LEAP into BOOKS!

Welcome to A Monster Ate My Book Report!

Today is Leap Day and we want you to leap into these adventurous books.  We are participating in the Leap into Books Giveaway Hop.  There are lots of other blogs participating too, so make sure you stop by the other blogs by visiting http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/ for the list!

Since there are two of us, we both picked books.  Make sure you read the rules:

1.  Become a Follower of our blog. 

Make sure it's public, so we can see you.

2.  Leave your email address, and make sure you check to see that it's correct.

3.  Please post in your comment with the book you'd like to win and make sure you post on the review for that book.

Good Luck,

Marsh & Emiline

Emiline's pick is an AUTOGRAPHED paperback copy of I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You by Ally Carter.

     I love the Gallagher Girls Series by Ally Carter.  It's not your regular girl drama book, I mean do you have spies in girl drama books?  This book has cool spies and flaberghasting adventures! Now you can have an adventure with a signed copy.  Just leave a comment on my  introduction to I'd Tell you I love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.  This one of my first posts!

(click here-  http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2011/06/what-im-reading-emiline-edition.html )

Marsh's pick is an AUTOGRAPHED hardcover copy of The Death Cure by James Dashner.

     Hey guys!  I'm sorry I have been a little late on my reviews for this series, but I figured you could be reading the last book in the Maze Runner Trilogy while I'm working on finishing these up!  Happy reading.  Please leave a comment on my review of The Maze Runner -- http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2012/01/marshs-report-on-maze-runner.html

Emiline's Review of Harry Potter and the Socerer's Stone

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

(Harry Potter #1)

Book by J. K. Rowling

Book Report by Emiline

Age Range: 6-99

     I love the Harry Potter movies, but this is the first time I've picked up one of J. K. Rowling's books.  I love J. K. Rowling's books so much!  I can't wait to get my hands on the rest of them!

     Harry Potter's life with the Dursley's has been complete torture.  He is forced to live in a cupboard underneath the stairs, but that all changes when Harry receives a letter from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  The letter says Harry is a wizard.  The Dursleys don't like the sound of that, so they run away from the letters--all the way to an island where Harry meets Hagrid.  Hagrid is a giant, and also the Hogwarts game keeper, sent to Harry to take him to Hogwarts   Hagrid takes Harry to get his school supplies even though the Dursleys disapprove of him going to Hogwarts.
    In case you didn't know, Harry also finds out he is the most famous wizard of all time because he defeated the Dark Lord, Voldermort, when he was a baby.
    If you didn't read the book (which I doubt you haven't, it's so famous ), you wouldn't  know that Harry meets other budding wizards, Ron  Weasley and Hermione Granger (with whom he does most of his detective work at  Hogwarts).  Together they try to find out the mystery of the Sorcerer's Stone.
   
     This is a fabulous and famous book.  J.K. Rowling created a whole new world full of fun and wizardry.  (I hope she writes an eighth book.)  I liked that Harry, Ron and Hermione went through trials that you wouldn't go through in everyday life.  Those trials cause them to stick together and become better, more-fantastical, friends.  I hope that I don't have to face the same kind of trials as Harry but I do hope day I make friends as good as Ron and Hermione; and I also hope you enjoy J.K. Rowling's book.

I borrowed these books from Marsh, who borrowed them from my Mom, who borrowed them from my Dad.  You can find the Harry Potter books by J. K. Rowling at your school or local library, or you can by them at your favorite Indie Bookstore.

To find out more about the author, J. K. Rowling and the Harry Potter books visit this site:
http://www.jkrowling.com/

Here is the Scholastic site for Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone:
http://harrypotter.scholastic.com/sorcerers_stone/

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

Welcome to our MMGM!

 This week it's all about overcoming girl drama with one of my favorite series Luv Ya Bunches by the awesome Lauren Myracle. Violet in Bloom is my MMGM this week. 

     I really love these flabbergasting books by Lauren Myracle.  Her Luv Ya Bunches Series is fun to read and also helpful.  I prefer girl- drama books, because if I'm ever in a situation like the Flower Friends I will know what to do.  Situations like dealing with a bully, or trying to be nice to a girl that's being mean.  That's why Violet in Bloom is my MMGM. 

     Read my review of Luv Ya Bunches here:

http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2011/09/emiline-reports-on-lauren-myracles-luv.html

And my Review of Violet in Bloom here:

http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2012/02/book-report-violet-in-bloom.html

And I'm already finished with the newest book with the Flower Friends, Oopsy Daisy.  It was so good, and I have already started the report.

Lauren Myracle has a great site to find out more about the Flower Friends!  You can even take personality tests and have the Flower Friends try on clothes.

http://www.abramsbooks.com/flowerpowerbooks/

There are lots of other blogs that participate in MMGM.  This is a great way to find some new Middle-Grade books.  Please visit our friend Ms. Shannon's Blog to find out more.

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Marsh's Book Report on Leviathan

My Book Report on Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld:

      What first interested me in this book was the fact that it was based on World War I, but it has a twist in it.  Leviathan has giant war machines and fabricated animals that are used for airships and as weapons--everything a Middle-Grade boy likes.  When I started reading I was hooked!  

      There are two points of view, one from an Austrian Prince named Alek, and another from a British Airman (who's really a girl), named Deryn.  They are both sixteen years old but they come from two different sides of the war.  One is a Darwinist--someone who mans and/or uses fabricated animals during wartime, the other is a Clanker--someone who prefers machines over fabricated animals.

      I really liked Leviathan.  The coolest thing about it was the machines and giant fabricated animals, and how they fought in breath-taking battles.  I really enjoyed the illustrations in this book.  They showed everything Scott Westerfeld described.  My favorite illustration was of the Leviathan, a giant hydrogen air-breather warship.  It was very detailed.  I also really liked how it was an alternate history.  An alternate history takes the basic facts and changes them to make them into something different.  In this particular one it changes WWI into something with more advanced technology.  My favorite character was Deryn, because of her bravery.

     I recommend Leviathan, by Scott Westerfeld, to people who are interested in World War I, and people who are interested in battles, bombs, and many fights between zeppelins and metal pooping bats.

I give Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld 5  Clanker-MONSTERS!

I picked up this book at my school's Scholastic Book Fair, but you can find Leviathan at you school or local library, or your favorite Indie Bookstore.  I'm almost finished with the Leviathan #2, Behemoth.  This is a great series!

To find out more about the author, Scott Westerfeld and his books visit his site:

http://scottwesterfeld.com/

Here's the Book Trailer for Leviathan.  I think it might convince you to read this book!

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

     The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan is my MMGM pick this week.

     The Lightning Thief was the book that got me into reading.  My school librarian recommended this book to me and once I started reading it I loved it.  What really encouraged me to keep on reading was because it was based on Greek Mythology.  By the time I finished The Lightening Thief I knew the names of all the Greek Gods.

     The main character is a boy named Percy Jackson and he is a Demi-God.  He is going on a quest to save his mom.  I liked howPercy was so brave and overcame everything to get back his mom.  This book is one of my all time favorites and I am glad to have The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan as my MMGM.

I was lucky enough to go to a signing for The Last Olympian.

And this is me at at signing for The Red Pyramid.

Rick Riordan is a fantastic writer. You should check out his site to find out more about his books!

http://www.rickriordan.com/home.aspx

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday is a meme that lots of other blogs participate in. Click on this link to find out about the other blogs and you can see their MMGMs too!

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Oh, we almost forgot! The winner of last week's MMGM is Mr. Michael G-G!!

Thanks for joining us for MMGM,

Marsh & Emiline

Book Report: Violet in Bloom

Violet in Bloom

Luv Ya Bunches #2

By: Lauren Myracle

Book Report by Emiline

     Violet in Bloom was breathtaking.  I have to say it was one of my favorites.  I even cried when I was reading the book.  Now, to actually learn about Violet in Bloom let's get to my summary!

     The Flower Friends are having a lot of drama.  Katie Rose is being mean to Natalia (not a Flower Friend), because Natalia is being mean to her and trying to pull Katie Rose away from Yasman (a Flower Friend).  Violet is worried about visiting her mom, who is in a mental hospital.  While Camilla accidentally stepped on her crushes' hamster and killed him! Plus, she doesn't know if he forgives her.

     Will Natalia stop being mean to Katie Rose?  Will Violet have the nerve to visit her mom?  Will Milla's crush forgive her?  Find out all about it in Violet in Bloom by Lauren Myracle.

     I recommend Violet in Bloom to people who have girl drama.  What I liked best about Lauren Myracle is that she wants to encourage kids to stop bullying each other!  Something else I liked was Camilla's crush, aka Max, has an "I Read Banned Books" shirt.  

To find out more about The Flower Power Friends and play some fun games visit:

http://www.abramsbooks.com/flowerpowerbooks/

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

Emiline's Pick for MMGM is:

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

     A Tale Dark and Grimm, by Adam Gidwitz, is my Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday pick.   I don't know if you know this but A Tale Dark and Grimm has all of our favorite parts of Hansel and Gretel's life--Grimm style.  It's a twist to the fairytales that make them, in my words, more fascinating.  It's scarier.  It's not your regular  bedtime story.

        I never realized there was more to the story than just "they went to the witch's house and pushed her  into the oven."  But now that I've read the Gidwitz version I've learned that there is so much more to tell.

I also realized that Grimm style is cool style and Adam Gidwitz  is an extraordinary author.  He created a world that puts the original Grimm fairytales in his own words making them hilarious and fun to read, but a little bit creepy, too.  (I love this extraordinary cover art.  I have a poster of it hanging above my bed :))

       Check out my review to get a little sample of what the book is about.  http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2011/10/emiline-reviews-tale-dark-and-grimm-by.html

      I love this book so much, I've decided to give a copy to one lucky U.S. follower.  To win, become a public follower and leave a comment that includes your email address on this post.  Good luck!

     Emiline

        

 You can find out more about this book and Adam Gidwitz by visiting his website:

http://www.adamgidwitz.com/  

We are having so much fun with the meme!  There are lots of other blogs that participate in this, so if you love Middle-Grade books you should check them out too.

Visit http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/ to see the list.