Iggy Loomis - Superkid in Training

Iggy Loomis - Superkid in Training 
by Jennifer Allison

For fans of Captain Underpants, here comes Iggy Loomis -- already a huge pain in his older brother Daniel’s you-know-what. But when a science experiment gone wrong makes Iggy’s DNA mutate, Iggy gets cool super powers! Is Iggy going to turn into an alien? Daniel needs to stop Iggy right now—before EVERYONE gets in trouble! With aliens, gadgets, space travel, superpowers, spies, and Jennifer Allison’s humor, this story is an out-of-this-world blast! (description from Amazon.com)

Okay, you all should know that I'm a HUGE fan of the Gilda Joyce series.  I love Gilda! So, when Jennifer's assistant, Sophie, contacted me to ask if I wanted to check out her newest book, IGGY LOOMIS - SUPERKID IN TRAINING, I was delighted to say yes! (Thank you, Sophie!)

This book was fun and exciting for younger readers.  It has great and realistic family relationships.  Daniel is your average kid dealing with a younger brother and sister that happen to be twins! Iggy is a whirlwind of a kid...leaving trails of destroyed toys in his wake, and while Daniel loves him, there's also NO WAY that Daniel wants to share a room with him.  But... to see the way that Daniel protects Iggy, Iggy protects Daniel, the way that Iggy protects his twin sister... and the way that their parents love them all, what a great message for kids!  

Aside from having a crazy family, Daniel meets a cool, but strange boy from next door named Alistair. When he discovers Alistair's secret (he's really an alien, shhh...don't tell!) things start to get truly WILD. I died laughing as Daniel, and us readers, learned that Alistair's people were here to find the perfect conditions to grow new strains of broccoli, the only food his people eat.  All the technologies that Alistair uses, however, to test conditions and species end up becoming problematic for Daniel... especially when Iggy ends up mutating his own DNA with insect species' DNA by accident... 

I really enjoyed both the story of this book and the illustrations by Mike Moran.  I thought this would be a perfect book to give to any 3rd or 4th grader.  It has aliens, science, toys, and interesting friend and family relationships that just about any kid could relate to easily.  I'm happily going to be ordering this book for our library's collection! 

Full disclosure: Review copy provided by author

Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25

The Prisoner of Cell 25

by Richard Paul Evans

Michael Vey, book one

My name is Michael Vey, and the story I’m about to tell you is strange. Very strange. It’s my story.

 

To everyone at Meridian High School, Michael Vey is an ordinary fourteen-year-old. In fact, the only thing that seems to set him apart is the fact that he has Tourette’s syndrome. But Michael is anything but ordinary. Michael has special powers. Electric powers. Michael thinks he's unique until he discovers that a cheerleader named Taylor also has special powers. With the help of Michael’s friend, Ostin, the three of them set out to discover how Michael and Taylor ended up this way, but their investigation brings them to the attention of a powerful group who wants to control the electric children – and through them the world. Michael will have to rely on his wits, powers, and friends if he’s to survive. (description from Amazon.com)

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If you love adventure and people with crazy powers, you need to check out this book.  I was surprised how easily I was drawn into it. I found myself turning pages faster and faster...

Michael was a good character. Not perfect, by any means, and he acknowledges that... but he loves his friends and his mom with everything he has, and he tries to do the right thing whenever he can.  He also has the crazy power to shock people, like an electric eel! Wowza! I kept thinking how much it would hurt to get shocked by him.  *shudders*

Though I've never read anything by this author before (his adult books are a different style), I will definitely be making time sometime this fall to squeeze in book two, Rise of the Elgen.

In My Mailbox - July 24, 2011

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme, hosted by Kristi at the Story Siren, inspired by Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. Every week bloggers can share what they received in the mail or at the bookstore or at the library. The goal is that everyone can be exposed to more books this way!

For Review:

Priscilla the Great: The Kiss of Life by Sybil Nelson
Between the Land and the Sea by Derrolyn Anderson

On My Nook:

Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs by Molly Harper

From the Library:

The Demon Trapper's Daughter by Jana Oliver

Sidekicks

Sidekicks
by Jack Ferraiolo

Batman has Robin, Wonder Woman has Wonder Girl, and Phantom Justice has Bright Boy, a.k.a. Scott Hutchinson, an ordinary schoolkid by day and a superfast, superstrong sidekick by night, fighting loyally next to his hero.

But after an embarrassing incident involving his too-tight spandex costume, plus some signs that Phantom Justice may not be the good guy he pretends to be, Scott begins to question his role. With the help of a fellow sidekick, once his nemesis, Scott must decide if growing up means being loyal or stepping boldly to the center of things. (description from Amazon.com)

Ok, Jack Ferraiolo absolutely cracks me up. I really enjoyed his first book, The Big Splash, a sort-of middle school mob story (see my review here). As in his first novel, Ferraiolo absolutely nails a blend of humor, gritty realism, and startlingly frank questions about people's intentions.

In this novel, that specific feature is even ramped up a notch. When Scott learns Monkeywrench's secret identity, it starts a domino effect, with Scott finding out not only several other secret identities, but learning much more about the people behind each mask. Is every Hero a good guy? Is every Villan truly evil? Scott begins to question the life he thought was so crystal clear.

What makes this book really special, though, is that not only are excellent questions brought up, but Ferraiolo's characters are also inherently funny. I snarfed my way through even the most serious parts and never once felt like I was having to think about right and wrong... I was too busy giggling and rooting for Scott.

I love Jack Ferraiolo's writing style and will absolutely be checking out any books he publishes in the future.

Solid

Solid
by Shelley Workinger

Teens who discover they were secretly genetically altered before birth are brought together at a classified site where they develop "super-abilities", while at the same time forging new friendships, finding love and unearthing a conspiracy. (description from Amazon.com)

Clio finds out that she was part of a genetic experiment, but no one really knows what effect the manipulation may have had on all the teens in the group. She, and a bunch of other similarly afftected teens come together to figure things out. Clio, who has moved around a lot because of her mom's job, has never really made any lifelong friends.

Things change when she arrives at the "camp." Clio meets Bliss, a girl who she immediately clicks with, a fun loving semi-pervy guy named Garrett, a sometimes cranky, slightly OCD girl named Miranda, and a guy...oh, yes, a hot, smart, and sweet guy named Jack. Clio, a fountain of awesome snarkiness, occasionally loses her ability to speak around Jack, but still manages to be the glue that holds the whole group together...even when the proverbial sh*t hits the fan.

As Clio and Miranda learn they can disappear, Bliss finds she can turn herself into a human sparkler, and Garrett is an amazing athlete/superhero/gymnist, only Jack seems to lack a special talent. The more the teens figure out, though, the more they realize that there is someone out there who seems to know just a little more than they do... The teens band together to investigate and discover that not only do they make a great team, one that can really rely on each other, but that when all's said and done they have no desire to lose their newfound group.

This was a super-fast and fun read. I loved Clio's voice. I loved the group dynamic and watching Clio draw the others into her circle. The teens all played really well off of each other and Clio always felt amazingly real to me. She's a girl I would love to hang out with. It was also really cool to see their powers develop, and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next book, now that they know what they can do...

Book two, Settling, actually comes out on this Monday, July 4th and I cannot wait to get it. I read a little preview and it is slightly more steamy and totally intriguing.

If you want to learn more, you can go to the Solid series Facebook page, here. I suggest you check it out!

Full disclosure: Review copy received from author.

Priscilla the Great - Blog Tour

Priscilla the Great
by Sybil Nelson

Did you ever want a blowtorch for a finger? Meet Priscilla Sumner, an ordinary seventh grader with extraordinary gifts. As if middle school isn't hard enough, not only does Priscilla have to fight pimples and bullies, but genetically enhanced assassins trying to kill her and her family. Armed with wit, strength, and a genius best friend, Priscilla must defeat the Selliwood Institute, a mysterious organization with a mission of turning children into killing machines. (description taken from Amazon.com)

What a hilarious and fun middle grade read! I am so excited to find out that this is just book one in a series!

Priscilla is one of those rare characters whose voice just leaps off the page at you. She is funny, loveable, tough, and just the kind of girl you want to root for...it also helps that she's kind of awesome, what with the fire fingers and all! Her brother Josh, who sings Christina Aguilera songs, her mischievous little twin brothers, and her overprotective Dad also feel as if they could walk right off the pages of the book.

Though you may think that a book about a girl who finds out she has superpowers and suddenly has to save other kids like herself would sound kind of farfetched and unbelievable, Nelson's writing just pulls you right past any doubt. The tone of this book is great. I ripped right through it with a smile on my face. I definitely would recommend this to tween girls looking for a role model character...or boys that want something funny...or adults who love funny YA books...or well, anyone.

Full disclosure: Received from Author for Blog Tour

Get to Know... Priscilla Sumner...and her Creator, Sybil Nelson!

As part of the Priscilla the Great blog tour, author Sybil Nelson has graciously stopped by to answer some questions for us!! This book is absolutely hilarious, the start of what I think will be a fantastic new middle grade series, and Sybil is just as spunky as her super creation, Priscilla. :)



1. I have to say I love that Priscilla has multiple powers…but if you could only pick one superpower to have, which would you choose?

I would want to pause time. I tend to do a million things at once and if I could take a break and give myself an extra hour here and there, that would be awesome.
*Oooh! That's a good one. I always say I'd like to be able to split myself in two so that I could be in two places at once, but your idea is EVEN better!*

2. Priscilla has a very overprotective Dad. I love that he’s so actively involved, but I remember being a teen and feeling like parents were such a pain sometimes…Did you draw him at all from your real life experiences?

Oh definitely. If my mother was a superhero she would be Psycho Paranoid Lady. My teenage years were an experiment in covert operations. Thankfully, I had my own car and an active imagination. She never knew what was going on. ;)

3. An older brother that likes to sing Christina Aguilera songs – why Christina Aguilera and not Britney or Lady Gaga or Katy Perry?

I really have no idea. I happen to be a big Christina Aguilera fan myself and one day I got an image in my head of a cute boy singing his heart out to “Ain’t No Other Man.” I thought it was hilarious so I went with it.

4. Speaking of music, what would be on Priscilla’s iPod?

What an awesome question. She’s actually not that big on pop music and likes more eclectic stuff believe it or not. She hosts a weekly theme on her blog called “Music the Radio Doesn’t Play.” Some of her favorite bands are Travis, Kent, Julie Slonecki, Rodrigo Y Gabriela, The Influence, David Ford, Robyn, The Smiths, Tuatara, Grandaddy and The Flaming Lips. But on the other hand, Priscilla is an amazing hip hop dancer so when she needs peppy music to get her going, she usually looks toward Usher or one of the Justins.
*I'd love to borrow her iPod for a day!! Don't forget to check out Priscilla's blog here.*

5. Are you working on any new books that you can tell us about right now?

I’m the type of author that always has about a million books going at once. I’m working on book 5 of the Priscilla series. I’m also working on a Young Adult Historical Fiction novel called Shadows of St. Louis. It’s an interracial love story about the race riots that occurred in that city. I also got another idea for a book today which I will start writing as soon as I’m done with this interview.
*Whew! This is one busy author-bee!! I can't wait to read books 2-5 in the Priscilla series myself!*

6. What was the last book that you read that you would recommend to other readers?

Another tough question. I don’t usually recommend books because everyone’s tastes are so different. I think the last book I read that would be a hit with the most people would be Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief. I just read that book last week. I don’t know why it took me so long to jump on that bandwagon, but I’m on now and I can’t wait for the next stop.

7. Quick Picks: Favorite Vacation Destination? Favorite Childhood Book? Favorite Movie? Favorite Food? Favorite Clothing Item?

Disney World, (Can’t decide) ,The Wedding Singer, Bacon, Sunglasses

Well, I'd like to thank Sybil again SOO much for stopping by to answer my questions... Please go check out her website, Priscilla's blog (which is hilarious and fun), and the actual book, of course, Priscilla the Great. Check out my review of the book here.