The Unwanteds Quests DRAGON CAPTIVES by: Lisa McMann

Lisa McMann continues the adventures of the land of Artime in her new series The Unwanteds Quests Dragon Captives.  Thisbe and Fifer, twin younger sisters of Alex, are now 12 and are looking for adventures of their own.  They have grown up in Artime hearing about their brother's adventures that have shaped the world in which they now live.  Alex has tried to keep them from learning too much magic because he sees such natural magical abilities in his sisters he is worried they have more power than they know what to do with.

When one young dragon returns to Artime stating that the other dragons are being held prisoners and used as slaves the girls want to help.  Alex, who has had life changing injuries, isn't sure that help is available.  Alex decides that the dragons need new bigger wings and he is able to make some but how to get to Dragon Island is the problem.  The twins, along with their friend Seth, set out one night to help the captured dragons.  They are able to fly to Dragon Island by riding on the back of the dragon and once they arrive at the island they are also captured.  They believe they have found friends but that isn't the case.  Now that they are captured can they ever help the dragons or even return back home.  Of course, Alex has discovered that the twins are gone and a rescue party is sent.  However, when the rescue party is also captured the situation really becomes serious.  Will anyone make it back to Artime?

I loved this story and I'm excited for the next book.  These characters feel like family to me and I look forward to more exciting adventures as the girls continue to grow and learn how to control and use their magic appropriately.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by: Brandon Sanderson

Alcatraz vs. the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson is the first in the Evil Librarians series.  This book is a fast paced adventure that I know many readers will enjoy.

Alcatraz Smedry has lived in a variety of foster homes for most of his 13 years.  He moves to different homes because of his "talent" of breaking things.  He isn't sure why he is able to break so many things without even trying but the families cannot have him in their homes for very long.  On his 13th birthday he receives an anonymous package of sand.  Then a strange old man appears at his current home claiming to be his grandfather and he wants to know where is the bag of sand.  The sand has been stolen!  Alcatraz is confused by these two events and wonders if he should he trust this old guy?  He decides it cannot be any worse than his foster homes so off they go and Alcatraz is on the adventure of a lifetime.

The Smedry family has unique talents and the family is supposed to keep the world safe from the Evil Librarians that can be found everywhere.  The Evil Librarians keep secrets from the world, Alcatraz learns that the history he has been taught isn't always the truth, it is just what the Librarians want him and others to know.  Alcatraz always thought of his ability to break things as a curse not a talent.  But when he learns of one cousin who has the talent of tripping and he sees that the tripping talent really does help them get out of a serious situation he sees his breaking things as a unique talent not a curse.  It is these strange talents that enable the Smedrys to take care of the Librarians and our world.

This is a story that all lovers of adventure will not be able to put down until they turn the last page.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Stars So Sweet by: Tara Dairman

Tara Dairman's third book in the All Four Stars Series, Stars so Sweet, is just as good as the first two.  I highly recommend this series to any foodies and any non-foodies.  The characters in the series are relatable to all of us and most of us do enjoy a good meal or at least good desserts!

In this book we find Gladys Gatsby beginning middle school.  Her summer food reviews for the New York Standard were excellent and she has been offered a full time job as the Standard's new food critic.  How can she have a full time job and be a full time middle grade student?  Her aunt Lydia has come to live with her family and tries her best to help Gladys keep up her work as a food critic.  Aunt Lydia misses Paris and helping Gladys is just what she needs to get moving forward in her own life.  Sandy, Gladys' neighbor wants to be a food legend at his new school.  Not just a regular foodie, he wants to be a legend for eating the most gross food ever found.  Parm and Charisse, two of Gladys' friends seem to be adjusting to middle school and get Gladys involved with many clubs by having Gladys bake items for bake sales.  Each club on campus needs to raise their own money this year so when Gladys' baking skills become known each club on campus wants their own bake sale.  Gladys is soon involved in almost every club on campus. She is one busy young woman.  She decides it is too much to handle and she must come clean, lying to her parents, the editor at the Standard and to her friends is getting to be too hard.  However, she loves all the cooking she is doing...can she come clean and still get to do what she loves?  And what about Hamilton?  Why is he not answering her emails?

I loved this book and all of the characters in the book.  I could relate to most of the situations that involved life in middle school and I was laughing at Sandy and his experiences at eating all the gross foods he and Gladys could find.  You will be surprised at what makes him a legend at his school!

I hope that when you have finished reading this book (and hopefully the entire series) you will want to try some of the foods that Gladys cooks in the books.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Curiosity House The Shrunken Head by: Lauren Oliver & H.C. Chester

Four orphans are living with Dumfrey in his Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders and their lives are about to change dramatically.  In The Shrunken Head from the Curiosity House series by Lauren Oliver and H.C. Chester we find out the special talents of these four orphans and see how these talents help them save their home and the family they have there.

This is a book that jumps into a great adventure as soon as you begin reading.  Dumfrey is very excited to show his customers his newest find, a shrunken head.  However, after the first showing the head is stolen.  One of the customers is also found dead the very next morning.  Soon a local newspaper reporter is snooping around the museum and writing stories that put the children in danger.  As the children try to avoid the newspaper man they uncover other clues to the stolen head but they also find more people dead.  Is the reporter correct in his statement that the head is cursed?  With the help of their special talents the children are able to uncover the truth and help themselves and all those that live in the museum.  Some of the information that the children uncover will leave you breathless as there a few surprises as you come to the end of this book.  

You will love the special talents of these children, I'm not going to give them away to you as you must read this book.  In fact, I'm sure a few of you will want at least one of these talents.  I think this is another great book and look forward to reading more in this series.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

The Return BOOK TWO: Legacy of Secrets by: Ridley Pearson

Book one in Ridley Pearson's newest series ended with a cliff hanger so I had to read book two as soon as I could.  The Legacy of Secrets picks up where Disney Lands ended and it didn't disappoint this reader.  I loved it and I look forward to book three!

Finn, Charlene, Maybeck, Willa and Philby (all who are DHIs) find themselves in the Disneyland park on opening day 1955.  They are there to retrieve a fountain pen owned by Walt Disney but soon find themselves working with a young Wayne the man who creates the DHIs in present day.  An old Hotel that reminds them of the Tower of Terror seems to be headquarters of what will become the Overtakers.  Finn tries to find a way to stop the Overtakers before they begin but what will that mean to their own futures?

The DHIs encounter a few problems because of the lack of technology of the 1950s and this causes a few problems as they work to find Walt's pen.  They do their best to blend into the guests at the park but find that hard to do.  Some of their adventures become quite dangerous.  Will they ever be able to complete their task?  It is an important task as it will save all of the Disney parks.

In the present time Jess and Amanda are attending imagineering school and are trying to find a way to bring their friends back to the present.  Jess and Amanda work with a few new friends and begin to figure out who is responsible for the creation of the Overtakers.  When Finn is able to send a message to Amanda and Jess through time the girls work on finding as much information as they can without getting caught and losing their place in the school.  They also must find a way to communicate with Finn.  They are able to find a way to communicate but can they also save their friends?

This is one action packed story that will have you staying up late turning page after page.  I think any fan of Disney will love this book but if you like adventure you will love it too.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Genie in a Bottle by: Sarah Mlynowski

Fairy Tales are stories that I enjoy reading and when there is a unique twist in the tale I love it even more.  Author Sarah Mlynowski in her series WHATEVER AFTER takes readers into fairly tales in which the heroes must fix the problems that they have created in order to insure a Happily Ever After for the fairy tale characters.

Genie in a Bottle is the Ninth book in the series and it is a good as the others.  Siblings, Jonah and Abby once again go through the magic mirror and find themselves in the middle of a game similar to dodge ball.  Abby ends up hurting another player in the game and that player is Aladdin.  Now he isn't in the street when the evil Dracul is looking for a child to go into the desert and get him the magic lamp of the genie.  Abby and Jonah end up going with Dracul in hopes that they can get the genie to Aladdin.  However, when Abby sets the genie free by mistake they must work even harder to get Aladdin to meet the princess.  They are able to meet a new genie that has limited powers but with her help and the flying carpet that Jonah loves they just might get the princess and Aladdin together to enjoy their Happily Ever After.

At the 2016 LA Times Book Festival I was able to meet the wonderful Sarah Mlynowski.  It is always fun meeting authors of books that I enjoy.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Me and Sarah Mlynowski

Island of Dragons by: Lisa McMann

This is the seventh and final book in Lisa McMann's series THE UNWANTEDS.  I've been anxious to read this book and Island of Dragons did not disappoint me in any way.  If you have not read this series of books, I highly recommend them to you.

Aaron and Alex are together on the island of Artime.  They are bringing together the people of Quill and Artime into one community on the island.  Most of the residents of Quill are happy with the changes but there are a few that want the old Quill back.  Aaron is wanting to return to the island of Shipwrecks where he has found his personal peace and the company of three dear friends.  Alex agrees to take Aaron back but once they are on the island of Shipwrecks word comes that the pirates and the people of Warbler are getting ready to attach Artime.  This will be one huge battle and Alex will need all the help he can get.  Aaron agrees to go back and fight alongside Alex.

The people of Artime are outnumbered and their magic isn't working as good as it usually does.  The pirates really prepared themselves to be protected from the magic.  The creatures of the sea and the dragons come to help Artime but the real heroes will surprise you.

I loved this book, as well as all the previous six in the series.  If you enjoy fantasy and adventure this is the series you need to read.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Starr and the High Seas Wedding Drama by: Lynelle Woolley

This past April I had the pleasure to meet author Lynelle Woolley at the LA Times Book Festival.  She has written her third book in the Flower Girl World series.

In the book Starr and the High Seas Wedding Drama Starr and her family are going on a Mexican cruise to meet the fiancé of her grandmother (Abuela).  Starr is excited about going on a cruise but isn't sure about her Abuela getting married.  Starr meets Ivy the granddaughter of Abuela's fiancé, Grandpa Walt.  Starr and Ivy are complete opposites but become friends quickly.  They are not sure about the upcoming marriage so they decide to find out if Grandpa Walt and Abuela are truly in love.  As their plan begins to work, Ivy and Starr find out how much they like each other and the idea of being related.  When their plan works too well, Abuela and Grandpa Walt are fighting, Starr and Ivy realize they need a new plan.  Can the girls now get them back together and be flower girls for the wedding?

This was a great story and I think many young girls dream of weddings.  This would be a great series for all those beginning chapter readers Girls will be able to see themselves in the stories.  I love that new friends are made as well as the wedding.  We can all use new friends and seeing how friends can help us in these books is great for all young readers.

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Author, Lynelle Woolley and Me

Island of Graves by: Lisa McMann

Author Lisa McMann has written another great book wither book number 6 of The Unwanteds series, Island of Graves.  This is my favorite current series that is out for middle grade and older readers.

In this book we find Aaron trying to survive with Ishibashi, Ito, and Sato on the Island of Shipwrecks.  Aaron is needing to learn how to be humble and to serve others.  A big change for him, but one that makes him a better person.

Alex is busy preparing the people of Artime to protect themselves from another attack from those still leading the people of Quill.  Alex and friends use spies to find out what is happening in Quill and Alex soon finds himself doing something he never thought he would do.  He is looking for his brother, Aaron, to bring him back to their island to restore peace.  Alex isn't sure Aaron is capable of peace but he goes with Skye to bring Aaron back home.

While traveling to find Aaron, Alex and Skye encounter dangers at every island.  They also discover a sailor who is trapped on an island with giant apes.  Is there time to find Aaron and save this sailor before the new leader of Quill attacks Artime?

Alex also spends time with his baby twin sisters and he finds joy in being their big brother.  Since their parents are no longer alive it is up to Alex to make sure his sisters are brought up correctly.  He hopes that they will never have to experience life as he knew it in Quill as a child.

I cannot express in words how much I enjoy reading this series.  If you love magic and adventure you will love these books too.  

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna

Princess Academy The Forgotten Sisters by: Shannon Hale

This is book three of the Princess Academy series.  I love the first book because of the teaching that education is a way to improve your life situation.  This is shown again in this book written by Shannon Hale. Go and find this book, or the entire series and read!

Happy Daily Reading
Deanna