In My Mailbox

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

FROM NETGALLEY:

The Longest Whale Song by Jacqueline Wilson
50 Body Questions A Book That Spills Its Guts by Tanya Lloyd Kyi, Ross Kinnaird
Style Me Vintage: Weddings An Inspirational Guide to Styling the Perfect Vintage Wedding by Annabel Beeforth

Review: Carly Keene, Literary Detective Braving the Brontes by Katherine Rue

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Spunky young Alaskan Carly Keene and her best friend Francesca have never met a book they didn't like. But they've never been in a book before.
Carly Keene: Braving the Brontes is the funny and heartwarming story of a young reader caught up in the adventure of a book lover's lifetime. A chance nap in a magical bookstore sends Carly spiraling back in time. When she wakes up, it's 1846, everyone thinks her name is Caroline, and a young woman named Charlotte Bronte is trying to compose one of the greatest books ever written... Jane Eyre.
And that's not all. Maria, the spirit of the Bronte sisters' dead sibling, is haunting Carly, telling her that Charlotte's got to finish her book--or else.
With literary history on the line, Carly Keene will battle foggy moors, ghostly apparitions, cholera epidemics, and the horror that is nineteenth-century homework: needlework, French, needlework, German, and more needlework. It's as much as a spunky 21st-century girl can handle, but if anyone can brave the Brontes, it's Carly Keene.

MY TAKE:
I've never really been interested in reading Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, but after reading this book, I might reconsider.

In Carly Keene, Literary Detective Braving the Brontes, Carly is a young girl who suddenly finds herself in 1846 with Charlotte Bronte as her governess. At first, Carly is having fun but things get sticky when she finds out just what she has to do to get back home.

I don't know how accurate the portrayal of the sisters' personalities are, but it sure helped me remember who wrote which book. It also helped me remember their pen names. Carly hasn't read the sisters' books, either, but she seems well-versed in a lot of other books, particularly ones like The Chronicles of Narnia, so she more or less knew what she had to do to survive.

Reading the book, I felt that a lot of research went into trying to keep things as historically accurate as possible. However, when it came to language and slang used, I had no idea if the words used were proper for the time frame.

My only quibble with this book was though it started out strong, by the time it got to the climax and the lead-up to the resolution, it got a little too close to "fanfiction territory". That is, it went a little too dramatic and contrived. Thankfully, the rest of the book was promising and the next book should be quite interesting too, if it follows a similar format.

Thanks to NetGalley and In This Together Media for the e-ARC. Publication date of Carly Keene, Literary Detective Braving the Brontes is on May 1, 2014.

THE GOOD:

1. The Bronte sisters seem interesting.
2. The premise isn't new but the book doesn't feel derivative.
3. You really get a feel for the time. 

THE BAD:

1. There were moments that got a tad too dramatic. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"No!" cried Carly again. "You can't! I don't care if it's historically accurate! It's not scientific!"

READ IT IF:

1. You're a fan of the Bronte sisters' novels.
2. You like novels wherein characters are sent to the world of certain books.
3. You like reading books set in the 1800s. 

RATING:

Review: Shapes in Math, Science and Nature Squares, Triangles and Circles by Catherine Sheldrick Ross

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

The three most basic shapes -- squares, triangles and circles -- are all around us, from the natural world to the one we've engineered. Full of fascinating facts about these shapes and their 3D counterparts, Shapes in Math, Science and Nature introduces young readers to the basics of geometry and reveals its applications at home, school and everywhere in between. Puzzles and activities add to the fun factor.

MY TAKE:
I'm usually not interested in learning about shapes, but I figured that this would be at least a little bit interesting since it is a children's trivia book.

In Shapes in Math, Science and Nature Squares Triangles and Circles, readers get to learn all sorts of trivia about squares, triangles and circles. There are also activities, puzzles and other fun stuff for kids to learn and try.

This book was chockful of interesting stories, a number of which were new to me. For example, I had no idea that the cylindrical structures at the corners of some castle walls were there because cannonballs tended to roll off them instead of destroying them. There were also some legends and stories about things like famous landmarks.

What makes the book worth buying, I think, are the number of fun puzzles, brainteasers and activities for kids to try, like creating a tetrahedral gift box. There were also tips for things like doubling a square, and there were a list of formulas for quick reference.

However, there were moments when I skipped around and lost interest. I think it's because the book is rather text-heavy and because I'm not too keen on the illustration style.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. There are lots of activities and puzzles to keep kids busy.
2. There are a lot of interesting trivia.
3. Kids can learn a lot of things they can use in school.

THE BAD:

1. Some kids may get bored easily because of the amount of text. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

The best things about cones is you can put jamocha grape ice cream in them. 

READ IT IF:

1. Your child likes trivia books.
2. You want your child to appreciate math and science more.
3. Your child likes doing activities and trying to solve brainteasers. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?

Review: Eat Like a Woman by Staness Jonekos, Marjorie Jenkins

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

FINALLY A DIET DESIGNED FOR YOU
Based on the latest research showing that men and women metabolize food and lose weight differently, Eat Like a Woman (And Never Diet Again) is a groundbreaking three-step program tailored specifically to the needs of the female body. Staness Jonekos, author of The Menopause Makeover, and leading women's health expert Dr. Marjorie Jenkins show you how to lose weight without deprivation, look younger and feel better than ever. Eat Like a Woman will revolutionize the way you think about food. You'll learn to understand the relationship between stress and your health, interpret the messages your body is sending you, and how to eat to support hormone balance and emotional health. Begin to eat like a woman and in just three weeks you can
•Drop those stubborn pounds
•Effortlessly maintain a healthy weight
•Change your relationship with food
•Reduce your risk of disease
•Slow the aging process
•Exercise smarter
Includes favorite recipes from Sheryl Crow, Padma Lakshmi, Florence Henderson, Dolly Parton, Nancy Cartwright, Devin Alexander, Cristina Ferrare, and other popular chefs and celebrities.

MY TAKE:
This book had a lot of good tips but I'm not too sure about the presentation.

In Eat Like a Woman, readers are shown the logic and scientific data behind the diet and guided through the steps of the Eat Like a Woman diet. Bonus recipes are also included so people can have a starting point.

In theory, this is an excellent book. There's information about the female body, hormones, etc. There are exercises, formulas for calculating body fat percentage and lean body mass, how to tell what your frame is, food plans, and contributor recipes.There are even tips on the best items to order at fast food restaurants, as well as helpful websites.

The recipes look delicious, although I have yet to try them out since I don't have all the ingredients at hand for the recipes I like. The food plan and fat calculation stuff are really helpful too.

The reason I'm not super gung ho about the book is because of the tone and writing style used, especially in the first part of the book, the one that contains the scientific data, research and all the information about the female body. I'm not sure if I found it boring because I know a lot of the stuff already or if it was because it reminded me of reading my old medical school textbooks.

As a nonfiction book, I get that it's important to have the details included in the book. However, I also think that if some of the details or data were edited out or the tone was more lively, like say a self-help book, more women would be inclined to read every word of the book, instead of skipping ahead to the practical parts.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Nonfiction for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The diet looks doable.
2. The science looks solid.
3. The bonus materials are useful and abundant. 

THE BAD:

1. Some women may get bored with the parts that are more text- and science-heavy. 

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

Eat slowly and drink water with your meals. Lemon in your water or tea helps speed up your metabolism. 

READ IT IF:

1. You want to lose weight but have trouble finding a diet that works for you.
2. You like your diet-and-exercise books to be as complete and detailed as possible.
3. You like reading the science behind a particular diet plan. 

RATING:


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Review: The Secret of the Sea Creature by Laurie S. Sutton

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

A sea creature is on the loose at Wild-World Beach! Will the gang stick together or split up? Should Shaggy and Scooby tackle their fears or their hunger first? Does Scooby-Doo deserve a Scooby Snack? In this interactive story, YOU CHOOSE the path the gang should take. With your help, they'll solve this maritime mystery.
For ages 7-12. From the You Choose Stories: Scooby-Doo series. A new series of You Choose Books featuring Scooby-Doo and his friends Fred, Velma, Daphne, and Shaggy! These mysteries feature fun, action-packed stories (and illustrations!) that allow the reader to choose their own path. In each book, with the help of the reader, Scooby and the gang will solve spooky mysteries and expose common criminals in a truly dynamic reading experience.
*Over 10 million fans on the Scooby-Doo facebook page
* New Scooby content is everywhere — DVDs, animation, TV, online, social media, interactive games, etc.
* Nearly a billion DVDs sold globally
* Multiple endings and scenarios encourage re-reads again and again!
* Best-selling character meets best-selling format: over 1 million copies sold in the You Choose series.
About the Illustrator:
Scott Neely has been a professional illustrator and designer for many years. For the last eight years, he’s been an official Scooby-Doo and Cartoon Network artist, working on such licensed properties as Dexter’s Laboratory, Johnny Bravo, Courage The Cowardly Dog, Powerpuff Girls, and more. He has also worked on Pokemon, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger & Pooh, Handy Manny, Strawberry Shortcake, Bratz, and many other popular characters. He lives in a suburb of Philadelphia and has a scrappy Yorkshire terrier, Alfie.

MY TAKE:
I was a huge fan of Scooby Doo and choose-your-own-adventure books back when I was a kid, so this book is definitely right up my alley.

In The Secret of the Sea Creature, Scooby and the rest of the gang visit an amusement park. They went there to have a fun time, but little do they know that there's a monster waiting for them.

With paperback choose-your-own-adventure books, I usually try as many possible stories as I can. With e-books, however, I don't feel as motivated to turn the pages because some e-readers lag or don't have an easy-to-find go-to-page button. I usually only do another story if I didn't like the ending I got.

For this book, I chose to go with Shaggy and Scooby, and I was satisfied with the resolution I got.The story was short and sweet and the only real difference it had with the cartoon show was that instead of everybody finding clues and more or less solving the mystery together, this time it was really just Scooby and Shaggy who did the work.

Considering that there are several characters you can follow, and each character has a couple of choices as well, I assume that each character's story isn't too long. If you're the type who likes to do all the stories in choose-your-own-adventure books, you might like this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Stone Arch Books for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. Scooby and the others seem to be in character.
2. It's a quick read.
3. It feels almost like an episode of the show.

THE BAD:

1. The different stories might be too short for some.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"Seafood," he says and chomps on the tentacle. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like Scooby Doo and the rest of the Mystery Inc. crew.
2. You like choose-your-own-adventure books.
3. You are looking for a quick read. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?

Teaser Tuesdays

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 that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too 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!

"We're here!" Shaggy says. "I can almost smell those foot-long hot dogs with all the fixings."

Review: Dream Birthday by Ruby Ann Phillips

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Krystal Ball is a fourth-grade fortune-teller. She's great at predicting the future, but she's terrible at waiting for it—especially when it’s her birthday week! This year, Krystal's hoping for a dream birthday, but her psychic talents are giving her nightmares. Only one thing’s for sure...her future awaits!
For ages 6-8. From the Krystal Ball series. A new series of early chapter books featuring Krystal Ball. Krystal isn't your average medium. In fact, this fourth-grade fortune-teller is more like an extra small! But, despite her telepathic talents, Krystal's future isn't always so bright. When her psychic gift signals dark days ahead, will Krystal keep living in the past, or will she face her future head on?
* Multi-generational story about a family in Queens, NY
* Shows illustrations of dreams, which are symbols for what actually happens later
* Cute humorous stories about learning to fit in
About the Author:
Ruby Ann Phillips is the pseudonym of a New York Times bestselling author who lives in the Big Apple, in a neighborhood much like Krystal Ball’s.

MY TAKE:
I had a lot of fun reading this book, to the point that I didn't take as many notes as I usually do when I review.

In Dream Birthday, Krystal Ball's birthday is coming up and she's super excited about it. However, her dreams are bothering her because, as a psychic, she senses that something will go wrong and she won't get the party she wants. What's going to happen next?

Krystal Ball is a cute protagonist. She's girly, fashionable and enthusiastic. She's also gifted with the ability to at least sense the future. Despite her uncommon talent, I think a lot of girls will still be able to relate to her, or at least like her.

Krystal's reactions and dialogue throughout the book are very much what you would expect from a young girl of 9 or 10. Even her drama-queen-like reactions don't feel out of place.

That's what I like about this book. It takes an otherwise ordinary story of a girl having to deal with massive changes to her planned perfect birthday, and adding a twist that makes it fun and worth reading.

I also really liked the book's illustration style.The book doesn't really rely on the illustrations but they add the perfect touch to this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Picture Window Books for the e-copy.

THE GOOD:

1. Krystal and her friends are fun to read about.
2. The book teaches something important.
3. The illustrations are pretty.

THE BAD:

1. Parents who have a thing about books mentioning things like tarot cards might not like parts of the story.

FAVORITE QUOTE/S:

"I've prepared lemon chicken in mushroom sauce with baked potatoes," she said. "There is also steamed broccoli lightly seasoned with garlic and olive oil." 

READ IT IF:

1. Your child wishes she could see into the future.
2. Your child is a fashionista.
3. Your child is turning 10.

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?