Book Review - Dinosaurs Before Dark - Mary Pope Osborne

Title: Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House #1)
Author: Mary Pope Osborne
Genre: Young Adult

Challenges: To Be Continued…Challenge, 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, Read and Review Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, 100 + Reading Challenge, Young Adult Reading Challenge, YA Through the Decades, 1st In A Series, Pages Read 2010, A to Z challenge, What An Animal III Challenge

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 69
Published: 1992


Back Cover: Where did the tree house come from? Before Jack and Annie can find out, the mysterious tree house whisks them back to the prehistoric past. Now they have to figure out how to get home. Can they do it before dark…or will they become a dinosaur’s dinner?

Mine: (I try to read some of the same books as my nephews ) This is one of my nephew’s favorite series and I can see why. This is wonderful for your imagination, but also has a little history thrown in. I can’t say I’m thrilled with dinosaurs, but this actually gives a wonderful introduction to them.

Book Review - The Twenty-One Balloons - William Pene duBois

Title: The Twenty-One Balloons
Author: William Pene duBois
Genre: Young Adult

Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, The Naming Convention Challenge, Book Around the States Challenge, Read and Review Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, 100 + Reading Challenge, Young Adult Reading Challenge, YA Through the Decades, Audio Book Challenge 2010, Pages Read 2010, A to Z challenge, 1001 Childrens book Before I Grow Up

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: Audio (192)
Published: 1947 ( Newbery Medal)


Back Cover: After years of teaching math to reluctant young students in San Francisco, Professor William Sherman Waterman wants a change. He plans a wonderful adventure: he will spend a year sailing around the world in a giant balloon. With his friends waving good-bye on a sunny day in August 1883, he gently flies his balloon above the rowas of city rooftops and floats toward the Pacific Ocean.

But only three weeks later, a freighter in the Atlantic Ocean sights a group of 20 destroyed balloons – and the professor clinging to the wreckage. His tale of a marvelous island harboring unbelievable wealth in the Pacific Ocean and a terrifying disaster there stuns the world. Could this incredible report be true?

Mine: Just like the days of Around the World in 80 Days – the balloon is the key point of the story. The Professor can hardly wait for retirement, when he can leave on his long balloon ride. His plan is to stay in the air for a year, unfortunately he doesn’t make it and lives on an mysterious island with a world of it’s own.
When the island suffers a great volcano eruption, he is sent on his way so that he can tell the story of the island and it’s riches.

Book Review - Half Magic by Edward Eager

Title: Half Magic
Author: Edward Eager
Genre: Yough Adult
Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, The Naming Convention Challenge, Book Around the States Challenge, Read and Review Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, 100 + Reading Challenge, Young Adult Reading Challenge, YA Through the Decades, Audio Book Challenge 2010, Pages Read 2010, A to Z challenge, 1001 Childrens book Before I Grow Up

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: Audio (208)
Published: 1954


Back Cover: Beloved by children (and the parents lucky enough to share it with them) since it was first published in 1954, Half Magic is the uproarious tale of four siblings who discover a charm that grants exactly half of whatever they wish for – with results that are twice as unpredictable (and hilarious) as you might expect.

Jane, Mark, Katherine, and Martha manage to cope with an unexpected trip to the Sahara and a nearly disastrous trip to the time of King Arthur. But can these plucky and resourceful children deal with the changes magic is bringing to their tight-knit family?

Set in Ohio in the late 1920s, yet fresh and funny now as the day it was written, Half Magic weaves its spell anew in this full-cast recording that will entrance newcomers as well as fans who have loved this wonderful book for decades.

Mine: What a wonderful story – I’d never heard of this book until looking in the 1001Childen’s Books to Read Before I Grow Up. A thoughly enjoyable book for all young adults or chapter book readers. The magic charm only allows for ½ the wish, the children soon realize that they need to wish for 2x more if it is to really work. The wishes are simple and elaborate (Going to King Arthur’s time). Since the children are big readers every summer they know all about it and Lancelot needs to be saved by the children, but does take offense.

The magic coin also brings new people into their lives also. Mr. Smith comes into the picture several times during precarious times for both the kids and their mother. He seems to be in on the magic of the coin.

Book Review: Mates, Dates, and Inflatable Bras by Cathy Hopkins

Title: Mates, Dates, and Inflatable Bras
Author: Cathy Hopkins (Audio)
Genre: Young Adult

Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, Read and Review Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, 100 + Reading Challenge, Young Adult Reading Challenge, YA Through the Decades, Audio Book Challenge 2010, Pages Read 2010, A to Z challenge

Rating: 4/5
No. of Pages: 160
Published: 2002 Bolinda Publishing


Back Cover: A turning point is exactly what Lucy does NOT want. Everything is changing around her, and suddenly she is required to make all sorts of decisions. Everyone else knows who and what they want to be, except her.

Izzy has become friends with the glamorous Nesta and Lucy isn’t certain she likes this new threesome

Nesta and Izzy look sixteen, but Lucy, at fourteen, can easily pass for a twelve-year-old.

But then the day Lucy see the most wonderful boy crossing the street, things start to change – in all areas of her life……..

Mine: A wonderful coming of age story – Lucy must get her crazy family to realize that she is growing up. Her best friend Izzy finds another Nesta – Lucy figure 3 is a crowd. The funny thing is that they should all be together, since they complement each other so well.

Who could be the mystery man that Lucy finds – low and behold he’s related to Nesta – Lucy’s new nemesis, who could that be. Lucy can never tell the girls who it is now.

Change is good for everyone. Nesta the new girl in town learns to accept Lucy, Lucy gets her first kiss and new friend and a new perspective on life. Izzy gets to learn about new friends can always mix with old.

Still trying to understand the concept of snogging (very British term). First time I’ve heard of an inflatable bra, but the concept is great.

Book Review: Maeve on the Red Carpet by Annie Bryant

Title: Maeve on the Red Carpet (Beacon Street Girls)

Author: Annie Bryant

Genre: Yount Adult

Challenges: 101 Books in 1001 Days Challenge, Book Around the States Challenge, Monthly Mixer Mele (A), Read and Review Challenge 2010, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge, 100 + Reading Challenge, Young Adult Reading Challenge, Audio Book Challenge 2010, Pages Read 2010,





Rating: 4/5

No. of Pages: Audio (240)

Published: 2007





Back Cover: Dearest Movies Stars in Training,



I am THE happiest girl on the planet. A very famous Holiywood director is coming to our very own Movie House to run a film camp and – hold your breath – she is bringing her dreamy actor son with her. Can’t you just picture moi and the star of my very own romantic comedy?



Of course, there’s the small matter of Madeline, the beautiful, talented, and ultra-rich daughter of the famous Krupcake King (Gotta love those Krupcakes) She wants to star in the movie, too. But hey, I say let the best ach-TOUR win! Honestly, does life get any more fabulous?



XOXO, Maeve

Mine: This is a wonderful Young Adult series. I’ve read 2 so far and would highly recommend. There is wonderful story of relationships (Parents-children, Sister-Brother). It also is a story about listening to each other. Sometimes parents can be totally clueless. Why put two people that you know will not get along together. Maeve is into acting and her father owns a theatre (movie house) what could be better than to have a movie camp come to town. The only problem is the sponsor has a daughter who thinks she rules the world.

Young Adult Reading Challenge

January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010

J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Books in starting a new challenge, the 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge.
Here's what J.Kaye says:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate. --Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, click here.

2. There are four levels:-

-The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.

--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.

--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.

--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

3. Audio, eBooks, paper all count. 4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

To join, go to 2010 Young Adult Reading Challenge