Review: Trapped in Terror Bay by Sigmund Brouwer

 Today's review dives into the realm of nonfiction and history. While this does cover an often overlooked, historical event (which I'm always a fan of), it also takes a slightly different twist by showing what modern science can do to help solve these long-unsolved mysteries. 

Do you see why I couldn't pass up this one?

I was hoping this one might be a treasure for homeschoolers, too. Ready to see if it might be?

TRAPPED IN TERROR BAY

Solving the Mystery of the Lost Franklin Expedition

by Sigmund Brouwer

Kids Can Press

YA Historical

160 pages

COMING...

MAY 3rd!!!

This enthralling and up close tale of the ill-fated Franklin expedition reveals bone-chilling details of what really happened in Terror Bay! In 1845, Sir John Franklin's expedition set sail for the Arctic from England in search of the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Not only did they not succeed, his two ships --- HMS Erebus and HMS Terror --- and their entire party of 129 men vanished, their fate a mystery that remained unsolved for decades. In 10 suspenseful episodes, the thrilling tale of that doomed polar mission is told from the points of view of the commander of the Terror and of those back home and the search parties who attempted to find them. Each episode also describes some of the modern-day searches, including the discovery of the lost ships, allowing readers to examine the evidence and consider the theories about what happened. It's a thorough and thoroughly captivating read about an intriguing story from the past.Award-winning author Sigmund Brouwer packs loads of information, including the most up-to-date findings, into this original and engaging narrative. The highly graphic design includes historic photos, maps, a timeline and illustrations plus modern photos. The book highlights the importance of Inuit oral history and knowledge in solving the mystery. It was reviewed by an Inuit interpreter and elder. Sidebars throughout contain fascinating information about how technology and inventions at the time of the expedition brought about social changes, and mini-mysteries from history that ask readers to solve them using forensic science. There are strong curriculum links here to history, geography, Inuit studies, engineering, technology and applied science.

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MY TIDBITS

With historic details, maps, and scientific deduction, the intriguing mystery behind the disappearance of two ships and their crews takes on a new light.

Sliding back into 1845, the reader joins the crew of the ship Terror as it departs a port in England in hopes of discovering the Northern Passage along with a partner ship, Erebus. While the reader is the 2nd in command and learns about their own history, that's only a small part of everything disclosed. With background information, surrounding tidbits from other areas, and dives into science, the mystery behind the ships' and crews' disappearance is explored.

This is a book, packed with information, photos, maps and more. It starts with a note from the author, which sets the tone and gives a few hints at what is to be expected. Then, it dives into the material. Chapters separate the various times and themes, helping the organization. The rest is a piecing together of various tidbits from many directions. While it does start out and flows along a type of historic setting, where the reader is the 2nd in command, this is only a section (and by no means the largest) of the book. Blocks of information, set off with different colored backgrounds, give insight into all sorts of information from the backgrounds of those involved, past explorations, events which are tied (sometimes, very loosely) to the expedition in some way or another, political trends, social points, and then...and most importantly...how science can be used (and is used) to clarify or investigate certain things. In other words, it's a conglomeration of facts and theories from many directions. 

History buffs are going to enjoy this. There are tons of historic treats, which do expand thoughts and the way to view things. For others, this might be a bit of a muddle. There is so much information from so many aspects that it fogs together without careful attention...something not every reader is going to be willing to give. So, this is for a very specific audience, but with that in mind, it is well done and interesting.

The highlight, outside of all the information, is the interweaving of modern science and how it can be used to solve puzzles of the past. This alone opens minds and will help readers get a glimpse at history from a different view. And that's always a good thing. I do recommend this one to young adults, who are interested in historical events and especially to homeschoolers (at a higher level), who want to not only take a close look at this historical moment but see how science and history still come together.

And here he is...

With over four million books in print, Sigmund Brouwer is a bestselling author of books for both children and adults. His novel Dead Man's Switch was the 2015 winner of the Arthur Ellis Award for Canada's best young adult mystery of the year. Two of his novels have been finalists for Canadian Children's Book Centre Book Awards. Sigmund lives in Alberta and travels frequently to deliver his Rock and Roll Literacy presentation to schools across Canada and the United States. (as found on Kids Can Press)

Sneak Peek: Between by TJ Amberson with Giveaway!

 

BETWEEN

by TJ Amberson

January 24th 2022

YA Paranormal

 

Lana Hathaway wasn’t supposed to die. But when she suddenly finds herself face-to-face with a handsome guardian angel named Kade, Lana learns she has just drowned in her best friend’s swimming pool. Kade explains that because of her untimely death, Lana has become a Watcher like him—a soul stuck in limbo between Earth and Beyond. However, not wanting Lana to suffer his same fate, Kade breaks eternal rules and releases Lana back to Earth.

Soon, Lana and Kade discover that releasing her back to Earth had profound and unexpected consequences: now Lana is being hunted by those who dwell Below, including an enigmatic soul named Damien. With both their eternal destinies on the line, Lana and Kade must decide if Damien is an enemy or an ally as they race against time to save themselves . . . and if they fail, they will remain Between forever.

Goodreads / Amazon

SNEAK PEEK

As the sounds of the conversation finished drawing me out of my slumber, I stirred and opened my eyes. I was lying in bed in my room at home. The golden sunlight of late afternoon was streaming in through the window at my right, casting a glow upon three people who stood at the foot of my bed. The people were talking amongst themselves, seeming not to notice that I was watching them.

Ignoring the dull ache in my head, I pushed myself up to a seated position. “Kade?” I mumbled in weary confusion, rubbing my eyes. “Is that you?”

All three of them snapped their heads in my direction. I stared back. I didn’t recognize the other two members of the trio, but the person who stood farthest to the right was definitely Kade, the same hot-guy hallucination I had seen when I drowned the evening prior. As before, Kade wore a gray t-shirt and jeans, and his dark hair was slightly tousled. This time, though, Kade’s brow was furrowed in a way I didn’t like. A sense of apprehension crept over me. Something was wrong—something even more wrong than the fact that I was apparently experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations, that is.

And here she is...

TJ Amberson hails from the Pacific Northwest, where she lives with her husband and nutty cocker spaniel. When she's not writing, TJ might be found pretending to know how to garden, riding her bike, playing the piano, enjoying a hot chocolate, or scouring the Internet for cheap plane tickets. She adores all things cozy, seasonal, and holiday-themed; she cheers for happily-ever-afters; and she believes there's no such thing as too much seasonal decor. With a love of multiple genres, TJ writes sweet romance and romantic comedies for adults and advanced teen readers, and clean fantasy adventures for teen and advanced tween readers.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest

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Review: Stella Keeps the Sun Up by Clothilde Ewing and IWSG

The Insecure Writer’s Support Group posts every 1st Wednesday of the month and gives writers/authors a chance to admit fears or offer encouragement to those who need it. (started by the fantastic Alex J. Cavanaugh) To join in, click the image for more details! The amazing co-hosts this month are  Joylene Nowell Butler, Jacqui Murray, Sandra Cox, and Lee Lowery!

This month's question: Is there someone who supported or influenced you and isn't around anymore?

That's an easy one to answer. Yes. My mother passed away this last November, and she was one of my biggest supporters...and not just in writing. Every little accomplishment I had, she'd jump on the phone and call my aunts and tell them about it. I think she was more excited about everything than even me. And yes, I do miss her.

*****

And now, for today's review!

The cover on today's review is so full of energy and happiness that it had me smiling the second I saw it. I'm betting this little girl is a ball of joy and probably has a head packed with all sorts of clever ideas. And isn't that hippo cute?

Anyway, the idea of trying to keep the sun up so the day never end sounds like it could include all sorts of humor and nonsense. So, I was more than curious to see how Stella accomplishes this...or at least, how she thinks she's going to do it.

Oh, and this was doesn't come out until March 8th, but it's available for pre-order (of course).

STELLA KEEPS THE SUN UP

by Clothilde Ewing

Illustrated by Lynn Gaines

Simon and Schuster

Picture Book

48 pages

ages 4 to 8

COMING...

MARCH 8th!!!

In this incandescently fun, hijinks-filled picture book, a young girl schemes to keep the sun up in the sky so she never has to go to bed.

If Stella had her way, she would stop sleeping on her sixth birthday. Because sleep is boring. And there are so many better things you could be doing. And Stella is tired of being tired. So she comes up with a plan. People only have to go to bed when it gets dark, and it only gets dark because the sun goes down. If she can keep the sun in the sky, she and her best friend, Roger, can stay up for a hundred years!

They enact their magnificent, wonderful, genius plan, offering the sun a cup of coffee, shining a light at it so it will shine back, and jumping on a trampoline to reach the sun and push it higher. But before long, Stella begins to wonder…are there downsides to keeping the sun up forever?

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MY TIDBITS

Determination, clever ideas, and a trusty friend at the side are all this girl needs to take on the sun and convince it to stay.

Stella loves to do all sorts of activities, and she's not a fan of bedtime, since she has to sleep all night with nothing to do. It seems a waste. The only way to end this nonsense is to stop the sun from setting. It's not an easy task, but Stella is ready to take on the challenge...and that without her parents knowing what she's up to.

Stella is so full of energy and excitement that it's hard not to smile. The joy of life beams from her. I was glad to see that this doesn't change the entire book through, either. When something doesn't seem to work out the way she hopes, there's no pouting or time for negative thoughts. She just jumps right into the next attempt. This positivity stays all the way to the end thanks to an interesting and sweet twist.

The illustrations are bright and let Stella's personality glow. The hippo on her side is super cute and adds to the fantasy and fun—a talking hippo in sunglasses is definitely a treat. Each spread carries the needed details to let Stella's world open up and switches seamlessly between the reality and fantasy.

While Stella is trying to keep the sun up to keep playing (which is something to think about), there's a long-distance friendship at play. This, unfortunately, is only mentioned very briefly in the beginning before hitting again at the end and might go over some young listeners' heads until explained. Still, this is such a cute read, and I do recommend it.

And here they are...

Clothilde Ewing started her work life as a lifeguard, but she has spent most of her career telling people’s stories as a journalist (CBS News), television producer (The Oprah Winfrey Show), and communications professional. She loves using the written word to honor a child’s imagination and is on a mission to help adults tap into the wonder they felt as children. She believes that one of the greatest lessons we can pass on to our kids is that differences are for celebrating, and that we have more in common than we ever imagined. A native of Cleveland, she lives in Chicago with her husband and two highly energetic children.

Lynn Gaines has been making art for years and is still in love with making it! Born and raised in Ohio, she currently works for American Greetings, but also loves making art for children’s books and kids-related products. She works both digitally and traditionally, often combining the two. She hasn’t met a craft she doesn’t love—sewing is one of her favorite hobbies. She looks for inspiration everywhere and often finds it in bookstores and thrift stores, looking in vintage children’s books and animation, and even in a garden or two. In her spare time, she is a bit of an illustration nerd, loves to roller skate, read, and toy with writing. Lynn lives in Northeast Ohio with her husband Mel, her mom, and two fur-kids and studio mates, Charlie and Harry.

Review: Spy School by Stuart Gibbs! Graphic Novel Form

As you can tell after yesterday's review, I'm totally in spy mood. Today's review takes the exciting Spy School series...and yep, I've read several books in that one, although not all...and transforms it into graphic novel form. I was super-excited to see this because not only are graphic novels a nice change-up, but I really believe this book is optimal for this format.

Oh, and I just noticed that this one doesn't come out until February 15th...so only a couple more weeks!

Ready to see if it met my expectations? 

SPY SCHOOL

The Graphic Novel

by Stuart Gibbs

Illustrated by Anjan Sarkar

Simon and Schuster

296 pages

ages 8 to 12

Can an undercover nerd become a superstar secret agent? The first book in Stuart Gibbs’s New York Times bestselling Spy School series is now a graphic novel!

Ben Ripley may only be in middle school, but he’s already pegged his dream job: CIA or bust. Unfortunately for him, his personality doesn’t exactly scream “secret agent.” In fact, Ben is so awkward, he can barely get to school and back without a mishap. Because of his innate nerdiness, Ben is not surprised when he is recruited for a magnet school with a focus on science—but he’s entirely shocked to discover that the school is actually a front for a junior CIA academy. Could the CIA really want him?

Actually, no. There’s been a case of mistaken identity—but that doesn’t stop Ben from trying to morph into a supercool undercover agent, the kind that always gets the girl. And through a series of hilarious misadventures, Ben realizes he might actually be a halfway decent spy…if he can survive all the attempts being made on his life! With action-packed, eye-catching art, join Ben Ripley as he survives his first year at the Academy of Espionage.

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MY TIDBITS

While the novel form of this book was already exciting, this graphic form shoots the adventure up to an entirely new level.

With a great balance of text and illustrations, the story flows with all the excitement it deserves. I was afraid the author might be tempted to add too much (after reading the larger novels), but that is definitely not the case. Not a single letter was wasted on unnecessary descriptions, background information, or add-ons. Rather, the text remains short, concise and exactly what is required, and never cheapens the illustrations. It was easy to read, hard to put down, and exciting front beginning to end. So I found this adaption well done.

While a spy story is, of course, about stopping the bad guys and getting out of tough situations...or just thinking things through...that's not all this one holds. The characters come to life as much as the tale. Ben does start with his normal life before diving into the spy world, and that does let the reader connect with him first and know where he's coming from. He's a nice guy, who has his own dreams, and those aren't necessarily understood by his friends or classmates. His awkwardness continues into the spy school, but this is where his character growth starts. The characters around him don't have the same starting depth, but they gain their own personalities, quirks and even history as the story goes along...and all of that without breaking beat on the action and intrigue.

Fans of the original series will want to pick this up, but I see those who haven't read it, yet, as the more enthusiastic readers—reluctant readers, graphic novel fans, action fans, and such. It's a fun read with tons to enjoy, and I do hope that there will be more graphic novels coming up.

And here they are...

Stuart Gibbs is the New York Times bestselling author of the Charlie Thorne series, FunJungle series, Moon Base Alpha series, and Spy School series. He has written screenplays, worked on a whole bunch of animated films, developed TV shows, been a newspaper columnist, and researched capybaras (the world’s largest rodents). Stuart lives with his family in Los Angeles. You can learn more about what he’s up to at StuartGibbs.com.

Anjan Sarkar’s preferred illustration style is “wonky and slightly misshapen,” which he realized around the time that he started drawing with my children (who are masters of the wonky line). His work is influenced by illustrators like David McKee, Jill McDonald, and Maurice Sendak, whose books he read as a little person. Anjan is also unhealthily obsessed with a few contemporary illustrators such as Benjamin Chaud, Sara Ogilvie, and Neal Layton. Since becoming a full-time illustrator, he’s created illustration for children’s books, animation, and advertising. Anjan works from a little studio in his house in Sheffield, England, where he lives with his wife and two kids.

Happy Book Birthday, My Magic Summer by Brian Carmody!

Yay! It's always wonderful when a new book hits the world! This one comes out of my own publisher's doors and is a young adult fantasy more steered toward guy readers. Not that it means us girls won't like it, too.  

MY MAGIC SUMMER

With the Moon Maidens 

by Brian Carmody

Dancing Lemur Press

YA Fantasy

Who are these moon maidens?

Summer of ’94 and Connor Whelan is excited to spend the last three months before his senior year with his uncle in Texas. Aware this trip is due to his mom’s cancer treatments, he still hopes this will be a season of magic.

He gets his wish when he encounters three magical women one night. Claiming to be from the moon itself, bewitching Iluna, flighty Eiru, and motherly Cassiopeia are about to make Connor’s last summer of childhood one to remember.

However, his interest in local girl Laura puts him in hot water with her tough boyfriend. His fascination with Iluna also confuses him. Will the moon maidens’ lessons about joy, wonder, and hope get him through this crazy summer?

An award-winning screenwriter and author, Brian Carmody is a dreamer, a wisher, a hoper, a prayer, a pretender and a magic bean buyer. He’s had moondreams from Texas to Virginia, and now California, where he has plenty of other flax golden tales to spin by his fire. www.brianzwriter.com/

Links:
Dancing Lemur Press - http://www.dancinglemurpressllc.com/new-adult-young-adult
Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0965XBJ7Y
Barnes & Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/my-magic-summer-brian-carmody/1139629159?ean=9781939844804
iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/book/x/id1573280572
Kobo - https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/Search?Query=9781939844811
Scribed - https://www.scribd.com/search?query=9781939844811&language=0
Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58346132-my-magic-summer-with-the-moon-maidens