Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

Welcome to Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday at A Monster Ate My Book Report!

This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, author of her own Middle-Grade Book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of fantastic bloggers out their who are excited to tell you all about Middle-Grade Books, so make sure you check out Ms. Shannon's Blog to get all the links.

                                             http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Thanks,

Marsh and Emiline

My Review of Pandora the Curious: Goddess Girls #9

by Suzanne Williams and Joan Holub:

          Pandora is a mortal who lets her curiosity overcome her.  When Titans come to MOA, they bring something that is very dangerous--a box of trouble.  What lies inside of it is personality changing bubbles, and Pandora opens it.  What will happen next!!??

           It amazes me how I sometimes grow out of things, but I've been reading these books since I was 7 and I'm still reading them.  I don't know exactly what it is about these books but they are just wonderful!  Okay, maybe I do know:  Their school is awesome. The characters are wonderful.  And the illustrations are amazing.  The authors must have some great bond because they work really well together and make beautiful books.  I give Pandora the Curious 5 monsters.

Visit the Suzanne Williams' site:

http://www.suzanne-williams.com/index.html

Visit Joan Holub's site:

http://www.joanholub.com

AND the Goddess Girls are on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Goddess-Girls/143855319008219

Make sure you like them, pretty please.

Thanks Decatur Book Festival! I got to meet Joan Holub and get my book signed.  Meeting her was a great experience.  (I'm dressed up like Amy Pond from Doctor Who-- I went to the DragonCon Parade)

Marsh's Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday

Welcome to A Monster Ate My Book Report!  It's Monday and that means it's time for us to tell you all about a wonderful book for Middle-Graders.  This is a great meme started by Ms. Shannon Messenger, who is the author of her own Middle-Grade book, Keeper of the Lost Cities.  There are lots of bloggers that are sharing their own Middle-Grade picks, so make sure you visit Ms. Shannon's blog for all the buzz!

http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

Marsh & Emiline

My Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday Book is Forge (Seeds of America #2)

By Laurie Halse Anderson.

     I am currently reading Forge, by Laurie Halse Anderson.  It is based on the battle of Valley Forge.  It is a great book so far and I have really been enjoying it.  I like how courageous Curzon, the main character, is and how he is not afraid to stand up for himself.  I also really enjoy the details.  It makes you feel like you are standing in the boots of an American soldier.

     If you like books about history and war, you will definitely enjoy Forge.  It is set in the Revolutionary war.  The main character is a former slave that joined the army!  I am very eager to finish this book.  Remember to check out the first book in the series, Chains.   

     

Here's the link to Laurie Halse Anderson's website:

http://madwomanintheforest.com/

        I picked up a paperback copy of Forge at my favorite bookstore, Little Shop of Stories, after seeing in on a display.  It is also recommended reading for Middle-Schoolers. You can find Chains and Forge at you local library or at your favorite bookstore. 

Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday!

It's time for Marvelous Middle- Grade Monday and this week I have picked the newest book in the Goddess Girls Series,  Medusa the Mean by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams.  This is our favorite meme, and there are lots of other bloggers that are really nice that also participate, so make sure you visit our friend Ms. Shannon's blog to see the list.  http://ramblingsofawannabescribe.blogspot.com/

     You all know the myth of Medusa, but is she misunderstood?  I picked Medusa the Mean for my MMGM.  The book gives you an explanation for why she's so mean.  I like everything about this book!  I love the cover illustrations, and I love how it's a part of a series too.  And, in this book Zeus and Hera get married!  It's a stunning book.  I hope you read it.

Emiline

If you you are interested in this series, I also reviewed Aphrodite the Beauty and I was even Medusa in the video!  You should definitely check it out.  http://amonsteratemybookreport.blogspot.com/2011/08/emiline-reports-on-aphrodite-diva-by.html

To find out more about this series visit:

http://series.simonandschuster.com/Goddess-Girls/books

And find out more about the authors, please visit their blogs:

http://www.joanholub.com/

and

http://www.suzanne-williams.com/

Marsh's Book Report on Spy School

Spy School by Stuart Gibbs

Book Review by Marsh

The CIA has just assigned me to a super secret mission: to give you this book report on Spy School by Stuart Gibbs. I could go on for hours about how great this book is but I have to get back to spy school before I miss my curfew.

Ben Ripley always dreamed of being a spy.  He is always acting out James Bond movies on the playground.  Ben’s dream has come true; he is going to the CIA’s top secret Academy of Espionage, or Spy School.  On his first night there, an assassin tries to kill him.  The next day Ben finds out he is part of a plot to lure in the CIA’s enemies, because Ben isn’t qualified to be in the school.  He is just there because his math skills, on paper, make him look like he is a crypto-genius.  This operation is also known as a “mole hunt”.  Erica, a sixteen-year-old student at spy school and Ben’s friend is trying to help Ben find the mole.  Can they find the mole?

         I’m very angry the this book was an advanced reader copy, because that means I have to wait even longer to find out what happens to Ben.  This was a great book.  I love a good spy book, and this one was packed with action and adventure just like a good spy book should be. 

 I give Spy School by Stuart Gibbs 5 MONSTERS!

I was lucky enough to get an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of Spy School from my favorite bookstore, Little Shop of Stories.  You can find this book at your favorite Indie Bookstore, or your school or local library.

You can find out more about this book at the author's site:

http://stuartgibbs.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!