Trailer Tuesday: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place by Maryrose Wood

This is my first Trailer Tuesday post in a long while, and the first for this particular blog. In the future trailers will typically be for new and upcoming titles, but today I'm posting an oldie but a goodie. The book club I run for tweens will be starting this one this week, and I am quite excited about it. 

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place is one of my favorite series. They are especially fun if you get the chance to listen to them on audio. The narration by the late Katherine Kellgren is superb. Book 6 is FINALLY coming out this summer, and I can hardly wait. 

Now, without further ado, here's the trailer for Book 1, The Mysterious Howling. 




Have you read The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place? What are your thoughts? Share in the comments below. 

Review: Wedgie & Gizmo Vs. the Toof by Suzanne Selfors

Wedgie & Gizmo Vs. the Toof

by Suzanne Selfors

from the publisher's site: 

Wedgie LOVES the new micro-pig next door. And she LOVES him! They both like to go for walks and roll in smelly things. They are going to be in the school pet parade together. They are best friends.

But Gizmo knows the truth. The pig is Wedgie’s new sidekick. Super Wedgie and the Toof have teamed up to stop Gizmo from taking over the world.

my thoughts: 

This series had me hooked from the word "corgi" and it does not disappoint. Wedgie is adorable and fun, and I just want to squeeze him. Gizmo is frightfully intelligent, and more than a little arrogant. 

One of my favorite things about this series is the way Selfors alternates the chapters between Gizmo's and Wedgie's perspectives. They can each experience the same event, but have wildly different ideas about what happened. Aside from Wedgie and Gizmo, my favorite character is Abuela. She is the only person in the family who is aware of how intelligent Gizmo is, but no one will listen to her. It makes for some amusing conversations. 

If you like fun books about cute critters, then you need to check out Wedgie & Gizmo Vs. the Toof today. If you haven't read the first story, Wedgie & Gizmo, then definitely give that one a read too. I think this one would make a great read aloud in a classroom or library (probably going to try it with my book club kids), or just at home with a parent and child. 

How about you? Have you read either book yet? What are your thoughts?

How I acquired this book:

The author sent me a pre-published copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Review: The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein

 

The Island of Dr. Libris

by Chris Grabenstein

 

 

from the author's site:

 

Billy Gillfoyle's spending the summer in a lakeside cabin that belongs to the mysterious Dr. Libris. But something strange is going on. Besides the security cameras everywhere, there's Dr. Libris's private bookcase. Whenever Billy opens the books inside, he can hear sounds coming from the island in the middle of the lake. The clash of swords. The twang of arrows. Sometimes he can even feel the ground shaking. It's almost as if the stories he's reading are coming to life! But that's impossible . . . isn't it?

 

 

my thoughts:

 

 I flew through this one in about two sittings. The story is so much fun and flows so quickly. The Island of Dr. Libris is great for kids who love books, because what's more fun than imagining your favorite tales coming to life? I think this book also works well for kids who maybe struggle a bit with reading, because even though it looks thicker, the story really does move quickly. If you enjoyed Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library or books from Roald Dahl, I recommend checking this one out.

how I acquired this book:
I purchased my own copy.



Review: The Case of the Girl in Grey by Jordan Stratford

The Case of the Girl in Grey

Wollstonecraft Detective Agency Book 2

by Jordan Stratford

 

 

from the publisher's site:

 

 

The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency was supposed to be a secret constabulary, but after the success of their first case, all of London knows that Lady Ada and Mary are the girls to go to if you have a problem.

Their new case is a puzzle indeed. It involves a horrible hospital, a missing will, a hasty engagement, and a suspiciously slippery servant.

But Mary’s stumbled onto a mystery of her own. She spotted a ghostly girl in a grey gown dashing through the park. A girl who is the spitting image of their new client.

The two cases must be linked . . . or else there’s a perfectly supernatural explanation.

 

my thoughts:

 

The first book in this series got me hooked and book two did not disappoint. The mystery was fast-paced enough to keep me turning the pages, and there were even some hints about connections back to their first case (I'm thinking I may need to re-read that one already). As an adult, my favorite part though, is probably the historical notes at the end. I really enjoy knowing which aspects of the story really happened and which ones Stratford took creative liberties with for the sake of a good story. If you or your children enjoy historical mysteries then you should definitely check out The Case of the Girl in Grey.

 

how I acquired this book:

 

I borrowed it from my local library.



Review: Maisie Hitchins: The Case of the Vanishing Emerald

Maisie Hitchins Book 2

The Case of the Vanishing Emerald

by Holly Webb

from the author's site: 

Maisie Hitchins lives in her grandmother’s boarding house, longing for adventure. She idolizes the famous detective, Gilbert Carrington, and follows his every case. Together, with her faithful pup Eddie, Maisie is determined to follow even the slightest scent of a mystery – no matter what!

Maisie can’t help listening in when the famed star of the stage, Sarah Massey, visits a friend at the boarding house. Sarah is distraught – her beau, a mysterious young man, gave her a priceless emerald necklace, and it’s now missing! Maisie is instantly intrigued, and decides to investigate the theatre. But nothing is what it seems in this world of make-believe…

my thoughts: 

Maisie Hitchins is fabulous for young fans of mysteries who aren't quite ready for full-length middle grade novels, but have moved past beginning chapter books. Maisie is a wonderfully clever little girl; she really knows how to read people and situations and uses this to solve cases that baffle the adults around her. 

The historical setting calls to mind classics like Sherlock Holmes. In fact, the series includes a Holmes-like character whom Maisie aspires to be like. Holly Webb has created a fun series with Maisie Hitchins that I highly recommend. I'm hooked and can't wait to read more. 

how I acquired this book: 

I borrowed it from my local library. 

Review: Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible

Hamster Princess Book 1

Harriet the Invincible

by Ursula Vernon

from the publisher's site: 

Harriet Hamsterbone is not your typical princess. She may be quite stunning in the rodent realm (you’ll have to trust her on this one), but she is not so great at trailing around the palace looking ethereal or sighing a lot. She finds the royal life rather . . . dull. One day, though, Harriet’s parents tell her of the curse that a rat placed on her at birth, dooming her to prick her finger on a hamster wheel when she’s twelve and fall into a deep sleep. For Harriet, this is most wonderful news: It means she’s invincible until she’s twelve! After all, no good curse goes to waste. And so begins a grand life of adventure with her trusty riding quail, Mumfrey…until her twelfth birthday arrives and the curse manifests in a most unexpected way.

my thoughts: 

This book is so much fun! I really can't wait to read the rest of the series. I definitely recommend this one to parents and children who are tired of the same old fairy tales; Harriet turns all of that on its head. Harriet is brave and fierce, and for a time, invincible, but she's not perfect. She's a kid and she messes up, but she also works to fix her mistakes. 

The hybrid comic style works well with this series. Most of the book is in traditional novel format, but the illustrations are frequently used to interject dialogue into the story. Vernon includes plenty of action, adventure, but also humor. Don't let the pink and purple cover fool you. This book works well for both boys and girls. I highly recommend that you give it a try. 

how I acquired this book: 

I borrowed it from my local library. 

Review: Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Roller Girl

by Victoria Jamieson

from the publisher's site: 

For most of her twelve years, Astrid has done everything with her best friend Nicole. But after Astrid falls in love with roller derby and signs up for derby camp, Nicole decides to go to dance camp instead. And so begins the most difficult summer of Astrid’s life as she struggles to keep up with the older girls at camp, hang on to the friend she feels slipping away, and cautiously embark on a new friendship. As the end of summer nears and her first roller derby bout (and junior high!) draws closer, Astrid realizes that maybe she is strong enough to handle the bout, a lost friendship, and middle school… in short, strong enough to be a roller girl.

my thoughts:

Generally speaking, I don't read a lot of realistic fiction, however it seems that I don't mind doing so when it comes in graphic novel format. This is a book that I think a lot of young people can relate to. At the heart of this story is the reality that Astrid and her best friend Nicole are growing up and growing apart. They are finding new interests and with those interests, new friends. It's a hard time in anyone's life, but it does get better. 

I really enjoyed reading about Astrid discovering who she was without Nicole and finding out what she liked and wanted to do. Roller Girl even got me a little interested in roller derby, though I do not think it's something I could ever do myself. Unlike Astrid, I'm a bit of wimp about the possibility of getting hurt. 

I definitely recommend checking this one out. I'll be keeping my eye out for more from Victoria Jamieson. 

how I acquired this book: 

I borrowed it from my local library.