Today's read... The Bellwoods Game by Celia Krampien

THE BELLWOODS GAME

by Celia Krampien

Atheneum Books for Young Readers

Middle Grade Horror

320 pages

ages 8 to 12

Perfect for fans of Small Spaces and Doll Bones , this spooky, highly illustrated middle grade novel follows a girl who hopes to fix her outcast status through a game in the haunted woods, only to discover that some legends shouldn’t be played with.

Everyone knows Fall Hollow is haunted. It has been ever since Abigail Snook went into the woods many years ago, never to be seen again. Since then, it’s tradition for the sixth graders at Beckett Elementary to play the Bellwoods Game on Halloween night. Three kids are chosen to go into the woods. Whoever rings the bell there wins the game and saves the town for another year, but if Abigail’s ghost captures the players first, the spirit is let loose to wreak havoc on Fall Hollow—or so the story goes.

Now that it’s Bailee’s year to play, she can finally find out what really happens. And legend has it the game’s winner gets a wish. Maybe, just maybe, if Bailee wins, she can go back to the way things used to be before her grandma got sick and everyone at school started hating her. But when the night begins, everything the kids thought they knew about the game—and each other—is challenged. One thing’s for something sinister is at play…waiting for them all in the woods.

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MY TIDBITS

Spooks and chills mix with a forest adventure and games to create a gripping read.

Myths are nothing uncommon in the small town, but Bailee is especially drawn to the one surrounding a missing girl, a bell, and the forest. Each year, the sixth grade goes to the forest to play 'the game', where a winner needs to ring the bell to keep the town safe for the next year. It's just legend. Supposedly. Bailee knows more than most thanks to her grandmother and is ready to take on whatever the forest may hold...and maybe, she'll no longer be the class outcast if she manages to win.

The book starts out with the tale of Abigail, which lays the foundation for Bailee's adventures and sets a the tone to launch the myth. The next chapters allow Bailee and her friends to gain personality and dig in at a personal level. Then, as the game gets flowing, the spooks sink in and offer all the wonderful ghosts and scares that make a perfect read to cuddle up with under the blankets with a flashlight. And don't forget that flashlight. While it did have me wondering for more than a few chapters if there would be 'real' ghosts or not, when the thrilling parts begin, they do it in all the right ways.

I especially enjoyed the illustrations. These are abundantly sprinkled in the pages and add to the atmosphere, while offering more to the reading fun. I do wish that more middle grade (and adult?) novels would incorporate these like this.

There are also messages in these pages, but these do not smoother the creepier excitement. While there, it's the spook and chills which lead this plot and make it a fun read. I do recommend this one to those who enjoy a bit of school drama and a heavy mix of ghostly adventure mixed in.

And here she is...

Celia Krampien grew up in a house in the woods in a small town near Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. She studied illustration at Sheridan College and currently lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, with her partner, a mischievous cat, and a nosy beagle. She is the author of The Bellwoods Game.

Today's read... Suppose You Met a Witch by Ian Serraillier

I'm sliding even further back in time with today's read as I hit a witch story, which has been enjoyed for more than a couple decades. I'm excited to dive into this one...and no, I haven't seen it before...since it promises to be a special treat on the illustration end of things. I'm expecting a high-quality picture book, which gives young listeners an engaging tale in a way which they won't soon forget.

So, let's see if this book delivers because my expectations are soaring high.

SUPPOSE YOU MET A WITCH

by Ian Serraillier

Illustrated by Ed Emberley

Anthology Editions

Picture Book

ages 7 to 9

31 pages

Relates in verse how Roland and Miranda handled the situation when they were trapped in a sack by a witch.

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MY TIDBITS

Grabbing illustrations mix with potent prose and just the right amount of haunting twists to make this a read to cherish year after year.

While this book begins with a child, who believes to have met a witch, it soon turns to the question of what others would do if they ran across one. Here, the story of two children, Roland and Miranda, begins and what happened when they were snatched by one. It's haunting and holds the rich threads of a fairy tale as it winds around the adventure with imagination, magic, and a tiny sense of dread. After all, no one really wants to meet a dangerous witch.

This one is worth picking up because of the artwork. The style seems chaotic at first glass but mesmerizes with details and knotted weaves. It fits the tale marvelously and will captivate not only young readers but older ones as well. It invites to flip through the pages and simply enjoy each scene. And wow, is that witch creepy.

The prose flows with traditional style and reminds of an early, story-telling era. The imagery and descriptions are well-crafted, letting the text flow with as much artistry as the illustrations. That also means that this will go over the youngest readers' heads and will even give many in the intended age group some difficulties, at times. It's still worth the read, though, since the plot is obvious, and the unknown words and phrases will stretch and boost vocabulary skills. It's a treat many will enjoy, and not just children...which also explains why it's been around and enjoyed for many decades.

All about the author and illustrator...

In 1973, artist and illustrator Ed Emberley had been prolifically creating children’s books for more than a decade when he conceived his most ambitious project to date. Suppose You Met a Witch, featuring Emberley’s signature woodcuts at their most lavish, is considered by many to be the beloved artist’s masterpiece. Sadly, the book was not a big hit at the time, and has gone on to become one of the hardest-to-find works in Emberley’s catalogue. We are delighted to have the chance to reintroduce it to a new audience.

Packed with extraordinary imagery and rich with visual wit, Suppose You Met a Witch lets us all experience what it must be like to be under a witch’s spell. Reissued for the first time since 1973, the book uses Ian Serraillier’s striking poem and Ed Emberley’s psychedelic illustrations to show us what happens when two clever and resourceful children encounter a witch in the darkest part of the wood.

***

Ed Emberley is the illustrator and author of over eighty books, including the bestselling Go Away, Big Green Monster! and his enormously popular “Drawing Book” series. He has received many awards and accolades, including a Caldecott Honor in 1967 for One Wide River to Cross and a Caldecott Medal in 1968 for Drummer Hoff.

Ian Serraillier (1912–1994) was a renowned English author and poet especially known for his children’s books. His wartime adventure story The Silver Sword (1956) is a beloved classic, and has been adapted twice for television. In 1948, he founded the New Windmill Series for Heinemann Educational Books with his wife, Anne, which he would co-edit for decades.

Today's read... Double O Stephen and the Ghostly Realm by Angela Ahn

Today's read hit the shelves last year and caught my interest not only do to the 'ghostly realm' but the hints of pirates. It's been awhile since I dove into a salty seas adventure and combining it with haunts sounds perfect for October. It should have tons of adventure and fun, so I'm excited to see how exciting this one gets.

DOUBLE O STEPHEN AND THE GHOSTLY REALM

by Angela Ahn

Tundra Books

Middle Grade Fantasy

320 pages

Ghosts, pirates and family secrets -- Stephen gets more than he bargained for when he seeks out adventure in the ghostly realm, for fans of When You Trap a Tiger.

Stephen loves pirates. What he doesn't love is his name: Stephen Oh-O'Driscoll. He believes when his Korean mother and Irish father gave him this name, that it was just one cruel setup for being teased. Giving things the proper name is important, which is why Stephen thinks that it's time to update the definition of pirate. They've got a bad rep, and maybe they deserve some of it, but Stephen still likes a few pirate traditions, like bandannas and eyepatches -- he's just not that into stealing things from people. He has the perfect new word: piventurate. A sailor who passionately seeks adventure. That's what he wants to be.

When he gets suspended from school for doing proper piventurate-in-training things (using sticks to practice sword fighting), his mother doesn't let him sit around doing nothing, instead she takes him to a museum. At the museum everything changes. Stephen finds himself in a strange new place, face-to-face with a real pirate. A pirate ghost.

Captain Sapperton needs Stephen's help to cross to the other side, and his former ghost crew are intent on making sure Stephen follows through, whatever it takes. Stephen is about to discover the true meaning of piventurate, and much to his surprise, his adventure will not only take him farther into the ghostly realm, but also closer to home, where long-held family secrets reveal surprising ties to the spirit world.

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MY TIDBITS

With pirate antics and ghostly fun, this is an adventure with heart and more.

Stephen loves pirates, a passion which irritates his mother since he tends to go overboard...not to mention the ties it creates to his father, which his mother isn't keen on, either. When Stephen's pirate training lands him in school suspension, his mother takes him to the museum There, everything changes. Now, the adventure is real.

This is an imagination packed adventure with a main character, who is fun and has heart. Stephen's love for pirates borders on an obsession. It is an obsession, but he also has a best friend, who's ready to share the passion with him. The first scenes demonstrate a healthy friendship and the mischief kids can get into, while displaying how different adults can see things as opposed to kid eyes. This sets the tone of adventure as Stephen's fantasy clashes against adult expectations. But he doesn't have time to care. After all, there are dangerous paranormal battles to be fought (which adults would never believe, anyway). The stakes aren't really super high, making this a gentler read than might be expected. So, it's a fun tale with the general age group in mind.

There are emotions built in with the family problems and heart as Stephen does his best to balance everything and fight ghosts along the way. Unfortunately, the mother comes across as unpleasant and the father a side-note. A few moments and scenes drag, where action would have been more productive, but all of it still comes across nicely enough to make it a well-rounded tale.

This seems to be the first book in a new series, and it lays the groundwork well. There is the promise of more to come, and it will be interesting to see what Stephen will find himself up against next.

And here she is...

ANGELA AHN is a former teacher and librarian. She is the author of several children’s books, including Krista Kim-Bap and Peter Lee’s Notes from the Field, which was shortlisted for the Governor General’s Award and the OLA Silver Birch Award, and was named a USBBY Outstanding International Book. She lives in Vancouver, B.C., with her family.

Today's read... The Roll-Away Pumpkin by Junia Wonders

Today's read is not a new release, but rather has garnished quite a bit of attention since it hit the shelves a few years ago. The cover caught my attention...maybe, because of the big, beautiful pumpkin? It just seems so perfect for October.

THE ROLL-AWAY PUMPKIN

by Junia Wonders

Illustrated by Daniela Volpari

Picture Book

36 pages

ages 4 to 8

Honorable Mention 2022 PURPLE DRAGONFLY BOOK AWARD Early Readers
Honorable Mention 2022 PURPLE DRAGONFLY BOOK AWARD Best Illustrations
Honorable Mention 2022 PURPLE DRAGONFLY BOOK AWARD Holiday

A wonderful & whimsical autumn tale! 

“Marla Little’s pumpkin is rolling away! Can she catch it before it’s gone forever? Readers both young and young at heart will delight in this lovely, whimsical tale.“ –BookBub

Multi-award-winning author and illustrator team delight young readers with a rollicking sequencing story.

When a large pumpkin gets away from its young owner, Marla, an amusing and lighthearted pursuit ensues. As it rolls down country roads, through a farm’s haystacks, past a milkman and his cart, over a stone bridge, through a city’s bistro, and past a butcher shop, readers will enjoy as each subsequent person joins in the young girl’s chase after the runaway, rollaway pumpkin, making for a silly procession that gets even sillier when the group encounters a marching parade. A pleasing ending has the ever-growing group enjoying a cauldron of pumpkin soup.

With stunning illustrations in beautiful muted earthy tones, many small details make each spread a delight in poring over—a dog with little sausages in its mouth, street signs that point “this way” and “that way”, a tiny windmill in the distance, leaves fluttering down on the country road, fresh baguettes stacked up in the baker’s wagon. A wonderfully lilting text is beautifully typeset in a fun and whimsical way, curving along the streets and alleys. A repeated refrain throughout the story adds a fun opportunity for young readers to chant along.

A short and simple story, The Roll-Away Pumpkin is a perfect read-aloud for families and educators of young children, while its highlighted keywords, repetitive language, and predictive nature make it ideal for beginner readers.

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MY TIDBITS

Gorgeous illustrations invite into every scene, but then, this is a read to simply sink into and enjoy.

Marla's pumpkin has slipped from her grip and is rolling away! If it was a small pumpkin, this wouldn't be a problem, but Marla's pumpkin happens to be huge. She's determined to catch it before disaster strikes, but this pumpkin isn't easily stopped.

There's tons of goodness to this picture book. First off, the illustrations draw into every scene with a style, which is distinct, entertaining and simply well done. The colors remind of Fall, and the lines invite to dreaming. Of course, humor thrives, too, as an exciting and fun chase keeps those pages turning.

The tale makes a nice read-aloud, especially for groups, since it repeats a silly, little rhyme which invites listeners to join in. The vocabulary is great even for younger audiences, and the tale packs enough tension to have readers wondering what will happen next. It's a cute read for the season, which is simple and yet so fun. It's worth a peek for classrooms, libraries and even for those book collections at home. 

Today's read... Curious Tides by Pascale Lacelle

I want to shout-out a happy book birthday to today's read, but I'd be a little late. I just released last week and has perfect timing, since it should make an awesome October read. This one is a dark academia fantasy for the young adult audience...and isn't that cover amazing? It surrounds mystery, death, magic, and secret organizations...and don't you love the colors? So simple and yet so alluring?  It's the first in a new series and promises to be a grabber. And those moon phases right along with the tides...interesting!

Yeah, I like the cover on this one, too.

Oh, and don't forget that there is a solar eclipse crossing the southern corner of the U.S. on October 14th. I know this is a random reminder, but thought I'd throw it in. Honestly, I'm more excited about the full one hitting my area this coming April.  

But before I rant and steer anywhere else, let's dig in and find out if it's any good.

CURIOUS TIDES

Drowned Gods, #1

by Pascale Lacelle

Margaret K. McElderry Books

Young Adult Fantasy

544 pages

Ninth House meets A Deadly Education in this gorgeous dark academia fantasy following a teen mage who must unravel the truth behind the secret society that may have been involved in her classmates’ deaths.

Emory might be a student at the prestigious Aldryn College for Lunar Magics, but her healing abilities have always been mediocre at best—until a treacherous night in the Dovermere sea caves leaves a group of her classmates dead and her as the only survivor. Now Emory is plagued by strange, impossible powers that no healer should possess.

Powers that would ruin her life if the wrong person were to discover them.

To gain control of these new abilities, Emory enlists the help of the school’s most reclusive student, Baz—a boy already well-versed in the deadly nature of darker magic, whose sister happened to be one of the drowned students and Emory’s best friend. Determined to find the truth behind the drownings and the cult-like secret society she’s convinced her classmates were involved in, Emory is faced with even more questions when the supposedly drowned students start washing ashore— alive —only for them each immediately to die horrible, magical deaths.

And Emory is not the only one seeking answers. When her new magic captures the society’s attention, she finds herself drawn into their world of privilege and power, all while wondering if the truth she’s searching for might lead her right back to Dovermere…to face the fate she was never meant to escape.

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MY TIDBITS

Dark, mysterious, dangerous, and all of that with a touch of possible romance.

Emory isn't thrilled about returning to school after the end of the last year left her as the sole survivor of a cave ritual gone wrong. Eight students drowned, and she not only carries guilt but has been left with a strange mark, which packs tons of mystery she doesn't begin to understand. As she tries to deal with the stares and inner-conflicts the beginning of the next school year begins, other dark secrets slowly come to light. There's more to the incident than she thought there was, and that knowledge might be more dangerous than those hours in the cave had been.

This read promises shadows, danger, secret societies, dangerous magic, and more...and it delivers with finesse. At over 500 pages, I was afraid this might drag, and while it does go deep into the characters' heads, it picks up pace each time it teeters on the edge of boredom. Thanks to the use of flashbacks, info-dumps are skirted while the important moments of the past dribble in bit by bit. This is never confusing and allows the background as well as character history to slide in at the right times to keep tension high.

While Emory isn't always the cleverest when it comes to walking head-on into problems, the tale is so well-woven that this character flaw didn't bother me as much as it usually would have. There are so many secrets to uncover and each one holds more behind it. A few aspects are predictable, but others are impossible to see coming. And that mixed with the chilling, dark moments worked well.

This is a solid beginning to a series and had me caught in the pages from beginning to end. Gothic fantasy fans won't be the only ones wanting to take a peek at this dark tale and get lost in the tides of magic as they come and go.

And here she is...

Pascale Lacelle is a French Canadian author from Ottawa, Ontario. A longtime devourer of books, she started writing her own at age thirteen and quickly became enthralled by the magic of words. After earning her bachelor’s degree in French literature, she realized the English language is where her literary heart lies (but don’t tell any of her French professors that). When not lost in stories, she’s most likely daydreaming about food and travel, playing with her dog Roscoe, or trying to curate the perfect playlist for every mood. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter @PascaleLacelle.