Review - Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus by Kate O'Hearn

Title: Pegasus: The Flame of Olympus
Series: Pegasus (Book #1)

Author: Kate O'Hearn

Publisher:  Aladdin

Release Dates: May 22, 2012
Pages: 385, Hardcover

Lexile Measure: 620

Age Range: 8+

Goodreads Rating: 3.97 stars
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
(This book was originally published in the UK as Pegasus and the Flame in 2011).

Summary from Goodreads: A young girl, a winged horse, and a war of epic proportions make for an adventurous start to an exciting new trilogy.

When Pegasus crashes onto a Manhattan roof during a terrible storm, Emily’s life changes forever. Suddenly allied with a winged horse she’d always thought was mythical, Emily is thrust into the center of a fierce battle between the Roman gods and a terrifying race of multiarmed stone warriors called the Nirads. Emily must team up with a thief named Paelen, the goddess Diana, and a boy named Joel in order to return Pegasus to Olympus and rescue the gods from a certain death.

Along the way, Emily and her companions will fight monsters, run from a government agency that is prepared to dissect Pegasus, and even fly above the Manhattan skyline—all as part of a quest to save Olympus before time runs out.

OUR TAKE

After my nine-year-old daughter read The Flame of Olympus, she said, "This is my new favorite book.  Mommy, you have to read it!  Now!"  In fact, she was so emphatic about it that she cried when her brother said he wasn't interested in reading the book (he was not thrilled about the idea of a pegasus book).  She refused to give up - she finally negotiated with him that she would read the first Harry Potter book (which she had been reluctant to pick up for some reason) if he would read this book.

Turns out, even 11-year-old brothers can love a pegasus book if the story has enough adventure in it!  (He's already read the second book in the series, even though my daughter and I haven't gotten to it yet).

The story starts out with an epic battle that is taking place in Olympus and is told from the perspective of Paelen, a thief who wants to steal Pegasus' golden bridle.  When the war is all but lost, Pegasus escapes to the mortal world.

A girl named Emily finds Pegasus, hurt and alone.  She wants to help the mythical winged horse, but she doesn't know how, so she recruits the only person she can think of to help her - a young bully named Joel who is obsessed with Pegasus and mythology in general.   Soon, both Emily and Joel find themselves fighting mythical monsters and running away from a government group that would imprison Pegasus, all the while struggling to save Olympus and human world along with it.  

The POV in this book switches back and forth between Emily and Paelen.  My daughter loved Emily and the human perspective, while my son was a big fan of Paelen and his storyline (which includes Paelen being caught by that dangerous government entity!).  

I thought that the book was extremely well-written and enjoyable.  There was lots of action to hold a child's (or middle-schooler's) attention.  The ending was also very satisfying - as an adult, I figured out what was going to happen, but my kids weren't so sure.

I would highly recommend this book to any kid who loves fantasy or adventure books (and to their parents too!).  4.5/5 stars

Review - Pet Hotel #1: Calling All Pets & #2: A Big Surprise by Kate Finch

Title: Pet Hotel #1: Calling All Pets

Author: Kate Finch

Publisher:  Scholastic

Release Dates: June 25, 2013
Pages: 96, Paperback

Lexile Measure: 620

Age Range: 7+ 

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: A fun, funny new chapter book series full of adorable pets and silly adventures!

Twins Meg and Charlie are moving into their great-great-aunt's hotel, and they're in for some surprises! The run-down hotel is full of cool old rooms, a rooftop garden, even an elevator. There's also one big problem -- it doesn't have any guests.

But when Meg and Charlie volunteer to look after a neighbor's golden retriever puppy, the fuzzy little furball gives them a great idea. They're going to transform their new home into an amazing hotel . . . for pets!

Title: Pet Hotel #2: A Big Surprise

Author: Kate Finch

Publisher:  Scholastic

Release Dates: June 25, 2013
Pages: 96, Paperback

Lexile Measure: 620

Age Range: 7+

My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Summary from Goodreads: The next guest at the Pet Hotel is a tabby cat named Matilda. But Meg and Charlie are worried, because she doesn't want to play -- all she wants to do is hide and nap! What's wrong with Matilda?

In the meantime, Elvis the cockatiel is causing trouble during his stay. He keeps stealing food from the kitchen, and he won't leave Matilda alone! Is he just a mischief maker, or does he know something about the tabby cat that Meg and Charlie don't?

OUR TAKE

My nine-year-old daughter is a big animal fan and she really loved these books.  They are great fun and also very cute!  They have lots of adorable illustrations, which was always a big draw for my daughter when she was a bit younger (not to say that she doesn't still like them now, but she's willing to read books without them now that she's older).  I would say that these books would be perfect for the second and third grade crowd, but would also work for younger kids who have moved on to chapter books - even though the books are 96 pages, a lot of that is illustrations, so it makes for a pretty easy read.  Plus, the themed rooms in the hotel are perfect to capture a child's imagination!

When my daughter was reading the first book, she kept stopping to tell me things that were happening in it - "Mommy, the hotel is just a regular hotel for people."  "Mommy, they just got a dog to take care of" "Mommy..." You get the idea.  This is a sure sign that she's enjoying a book!  

My only issue with the books (as a mom) is that they keep losing the pets that they're taking care of!!  Yes, they always find them again, but in the span of two books, the kids lost four pets!  It's not the best example of responsibility.  Books like the Animal Ark series show a more realistic portrait of taking care of animals (although,  these books do at least show that the kids have to do a lot of work to feed and walk the animals).  Still, the books are meant to be fun and cute and aren't really meant to be taken all that seriously.  They're perfect for the younger set! If your child enjoys books about animals, I'm sure they would love these.  3.5/5 stars

**Disclosure: ARC versions of the first two books in this series were provided by Scholastic via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***

Review & $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway - Osteoblasts to the Rescue by Heather Manley, N.D.

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Osteoblasts to the Rescue   Merrin and Pearl are at it again! This time these two young Human Body Detectives are exploring the skeletal system. With the ability to jump in and examine the various systems in the body, Merrin and Pearl’s adventures are fun stories and helpful tools to educate children. In Osteoblasts to the Rescue, Merrin and Pearl navigate their friend, Lily’s, broken arm and learn all about bones. As the fourth in The Human Body Detectives series, Osteoblasts to the Rescue can also stand alone as a book that’s sure to inform, engage, and inspire readers of all ages.  

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OUR TAKE

As a homeschooling mom, I was very curious to check this book out.  I had seen these Human Body Detectives books on the Homeschool Buyers Co-op before, but I had never  purchased them.  After checking out Osteoblasts to the Rescue, I will definitely buy the rest of the books in the series!

Osteoblasts to the Rescue is a very cute and educational story.  Pearl and Merrin travel into their friend's body in order to explore her skeletal system and discover how her broken arm is healing.  The story is short, but cute and is followed by a non-fiction section of the book that gives more facts about the skeletal system.

What I loved:

• The educational value.  The book had so much great information about the skeletal system!  I learned a lot from reading it.  I thought it was great that the author used all of the technical terms for everything and didn't dumb the information down too much for kids.  Instead, the technical terms were used and then the author would give the common term to explain it.  I loved that the book got my daughter thinking about her bones and asking questions.
• The fun story and illustrations.  If this had simply been a non-fiction kids' book about the skeletal system I don't think my daughter would have been very interested.  But, because there was a cute story involved and there were fun illustrations, she was drawn in.  By the time we got to the completely non-fiction part of the book at the end, she was already invested in the story and wanted to know more.  
• The facts section.  I think it was great that the facts given at the end of the story were interesting and presented in a bullet-point format.  This made it easier for my 9-year-old to digest the information.  I thought it was great that we were given nutrition information on what types of foods would help our bodies.  I also LOVED the illustrations of the skeleton that reinforced what we had already been learning about.
• The jokes.  At the very end of the book were a list of cute kids' jokes about bones.  Definitely appreciated in my joke-loving family!

What I didn't like:

• Confusing at first.  While I loved that the technical terms were used and the book explained the skeletal system thoroughly, I was a bit afraid that the information might confuse my daughter at first and I did have to stop and explain a few things to her (or show her on our bodies where certain bones were that they were talking about).  If I had had a print copy of the book instead of an eBook copy, this would not have really been as much of an issue, though, because I would have seen that there was a picture of the skeleton with all of the bones that were being discussed labeled and I could have referred to it more easily (it's harder to do this with an eBook).  After reading the non-fiction section of the book, I think it would be great to go back over the story part of the book and re-read it - I will definitely be doing this with my kids, but we haven't done it yet.
• Series references.  While this book could definitely be read by itself, I think it would have been nice to have read at least the first book in the series first.  The book explained that the girls are human body detectives and that they can go into people's bodies, but it didn't really explain how or why - I'm guessing that there might have been a bit of explanation in the first book.  We'll definitely be getting it and reading it!

Osteoblasts to the Rescue is a very cute and extremely educational kids book, which I HIGHLY recommend for homeschooling moms or anyone who has kids who appreciate learning about the human body.  We will definitely be getting the rest of the books in this series!  4.5/5 Stars.

    Author Heather Manley, N.D. I have always been passionate about healthy foods and exercising. Growing up in Toronto, Canada I would exhaust my allowance at the health food store and write school papers on spices and herbs. It was no wonder I found myself studying biology at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida. I loved animals as well so I initially focused on wildlife conservation and animal biology, however, with some exposure to naturopathic medicine, this health care philosophy rang true for me. I switched to pre-med and I graduated in 1993. I earned my doctorate at the from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon before moving with my family to Hawaii where I became licensed and continue to practice today. Everything I learned in medschool came into fruition when my children were born. I realized the importance of teaching them, by example, about healthy food and lifestyle. Telling them what to eat was not enough, so I created and wrote educational adventure stories that explain the physiological systems in the body. Not only did my kids love the engaging and interactive stories but so did their friends. I love seeing kids have fun learning to understand their bodies and how food helps them run faster and be smarter. My focus is on preventative health. I am passionate about encouraging families to seek the value of a simple lifestyle and offering tools to assist them at being proactive and confident in their daily living. I am constantly inspired seeing people make positive changes in their lives. With my website, I am excited to reach more families in a way that will manifest healthy living.

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Review & Giveaway - Evertaster and The Buttersmiths' Gold by Adam Glendon Sidwell

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The Buttersmiths' Gold

BATTLES. BLUEBERRIES. BOVINES.

TORBJORN AND STORFJELL’S HISTORY UNFOLDS IN AN EPIC EVERTASTER NOVELLA.

Everyone knows the most coveted treasure of the Viking Age was blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins so succulent that if you sniffed just a whiff, you'd want a whole bite. If you bit a bite, you'd want a batch; if you snatched a batch, you'd stop at nothing short of going to war just to claim them all.

Young Torbjorn Trofastsonn comes from the clan that makes them. He's a Viking through and

through – he's thirteen winters old, larger than most respectable rocks, and most of all, a Buttersmith. That's what he thinks anyway, until a charismatic merchant makes Torbjorn question his place among the muffin-makers. When Torbjorn lets the secret of his clan's muffin recipe slip, he calls doom and destruction down upon his peaceful village and forces his brother Storfjell and his clansmen to do the one thing they are ill-prepared to do: battle for their lives.

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About The Buttersmiths' Gold

The Buttersmiths' Gold is a spin off novella in the Evertaster series that tells the story of two Viking brothers and their adventurous past. The Evertaster series (Book #1 released June 14, 2012) is about Guster Johnsonville, who goes searching for a legendary taste rumored to be the most delicious in all of history. Along the way he meets a slew of mysterious characters, including two Viking brothers Torbjorn and Storfjell. The Buttersmiths' Gold is their story. 124 pages. By Adam Glendon Sidwell. Published by Future House Publishing.

Evertaster, Book #1:

A legendary taste. Sought after for centuries. Shrouded in secrecy.

When eleven-year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother’s casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him into the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city they meet a dying pastry maker. In his last breath he entrusts them with a secret: an ancient recipe that makes the most delicious taste the world will ever know — a taste that will change the fate of humanity forever.

Forced to flee by a cult of murderous chefs, the Johnsonvilles embark on a perilous journey to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves. Along the way they discover the truth: Guster is an Evertaster — a kid so picky that nothing but the legendary taste itself will save him from starvation. With the sinister chefs hot on Guster’s heels and the chefs’ reign of terror spreading, Guster and his family must find the legendary taste before it’s too late.

 

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MY TAKE

Evertaster

I read both Evertaster and The Buttersmiths' Gold for this review.  First, I'll give my thoughts on Evertaster.

Evertaster is an adorable kids' adventure novel filled with quirky characters, crazy villains and even crazier "monsters" (okay, not exactly monsters, but I don't know what else to call giant man-eating chickens!).

What I loved:

• The unique concept.  So, when was the last time you read a book about a boy who saves the world with his incredibly refined palate?  Never, you say?  Yeah, me neither.  This idea was so fun and unique!  Guster is an Evertaster - he has such an amazing sense of taste that he can detect not only every ingredient in a recipe, but also exactly what the climate was where the ingredient was grown, who touched it, how much of it was used, and so on and so forth.  This seems like a wonderful gift.  The only problem is that his sense of taste is so refined that almost nothing will satisfy him and he is literally starving to death.  When he hears of a mysterious "perfect" recipe that could bring about world peace and satisfy his incredibly picky taste buds, he just has to find it!  However, the ingredients are not so easy to come by and he is being pursued by a gang of murderous chefs who want to use the One Recipe for their own dastardly plans.  Like I said, this plot is NOT cookie cutter!
• The fun adventure.  I could totally see this book being made into a really fun kids' cartoon.  I mean, I could practically see the movie as I was reading it.  Each ingredient that Guster needs to find is so imaginative - massive eggs grown on a tree from seeds that are laid by giant, man-eating chickens, sugar crystals growing like stalagmites and stalactites in hidden cave guarded by gorillas, butter that comes straight from the cow (after the cow has been "joggled" properly).  Really, I don't know how Sidwell came up with this stuff, but it was so much fun to read!
• Guster's family.  I loved the fact that Guster's family was involved in his whole adventure and that they grew closer and closer because of it.  They stuck together, even in the midst of all the craziness.  I especially appreciated his wonderful, unadventurous mom who had to embrace her inner adventurer.  One of my favorite Mom quotes came from the beginning of their search for the One Recipe (when things had just started to get really dangerous):

"Guster!  How many times have I told you not to go into dark secret passages in the middle of ancient cities?  See?  This is exactly what happens when you disobey your mother!"

          Yep, just another average day in the life of a mom.

What I didn't like:

• Honestly, not much.  In order for me to come up with things I didn't like, I have to be pretty nit-picky.  There were a few minor editing issues in the book (and I am very picky when it comes to editing - I read one review that said that this book was poorly edited and all I can think is that she must have read a much earlier version of the book because I saw nothing but a few very minor issues).  There were also a few points in the end where I wasn't sure why Guster made some of his final decisions (don't want to spoil anything, so I won't go into more detail about that).  But, overall, I liked most everything about this book!

Evertaster is a humorous, fast-paced children's novel that is sure to please.  I highly recommend it!  5/5 Stars.

The Buttersmiths' Gold

The Buttersmith's Gold is a companion novella to Evertaster that tells the history of the butter used in The One Recipe and how it came to be.  It is a fun tale that includes Viking wars and giant murderous trolls.

What I loved:

• The history.  It was fun to learn about how and why the Vikings originally started "joggling" their cows in order to make their incredibly unique and amazing butter.  I also liked that there was a little insight into The One Recipe thrown into this book that you didn't get from Evertaster.
• Torbjorn.  I thought that the character of Torbjorn was great - and one that kids would really be able to relate to.  He's trying to prove that he's growing up to his father and his clan, but he makes some pretty major mistakes along the way.  I love that he is able to redeem himself and save the day in the end!

What I didn't like:

• The tone.  Actually, I should clarify and say that there was nothing wrong with the tone of this book.  It just wasn't what I was expecting after I had just read Evertaster.  Where Evertaster was a fun, humorous adventure, The Buttersmiths' Gold read more like a fable.  And while it had its lighthearted moments, it just felt more serious somehow.  Again, it's not that this was bad, it just wasn't what I was expecting based on the first book.  

Overall, The Buttersmiths' Gold was a great addition to the Evertaster series.  While it was a little less fun and humorous than the first book, it added great depth to a part of the story that just had to be explored further.  I would give this novella 4/5 Stars.

    Author Adam Sidwell In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He’s been eating food since age 7, so feels very qualified to write this book. He once showed a famous movie star where the bathroom was. Adam currently lives in Los Angeles, where he can’t wait to fall into the sea.

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Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 7/2/13 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $25 US.  a Rafflecopter giveaway  

5 Star Review & $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway: Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy (The Templar Chronicles #2) by Jeff Gunhus

 

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Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy (Book 2) After barely surviving the onslaught of monsters that tried to kill him the day before his fourteenth birthday, Jack Templar leaves his hometown on a quest to rescue his father and discover the truth about his past. Joined by his friends Will and T-Rex, and led by Eva, the mysterious one-handed monster hunter, Jack sets out for the Monster Hunter Academy where he hopes to find answers to his questions. Little does he suspect that the Academy is filled with dangers of its own, many of them more terrifying than anything he’s faced so far.

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Jack Templar: Monster Hunter Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend "T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of Sunnyvale and try to kill him. As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls, zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.

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My TAKE

I read both Monster Hunter and Monster Hunter Academy for this review, so these are my thoughts on both books.  I have to confess that my kids haven't read these yet (they just haven't had time recently because they are in the middle of other series), but I have no doubt in my mind that my 10-year-old son will LOVE these books and I'm pretty sure my 9-year-old daughter will enjoy them as well.  (I'll post an update once they finish them). 

What I loved:

• The fun and witty intros.  Both books start out with a really amusing warning about how monsters are real and cautioning you that reading the book will draw monsters to you so that you will never be safe again.  (Warning - if you have kids who are easily scared, this might actually get to them!).  I thought it was great fun and a fantastic way to draw kids into the story, making them feel like they could actually be a part of it.  Just check out this excerpt from Monster Hunter Academy (what middle grade boy wouldn't LOVE this?)

Since I can’t be certain that you read my first book about the night I found out I was a monster hunter, I should start out with a warning. 

First, monsters are real. Vampires, werewolves, zombies, demons; you name it. In fact they are more common than you could ever imagine. Second, this book is not make-believe. This is a truthful account of my life as a monster hunter and the mysterious circumstances that seem to constantly surround me. Third, reading this book makes you fair game for monsters. 

You heard me right: the simple act of reading this book will attract monsters to you and give them the go-ahead to attack. Usually, if you were under fourteen years old, you would be safe by the Law of Quattuordecim, an ancient truce between man and monster that protects non-combatant children on both sides until sundown on their fourteenth birthday. I blew it by attacking a monster that was trying to eat someone I knew the day before my birthday. You’re about to blow it by reading this book. 

If you’re over fourteen, you are already at risk for monster attacks, but in reality they are few and far between. Still, by reading this book, you are guaranteeing they will come after you. So don’t come crying to me if a rock troll chops off your feet or a harpy eats one of your eyeballs. The choice is yours. 

However, if you decide to turn the page, you’ll be reading about the Monster Hunter Academy, a place no non-monster hunter has ever seen or heard about before. What happened there is not for those with weak stomachs or for those who are easily upset. There is blood and gore and death and, like it or not, some kissing. But there is also an adventure unlike anything you have ever seen before. 

So turn the page if you dare. The adventure starts now.

• The action.  These books are full of monster fighting action, sure to please your average middle grade boy.  The fighting sometimes gets intense.  (Although it's not gory or age inappropriate, if you have a sensitive child, these scenes could be bothersome).  The book lives up to its name - Jack is a monster hunter and he ends up battling LOTS of monsters.  
• The high stakes.  Unlike in some books for middle graders, everyone is not safe.  In fact, characters die.  The heightened stakes make those action scenes that I just mentioned that much more intense because you're never quite sure if everyone is going to make it.  
• The characters. Jack is a character that lots of boys can connect to - an average boy put into extraordinary circumstances.  Even though he suddenly gains immense strength, he doesn't instantly turn into a fearless hero.  Instead he sometimes lets others down and he struggles with whether or not he can handle the pressure.  Meanwhile, his friend Will is oozing confidence and courage, sometimes making Jack feel that he can't possibly be the hero everyone is searching for.  Their other friend, T-Rex is a fun character who suffers from anxiety and low self-esteem (partly from being bullied).  I especially loved him in the second book, when he truly discovered his importance and owned it!  

What I didn't like:

• Its similarities to that "other" series.  I have to confess that I was a bit afraid that this series would be a Lightning Thief copycat, just using monsters instead of mythological creatures.  I was especially worried when I saw that book two took place at a monster fighting academy (hmmm... Camp Halfblood anyone?).  However, I will say that, in the end, while some comparisons could certainly be made, I felt that the Jack Templar books stood on their own.  These books will definitely appeal to fans of Riordan, but they aren't a rehash of his books.  It's a win-win as far as I'm concerned!
• Very few adult influences.  Besides Jack's aunt (who is present only in the first book) and the leader of the Monster Academy (in the second book), there are no other adults in these books (unless you count the enemies!).  Will's parents are abusive (though this is not directly seen in the books, it is referred to) and T-Rex's grandma is senile.  While I understand how these things helped propel the story, I kind of wished that there had been one or two more positive examples of adults in the kids' lives.

I would highly recommend these books to anyone who loves adventure  and fantasy.  Riordan fans will definitely love this series!  Honestly, I felt like I had to be very nitpicky to even come up with negatives about this book - it's exactly what a middle grade fantasy should be. I am definitely looking forward to the next installment!  5/5 Stars.

***Disclosure: This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and my review was not affected in any way. All opinions are my own*** 

 

Awards for Jack Templar Monster Hunter

Book of the Year Finalist by Forward Magazine   

Next Generation Indie Book Finalist

Indie Excellence Finalist

Parents Choice Recommended Book Award                            

Author Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and reliving those adventures all over again.

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Spontaneous Midsummer's Eve Giveaway Hop!

Kathy over at I Am a Reader, Not a Writer decided to host a spur of the moment giveaway hop and I thought I'd join in!  There are LOTS of blogs participating, so be sure to visit them all for the chance to win tons of awesome prizes!!  (See the linky below for list of participating blogs).

For my part of the hop, I am giving away your choice ANY book from the Book Depository (up to a $12 value).  This giveaway is international and is open to anyone as long as The Book Depository ships to your address for free.

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Teaser Tuesday - Jack Templar, Monster Hunter

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

~Grab your current read

~Open to a random page

~Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on the page

~BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! ( make sure that what you share doesn't give away to much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)

~Share the title & author too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR lists if they like your teasers!

- Then go on over to Should be Reading and share your teaser in her comments section!

My teaser today is from Jack Templar, Monster Hunter.  I'll be reviewing the second book in the series (Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy) on this blog on Friday, but for now, I'm sharing a fun teaser from the first book.  (Tell me what middle grade boy wouldn't love to read a book that says stuff like this):

Jack Templar, Monster Hunter

by Jeff Gunhus

"But I warn you (and this is a big warning), if you read this book, if you learn about the monsters who roam among us and the hunters who fight them, if you decide to learn the truth, then you will become fair game for the monsters to chase...And at some point, they will find you, just like they found me, and you will be forced to defend yourself."