Blog Blast: Excerpt and Giveaway! Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit

About the Book

Adventure, danger, and a thrilling global mission await 12-year-old Cruz Coronado as he joins an elite school for explorers.

Cruz leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists to become the next generation of great explorers. But for Cruz, there's more at stake. No sooner has he arrived at the Academy than he discovers that his family has a mysterious past with the organization that could jeopardize his future. In the midst of codebreaking and cool classes, new friends and augmented reality expeditions, Cruz must tackle the biggest question of all: Who is out to get him, and why?

Readers can get in on the excitement with puzzles and codes embedded throughout.  

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for EXPLORER ACADEMY Series

“This series opener from a new imprint of National Geographic is a fully packed high-tech adventure that offers both cool, educational facts about the planet and a diverse cast of fun characters.” ―Kirkus

“This exciting series opener introduces young readers to the joys of science and nature.” ―Publisher’s Weekly

“Sure to appeal to kids who love code cracking and mysteries with cutting-edge technology.” ―Booklist

“A fun, exciting, and action-packed ride that kids will love.” ―J.J. Abrams, director and screenwriter of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” “Lost,” “Alias”

“Inspires the next generation of curious kids to go out into our world and discover something unexpected.” ―James Cameron, National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and acclaimed film-maker

“Explorer Academy is sure to awaken readers’ inner adventurer and curiosity about the world around them. But you don’t have to take my word for it, check out Cruz, Emmett, Sailor, and Lani’s adventures for yourself!” ―LeVar Burton, host of “Reading Rainbow” and “LeVar Burton Reads”

“Absolutely Brilliant! Explorer Academy is a fabulous feast for the mind and heart — a thrilling, inspiring journey with compelling characters, wonderous places, and the highest possible stakes. Just as there’s only one planet Earth, there’s only one series like this. Don’t wait another instant to enjoy this phenomenal adventure!” ―T.A. Barron, author of the Merlin Saga

“In the midst of fast-paced action, Explorer Academy captures the power of learning through exploration. The excitement of hands-on discovery is modeled in Cruz’s adventures, which encourages kids to take on the mind-set of explorers.” ―Daniel Raven-Ellison, National Geographic Explorer and Guerilla Geographer  

About the Author

Trudi Trueit is a gifted storyteller for middle-grade audiences. She has written more than 100 books for young readers, both fiction and nonfiction, including The Sister Solution, Stealing Popular and the Secrets of a Lab Rat series. Trueit lives in Everett, Washington.  

PHOTO CONTENT FROM TRUDI TRUEIT

Find the Author

WEBSITE /TWITTER / GOODREADS / FACEBOOK 

Giveaway is open to International. | Must be 13+ to Enter

5 Winners will receive an ULTIMATE SWAG of EXPLORER ACADEMY: THE NEBULA SECRET (Tote Bag, Pin, and Stickers) from Trudi Trueit.

 

ENDS: DECEMBER 13, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

Recent Reads: How Do You Say Goodnight? by Catalina Echeverri

Source: From Book Look Bloggers in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

How Do You Say Goodnight? by Catalina Echeverri

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date:  October 30, 2018

 

Format: Board Book


Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

A fun, new bedtime story to read to your kids!

Join Zoey the zebra as she searches across Africa for the best way to say good night. She sees the bedtime routine of lions, warthogs, monkeys, and more—but which one is the very best?

Teaching little ones to celebrate differences while appreciating the blessing of their own unique family, How Do You Say Good Night? is a great way to introduce the concept of diversity in a fun and respectful way while also fostering an attitude of gratitude.

Watch your little ones reach for this book night after night!

Review: 
How Do You Say Goodnight? is an illustrated children's book about how different groups of wild animals prepare for bed.  With a fun soft rhyming scheme and silly things that the groups of wildlife do, kids are bound to be entertained. It is a simple board book that not only talks about bedtime routines but also ties in religion and thankfulness. 

It is a little longer than your average board book, but as the little zebra is putting off her bedtime to talk to the other animals, I am sure that many little ones are trying to do the same with a story, and more words isn't a bad thing.

The book takes the time to also include some educational moments - like naming the groups of animals: a pride of lions, a flock of ostrich etc and including tid-bits that help young ones learn more about those animals as well.

I think that is you a religious family, this book is a good addition to your bookshelf. If you are not, there is a line about God on just able every page, so this might not be for you.

Recent Reads: Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little

Source: From Librarything Early Reviewers and Penguin Teen in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Confessions of a Teenage Leper by Ashley Little
Publisher:  Penguin Teen
Publication Date:  September 25, 2018

 

Format:  Hardback
Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Abby Furlowe has plans. Big plans. She's hot, she's popular, she's a cheerleader and she's going to break out of her small Texas town and make it big. Fame and fortune, adoration and accolades. It'll all be hers.

But then she notices some spots on her skin. She writes them off as a rash, but things only get worse. She's tired all the time, her hands and feet are numb and her face starts to look like day-old pizza. By the time her seventeenth birthday rolls around, she's tried every cream and medication the doctors have thrown at her, but nothing works. When she falls doing a routine cheerleading stunt and slips into a coma, her mystery illness goes into overdrive and finally gets diagnosed: Hansen's Disease, aka leprosy.

Abby is sent to a facility to recover and deal with this new reality. Her many misdiagnoses mean that some permanent damage has been done, and all of her plans suddenly come tumbling down. If she can't even wear high heels anymore, what is the point of living? Cheerleading is out the window, and she might not even make it to prom. PROM!

But it's during this recovery that Abby has to learn to live with something even more difficult than Hansen's Disease. She's becoming aware of who she really was before and what her behavior was doing to others; now she's on the other side of the fence looking in, and she doesn't like what she sees. . . 

Review: 
This synopsis sums this book up pretty well. I read through this book pretty quickly and it was paced very well but it was a bit annoying. Abby is a popular girl, who has it all, she is pretty, popular, and even a cheerleader - the perfect stereotype for a mean girl, and she is a mean girl (not the worst). She is stricken with this disease and her whole world turns upside down. Now, she is ugly and her friends start to abandon her.

The book is told through Abby, how she feels and everything she is going through. Instead of chapters it is written more like diary style, without any real headings, just breaks in the text and I think that is what made it such a quick read. There were god stopping points, but unlike books with chapters it was hard to convince yourself you were at a good stopping point.

Anywho, more about the plot: Abby's disease spread and the family trying to figure out what it is, was the most interesting part of the book and done really well. How she feels betrayed was also pretty spot-on. However, while some might feel sorry for her, she was whiny and still pretty mean to other people even while going through this process. Abby acts entitled and snobby through most of the book. There were also some points about graduating that were weird - she wants to go to LA for acting, so she is a cheerleader and wants a cheerleading scholarship to go to an LA school... and she doesn't realize she will have to then be a cheerleader at that school, why didn't she take up theater in her high school if she wanted to act? These were things that were hard for me to shake out and not be confused about. I completely understand how life-plans can be confusing but these were more common sense things.


All in all, this was an entertaining book, and if you are looking for something about disease and coping, this might be a healthy book to read. However, if the whiny teenage-girl thing is not something you can handle, this one will fall a little short.

Building the Book Pile #280

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Big changes happening... so I started school in the fall - that is going well, but I also decided to change jobs 😳. I was offered a job at the same place I work but in a different department and I decided to go for it. I will be helping students get hired by various companies. I am so excited to have a new challenge but also terrified of leaving my current position. I am most nervous about having enough time to do all the things I am doing - blogging, school and work plus some relaxing time. Fingers crossed it all works out. 

I have some time before I start the new gig, so I will keep the blog readers posted.

This past week, I had a bunch of reviews go up, mostly for kids books but also a cookbook! I am trying to incorporate a few random interesting things in for my non-parent readers. Let me know what you think in the comments.

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee (almost Peppermint Cocoa time now...) via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog! 
  

Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: Confessions of A Teenage Leper by Ashley Little (YA)

Recent Reads: How Do You Say Good Night? by Cataline Echeverri (Youth)

Blog Blast w/ Giveaway! - Explorer Academy by Trudi Trueit (MG) 

Recent Reads: Art Boss by Kayla Cagan (YA) 

Books Received this Week

For Review:
How Do You Say Good Night? by Cataline Echeverri from Booklook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

   
Have you missed anything lately?

Week of November 11 - November 17
Recent Reads: 30-Minute Cooking for Two by Taylor Ellingson (Non-Fiction) - 4 stars
Recent Reads: One Snowy Day by  Diana Murray (Youth)- 4 stars
Recent Reads: That Night by Amy Giles (YA) - 4 stars
Early Reader Review: Watersnakes by Tony Sandoval (GN) - 2 stars
Recent Reads: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Julia Kregenow (Youth) - 5 stars

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!

Recent Reads: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Julia Kregenow

Source: From Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star: I know exactly what you are by Julia Kregenow, Ph.D.
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Publication Date:  September 4, 2018

 

Format:  Paperback ARC

Rating:

 
 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Do you know why stars twinkle? It's time to find out!

Written to the classic melody of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" by an expert in astrophysics, this book is the perfect introduction to the real science behind the magic of stars. Discover how stars are created, what they're made of, and even what makes them look like they're twinkling.

Stars are not only great for wishing upon, but they are also spectacular examples of scientific magic. From atmospheric turbulence to fusing atoms, these delightful (more accurate!) lyrics will become your new favorite version of this classic tune. Instead of wondering what stars are, you will know for sure!

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
I know exactly what you are
Opaque ball of hot dense gas,
million times our planet's mass,
looking small because you're far,
I know exactly what you are.

Review: 
A delightful book for all ages! Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is set to the classic tune but has wonderfully detailed information about what stars are and how the universe works. 

The first two-thirds of the book are the new lyrics while the last third is informational. The last section is where things get technical and even adults will learn something by sharing this book with their little ones. It also allows the book to be kept in the household for a while - once your child is past the rhyming lyrical side of it, there is even more to learn when they get a bit older. The book is put at ages 4 and up, and while the younger part was great, I am in my thirties and learned a lot from the last part.

However if you are buying this for a kiddo - the redone lyrics of  Twinkle Twinkle Little Star  are really well done and there is a lot of information there too. The song lyrics are also surrounded by wonderful images of the universe, stars and planets that are full-page spreads that really capture how large things really are. 

This book was non-fiction set in a fun way for all ages.

Early Reader Review: Watersnakes by Antonio Sandoval

Source: From Netgalley and Lion Forge Comics in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Watersnakes by Antonio Sandoval

Publisher:  Lion Forge Comics
Publication Date:  November 20, 2018

 

Format:  Ebook


Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Mila is a solitary teenager ready to put another boring summer vacation behind her until she meets Agnes, an adventurous girl who turns out to be a ghost. And not just a regular ghost, but one carrying the essence of an ancient fallen king and a mouth full of teeth that used to be his guardian warriors.    Three-time Eisner Award–nominated writer/artist Tony Sandoval presents a wondrous world of secret places and dreamlike magic hidden in the everyday corners of our sleeping imagination.

Review: 
This cover and description was very compelling but I think that the story was a bit confusing. 

This graphic novel follows Mila, who happens to meet another girl, Agnes. They become close because Mila is intrigued by Agnes' teeth. Which was the first odd point. Mila and Agnes form a friendship and Mila finds out the Agnes is actually a ghost and from here things get even more weird. 

Where the story fell a bit flat, the illustration throughout was beautifully done. There was only color when there really needed to be color and the images portrayed the magic of the world really well. I really loved the images and that is why I kept reading. 

After the first chapter I was confused, and honestly when I got into chapter 2 I thought that this was a book of short stories versus one full length graphic novel, because things seemed to change - the story wan't there for a few panels and it was confusing. 

This one really wasn't for me as far as the story building went but as a book of art, it was gorgeous.

Recent Reads: That Night by Amy Giles

Source: From a Publicist in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

That Night by Amy Giles

Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date:  October 23, 2018

 

Format:  Hardback

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

One night in March, a terrible tragedy shakes the Queens neighborhood where Jessica Nolan and Lucas Rossi live.

The year since the shooting has played out differently for Jess and Lucas, both of whom were affected by that night in eerily similar, and deeply personal, ways. Lucas has taken up boxing and lives under the ever-watchful eye of his overprotective parents, while trying to put good into the world through random acts of kindness — to pay back a debt he feels he owes the universe for taking the wrong brother.

Jess struggles to take care of her depressed mother, with the help of her elderly next-door neighbor, and tries to make ends meet. Without her best friend, who’s across the country at a special post-trauma boarding school, and her brother, who died that night, Jess feels totally alone in the world.

When Jess and Lucas's paths cross at their shared after-school job, they start to become friends… and then more.

Their community — and their families — were irrevocably changed by a senseless act of violence. But as Jess and Lucas fall in love, they'll learn to help each other heal and move forward — together.

That Night is an emotional and ultimately hopeful story about tragedy, love, and learning to heal.

Review: 

Trigger warning... this book is about a shooting.
 
I am not even sure where or how to start with this review ... so the best place is probably by telling you that this book is tragic but in a good way.  The book is about a shooting and many teen lives were lost. The story does not focus on the event or even in the aftermath, but a year later with the families that are still broken and trying to live. 

The book alternates between two point of view - Jess and Lucas, both have lost a sibling in the shooting and both are trying to cop in separate ways. The book is about them coming together to heal and move on as best as they can and it is a beautiful story. 

Their turmoil was real, the grief was laced through the whole book, but there was also a brightness that was really well done. I really enjoyed this book, and that feels weird to say about book that is so heavily loaded with sadness but it was really really good.

The book it contemporary and the author notes that it was not written to be a certain event but the feeling of an event. She notes that the people that die are not the only ones that lost something and that is really important especially now that we are dealing with this kind of thing all too often.

Recent Reads: One Snowy Day by Diana Murray

 Source: From Sourcebooks in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

One Snowy Day by Diana Murray
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Publication Date:   October 2, 2018

 

Format: Paperback ARC

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

The snow coats the treetops
and covers the grass
as THREE happy faces
peer out through the glass.

When millions of snowflakes blanket the town in white, ONE energetic puppy and TWO children set out for some snowy day fun―full of friends, sledding, snowballs, puppy hijinks, and more. The lyrical, rhyming text counts up to ten and back down to one, making this the perfect way to incorporate learning into snow day fun.

Review: 
One Snowy Day is a counting book set on a snowy day. It is very simple and very cute. It has fun snow-day activities for kids and friends all while helping them count. You begin by counting up to ten and then going back down to one by the end of the snowy day.

The book has a rhyming scheme that works really well and the illustrations are big an vibrant. There aren't too many words so this would also be great for learning to read. The publishers note that the book is for ages 4 and up and that seems reasonable.

I found the book fun and cute and I really liked the rhyming text throughout. (There is also an adorable puppy in the story that I think kids will really love.)

Recent Reads: 30- Minute Cooking for Two by Taylor Ellingson

Source: From the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

30- Minute Cooking for Two: Healthy Dishes Without All the Fuss by Taylor Ellingson
Publisher: Rockridge Press
Publication Date:  November 13, 2018

 

Format: Paperback

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

30-Minute Cooking for Two offers the fastest, perfectly portioned recipes to make homemade meals every day of the week.

Imagine if cooking for two cut prep and cook times in half, too. 30-Minute Cooking for Two offers perfectly portioned, time-saving recipes to make whipping up meals for just the two of you, easy to do.

Table-ready in 30-minutes or less, these recipes offer fast solutions for meals any day of the week, from a quick breakfast sandwich to a proper date-night steak. Using no more than 8 staple ingredients per recipe, 30-Minute Cooking for Two gives you fewer leftovers, less processed food, and more time to spend between your twosome.

Whether you're a newlywed, an empty nester, or just plain tired of giant portions and days of leftovers, this cookbook is for you. Inside you'll find:

Tips for kitchen prep that include shopping lists for pantry staples and essential cooking equipment to stock your kitchen with.

30-minute recipes for breakfast, soups, salads, sandwiches, dinner, and dessert, with quick-reference labels super-fast recipes (20-minutes or less) and one pot meals.

8 ingredients per recipe that are easy-to-find all year around, and make every meal fresh and healthy.
Every twosome has a special thing that they do together. With the quick and easy recipes in 30-Minute Cooking for Two, cooking can be your thing, too.

Review: 
Soo... I did not read this entire cookbook, but I read through a few of the recipes - ones that I fully intend on making and really enjoyed what I saw.

This book is designed with for couples that are busy. So much food now is sold in bulk or family size that so much of it goes bad in our home and we feel bad about the waste, but to buy things for just the two of us actually ends up being more expensive than buying the family size and not eating it all... 

The is a full Intro as well as a chapter about "Why Two Can be Tricky" which were really informative and had a lot of great information about what staples you should be keeping around and how to store leftovers.

Once you get into the recipes they are SO easy to follow. Each is only a page long and includes an about blurb, the prep/cook times, your ingredients, the instructions AND some notations. These notations are EVERYTHING, they include One Pot, Super Quick, 5-Ingredient, Vegetarian etc. These make picking out what you need even easier. If you don't want too many dishes, pick a One Pot meal, if you don't have a lot pick a 5-Ingredient meal, on a timeline - Super Quick is where it is at. 

This cook book is super easy to use and it has some delicious sound recipes, its only downfall is that there aren't really any images but that could be a blessing in disguise because you are getting more recipes and if yours doesn't look like the picture that can be a bummer - so it solves that problem too.

Building the Book Pile #279

Welcome to Building the Book Pile!  A Weekly meme inspired by Stacking the Shelves

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Wooo. On time this week. (HAHAHAHAHA)

The hubs was away this past week at a conference ... so I did nothing. I watched Netflix Christmas movies and ate Dominoes. I wanted to be productive and did get some laundry done, but that was about it.

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee (almost Peppermint Cocoa time now...) via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

  Giveaways  on Cover2CoverBlog! 
See the sidebar for more
   

   

Coming up on the Blog

Recent Reads: 30-Minute Cooking for Two by Taylor Ellingson (Non-Fiction)
Recent Reads: One Snowy Day by  Diana Murray (Youth)
Recent Reads: That Night by Amy Giles (YA)
Early Reader Review: Watersnakes by Tony Sandoval (GN)
Recent Reads: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Julia Kregenow (Youth)

Books Received this Week

For Review:
Ghosters 2: Revenge of the Library Ghost by Diane Corbitt from the Author for review.

   
Have you missed anything lately?

Week of November 4 - November 10

Literary Book Gifts Promo

Recent Reads: If I Had a Gryphon by Vicki CanSickle (Youth) -5 stars

Recent Reads: Astronomy for Kids by Dr. Bruce Betts (MG) -5 stars

Recent Reads: Sweet Dreaming by Julie Rawlinson (Youth) -3 stars

Recent Reads: No Shirt No Shoes No Spells (Mystic Cafe #1) by Rose Pressey (Adult) - 3 stars

 

Comment and leave me a link to your Round-up/ STS/ Weekly...anything, post and I will happily stop by and say hello!

Happy Reading!