Recent Reads: Max's Wild Night by Meg Welch Dendler

Max's Wild Night by Meg Welch Dendler
Series: Companion to Cats in the Mirror series
Publisher: Serenity Mountain Publishing
Publication Date:  May 1, 2015

 

Format: ebook
Source: From the Author in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book in no way alters my opinion or review.

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Max didn’t mean to run away, but when he found himself alone in the moonlit woods, he saw his chance for freedom. No humans to tell him what to do. No cats running the house. No one to call him Bad Dog. No fences and no rules. He could be wild and free and never have to answer to anyone again! But will that freedom turn out to be the fantastic journey he was expecting? What adventures and strange creatures will Max discover in the Ozark forest on a full-moon spring night?

 Review: 
Max's Wild Night is the first companion to the Cats in the Mirror series featuring Max, or the Big Black Beast from Cats. On night Max decides that he is going to chase a smell and ends up running away from home. He loves his home and his people but tonight he just wants to explore and so he does. The story follows him as he meets strange creatures, other lost dogs, a few people and explores the forest. It is a fun-filled adventure from the point of view of Max and it is very fun to read. 

Max is a funny, imaginative character who wants to live life to its fullest in this night. And given that Max is a dog, and I love dogs, this book kept me riveted as I read what happened next. There were even a few nods to the Cats series which were cute. 

I really like these books and the series - they are based off of real pets and the books often include photos of them to help the reader visualize them. The books are fun and I think any animal lover will enjoy reading about Max and the cats.




 

Recent Reads: Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad Chapter 7 by Jeffery Burandt

Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad by Jeffery Burandt
Series:Odd Chapter 7
Publisher: Oni Press
Publication Date:  June 23, 2015

 

Format: ebook
Source: From Oni Press in exchange for an honest review. Receiving this book in no way alters my opinion or review.

Rating:




 


Synopsis: 

Liz, Bodey, Maude, and Justine's band, Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad, are sure to win this year's Battle of the Bands. But when a talking chimp, who claims to be a scientist from the mysterious organization B.L.A.N.K., interrupts their practice session, the band's got a whole new set of problems. Now B.L.A.N.K. agents are closing in, determined to recapture the escaped chimp before he becomes a liability. Jeffrey Burandt (Americans UK) and Dennis Culver (Edison Rex) bring you this thrilling tale of cyborg animals and punk rock teenagers. 1, 2, 3, 4!

Complete V1 OGN (Contains #1-6) available in-stores: 6/24/15

 Review: 
Odd Schnozz Chapter 7 includes the aftermath of the attack at B.L.A.N.K.. Odd and her friends have tried to stay out of it but inevitably they kept getting pulled back in to the madness every step of the way.

As in most reviews of comics, I can't say too much without spoiling the whole series for those who haven't read it yet, so this installment really is a wrap up of all that has gone down in chapters 1-6. There is a bit of resolution for Odd, there are still some threats, and there is a nicely done lead up to future books in the series. I am happy with how this all ended and can't wait to see what Odd and the gang are up to next.


 

Recent Reads: Relatiaton by Yasmin Shiraz

Retaliation by Yasmin Shiraz
Series: Retaliation #1
Publisher: Rolling Hills Press
Publication Date:  February 15, 2007

 

Format: ebook
Source: From the Author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way altered my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:




 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Violence runs rampant on the streets of Washington, DC, and on one seemingly quiet day, the Odom family finds its world destroyed when seventeen-year-old Tashera is brutally attacked by a group of high school girls.
Retaliation exposes the corrupting existence of violence in our communities and the retaliatory measures families go through to protect themselves and their children. 

Review: 
I think that everyone should pick up this book - it is such a realistic account of inner city living, violence and teenage angst and will hit any reader hard. Shiraz does a wonderful job with this book - it is told from multiple perspectives, all focusing around retaliation for an incident - all the ways people become involved and take it upon themselves to make things 'right'. It was a very deep contemporary read.

This author emailed me about Retaliation and from the very beginning I was interested. I went to college and grew up outside of DC in Northern Virginia and Towson, MD - but for explanation purposes when asked were I would live I would just say DC. However, my life and experiences were far from what those face in the inner cities as show by this very realistic account of city life and involvement. 

In the book Tashera is brutally attacked by people that she doesn't even know and everyone in her family takes it upon themselves to provide her justice - only adding to the emotional agony in her life. The book was all about choices and how many can effect your life so deeply without you even knowing. 

I really think everyone should grab this one and read it for themselves, it was violent, real, and overall a hard-hitting portrayal of life.



 

ARC August 2015 Sign Up and Plans!

 I am so excited! Read. Sleep. Repeat. is hosting ARC August again for the 3rd year - what is it you may be asking? Well it is a month of reading through your Advance Reader Copies pile and there are prizes. The rules are below but to learn more and sign up visit them HERE!

Rules: (Taken from R.S.R.)

The rules are very simple

• It may be a physical ARC or and eARC but it MUST be an ARC
• Yes it can be an ARC that has released as long as it’s an ARC I’m not going to nit pick much
• HAVE FUN WITH THIS! Feeling like you are being “forced” to read is the best way turn a fun event into a yucky obligation.
• Update post! [Read.Sleep.Repeat] will do a post for each Saturday in August but that’s just me. You can update once a week, every other week or once for the whole darn event. This update can be in the form of a blog or tumblr post, vlog, link to your “ARC August 2015″ shelf or even an instagram pic! I want to make this as easy and low pressure as possible for you.

I am a huge book hoarder/forgetter of the eARC variety. I request them and then they sit in cyberspace not taking up real space so I forget all about them... :( 
  
My goal for ARC August is to read through all the 'old' ARCs I have sitting around, so most of the books are already out... here is my list of things I would like to get through (in no particular order) 

Title	Author	Publisher	Source	Format
Golden	Melinda Michaels	REUTS Publications, LLC	Author	eARC
Sacrificed	Emily Wibberley	Paranoid Productions	Author	eARC
The Rising	Terra Harmony	Patchwork Press	Netgalley	eARC
Alliance	Mark Frost	Random House	Netgalley	eARC
The Hit	Melvin Burgess	Scholastic	Netgalley	eARC
Shadow Scale	Rachel Hartman	Random House	Netgalley	eARC

  Then if I finish some those I will read some ARCs with September pub. dates :)

I am going to try to post a weekly update on Saturdays but I may end up adding it to my Building the Book Pile Post. What do you think, seperate? Let me know in the comments and let me know if you are going to participate!

Recent Reads: Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad Chapter 6 by Jeffery Burandt

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Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad by Jeffery Burandt
Series: Chapter 6
Publisher: Oni Press
Publication Date:  June 16, 2015

 

Format: ebook
Source: Oni press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Rating:


 


 

Synopsis: 

Liz, Bodey, Maude, and Justine’s band, Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad, are sure to win this year’s Battle of the Bands. But when a talking chimp, who claims to be a scientist from the mysterious organization B.L.A.N.K., interrupts their practice session, the band’s got a whole new set of problems. Now B.L.A.N.K. agents are closing in, determined to recapture the escaped chimp before he becomes a liability. Jeffrey Burandt (Americans UK) and Dennis Culver (Edison Rex) bring you this thrilling tale of cyborg animals and punk rock teenagers. 1, 2, 3, 4!

 Review: 
Another good showing by the Odd Squad in this installment of Odd Schnozz. Again, I am really enjoying these comics and this one was no exception. Odd is faced with some very interesting developments, the monkey becomes and human and then a monkey again and the squad are all in this together and whatever 'this' is, it is crazy! 

Trying not to give away HUGE plot developments so I will leave it at that, short and sweet.



 

Building the Book Pile #144

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

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope that everyone's weekends have been fun filled. :) We went to a state park on Saturday and did a little hiking and sight seeing and had a great time - but I am SO out of shape :/ oh well, it was still fun. Today we are cleaning the house and doing home projects but it is hot and in VT most houses don't have AC - so napping in front of a fan may happen sooner rather than later ;P
 

What's Happening?! 

How was your week ? Let me know in the comments.

  Giveaways Going on NOW

Coming up on the Blog...

Recent Reads: Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad Chapter 6 by Jefferey Burandt (Comic)
Recent Reads: Retaliation by Yasmin Shiraz (YA)
Recent Reads: Odd Schnozz and the Odd Squad Chapter 7 by Jefferey Burandt (Comic)
Recent Reads: Max's Wild Night by Meg Welch Dendler (MG)
Early Reader Review: Survive the Night by Danielle Vega (YA)

      

Books Received this Week

 Physical Books

The Big Bad Book of Bill Murray by Robert Schnakenberg - I have 2 now so I will be doing a giveaway with the review :) 
Kid Athletes by David Stabler
Chaplet from Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs
Pop Sonnets by Erick Didriksen

WON from Armchair BEA and Quirk Books

 

 

Have you missed anything lately?  

• Recent Reads: Flicker by Rob Hunt (MG) - 5 stars
• Recent Reads: Atlantis Twisting Tides by Allie Burton (New Adult, Novella) - 5 stars
• Recent Reads: Calico Joe by John Grisham (Adult)- 5 stars
• Recent Reads: Rick and Morty #3 by Zac Gorman (Comic) - 4 stars
•  Recent Reads: Amulet Series #1-3 Kazu Kibuishi (Graphic Novel, MG) - 4 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: Amulet Series #1-3 by Kazu Kibuishi

Amulet: The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi
Series: Amulet Volume 1
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date:  January 1, 2008

 

Format: Paperback
Source: The Library

Rating:
 


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

Graphic novel star Kazu Kibuishi creates a world of terrible, man-eating demons, a mechanical rabbit, a giant robot---and two ordinary children on a life-or-death mission.

After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids' mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.

Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.

 Review: 
This was a happy random find at my local library - it is a middle grade graphic novel series about a girls whose family is sucked into another world and now must take on the role of the Stonekeeper, a powerful hero.

This was a beautiful book, the artwork is wonderful for this book and the color schemes add to the emotion of the plot so very well. The characters are easy to follow - Emily is a pre-teen girl who has a lot of angst from her fathers passing, Navin is her brother who is young but strong, and their mother only makes a quick appearance in this installment but she is the reason this all began and they are trying to help her. 

This was a fun filled, action-packed adventure fantasy that I think all young readers will enjoy - there is something for everyone.

Also cute website: https://www.scholastic.com/amulet/
 

Amulet: The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi
Series: Amulet Volume 2
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date:  September 1, 2009

 

Format: Paperback
Source: The Library

Rating:
 


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

In this thrilling sequel to AMULET #1: THE STONEKEEPER, Emily and her brother Navin head for Kanalis, a beautiful and mysterious city of waterfalls, where they hope to find the antidote for the poison that felled their mother. That cure lies in the eggs of a giant serpent atop Demon's Head Mountain, but the kids' archenemy, Trellis, is headed for the peak, too. A battle that will engulf all of Kanalis is looming. It's up to Em to triumph over evil while controlling the amulet's power . . . without losing herself! 

 Review: 
Volume 2 in this series was just as good as the first - Emily and Navin are trying to put everything back together after being sucked into a new world and the friends that they have met are trying to help. I don't want to get into too much detail thus ruining the series for anyone who wants to grab it - and you should.

What is great about graphic novels is that you have two mediums - words and pictures to visualize the story with. While I love creating images/ settings in my head from details- sometimes all I want is the dialogue and these beautiful books are perfect for those days. They get right into the action without feeling like plot has been left behind.

This book jumps right in, there is a lot more battle in this one than the last and you start to get a good feel for the grandness of Emily's mission. She seems to be handling it well - at least for now.

Another great showing from this series and I leap right into book three.

Amulet: The Cloud Searchers by Kazu Kibuishi
Series: Amulet Volume 3
Publisher: Scholastic
Publication Date:  September 1, 2010

 

Format: Paperback
Source: The Library

Rating:
 


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

AN IMPOSSIBLE JOURNEY WITH DANGER AT EVERY TURN...

Emily, Navin, and their crew of resistance fighters charter an airship and set off in search of the lost city of Cielis. There they hope to find help from the Guardian Council's powerful Stonekeepers. It's a mission that Alledia's survival depends on, and time is running out--Emily's got to find Cielis before the Elf King finds her. 

 Review: 
I am so drawn to these books now, I can't wait to get back to the library to grab the next few in the series. Again action-packed adventure - new alliances are made and there is so much more to this world and the characters as it progresses - I am loving the world building. 

Volume three continues with Emily's story progression and we learn a lot of new awesome things about the characters and the world they are in, can't wait to read on. I am finding myself drawn to the weirdest of characters - maybe not even the good guys - can't really tell yet.

Recent Reads: Rick and Morty #3 by Zac Gorman

Rick and Morty #3 by Zac Gorman

Series: Rick and Morty
Publisher: Oni press
Publication Date:  June 17, 2015

 

Format: Ebook
Source: Oni Press in exchange for an honest review. This in no way has altered my opinion or review.

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

"The Wubba Lubba Dub Dub of Wall Street" continues! Morty has made it home from the horrors of the labyrinth but Rick remains stranded in a strange alternate universe where Morty is the "Rick" and Rick is the "Morty." Can our Morty fill in for his missing grandpa and bring Rick home? Plus, Morty and Summer's other grandpa comes for a visit that the kids will never forget.

 Review: 
These comics (and I can only assume the show as well) really make you think WTH is going on? The plots are crazy weird, but in a funny good way but wow are you always on your toes. The same goes for #3 in the Rick and Morty comic series - in this installment Morty is home but acting crazy and Rick is trying to escape the labyrinth of doom. 

At home Morty is acting like a madman and his whole family seems off. In the maze, Rick is trying to rig his way back to Morty. Without giving away too much - aliens are involved and Rick and Morty are eventually back to normal but this was a CRAZY episode.



 

Recent Reads: Calico Joe by John Grisham

Calico Joe by John Grisham
Publisher: Doubleday
Publication Date:  April 10, 2012

 

Format: Paperback
Source: From the Library :)

Rating:
 


 


Goodreads Synopsis: 

A surprising and moving novel of fathers and sons, forgiveness and redemption, set in the world of Major League Baseball…


Whatever happened to Calico Joe?

     It began quietly enough with a pulled hamstring. The first baseman for the Cubs AAA affiliate in Wichita went down as he rounded third and headed for home. The next day, Jim Hickman, the first baseman for the Cubs, injured his back. The team suddenly needed someone to play first, so they reached down to their AA club in Midland, Texas, and called up a twenty-one-year-old named Joe Castle. He was the hottest player in AA and creating a buzz.

In the summer of 1973 Joe Castle was the boy wonder of baseball, the greatest rookie anyone had ever seen.  The kid from Calico Rock, Arkansas dazzled Cub fans as he hit home run after home run, politely tipping his hat to the crowd as he shattered all rookie records.

Calico Joe quickly became the idol of every baseball fan in America, including Paul Tracey, the young son of a hard-partying and hard-throwing Mets pitcher. On the day that Warren Tracey finally faced Calico Joe, Paul was in the stands, rooting for his idol but also for his Dad. Then Warren threw a fastball that would change their lives forever…

In John Grisham’s new novel the baseball is thrilling, but it’s what happens off the field that makes CALICO JOE a classic. 

 Review: 
I loved this book so much! This was a blind-date with a book pick from my library for the summer reading program and I am SO happy I got this one. I am a baseball fan and have been forever and this book was wonderful at capturing the emotions that come along with being a sports fan that it was spectacular. 

The book is about a pitcher's son who is recapping some of his childhood but also in modern day trying to get his father to atone for some of his character flaws from those times. Along with that it is the story of baseball, a young boys life, and so much more. I began reading this book not knowing what to expect and within the first few pages found tears in my eyes. 

If you have ever loved a sport you know about the highs and lows that come with it and for me that really brings me back to sports in my life and the emotions with them - this book makes you reminisce.

The main character tells the tale of his father and baseball effortlessly and at times in the style of an announcer and while he isn't and most of the facts and stats are fiction, as a reader you feel like you are there at a game. It was brilliant.


 

Recent Reads: Atlantis Twisting Tides by Allie Burton

Atlantis Twisting Tides by Allie Burton
Series: Lost Daughters of Atlantis Novella
Publication Date: November 4, 2014

 

Format: ebook
Source: From the Author in exchange for an honest review. This in no way has altered my opinion or review of the book.

Rating:


 



Goodreads Synopsis: 

When unrest threatens her kingdom, a mermaid princess must choose between loyalty and love.

When fifteen-year-old Atlantean Princess Adria sneaks away to see a hurricane on the surface of the ocean, she finds an air-breather in trouble. Kai’s sailboat is sinking and Adria risks exposure of her Atlantean powers in order to save him.

Kai believes he’s rescuing Adria. He’s Atlantean too, with his own skills and secrets.

The two teens stumble onto an uninhabited island still thinking the other needs rescuing. When other Atlanteans show up—Atlanteans plotting against Adria’s kingdom—Adria must decide whether to trust Kai based on the guy she’s come to know or the company he keeps.

Review: 
I haven't read any books in the Lost Daughter's of Atlantis series before this one and I think this was a good short one to jump into to see if the series was going to be for me, and while it was only a novella I think it was a very good one. From the beginning I was pulled into the story - a young girl in the waves trying to save a man on a boat - only problem is that she is undecided as to whether it is a good idea. 

The novella follows Adria as she is in conflict with herself about helping a human only to find that she has made quite possibly the gravest of mistakes. I loved her indecision, then her determination to do something - it felt very teenager and she was supposed to be a teenager. Being reckless is just something teens do - she is no different. 

The short story is a good lead up into book 5 of the series as well, although there were some key points that may have been left out for readers which I am sure are indicated in the other books in the series - it was still cohesive and a fun, quick read.