The Secret Box by Barbara Lehman - OPTIONAL

Lehman, Barbara The Secret Box. Houghton Mifflin, 2011. $16. 48 pgs. PICTURE BOOK. In this wordless picture book, a young boy from long ago hides a box under a loose floorboard. Over the years, the landscape surrounding the house changes, as does the purpose of the house in which he lived. Decades later several children discover the box and follow the enclosed map to Seahorse Pier. Lovely illustrations and a nice concept, but children may have difficulty following the story. EL-OPTIONAL. Caryn

Puff, the Magic Dragon: Pop-Up Book by Peter Yarrow and Lenny Lipton--ESSENTIAL

Yarrow, Peter & Lenny Lipton.  Puff, the Magic Dragon: Pop-Up Book, illustrated by Eric Puybaret, paper engineering by Bruce Foster.  Sterling Children’s Books, 2011.  $26.95. PICTURE BOOK / POP-UP BOOK.  In the 1960’s the musical group Peter, Paul, and Mary recorded a popular song about Puff.  In 2007, a picture book entitled Puff, the Magic Dragon came with a CD including 4 songs.  This new edition is a pop-up version of that same title, including the CD.  The original paintings by Eric Puybaret continue to charm and enchant; however, as expected, the paper engineering by Bruce Foster steals the show. Each pop-up adds motion to the story and enhances the overall experience.  The pirate pop-up in particular with a moving hook and a sail with a rope is magical.  EL – ESSENTIAL.  Samantha, Public Librarian.

The Mirror of N'de

Author:  L.K. Malone

Publisher: Kregel Publications

About The Mirror of N'de:

In the mythical city of N’de lives thirteen-year-old Hadlay and her people, the Ramash. Scorned and abused by the unloving and absent Emperor, the Ramash are poor people, placed second to the ruling class of the Oresed. Young but bold, Hadlay rages against the injustice in her city. When she is chosen for the honor of serving the Prince in the Tower, she hopes to find a way to right the wrong... but soon discovers that things are worse than she believed.  While Hadlay works to better her people’s condition, she struggles to abide with the abusive Oresed and understand the meaning of her dreams in which a fantastical white horse appears to her and speaks in riddles. When Hadlay stumbles into one of the Tower’s secret rooms, she discovers a hidden mirror that doesn’t just show her reflection, but reveals much more: the horse’s name is Sirach and he has a plan to save the children of N’de, if only Hadlay can bring them to the mirror. Hiding her knowledge of Sirach from the Prince, Hadlay sets out to do Sirach’s bidding. But when Sirach’s presence is revealed, Hadley’s life is in danger and the only way to save her is for Sirach to give up his own.  Crafting powerful narrative and creative characters, author L. K. Malone spins a compelling tale that combines exciting entertainment and the Christian story. In The Mirror of N’de, readers will empathize with the desires of an oppressed people, will anger at the affliction of a cruel adversary, and ultimately rejoice with the revelation of a Savior. Want to see a trailer of the book?  I thought you might so click on my link and check it out.  You won't be sorry.  Want to take a chance and buy the book?  If so go here and buy it for 11.99 in a paperback form.  It would make a great Christmas gift.  

About L.K. Malone:  L. K. Malone is an insatiable reader who devours nearly a book a day when she isn’t writing. Favorite genres include political thrillers, historical fiction, romance, and fantasy. Some of her favorite reads include the Hunger Games series and the Harry Potter books, which inspired her to try her hand at fantasy with a Judeo-Christian twist. Malone is a Colorado native with a large extended family, which includes two lovely young women who graciously let her mentor them through the Denver Kids program, and a handsome menagerie of pets. 

My Thoughts On The Book:  In the book The Mirror N'de author L.K. Malone develops several complex themes. I loved Malone’s willingness to look deeply into the consequences of actions, good and evil and love and betrayal, trust and deception and illusion and reality, both intended and unintended.  This well written book has it all thrown in there and serves it up with a side of the unexpected.  Just enough to keep you guessing.  I do have to add a note to parents of tweens and let you know that this novel contains two scenes that are quite graphic and might be unsuitable for children younger than probably age 13.  As a huge fan of the Chronicles of Narnia I was thrilled to review this book.  I am delighted to say that I was not disappointed.  It was quite a most entertaining debut novel and I cannot wait to see what she has for us next.

Book Disclosure: I received a copy of this book through Kregel Publishing in exchange for my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own and may differ from others.

Ooops I almost forgot.  Want to see what others say about the book?  Then click here:


Extra!  Extra!  One more thing....Want a chance to win a prize?  Let me tell you how.  The publisher is sponsoring a $50 Amazon.com giveaway open to both you and your blog readers. If you post for the blog tour you’re already entered into the contest.  It does not get much better than this.  About the Giveaway!  To enter all you have to do is send a tweet (using @litfuse) about The Mirror of N'de  or share about it on Facebook!  If you tweet we'll capture your entry when you use @litfuse. If you share it on Facebook or your blog, just email us and let us know (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com). Easy huh?  Think you might have some trouble knowing what to say???  No problem.  Litfuse has given you a couple of prompts.  TWEET THIS: New YA fantasy - The Mirror of N'de - compelling narrative and creative characters! @litfuse RT for $50 to @amazon http://ow.ly/7AWGT  or you could FACEBOOK THIS: Don’t miss this debut YA fantasy story: Crafting powerful narrative and creative characters, author L. K. Malone spins a compelling tale that combines exciting entertainment and the Christian story. In The Mirror of N’de, readers will empathize with the desires of an oppressed people, will anger at the affliction of a cruel adversary, and ultimately rejoice with the revelation of a Savior.   Tell your followers to simply share this for a chance at $50 to Amazon.com http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13440685.  What a great Christmas gift you can have....for just entering. 

Around the World by Matt Phelan - ADVISABLE

Phelan, Matt  Around the World, 235 pages.  Candlewick Press, 2011. $24.99.  Language G; Mature Content G; Violence G.  GRAPHIC NOVEL.  Following the printing of the novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, three different adventurers decided to give it a go themselves.  The three stories in this book are about Thomas Stevens, Nellie Bly and Joshua Slocum.  Each story captures the personalities of the adventurers and their thoughts and emotions.  The art work is more telling than the words used.  Thomas Stevens traveled by bike, Nellie Bly by trains and cruise ships and Joshua Slocum by a sail boat.  The author pulls the reader into their lives so much that when I was done reading I found myself looking for different versions of their stories.  EL, MS-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Just Your Average Princess by Kristina Springer - OPTIONAL

Springer, Kristina  Just Your Average Princess, 197 pgs.  Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011. $15.99  Language PG (1 hell, 11 God); mature content PG-13; Violence G. Jamie has always dreamed of becoming the pumpkin princess.  She works hard at her family’s pumpkin patch and contributes to her community, so she thinks that she should easily become princess.  However, her cousin Milan shows up with her Hollywood stories and her Hollywood clothes and outshines Jamie.  But the person Jamie cares most to impress, Danny, doesn’t seem to fall under Milan’s spell, because he has his eyes on Jamie.  With an unexpected princess pageant for an ending, this book was a fun and fast read with a good main character.  MS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Every-Day Dress-Up by Selina Alko - ADVISABLE

Alko, Selina  Every-Day Dress-Up  PICTURE BOOK Alfred A. Knopf, 2011. $16.99.  Content, G.  A little girl who likes to play dress up, changes from wearing princess costumes to wearing outfits inspired by real women from history.  She plays Amelia Earhart, Julia Child and Frida Kahlo to name just a few.  She decides that having many interests like cooking, helping people and being a leader are more interesting and fun.  I think this a great book to teach children that real women are worth following, unlike princesses they have interests of their own and don’t wait around for others to save them.  The back of the book also includes a mini biography of all the women portrayed in the book.  ES (K-3)-ADVISABLE.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.

Circle Nine by Anne Heltzel - OPTIONAL

Heltzel, Anne  Circle Nine, 260 pages.  Candlewick Press, 2011. $16.99 Language R (5 “F”, 5 other); mature content PG-13; Violence PG-13.  Abby wakes up in a burning field and can’t remember who she is, but Sam is there to help her and he whisks her off to a little house in the woods.  Abby decides to see this wood house as their castle, even though occasionally she can see that she is imagining her world, that in reality the house and Sam aren’t as beautiful and shiny as she pretends.  Slowly, Abby’s world is shattered as Sam turns out to be a drug addict and she remembers the reason she woke up in a burning field.  Abby eventually breaks away from Sam, but the book ends without any hope or direction for Abby.  I thought the book was hard to put down and kept you wondering what was going to happen, but once I found out that Abby wasn’t innocent, I had a hard time with her character.  She also didn’t ever get help which left me unsatisfied with the ending.  HS-OPTIONAL.  Reviewer, C. Peterson.