's grabber device, he could adapt it for his own use! School difficulties and a session with a psychologist help identify Alex's learning disability. His teacher and parents help him use his admiration for Thomas Edison (who had a learning disability) to keep trying new ways to loearn and to successfully invent a Cookie Snatcher. Revisions from the 1996 edition include new 4-color illustrations, updated text to reflect current education practices and the hero's invention differs from the original one.

This book is one of three in The Coping Series by Jeanne Gehret, M.A. Alex's disability is more of Dyslexia than ADD/ADHD but that topic is covered in the two books whose reviews are coming in the next two days.

I'd like to share a fact regarding this book:

"In 1989, educational consultants informed Jeanne Gehret and her husband that their learning-disabled son, then 6, might never learn to read. The first book in The Coping Series, The Don't-Give-Up Kid was written just after diagnosis to portray the best possible outcome for him, and was the first book that he ever read on his own. In 2000, he graduated cum laude from college."

In this book Alex is frustrated at not being able to read but once he is diagnosed (they never actually say Dyslexia although that seems to be the problem) he is placed in a special class where a teacher plays games with him and two other students to help them. He has trouble reading, one can read but has trouble writing and the other has trouble speaking. I like how this shows the different varieties of learning disabilities so a child doesn't say well my problem isn't like that and think the book doesn't apply to him/her.

The illustrations by Michael LaDuca are kind of cute, both realistic and cartoonish at the same time if that's possible.

Thanks to KSB Promotions and Jeanne Gehret, M.A. for the opportunity to read this book.

GUEST POST: Back to School with ADHD

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Note from Callista: The three books mentioned below will be reviewed here at SMS Book Reviews this week.

Back to School with ADHD

by Jeanne Gehret, M.A.

September 13-20 is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Awareness Week. When I mentioned this to the mother of a child with attention problems, she laughed. "I wish I only had to think about ADHD one week a year," she said. "For us, it's a year-round concern. I guess this refers to when it's uppermost in our minds because of starting school."

I agreed. More than any other time, September's when we parents of kids with ADHD establish the accommodations necessary for our children to survive and thrive in school. In truth, however, our efforts continue all year long. As the parent of a child with ADHD, you can help your youngster transition comfortably and successfully into a new school year by asking yourself these four questions:

What new people or routines will my child encounter this year?

How can I prepare my child to do well in each setting?

How can I help the adults in each setting deal effectively with my child?

What can I do at home to support my child's educational goals?

In answering these questions, here are some suggestions.

Ten ways to help make school great this year
for your ADHD child:

1. Meet the teacher(s) as early in the school year as possible. Establish yourself as the child's advocate who has your youngster's interests at heart and is willing to cooperate for the best academic experience. Mention previous classroom accommodations and techniques that worked. Even if your youngster has an individualized education plan or 504 plan, don't hesitate to mention the highlights. This helps teachers use effective strategies from day one, even if they haven't had time yet to sort through documentation.

2. Exchange email addresses and phone numbers with the teacher, and establish preferred contact times. Whether your contact is daily, weekly, or monthly, it is best to check in regularly, even when things seem to be going well. This allows you to smooth out bumps on the path before they become roadblocks.

3. Give your child something to boost his confidence such as a popular new item of clothing, encouraging notes from home in his lunch, or a worry stone. For older kids, a motivational bookmark or a special photo may prompt a smile.

4. Know your school's processes for getting help for children who are having difficulties in school. Does the teacher or school do academic screening? When the screening process identifies children as having difficulties, who provides the services? Once interventions are in place, how long before the child's progress is re-checked? What methods are used for monitoring progress?

5. If your child takes medication for ADHD, notify the teacher and the nurse. Make sure that your child knows when and where to go for his daily dosage. When starting meds or changing doses, be sure to let the school know. Have a clear conversation with your youngster about if and how to explain to others why he takes meds.

6. If you have after-school childcare, make sure your child knows how to get there and is familiar with the surroundings. Visit the childcare facility with your youngster before his first official day there and let the staff know of ADHD issues and any medications.

7. Think of ways to form bonds with classmates -- parties, trips to a playground, or walking to the bus stop. Make your home inviting to other children. When your youngster socializes at home, you can monitor any ADHD problems and help when needed.

8. Minimize distractions at home so that you can focus on your child's adjustment to school. Be pro-active about scheduling physicals, buying school supplies, and getting prescriptions refilled. For the first few weeks of school, cut down on non-academic disruptions like visiting relatives, shopping, major cleaning projects, remodeling, and visits to the vet.

9. Establish a school-year routine. Make a list of no more than five things that your child must do each day after school, such as reviewing with you what's in his backpack, doing his homework, and returning his completed homework to the backpack. When kids are prepared, they become confident and free to focus their attention on doing their best.

10. Make sure that your child gets enough sleep. If she takes stimulant medication, you may need to adjust the timing of the dosage so that she can relax at night. Other helpful bedtime routines may include story time, relaxing music, a foot rub, and special blankets, pillows, or stuffed animals.

If you suspect your child has ADHD, or other learning difficulties, make sure to address it immediately. See #4 above and be proactive.

I'm not making any promises. But if you attend to these ten issues by the end of ADHD Awareness Week, you may enjoy a day, even a season, when ADHD is not front and center on the refrigerator of your mind.

~ ~ ~ ~

Jeanne Gehret is the parent of a child with ADHD and learning disabilities and is the author of three picture books that comprise The Coping Series from Verbal Images Press. Eagle Eyes includes a song for getting ready for school and other coping mechanisms that Ben uses after he's diagnosed with ADHD. Houdini's Gift shows Ben using a reward chart as motivation to complete his daily responsibilities. The Don't-give-up Kid describes the invention devised by very creative boy while he discovers and copes with his dyslexia. For more on these books, see www.ksblinks.com. To learn about ADHD Awareness Week, see www.chadd.org.

Guest Post: Indigo Testing by Dr. Janine Talty, DO

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Indigo Testing

As the Indigo adults begin to identify themselves based on lists of characteristics found on the Internet and in some printed texts, where can they go to get validation for their suppositions? Who can they ask? How can they verify beyond a reasonable doubt if in fact they qualify to fit in this very narrow classification? Most have felt so ostracized by societal norms, how dare they actually consider they might finally fit into a recognized category. And most importantly, where can they go to find others of the same persuasion?

Finding a test to verify my supposition that I was an Indigo person became both my passion and biggest frustration when I came to suspect that I might be one of these people. How could I truly know for certain? In the metaphysical literature many were repeating a statement that was originally made by Drunvalo Melchizedek that people of this persuasion had upgraded DNA that explained their supernatural traits and abilities. He said these new beings had 26 base pairs of the DNA in the “on” position versus the usual 24 of normal people. As a physician I took his statement to heart but need to scientifically verify it before I could repeat it and perhaps find a simple blood test to test for it. I followed this lead all the way to the Human Genome Project that has been researching DNA characteristics since 1990 in an attempt to identify the 20,000 to 25,000 genes in human DNA but also to determine the sequence of the 3 billion base pairs that make it up. If anyone could verify these statements, they certainly seem capable I thought. I spoke to three different geneticists who had no idea what I was referring to. They needed to know which specific gene I was describing. Not having that specific information my only lead crumbled.

It wasn’t until I met Dr. Richard Boylan who has been researching what he calls the Star Kids and Star Seeds for nearly 25 years when I found my conformational tests. He developed a 54 question questionnaire along with a technique using dowsing rods that measures the individual’s bio-electromagnetic-photic field. Both combined give a high correlation of accuracy. The technology of dowsing for underground water or buried electrical lines is well accepted. Using the dowsing rods to measure the size and distance of the body’s bio-electromagnetic-photic field is not so well known, but very accurate with if performed by a skilled dowser. The questionnaire can be found either on his website; under “star kids questionnaire” at drboylan.com, or in my recently published book Indigo Awakening; A Doctor’s Memoir Of Forging An Authentic Life In A Turbulent World.

Dowsing can be easily learned by taking either two pieces of metal wire from a coat hanger or copper wire bent at a 90 degree angle, holding them lightly between your bent index finger and thumb pointed at the individual and simply ask the rods to show you a “yes” (they will separate out laterally) or a “no” (they will come together and cross). Concentration with intension is imperative for this exercise. If your grip is too tight they will not be free to move so it is always more accurate to place the portion of the wire you are holding in drinking straws so they move more freely. Once you have become proficient at communicating with your rods, stand at least 30 feet from the person you are attempting to measure and walk slowly toward them all the while asking the rods to show you the outermost margin of the person’s electromagnetic field. When the rods separate to the outside is where you begin your counting the distance away from the individual.

According to Dr. Boylan, a “regular USDA human’s” electromagnetic field can be measured 18” – 20” off the body. A Star Kid or Star Seed (Indigo; Blue Ray) is three meters (6 feet) and above. The largest field he has ever measured was an Italian young man at 54 feet. In my practice of physically “derailed” Indigo adults, I commonly find 15 to 22 feet.

Janine Talty, D.O., M.P.H.
Author of Indigo Awakening

Indigo Awakening; A Doctors Memoir of Forging an Authentic Life in a Turbulent World by Dr. Janine Talty, DO

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 10:00:00 +0000

This review is part of a book tour with Pump Up Your Book Promotion. Tomorrow SMS Book Reviews will be featuring a Guest Post by the author!

Stars: ****

Summary: Dr. Janine Talty, today a successful osteopathic physician, as a child found herself bewildered by a world full of challenges that she could not understand. She felt isolated, unable to cope with the regular life issues that other children managed easily. She could not comprehend math or spelling—yet she could see energies that others could not see, and had levels of awareness than no-one around her possessed. She exhibited unusual artistic and healing talent. She spontaneously remembered and drew pictures from “old memories” of places her family had never visited. Only as she grew into adulthood, painfully learning to cope with her challenges, did she realize she was an "indigo," one of a generation of people with unusual talents and abilities, yet who rarely fit neatly into societal roles.

This book is the inspiring story of how she overcomes these challenges, finds her voice and identity, and discovers a channel for her healing abilities as an osteopathic physician. She speaks directly to the experience of fellow indigos, and shows them that some of their biggest challenges can be their most powerful gifts. She reveals that much of our personal physical suffering is actually clearing the way for human transformation, and that there is meaning and purpose to the events in our lives—even when we can't see this. Indigo Awakening is one of the first books to be written by an adult indigo, telling the experience of indigos from the inside out, and showing how their puzzling and painful experiences are paving the way for the emergence of a new way of being, in harmony with self, other, the world and the universe.

I don't normally give such a detailed summary but I wasn't sure how to shorten it and still make sure it would be understood. I had heard about Indigos in the 90s although I haven't heard much about them lately. The idea of being different for a good reason was appealing and I wished I were an Indigo. This book however has shown me that being an Indigo is NOT easy and although reading Janine's life story has helped me understand a little bit better, I still cannot imagine most of what she is talking about. She does a good job of trying to explain it though.

At the beginning of each chapter is paragraph about Indigos and then follows a chapter in the life of Dr. Janine Talty, DO. Some were more interesting than others but from reading the book we see that she has accomplished a LOT in a short time. It was eye opening (good choice of book cover) but took some concentration to understand and follow the book. This isn't a bad thing, it's just some books need more concentration than others.

Honestly I'm not sure what to say. This is the first published book written BY an Indigo. If you don't understand what they are, want to know more about them or think you may be one, read this book. There is a quiz at the back of the book to see if you or someone you know exhibits signs of being and Indigo. I know that some people will not believe there is such a thing as and Indigo, who will not be open minded enough to believe but those people just shouldn't read the book, it's a simple as that.

Bran Hambric: The Fairfield Curse by Kaleb Nation

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Stars: ***1/2

This review is a part of the Bran Hambric Book Blog Tour.

Summary:
Bran Hambric was found locked in a bank vault at six years old in a city where magic is banned, 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.

Here's the book trailer:

I decided I wanted to read this book because I like books about magic and it sounded interesting. I read the first chapter for free online and was hooked so I asked for a copy. I must say it wasn't as good as I was expecting. I think my problem with it was the names of some of the characters were just ridiculous (ie. Balder and Baldretta) and there is even a sentence that include "balder dashed".

Also the beginning of the book seems a lot like Harry Potter (the first one.) A magic boy lives with non magic folk, (in BH, they know of magic but it's illegal and don't speak of it while in HP they don't know of magic at all,) and is treated poorly. The people he is living with are not his blood relatives and he doesn't remember his mother. The boy doesn't know he's magical until he's older (age 14 in BH and 11 in HP.) Doesn't this all sound familiar? I'm not saying the ideas were copied. I don't know if Kaleb Nation has ever read or seen Harry Potter but it is similar. Shortly after Bran finds out he's magical though the book becomes very different from Harry Potter. As mentioned above, magic is illegal in the city of Dunce, no mages allowed.

I liked the second half of the book the best. After the first few chapters, before the second half of the book, I found it a bit slow going, with too much of annoying Sewey and his family and not enough Bran. It's nice to see a different take on a fantasy book for kids that includes magic though. In this one, magic is still all around but it can't be shown freely around either.

You can read the first FOUR chapters for FREE!

Kaleb Nation will be doing an in person tour around the USA starting Sept 19. See dates and places on his website.

The Bran Hambric Online Tour is taking place Aug 30-Sept 19 at the following locations:

Sunday, August 30th 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 ReadsLori 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

Max Said Yes!: The Woodstock Story by Abigail Yasgur & Joseph Lipner

baileyisbad@cogeco.ca (Callista) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:00:00 +0000

Stars: *****

Change the Universe Press (May 2009)
978-0-615-21144-2
Illustrations by Barbara Mendes
Picture Book 32 pages

I received this book from KSB Promotions for review. I'll be honest, I don't know much about Woodstock. My parents were born in 1956 and 1960 and 9 and 13 when it happened so needless to say, they didn't attend. So when I heard of this book, I was intrigued. What better way to learn the very basics of Woodstock than reading a picture book about it.

2009 marks the 40th anniversary of the Woodstock Festival which is why Change the Universe Press came out with this book. Let me share some outside praise the book received:

"Lets the light of Woodstock shine on a new generation," raves Richie Havens, guitarist and singer who was the opening act at Woodstock. Naomi Howland, children's book author and illustrator says this book "is a jubilant reminder of Max Yasgur's generosity." Elliot Landy official photographer of the 1969 Woodstock festival: "A good way to introduce little children to the most positive cultural event of the century - the 1969 Woodstock Festival."

The story gives the basics of what happened in simple, but not too simple words, good for ages 4-9 perhaps. The illustrations are very hippie-esque with bright colours and lots of peace signs and swirly colours. A child reading the book will have some questions, especially what the Aquarian age is. This would be better read together with an adult. The back of the book has a note on the Woodstock Festival that explains it more and the words to the Woodstock song by Joni Mitchell.

The ONLY problem I had with the book is the last two lines which read:

"Ask mom and dad, who won't forget
Yasgur's farm, where thousands met."

Well as a parent, if I'm reading this to my children, not only did their parents (me) not go to Woodstock, neither did their grandparents (as mentioned above.) So this may be confusing to some.

The book was written by Abigail Yasgur, who IS related to Max and her husband and co-writer Joseph Lipner. You can find out more at http://www.maxsaidyes.com