Recent Reads: The Bat by Elise Gravel

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

The Bat by Elise Gravel
Series: Disgusting Critters
Publisher: Tundra Books
Publication Date:  February 4, 2020

 

Format: Hardback

Rating:






Goodreads Synopsis: 

Hilarious illustrated nonfiction about bats perfect for beginning readers. Conversational text and silly illustrations will have you up all night reading about the only flying mammal on Earth!

Fast bat facts:* Distinctive trait: The only flying mammal* Diet: Insects, fruit and even animal blood* Special talent: Sleeping upside down

The Bat covers habitat (bats live everywhere except Antarctica!), species (there are over 1,200 kinds of bats), echolocation, hibernation (bats hibernate just like bears!), conservation (don't disturb a sleeping bat!) and much more. Although silly and off-the-wall, The Bat contains factual information that will both amuse and teach at the same time.

Review: 
The Disgusting Critters series is absolutely wonderful! Elise Gravel takes these icky, weird creatures and makes them friendly and easy to understand for younger (and older) learners.

I love bats! I think that they are wonderful. They love the nighttime and sleep upside down (how cool) and eat bugs that can be super annoying. They are very misunderstood creatures so I love that they are part of this series.  The author uses interesting and fun facts to teach young readers about the bat and how they are important. Including scientific names and terms. 

Overall this series, and this book is a lot of fun. I think that learning about weird creatures this way is a great way to introduce them to younger audiences.

For ages 6-8.

Blog Tour: Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington

Blog Tour

Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date:   April 7, 2020

  

About the Book
They have a love-hate relationship with summer.

Sidney and Asher should have clicked. Two star swimmers forced to spend their summers on a lake together sounds like the perfect match. But it’s the same every year—in between cookouts and boat rides and family-imposed bonfires, Sidney and Asher spend the dog days of summer finding the ultimate ways to prank each other. And now, after their senior year, they’re determined to make it the most epic summer yet.

But their plans are thrown in sudden jeopardy when their feud causes their families to be kicked out of their beloved lake houses. Once in their new accommodations, Sidney expects the prank war to continue as usual. But then she gets a note—Meet me at midnight. And Asher has a proposition for her: join forces for one last summer of epic pranks, against a shared enemy—the woman who kicked them out.

Their truce should make things simpler, but six years of tormenting one another isn’t so easy to ignore. Kind of like the undeniable attraction growing between them.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | BOOK DEPOSITORY

Praise for MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT

"Sweet and real, and fans of Sarah Dessen or Meg Cabot will find themselves hoping these pranksters find true love. With a light romance, humor, and summers full of swimming, parties, and bonfires, this is a perfect beach read." —School Library Journal

"Pennington crafts two believable teens ensnared in a hate-to-love romance that is addictingly enjoyable. The comedic matchup between Sidney, a meticulous overthinker, and the charming yet snarky Asher will have readers rooting for the duo. A steamy, prank-filled summer romance that readers will devour." —Kirkus Reviews

“Does Jessica Pennington have a PhD in chemistry? Because the sparks were FLYING! Meet Me at Midnight is full of wit and romance, with a plot that kept me guessing and characters that I couldn’t help but root for.” ―Lauren Morrill, author of Meant to Be

“A swoony, snarky, perfect romance, set during the summer before college when anything (even falling for your sworn enemy...) is possible. A must-read for YA romance fans!” ―Kerry Winfrey, author of Things Jolie Needs to Do Before She Bites It and Waiting for Tom Hanks 

“Meet Me at Midnight is the young adult answer to The Hating Game, set at a picturesque Michigan lake house. Readers will fall for Asher and Sidney as they figure out if they're better as sworn enemies, friends, or much more. A fantastic addition to any romance lover’s shelf!” ―Christina June, author of It Started with Goodbye and No Place Like Here  

Rating: 

Source: From Tor Teen and Jean BookNerd Tours for review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

Review:

I loved this book! Meet me at Midnight is a Young Adult contemporary romance and it is the perfect summer lake/beach read. It has the best of everything, hate/love, pranks, the whimsical summertime setting and feel, and it is hilarious. 

Asher's  and Sydney's families have been vacationing together for years, and this year might be one of their last because of them. Since Sydney can remember, her and Asher prank each other all summer long, they have guidelines but this summer she takes it a little too far and they get kicked out of their vacation rentals. Now they have to join forces in order to keep their summer and maybe get a little revenge in the process.

The story is told from alternating point of view between Asher and Sydney, which at times if you aren't paying attention can get a little confusing, but overall it was a great way to tell this story and see both sides. Additionally, the author also throws in a few flashbacks to help with overall context and they really help the story along and their placement is wonderful.  Pennington does a wonderful job molding this hate/prank relationship into friendship and love. Even the pranks feel like that kindergarten flirting thing that we all experience (the weird thing were both boys and girls hate or even hit each other because they don't understand emotions and that is the best they've got).

I have to say that this book really reminded me of family summers and that is what really pulled me in in the beginning. My family used to go to a lake for the summer and they, adults included, would prank each other. It was normally guys vs. girls and it was all fun and games until someone stole my books and I may have flipped out a bit too much. (priorities)

Anywho, this was a wonderful read. I can't wait to read more by this author, her characters were real and awkward and it really made this book all the better. If you are a fan of contemporary romance and YA reads, this is a great one to grab.

Photo Credit: Sheena Pearce

About the Author
Jessica Pennington is no stranger to the combination of love and drama. She’s a wedding planner, after all. A writer since the age of ten—when she sought publication for her poem about a tree—Jessica likes the challenge of finding the humor in a sad situation or highlighting the awkwardness in a romantic one. She lives in a Michigan beach town suspiciously similar to the one in her novel, with her husband Josh and their son, Rory. Love Songs & Other Lies is her debut novel. 

Find the Author

Website / Twitter / Goodreads / Facebook /  Instagram

 

Giveaway is open to International.  

Must be 13+ to Enter

3 Winners will receive a Copy of MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT by Jessica Pennington.

Ends: April 27, 2020

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January to March 2020 Monthly Re-Cap

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

~~Books I Read from January to March 2020~~

          
                                        

~~Links to Some Reviews~~

March Reviews

Megabat is a Fraidybat by Anna Humphrey (MG) - 4 stars
The Half-Life of Marie Curie by Lauren Gunderson (Adult, Audio, Novella)-4 stars
Camping with Unicorns by Dana Simpson (MG, GN)-5 stars
Alone with the Stars by David R. Gillham (Adult, Audio, Novella)-5 stars
The  Eye of Zeus by Alane Adams (MG) - 4 stars 
USA Destinations That Spark Our Fascinations by Gene Lipen (Youth)- 4 stars
 You Can Thank Me Later: A Novella by Kelly Harms (Adult, Audio) - 4 stars
A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat (MG) - 3 stars
What's Up Maloo? by Genevieve Godbout (Youth) - 3 stars
Fly Back, Agnes by Elizabeth Atkinson (YA)- 4 stars
Batman: Overdrive by Shea Fontana, Illustrated by Marcelo Di Chiara (GN, YA) - 5 stars


February Reviews
One Week 'Til Christmas by Belinda Missen (Adult) - 4 stars 
Snug by Catana Chetwynd (GN, Adult)- 5 stars (Read at end of 2019)
The Hippo at the End of the Hall by Helen Cooper (MG) - 4 stars
 The Princess in Black and the Bathtime Battle by Shannon and Dean Hale (Youth)- 4 stars
A Little Courage by Taltal Levi (Youth)- 4 stars

January Reviews
Camp Red Moon by R.L. Stine (Audio, MG)- 4 stars
Sorry I'm Late, I Didn't Want to Come by Jessica Pan (Adult, Audio) - 3 stars (Read at end of 2019)
Love you Like no Otter by Rose Rossen (Youth)- 3 stars (Read at end of 2019)
Summer of '69 by Todd Stasser (YA) -2 stars  (Read at end of 2019)
Foreverywhere by Steve Burns, Steven Drozd, Gabe Soria (MG, Audio) - 4 stars (Read at end of 2019)
A Grown Up Guide to Dinosaurs (Adult, Audio) - 4 stars (Read at end of 2019)
Diana: Princess of the Amazons by Shannon and Dean Hale (MG, GN) - 5 stars
Charlie Brown: All Tied Up by Charles M Schulz (GN) - 3 stars (Read at end of 2019)
Outlaws by Jen Calonita (MG) - 4 stars  (Read at end of 2019)

Spotlight: The Nexus Mirror by N.E. Michael

Hello Book Lovers, 

Today is a quick spotlight on a book that looks AMAZING. If only there was more time in the day... and honestly there might be now.. we'll see!

The Nexus Mirror is about "a hidden race of thirteen tribes, each with their own super-power, government, and society, fighting for control over Earth and humanity. The sinister Following wants to awaken an old evil, while the Resistance opposes them. Both sides are searching desperately for a ten-year-old girl, the last of her tribe, whose power holds the key to an ancient portal."

Sounds good right?! The book is out NOW so if this seems like something you would enjoy, go pick it up! and it is the first in a series so more action to come!

 XOXO,

 Steph

The Nexus Mirror by N.E. Michael
Series: Chronicles of the Enlai
Publisher:  Asteron Press LLC   

 

Goodreads Synopsis: 

A secret race, locked in two-hundred years of war.

An ancient portal guards the ultimate power.

One girl is the key to it all.

The only question is who will find her first…

The year is 2094. A secret war has ravaged the Earth for centuries, desolating the Enlai race. Every tribe, each with their own powers, must choose a side. The sinister Following has toppled the Alliance, striving for world domination. The Resistance has been beaten into the dust. Now, the fate of the world lies in the hands of one man.

Raiden, typical of most teachers, can't shoot fireballs from his hands. He can't read the thoughts from behind a man's eyes or walk through walls. But when his orphanage is attacked by the very same organization of super-powered thugs who murdered his father, it is up to him to protect his student Sarah from their clutches. Sarah, the last of her tribe, holds the key to an ancient portal called the Nexus Mirror—and with it the last hope of The Resistance.

A mysterious, powerful new player joins the battle…

Alia had always known she was different. She could sense what others could not, feel what those around her were feeling. But despite her almost psychic intuition, she is alone on the streets. Every penny she earns goes towards taking care of her disabled sister, the only person in the world she has ever loved or trusted. Alia's entire life is about to change as Roko, the billionaire leader of the Following, shows a particular interest in her, generously taking her in and promising to heal her sister. As Alia rises in the ranks of The Following, unraveling the mysterious of her past, she must make a choice. Should she continue to sacrifice everything on behalf of her sister, even if that means hurting innocent people, or has the time come for her to resist Roko and fight for what is right?

Chronicles of the Enlai

Taking place in the near future, this thrilling sci-fi/fantasy series tells the tale of a secret, formidable race of super-powered beings fighting for the fate of the planet. The action-packed adventure will take you soaring through the skies on genetically engineered dinosaurs, charging the mountaintops with an army of sword-wielding Shadows, and sailing through perilous waters infested with zombies and super-powered pirates. So what are you waiting for? Come join the fight, the world is at stake!

About the Author
My name is Noah Michael, and I am the author of the Chronicles of the Enlai series. I have two undergraduate degrees in bio-medical engineering and the medical sciences, and am currently a student in medical school. I am all about following your dreams, and so despite my busy schedule, I never gave up my hobbies which include writing, music, and traveling. Aside from my current series, I have two other worlds in my head just waiting to be built, and I can't wait to share them with you! Please don't hesitate to reach out and share your dreams with me as well, and I hope you enjoy reading mine!


 

Find the Author

Website / Instagram /  Twitter / Facebook

Early Reader Review: Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz

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

Gotham High by Melissa de la Cruz 
Illustrated by Tomas Pitilli
Colored by Miquel Muerto

Lettered by Troy Peteri
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date:  April 7, 2020

 

Format: Ebook


Synopsis: 

From Melissa de la Cruz, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Alex and Eliza and The Witches of East End comes a reimagining of Gotham for a new generation of readers.

After being kicked out of his boarding school, 17-year-old Bruce Wayne returns to Gotham City to find that nothing is as he left it. What once was his family home is now an empty husk, lonely but haunted by the memory of his parents' murder. Selina Kyle, previously the innocent girl next door, now rules over Gotham High School with a dangerous flair, aided by the class clown, Jack Napier.

When a kidnapping rattles the school, Bruce seeks answers as the dark and troubled knight—or is he actually the pawn? Nothing is ever as it seems, especially at Gotham High, where the parties and romances are of the highest stakes ... and where everyone is a suspect.

With evocative art by Thomas Pitilli, this new graphic novel is just as intoxicating as it is chilling, in which dearest friends turn into greatest enemies--all within the hallways of Gotham High!

Trailer

Rating:

Review:  

I so wanted to adore this book. If you have visited my reviews and blog before, you know how I feel about DC Comics and the world and characters of the Batman saga... I generally love them so much. This was a good book, it took a lot of liberties that I just found weren't for me and hard to swallow as a follower of this world through the years.

So Gotham High is a new take on the Batman characters. In this book, the narrator is Selina Kyle and we meet her, Bruce Wayne, Harvey Dent as well as Jack Napier (which eventually becomes the Joker from what I remember). Bruce has been moved into the regular high school and is making new friends when weir things start to happen around him and he comes to learn that someone or something is after him. His new friends try to help as best they can, but there is also a love triangle between Selina, Bruce and Jack which is complicating matters. All of this was great, the story line was engaging and the twists were there and well done. The illustration and coloration was really well done as well.

What I found off-putting was how many things were changed, a few is fine and understandable in a retelling, but there were a lot more changes than I expected in this retelling. So first obvious thing is the amount of diversity that has been added into the characters, a great thing, but since the characters have been around for so long it was hard to adapt to. Selina is Spanish, Bruce seems to be at least half Chinese and Ivy is introduced as Korean. Once more diverse character ok, but three! That was  A LOT to take in. Also Alfred... in this installment Alfred was Bruce's uncle, again would have been an ok adaptation to the original canon but as another cherry on the cake of changes, I was not a fan. As an uncle, after what happened to his family, you would think there would have been more bonding and family to help Bruce adjust. 

Overall, if I had not been so enthralled with the normal Batman canon this would have been a good, typical, teenage soap of a graphic novel, but as it stand it was just too many changes for me at one time.  

"For more information on Gotham High or the the World’s Greatest Super Heroes, visit www.dccomics.com, the DC YouTube channel, or follow @DCComics and @TheDCNation on social media."

Building the Book Pile #322

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

Hello Readers, Bloggers, and Awesome people! 

Good morning readers! I hope you are still doing well in your social distancing. 

Here is my re-cap: I worked, I did not have homework or class stuff (yay) because it was my week off in between terms - so a new on starts on Monday, we finished a puzzle, and I read a lot of children's books... some to my cat who insisted on sitting on me while I was reading.

We also repainted our kitchen, it was a blue/grey color, which we really liked and had painted it that way a few years ago, but we wanted a lighter blue to make it seem brighter. It is a galley kitchen and anything helps!

Have you been doing any home projects during the quarantine/ stay home orders? Or found any new hobbies? 
We are planning a Zoom game night with some friends soon, I am excited to see how that goes.

If you enjoy the blog and want to share some love and caffeine, you can buy me a coffee via Ko-fi

Share about your week with me in the comments below!

 

Current Giveaways
  


Coming up on the Blog

Early Reader Review: Gotham High by Melissa de La Cruz (YA, GN)

Spotlight: The Nexus Mirror by N.E. Michaels (YA)

January - March 2020 Monthly Re-Cap

Blog Tour w/ Giveaway! Meet Me at Midnight by Jessica Pennington (YA)

Recent Reads: The Bat by Elise Gravel (Youth)



Books Received Recently...
For Review

       
None! Probably for the best, I have a lot I need to get through!

Have you missed anything lately?

Blog Blast w/ Giveaway: Angel Raven by Heather Burch (YA)

Blog Blast w/ Giveaway: What I like about Me by Jenna Guillaume (YA)

Early Reader Review: Megabat is a Fraidybat by Anna Humphrey (MG) - 4 stars

Early Reader Review: Dewdrop by Katie O'Neill (Youth, GN) - 5 stars

Early Reader Review: A is for Another Rabbit by Hannah Batsel (Youth) - 4 stars

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

Happy Reading!