Because

Because. Mo Willems. Illustrated by Amber Ren. 2019. Hyperion. 40 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: Because a man named Ludwig wrote beautiful music--a man named Franz was inspired to create his own. Because many years later, people wanted to hear Franz's beautiful music--they formed an orchestra. Because a man had practiced since he was a kid--he was asked to join.

Premise/plot: A young girl's life is changed forever when she attends a symphony. Half the story focuses on the before--the many, many becauses that lead up to that magical moment. Half the story focuses on the after--again using many, many becauses. Essentially the premise is MUSIC IS FOOD FOR THE SOUL. Also that it only takes a moment for a life to be changed.

From that moment on, the girl learned everything she could about music--because it fed her.
Soon, she started to write music, too--because, like Franz, the young woman had something to share.  

My thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this one. It is a BEAUTIFUL picture book. It had me at hello--with the end pages. Though to be fair, there is something about the cover of this one that says READ ME, READ ME. Though to be honest, I would have read this one anyway no matter what the cover looked like BECAUSE it's MO WILLEMS.

I thought this one was beautifully written. This one is perhaps a bit more sentimental than most of Mo Willem's previous books. Willem may perhaps be best known for two super-popular series: Elephant & Piggie and Pigeon. There is something almost lyrical about the text of this one--pure magic.

I also thought this one was beautifully illustrated. I'll never know if the illustrations alone would have hooked me--swept me up, up, and away--because I also fell head over heels in love with the text. But together magic is made in this one.

I would recommend this one FOR ALL AGES. The symphony that inspired her was playing Schubert's Symphony No. 8.

Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 5 out of 5
Total: 10 out of 10



© 2019 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Code Name Verity (YA/Adult)

Code Name Verity. Elizabeth Wein. 2012. Hyperion. 352 pages.

I am a coward. I wanted to be heroic and I pretended I was. I have always been good at pretending. I spent the first twelve years of my life playing at the Battle of Stirling Bridge with my five big brothers--and even though I am a girl, they let me be William Wallace, who is supposed to be one of our ancestors, because I did the most rousing battle speeches. 

So many people have gushed about reviewed Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein. And so many have just LOVED it and found it amazing. I have been meaning to read this one for a few months now, but, I personally found the novel difficult to get into. It just wasn't working for me...at all. I found the framework of the story to be frustrating and confusing. The jumping back and forth between first person and third person, etc. And the main character, the narrator, I found her difficult to connect with. But I really didn't want to return this one to the library unread...again. So I decided to read it no matter what. And after two hundred pages, this one finally started working for me. And by the end, it definitely worked for me. By the end, I could see why people did love it. But it took reading the whole novel--seeing the big picture--for me to be able to appreciate it.

Code Name Verity is about two women serving their country during World War II. One woman is a spy; the other woman is a pilot. One fateful night, the two are together in a plane over France. One woman is captured several days later, and interrogated. This novel is her "cooperation" with the enemy. Through this written account--an account where she both speaks directly to her captors and relates events of the past (these are written in third person omniscient), readers come to know both women...

Read Code Name Verity

• If you are interested in World War II, 
• If you are interested in pilots and spies and secret operations
• If you are interested in reading about strong, brave women

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Duckling Gets A Cookie

The Duckling Gets a Cookie. Mo Willems. 2012. Hyperion. 40 pages.

I really enjoyed this latest picture book starring Pigeon. As long as I remember that Pigeon is Pigeon and Piggie is Piggie, I really, really love it. The moment I start to compare my love for Pigeon with my LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, OBSESSIVE LOVE with Elephant and Piggie, I start to question how much I care for Mo Willems' other series. (For me, there's just no comparison.) I do think the Pigeon books have to grow on you. If this is your first and only introduction to Pigeon, well, you may not "get" it. And you may not understand why Pigeon is so Pigeon-y. He definitely has a quirky personality that just somehow fits him so well. So the books are best read in combination so that readers can get the full Pigeon experience. (This may not be the one to start with either.)

Anyway, in this adventure, Pigeon is OH-SO-JEALOUS that this cute little duckling (cute and little being my adjectives) has gotten a cookie--with NUTS--just by asking politely. Why doesn't Pigeon ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever get what he asks for?! Why?! He is the "asking-est" pigeon around. So why does the Duckling get a cookie?!

Anyway, readers soon learn the truth--or is it the truth?--the Duckling wanted to give this cookie to Pigeon.

I definitely thought this one was fun and playful. I do think that this one is best appreciated by those who already know Pigeon. But this could always be a good opportunity to introduce little ones to the whole series.

Read The Duckling Gets A Cookie

• If you're a fan of Pigeon
• If you're a fan of cookies--with or without nuts
• If you're a fan of Mo Willems
• If you're looking for playful, quirky picture books

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Listen to My Trumpet! (Elephant and Piggie)

Listen to My Trumpet. An Elephant & Piggie Book. Mo Willems. 2012. Hyperion. 64 pages.

Gerald! Sit! Sit! Sit! Do not move! I HAVE A TRUMPET!!! Do you want to listen to my trumpet?

I absolutely love and adore (in every way) Mo Willems' Elephant and Piggie books. I do. (Some people anticipate YA releases, for me, it is all about Mo.) I just love, love, love these two characters. I love Gerald, the elephant. I love Piggie, the pig. I love the way these two animals interact. I love the way their friendship is depicted. I love the humor, the emotion. I love the way the emotion is illustrated--the facial expressions, the body language. I just find this series of books for young readers to be practically perfect in every way. These books are just too much fun to be missed. So the newest release in the series is Listen to My Trumpet! It did not disappoint. I just loved it!!!

In this one, Piggie is oh-so-happy to share her "music" with Gerald. Is Gerald equally happy to hear his friend's "music"? Well, Gerald is tactful, I'd say. (An elephant (or a person) with less restraint might have said much, much more.) And I do like the fact that Gerald doesn't hesitate to be honest with his friend, all the while being thoughtful and considerate. Of course, there's a twist to this one--like so many others in this series--and I won't spoil it for you.

The illustrations are so much fun in this one!!! I mean the text is good; the text is funny. There is much to love about it. But the illustrations really steal the show in this one!!! I just LOVED, LOVED, LOVED all the illustrations of Piggie trying her best to play the trumpet. (For example, page 11 and 16). And I loved the illustrations of Gerald trying to listen to Piggie play her trumpet. (For example, page 20 and 21).

Other books in the series:

I Will Surprise My Friend
Can I Play Too?
Elephants Cannot Dance
I Am Going
Pigs Make Me Sneeze
Watch Me Throw The Ball
Are You Ready to Play Outside
I Love My New Toy
I Am Invited to A Party
My Friend is Sad
Today I Will Fly
There Is A Bird On Your Head
We Are In A Book
I Broke My Trunk!
Should I Share My Ice Cream? 
Happy Pig Day

Read Listen To My Trumpet

• If you love Mo Willems
• If you love Gerald and Piggie, if you think Elephant & Piggie is one of the best series ever!
• If you love elephants or pigs
• If you are looking for the best of the best in early readers
• If you like funny books

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Way We Fall (YA)

The Way We Fall. Megan Crewe. 2012. Hyperion. 320 pages.

Sept 2
Leo,
It's about six hours since you left the island. The way things have been, I know you wouldn't have expected me to come to see you off, but I keep thinking about how you waved and waved from the dock five years ago, when I was leaving for Toronto.

The Way We Fall reminded me of Susan Beth Pfeffer's Life As We Knew It. Not that the catastrophe's are that similar. They're not. (I still haven't decided which is more devastating...) Perhaps it is the personal touch of the narrators that make them similar. Miranda writing a personal journal that might--one day--be shared with others; Kaelyn writing specifically to an ex-best-friend, Leo. (She wanted to be more than friends, he didn't. There was awkwardness, silence, and avoidance.)

So The Way We Fall is set on a small Canadian island. Kaelyn's father is a doctor, a specialist, whose expertise is about to become essential. For there is a virus, a very deadly virus, spreading through the island. Within a week or two the island will be under quarantine to keep people from spreading the virus to the mainland. The survival rate is almost non-existent, out of hundreds of cases, only a handful have survived. (I can't remember if it is five or eight--but it is a SMALL number.) Once people start showing the symptoms, that's it, that's the end of hope and the beginning of misery. Because in the first few days, victims KNOW what's happening, true, they forget by the time the illness has progressed, and by the time it reaches the final stages they're beyond caring, but still, it's NOT a pretty way to go. The dust jacket says it all, "it starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they're old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in. And then you're dead."

So The Way We Fall is a the personal account of our young heroine, Kaelyn. Through her eyes we witness the best and worst of humanity--as the island's society collapses a bit. As some people in the community go out of control...

Read The Way We Fall

• If you're a fan of survival stories like Life As We Knew It or Ashfall
• If you're a fan of dystopias, this one is plague/virus driven

© 2012 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Throne of Fire (MG)

The Throne of Fire. Kane Chronicles #2 Rick Riordan. 2011. Hyperion. 464 pages.

Carter here. Look, we don't have time for long introductions. I need to tell this story quickly, or we're all going to die.

The sequel to Rick Riordan's The Red Pyramid. Once again it is narrated by a brother-sister team, Carter (14), and Sadie (13). These two were raised apart and they're only now getting to know one another. But surviving dangerous situations one after another after another has helped these two bond a bit. Though they still bicker over who gets to tell what as the story unfolds. In this adventure, the two are looking to piece together the Book of Ra (it is in three sections, each hidden in a secret location). They're hoping the Book of Ra will help them resurrect Ra, a retired Egyptian god. A god they're hoping will be strong enough to help them defeat Apophis. And to add to the pressure, they only have a week to do it.

I'm not a big fan of how this one is told. Of how the book(s) are being recorded on audio, of how both are hoping that by sharing their stories other magicians will step forth to help the two battle the forces of evil and save the world.

And I'm not a big fan of the alternating narrators. It's not that I dislike either Carter or Sadie. It's just that I feel if it was told by one character, that maybe just maybe I'd connect more with the story? I'm not sure if it's the way the story is told or if it's just the story itself.

While I'm mentioning all the little things I didn't quite love, let me focus on the "romance." For me. It distracts from the story. To have Carter DROP EVERYTHING because he discovers the location of a certain someone?! To leave the saving the world to his sister and her friend just so that he can find her, "save" her, and maybe just maybe see if she feels the same way about him as he does about her?! I mean when I got to that section I was like YOU'RE KIDDING ME?! HE'S REALLY GOING TO DO THAT? And I felt the same way when Sadie left Carter--earlier in the novel--to go London so she could celebrate her birthday party with some friends. I mean the world is ending in less than five days and instead of finding a way to STOP it from ending, you want to party?! And Sadie's interest in Anubis and Walt?! It felt weird to me. Not necessarily her having crushes on them both. But on either one being even remotely interested in her in that way. I mean she *just* turned thirteen. And Walt is sixteen. And Anubis--well he's a god, and she's human. I thought the book had more than enough drama without Carter and Sadie being distracted by puppy love.

So what did I love? Well, I loved how compelling the second half of this novel was. I mean once the action starts, it STARTS. And it's hard to put it down once it starts getting good. Once things start to come together, I wasn't distracted by the things that didn't quite work for me. I just had to keep reading; I had to know what happened next.

The Throne of Fire has action, adventure, and drama. Also mythology--Egyptian mythology--of course.

© 2011 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Revelations (YA)

Revelations. Melissa de la Cruz. 2008. Hyperion. 272 pages.

On an early and bitterly cold morning in late March, Schuyler Van Alen let herself inside the glass doors of the Duchesne School, feeling relieved as she walked into the soaring barrel-ceiling entryway dominated by an imposing John Singer Sargent portrait of the school's founders.

The third in Melissa de la Cruz's Blue Bloods series. The first two are Blue Bloods and Masquerade. It continues the story of Schuyler Van Alen, Mimi Force, and Bliss Llewellyn. These three are very different from one another--in some ways--but they do have some things in common. They're from wealthy families. They live in New York and attend a top school. They're vampires. And they have troubled--very tangled--love lives. (Mimi and Schuyler both are in love with the same vampire guy--Jack Force.) The Blue Bloods are still struggling to accept the current dangers and threats posed by the Silver Bloods, the Dark Angels. There has been a recent change in leadership. And they are preparing to take action. But is it too late? Have they waited too long?

Revelations is a blend of action, mystery, and romance. (Much is revealed in this one!) If you enjoy YA paranormal romances, then I would definitely recommend the series.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Half-Life of Planets (YA)

The Half-Life of Planets. Emily Franklin. and Brendan Halpin. 2010. Hyperion. 256 pages.

I am not a slut.

Liana and Hank narrate The Half-Life of Planets. These two strangers meet in the women's bathroom at a hospital. What starts out as an awkward beginning turns into much more...over the course of a summer. What develops is a slightly awkward--but in a good way--relationship between two misunderstood people.

They bond over music. They bond over loss. Most of all, they just enjoy being with one another. Not in a romantic way. Not for Liana. Not at first. She's determined that this will be the summer of no kissing. For Hank, it's as close to love as he's ever gotten. Liana is his best chance to be kissed, to be loved. Why? Hank has Asperger's syndrome and relationships just don't come easy for him--let alone romantic ones. But he's trying so hard to get things right...and in her own way Liana is too. Because before the school year ended, she received an anonymous note in her letter calling her a slut. So she's trying to find out if the label is true. If someone's perception of her matches reality in any way.

I didn't exactly love this one. But. I did like it. Hank was my favorite of the two narrators.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Passing Strange (YA)

Passing Strange (Generation Dead #3). Daniel Waters. Hyperion. 400 pages.

I don't want to die, I thought. Not again.

Passing Strange is the third in a series. The first two are Generation Dead and Kiss of Life. As "fascinating" as I found Phoebe, our narrator, being tortured by guilt and obligation in Kiss of Life. It was a great relief to learn that she is not the narrator of Passing Strange. This isn't Phoebe's Love Triangle, part three. No, Karen Desonne is the narrator of Passing Strange. Before now, Karen has always been a mystery. Phoebe didn't always understand her. Phoebe didn't always try that hard to understand her either. Readers at last will get to know the real Karen. The Karen behind the persona.

The differently biotic are having a difficult time in Oakvale--a difficult time anywhere. There are many who consider them to be dead, to not have any legal rights--a few even consider them demons, a problem to be solved once and for all with violence. When Passing Strange opens, Karen and other zombies are being 'pursued' by police. She finds refuge in her home--in her parents' home. But she's not content to stay in hiding. No, Karen wants to be out in the world passing. She likes to pretend to be a beating heart.

But passing has its own risks. Like what will happen if she's discovered? What will her coworkers think of her deception? But Karen--perhaps not the bravest or the wisest of individuals--is finally ready to start taking risks. And the biggest risk of all? Pretending to be interested in Pete Martinsburg. Pretending to be his girlfriend. She suspects him of many anti-zombie crimes. And she wants proof...

Karen is also still trying to process what went wrong in her life--her first life. Trying to cope with her suicide and its aftermath. The depression. The secrets. The lies. The shame. Can Karen find peace?

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Kiss of Life (YA)

Kiss of Life. Daniel Waters. 2009. Hyperion. 416 pages.

Phoebe. Beautiful Phoebe.

Phoebe Kendall's closest friends are zombies differently biotic. Phoebe Kendall's love interests are zombies differently biotic as well. This includes Adam, the best friend that she didn't really see in that way until he died saving her life at the close of the first book, and Tommy, the boyfriend she never got to kiss because Adam's death dampened the party atmosphere.

When Kiss of Life opens, Phoebe is ignoring Tommy completely and doting on Adam. How is Adam adjusting to life as a zombie? Well, he's having a rough time of it. He is just not as "alive" as the rest of the zombies. At least not yet. Phoebe is hoping that she can change that. She's hoping that if she loves him enough, he'll get better. But is she doing this out of love or guilt or pity? Does she love Adam in that way? Or does she still love Tommy?

Like Generation Dead, Kiss of Life is a novel about how people are treated. In the first book, much time was spent on making sure the reader understood that zombies are people too. That they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. That they are not monsters to be feared. Which is why it is so important to never offend a zombie by using the word "zombie". They are differently biotic as opposed to traditionally biotic. But Phoebe also has learned that among themselves, many do like the word zombies. It's just the "beating hearts" who can't get away with the z word.

Are the differently biotic any closer to fitting in with society? Are they still outsiders within the community? This community is very much in danger. Because the world is just not that accepting. And Kiss of Life reveals some of the threats facing the differently biotic.

So there is much drama in Kiss of Life. Sadly, I felt disconnected from that drama. In places I found it lacking in compelling drama. I just didn't care about Phoebe's love triangle. Or the broken fragments of what once was a love triangle. There is some tension between Phoebe and the other zombies she hangs out with. Especially with Karen. So that was nice. And then there was the revealing of the bad guys...so there was some drama.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Elephant Run (MG/YA)

Elephant Run. Roland Smith. 2007. Hyperion. 336 pages.

When Nick Freestone was young, he and his mother lived on a farm in Kansas.

Historical fiction. Set in Burma during World War II. When Nick Freestone's mother becomes concerned about her son's safety--the bombing of London by the Nazis--she sends her son to Burma, to his father. Nick hasn't seen in his father in years, hasn't been on his father's plantations, in years.

Nick's arrival comes just days before Japan invades Burma. He's barely had time to settle in, barely had time to tour the plantation, before the danger becomes all too real. His father hurriedly makes plans to send his son to India--in an attempt once again to get him out of danger--but these plans fail. His father is captured. And Nick becomes a servant, a prisoner to the Colonel who has taken his father's plantation. But he's not alone.

I really enjoyed this one. I found it a compelling read. It was fascinating to read about World War II from this perspective. The novel has a diverse cast of characters--British, Burmese, Japanese, etc. It was easy for me to love Nick, Mya, and Hilltop. I also thought Smith did a great job with Sergeant Sonji and Colonel Nagayoshi.

Not everyone likes reading about war, but I thought Smith did a great job in making this a very human story.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Only the Good Spy Young (YA)

Only The Good Spy Young. Ally Carter. 2010. Hyperion. 272 pages.

"Targets acquired, ten o'clock."

Only The Good Spy Young is the fourth Gallagher Girl novel by Ally Carter. The first three are I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You, Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy, and Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover.

In Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover, Cammie learned that she is the target. That she is the one the bad guys are after. Why do they want her? She still doesn't know exactly. Though it seems it could have something to do with her father. So much about him remains a mystery to her.

Only the Good Spy Young begins with a London vacation over Christmas break. This time she's visiting another friend, "Bex" (Rebecca Baxter). And once again, Cammie's vacation doesn't go quite like planned. It seems the bad guys don't want Cammie to relax. In London, she gets a surprise...

What she learns in London changes things back at Gallagher Academy. Can Cammie solve the mystery? Can she stay safe?

I do like the series. I like the writing. I like the characters. I like how there is action and mystery, but there is also humor and romance.

It only took three weeks.
I know that sounds like a lot of time--and it is. But also it isn't. Because...well...in the clandestine services, nothing ever happens quickly (except when it does). Nothing is ever, ever easy (except when it is). And, most of all, nothing ever goes perfectly according to plan (except in the movies).
It's dirty work that is almost universally slow, tedious, repetitious, mundane, morose, and just in general boring (except for the parts when people might die).
We could have done it sooner and it still wouldn't have felt soon enough. We could have planned for years and we still wouldn't have felt ready. So, yeah. It took three weeks. (161)

Other reviews: Book Crumbs, Sassy Monkey Reads, Sarah's Random Musings.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Peter and the Sword of Mercy (MG)

Peter and the Sword of Mercy. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. 2009. Hyperion. 528 pages.

From the prologue: Charlemagne, Conqueror of Europe, knelt before the stone altar. He was seventy, but with his reddish beard and full head of hair, he looked much younger.
From the second prologue: Queen Victoria lay dying.
From chapter one: James Smith, surrounded by a throng of home-bound commuters, climbed the steep stairs leading out of the South Kensington Underground station.

This is the fourth novel in the series. The first three are: Peter and the Starcatchers, Peter and the Shadow Thieves, and Peter and the Secret of Rundoon. This fourth book is set twenty years after Peter and the Secret of Rundoon. This one bridges the gap between these newer books and the original book Peter Pan. Wendy, Molly's daughter, is one of the main characters.

So what is it about? Lord Ombra is back. Again. This time he is possessing the body of one of the Prince's advisors, Baron von Schatten. And he's working with some cruel people. And he has a plan. A BIG plan that is very bad news for the few remaining Starcatchers (and their allies, like the four "lost boys" who returned to England). Of course, if he succeeds it's bad news for everyone. Once Molly has been kidnapped, it is up to Wendy to find her way to Peter and find a way to save the world.

I liked this one. I didn't love it. I think I am just tired of this villain. It had action and adventure. It was a good fantasy, with fairies and mermaids. But it didn't thrill me. Perhaps if I'd read it closer to the others, then I'd be more enthusiastic. But. Every book doesn't have to be thrilling.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover (YA)

Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover. Ally Carter. 2009. Hyperion. 272 pages.

"We're moving." The man beside me spoke into the microphone in his sleeve, and I knew the words weren't for me.

Cammie Morgan is a Gallagher girl. She attends the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women. If you've read I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have To Kill You or Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy, then you know just what that means: Cammie and the other girls are training to be spies. (Of course, it's all hush, hush. No outsider is supposed to know the true purpose of the school.)

This third novel opens with Cammie visiting her friend (and roommate), Macey, over summer vacation. Macey is the daughter of a senator who has just accepted the nomination for vice president. But that political convention doesn't go quite as planned. For Macey, Cammie, and Preston (the son of a presidential candidate) are stranded on the rooftop of the hotel. And Macey's and Cammie's skills are about to be put to the test--as a helicopter of hostile 'bad guys' are approaching. And the fight is not an easy one. Was this was a kidnapping attempt? Just who was their target? The girls survive--they are Gallagher girls after all--but this is disturbing to say the least. (Preston also survives, by the way.)

But soon it is time for school to start. Cammie is starting her junior year. And she's so happy to be back with her friends (Bex and Liz and Macey); happy to be back learning. But the semester isn't off to the best start. Because the mystery isn't quite over. They are used to training, to being tested. But can they handle it when the danger, the threat, is real? Can Ally and her friends help solve the mystery? Can they keep Macey safe?

I like Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover. I like the style, the narration. Cammie is a great heroine, with a great narrative voice. I like the blend of action and humor. I like how Ally can't help being interested in guys. How she just can't forget Zach. She's not sure she can trust him. She's not sure if he likes her likes her. But still...she can't help getting all fluttery when she bumps into him on one of her missions.

Time it took me to tell the whole story: twenty-two minutes and forty-seven seconds. Time it would have taken me to tell the story had I not been constantly interrupted: two minutes and forty-six seconds. Number of times Liz said, "No way!": thirty-three. Number of times Bex gave me her "You could have brought me with you" look: nine. (111)

Don't Judge A Girl By Her Cover is different from the first two books. As the danger and threats become real. Spying--fighting--isn't so much a game, a test, as it is a matter of life and death.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Red Pyramid (MG)

The Red Pyramid. (Kane Chronicles #1) Rick Riordan. 2010. May 2010. Hyperion. 528 pages.

We only have a few hours, so listen carefully.
If you're hearing this story, you're already in danger. Sadie and I might be your only chance.
Go to the school. Find the locker. I won't tell you which school or which locker, because if you're the right person, you'll find it. The combination is 13/32/33. By the time you finish listening, you'll know what those numbers mean. Just remember the story we're about to tell you isn't complete yet. How it ends will depend on you.
The most important thing: when you open the package and find what's inside, don't keep it longer than a week. Sure it'll be tempting. I mean, it will grant you almost unlimited power. But if you possess it too long, it will consume you. Learn its secrets quickly and pass it on. Hide it for the next person, the way Sadie and I did for you. Then be prepared for your life to get very interesting.

The Red Pyramid is narrated by Carter and Sadie, a brother-sister team who hold the fate of the world in their hands. Carter has spent most of his life traveling the world with his father, Dr. Julius Kane, an archaeologist who specializes in Ancient Egypt. Sadie, his sister, has spent most of her life living in England with her grandparents--the Fausts. She only sees her dad and her brother a couple of times a year. (It's been like that since their mother's tragic death). But one Christmas Eve, everything changes. Because that is when Dr. Kane accidentally-on-purpose explodes the Rosetta Stone in the British Museum. And life is never the same for these two after that.

Carter and Sadie discover many things in The Red Pyramid. For starters that Egyptian gods and goddesses are very real. And that they can be unleashed in the modern world with great big consequences. Sometimes for good, sometimes for evil. One god, Set, is out to destroy the world. And it falls to these two kids to stop him. Of course, they aren't working all on their own. But just who is helping, well, I'll let you discover that on your own! Then there are the family secrets--details about just who these two children really are...and their connection with the House of Life, a secret order of magicians.

If you're a fan of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, chances are you'll pick this one up no matter what I say, no matter what any reviewer says. How do I think these two compared? Well, that's tough.

I think The Red Pyramid is a bit longer than The Lightning Thief. I felt it to be a bit weightier as well. So much time is spent setting everything up. The little details here and there that give a richness, a depth, to this fantasy world, but at the same time slow it down just a bit. (Not enough that I would ever stop reading, stop caring. Just that I wasn't able to speed through this one.)

I think it's an interesting choice to have two narrators with different strengths and weaknesses. Interesting to have biracial narrators facing their own challenges--you know in addition to facing the powers of evil. (Carter is darker than his sister, and sometimes people don't realize that these two are brother-and-sister. Especially since their mom's death. And he has faced some discrimination in his life. And Sadie, well, Sadie has some issues with her dad's lack of involvement in her life.)

I can't say I feel as connected with either Sadie or Carter as I did with Percy Jackson upon first reading it. That's not to say that these two may not grow on me with further reading. (Bast just isn't Grover. And the baboon Khufu just annoyed me.) But I would definitely want to keep reading more of this series!

I did enjoy The Red Pyramid. I found it to be an enjoyable, interesting read. I would recommend it.

Other reviews: Book Aunt, Random Ramblings,

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Year of Goodbyes (MG)

The Year of Goodbyes. Debbie Levy. 2010. Hyperion. 144 pages.

Don't Make A Mess
January 1938

Behold my album's cleanliness,
and when you write don't make a mess.

I write these words on the very first page of my brand-new book,
my wordless,
untouched,
blank-new book
with sturdy brown covers,
like heels of bread
spread with smooth butter pages inside--
my favorite sandwich.
It's what we all write
(in German)
at the front of our books,
our empty, inviting
poesie books,
before we ask friends
to fill up the pages
with poems and promises,
wishes and warnings,
names and dates.

It is January 1938
I am Jutta Salzberg,
a Jewish girl
in the city of Hamburg,
between the Elbe and Alster rivers,
in the north of Germany.

The Year of Goodbyes is a verse novel based on a true story. The book contains actual entries from Jutta Salzberg's autograph book, her poesiealbum. (I believe a few journal entries are included as well.) In between entries, the narrative is in verse. Debbie Levy is sharing her mother's story. These 'poems' give the reader background into what life was like--for a Jewish family--in Germany in 1938. These poems deal with worries and fears about Hitler. But they also deal with a girl's ordinary life: school, friends, etc.

I definitely recommend this one for those that like historical fiction set during this time period.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

The Last Olympian

Riordan, Rick. 2009. The Last Olympian. (Percy Jackson & The Olympians #5) Disney/Hyperion. 381 pages.

The end of the world started when a pegasus landed on the hood of my car. Up until then, I was having a great afternoon.

Percy Jackson's sixteenth birthday is approaching--and fast--soon the Great Prophecy will be fulfilled. Not understanding just what his destiny holds, Percy and his friends are fighting with all their might to save the world as they know it. To save Olympus--a.k.a. Manhattan--from the Titans--led by Kronus--who would destroy it. Percy, in case you're just getting caught up, is a demi-god. He's got an all-too-mortal mother and a god of a father--Poseidon. He's not alone. There are plenty of other demi-gods (on both sides of the war I might add) with various gods (and goddesses) as parents. All with different strengths and weaknesses. Different temptations. Percy and his closest friends--Annabeth especially--face some difficult choices in this final book of the series.

For those that need a refresher course, the first four books are The Lightning Thief, Sea of Monsters, The Titan's Curse, and The Battle of the Labyrinth.

Why I love this series:

They're funny.
They're clever.
They're action-and-adventure packed.
They're also packed with mythology. In a fun way. An inviting way.
They're addictive.
They're unputdownable.
They're just as fun to reread as they are the first time around. (How many books can you really and truly say that about?!)


© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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The Demigod Files

Riordan, Rick. 2009. The Demigod Files. Disney/Hyperion. 151 pages.

Part of me feels like a complete traitor for saying this, but, I am so very thankful I checked this one out of the library and didn't spend my money on it. Does that make me evil? Maybe. Slightly. But I think it makes me honest as well. And honesty is key. I think the readers who enjoy The Demigod Files are the readers who are so head-over-heels enthralled with Percy Jackson that they just can't wait until the next installment is released in May. These are the readers who probably have a countdown of days going. (May 5th according to Amazon.)

Don't get me wrong. I'm a BIG BIG BIG fan of Percy Jackson. But I can also recognize fluff when I see it. What this book does offer is three short stories about Percy. The rest comes up a bit short in my humble opinion.

What Riordan succeeds at in his writing is the ever-important first line. Most authors, I believe, aim to have that one magical first line to draw the reader in from the start. What Riordan does is offer that one magical first line in each and every chapter. And for the most part, he's a master. I wouldn't have trouble crowning him king or champion when it comes to that. He knows the importance of keeping them hooked, keeping them reading.

"I was in fifth-period science class when I heard these noises outside. Scrawk! Ow! Screech! Hiya!"

"One dragon can ruin your whole day. Trust me, as a demigod I've had my share of bad experiences."

"Christmas in the Underworld was NOT my idea."

The book also offers a sneak peak at the fifth and final installment: The Last Olympian. We get the first chapter I believe. Here is the first line of that one:

"The end of the world started when a pegasus landed on the hood of my car."

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews
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Clementine's Letter

Pennypacker, Sara. 2008. Clementine's Letter. Pictures by Marla Frazee.

I love Clementine. I do. And it is my hope that you'll be inspired to seek Clementine out on your own. This is her third adventure, the previous two are Clementine (2006) and The Talented Clementine (2007). "Our young heroine, Clementine is spunky and vibrant leaving a mark wherever she goes. Easily noticed by teachers and principals but not necessarily for the right reasons. But despite some behavior problems, Clementine remains a funny, lovable character....Clementine always has good intentions, but sometimes her plans backfire or have unforeseen-to-her consequences."

In Clementine's Letter, Clementine's character is challenged--or perhaps I should say tested--when her teacher, Mr. D'Matz, has the opportunity to win a research trip to Egypt. He may win which means he would be gone for the rest of the school year. The idea that Mr. D'Matz, her teacher, the only teacher who has ever understood her, could leave is upsetting. A substitute? Really? How could her favorite teacher ever be replaced by anyone else?

To say that Clementine has difficulty with the substitute teacher is an understatement! As this week--long week through the teacher's eyes I'm sure--drags along, Clementine gets in and out and in and out of trouble. When the class is given the assignment to write letters about their teachers for the judges, Clementine takes the opportunity to let it all loose. Sure that if she writes a scathing letter about how horrible he is, he'll not win the contest and be returned to the school where he belongs.

I love Clementine. I love her narration--whether at home, at school, or at play--it's a joy reading about her life.

Here's how the book starts off, "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of...ouch! There is a lot of poking that goes on in third grade."© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before

Yoo, David. 2008. Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before. Hyperion. 374 pages.

The first time I met Mia we ended up in a hotel room by ourselves.

Albert Kim is many things, but popular isn't one of them. He's more likely to be friends with the sixth graders down the street than his own classmates of either sex. More at home playing video games than interacting with real people. But the summer he gets his first job--as a janitor at a nearby inn--he begins to mature--slightly at least. One of his coworkers is Mia, a classmate who is popular and beautiful and utterly out-of-this-world amazing to poor Albert. The two have to work together every day. But that doesn't mean Albert acts like a rational human being when he's with her. Quite the opposite in fact. He's awkward. He's obnoxious. He's odd. Yet, as the summer continues on, they move past this extremely awkward phase and become comfortable with one another. True, he still has the maturity of a thirteen year old--despite the fact that he's several years older than that. (I want to say sixteen or seventeen, but I could be wrong.) But despite of it all, in spite of it all, Mia comes to like him...really like him. If only the summer would never end. But, of course, it does. And when it does, life becomes a lot more complicated for everybody. Albert has a choice: does he remain invisible and sullen and weird...or does he try to act like a 'normal' guy and actually interact with his classmates and try his best to make a friend (or two or three)? He tries...oh how he tries...but Mia and Albert are so very different. Can their summer-love make it through the year? Or will Mia's ties to the popular crowd (and her ex boyfriend) tear this young couple apart?

The novel is humorous but heartfelt. With hundreds of embarrassing scenes...Albert is flawed but lovable...in many ways. Not all ways. I still see him as being immature and a bit dumb...but he's believable all the same. And it's always nice to get a guy's perspective in a romance.

© Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews