Review: Rebels of the Lamp, Book 1: Rebels of the Lamp by Peter Speakman, Michael Galvin

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Ages 10 and up
Life is a blast when you have your very own genie. But when Parker Quarry is shipped from sunny Los Angeles to live with relatives in a quiet New Hampshire college town and releases a 2,000 year-old jinn from an ancient canister "borrowed" from the university building where his uncle works, the biggest blasts comes from the millennia old power struggle he reignites.
Now it is up to Parker, his mild-mannered cousin, Theo, and their wiz-kid classmate, Reese, to stop a battalion of battle-ready jinn from re-starting an all-out war one with humanity in the crosshairs

MY TAKE:
It's been a while since I've read a genie-centric book, so I'm glad I gave this one a try.

In Rebels of the Lamp, Book 1: Rebels of the Lamp, Parker Quarry is sent to live with his relatives in New Hampshire after he causes trouble in Los Angeles. There, Parker unwittingly releases a jinn from its lamp. Fon-Rahm is a good jinn, but he's not the only jinn in existence. A sinister group is determined to release the remaining jinns, all of them evil, from their lamps. It's up to Parker, his cousin Theo, his friend Reese, Fon-Rahm and a reluctant ally to stop the coming of the evil jinns.

If I had to sum up this book in a nutshell, I'd say it's Harry-Potter-meets-Aladdin-meets-The-Kane-Chronicles, but it's a more unique work than what you're probably imagining.

I love the origin story of the jinns. It's certainly something I've never read before, but it's still plausible in a dark, unexpected way. I also liked that the immediate threat is most likely not the greatest villain in the story. It's something you see occasionally in books, but the approach here didn't feel too predictable.

I quite liked Fon-Rahm and the addition of their ally, who is a bit of a wild card. I also really liked Reese. She's a cool girl, and definitely someone I wouldn't mind having as a friend. Theo was just sort of okay for me here, but I think I'll like him even more in the next books. The only one I wasn't too fond of was Parker himself. I didn't hate him or anything, but he was reckless, self-centered and not a good friend. It was a good thing that he became semi-likable near the end of the story, so I enjoyed the outcome.

Thanks to NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It's an interesting take on jinns.
2. There are more than a few exciting scenes.
3. The characters are relatively complex. 

THE BAD:

1. Parker can be annoying sometimes. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like genies.
2. You like new takes on old myths and fairy tales.
3. You like novels with strong characters.

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?

Review: Undertow by Michael Buckley

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Sixteen-year-old Lyric Walker’s life is forever changed when she witnesses the arrival of 30,000 Alpha, a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors, on her beach in Coney Island. The world’s initial wonder and awe over the Alpha quickly turns ugly and paranoid and violent, and Lyric’s small town transforms into a military zone with humans on one side and Alpha on the other. When Lyric is recruited to help the crown prince, a boy named Fathom, assimilate, she begins to fall for him. But their love is a dangerous one, and there are forces on both sides working to keep them apart. Only, what if the Alpha are not actually the enemy? What if they are in fact humanity’s only hope of survival? Because the real enemy is coming. And it’s more terrifying than anything the world has ever seen.
Action, suspense, and romance whirlpool dangerously in this cinematic saga, a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders.

MY TAKE:
At first, I wasn't too sure if I should read this book or not since YA books about mermaids don't usually do it for me, but I sensed there was something here worth exploring and I was right.

In Undertow, thousands of merpeople have landed on Coney Island, and as the years pass, people become more hostile towards the Alphas. When a program is introduced to integrate the Alphas to human society, a lot of people fight back and rally against it. The violence against the Alpha and the people who try to help them increases. However, a bigger threat is coming and unless the Alphas and the humans works together, both their civilizations can be destroyed.

To be honest, during the first 45% of the book, I wasn't really feeling it. Yes, you were dropped into the middle of the conflict already, but I didn't feel drawn to anything. Plus, I'm not a fan of the hate-at-first-sight love trope, which is how Lyric and Fathom's love story started out. I was actually worried at one point that perhaps my problem really was with mermaids and no plot was going to satisfy me.

Slowly but surely, however, things started to turn around and I found myself hooked. It was really the anger I felt towards the bigots that strengthened my feelings towards the main characters and the Alphas. The scenes in the book were reminiscent to what I've read about what happened when African Americans were integrated into the American school system. I have no tolerance for bigotry so you can imagine how livid I was. I was particularly angered by the politician who was front and center in the hate campaign. My anger towards her rivals my anger towards Dolores Umbridge. It was actually a terrible idea for me to read this book before going to bed because I was too hyped up to fall asleep.

Anyway, from there, I started really getting into the story. I liked the idea of the Alpha Nation and their castes and clans. I also liked their customs. They were strange, but at the same time, not entirely unexpected for a warrior nation. It's definitely a good base for an awesome story.

I also started to like Lyric and Fathom's love story as well, which is quite interesting because usually, when I dislike a relationship at the start of the book, my opinion doesn't change at all over the course of the book. I mean, I still wasn't completely sold on Lyric herself by the end of the book, mostly because there were times when I felt she needed to toughen up, or at least be quicker to react in a crisis, but seeing as how I didn't despise her by the end of the book, I foretell good things about the next book in the series. It also helped, of course, that by the second half of the book, it was more of a forbidden love thing already, which I always enjoy.

Overall, I thought this was a great book, with definite movie potential. I wasn't too pleased with the beginning, but based on the strength of the rest of the book, I say, you should read this one, even if you don't always like books about mermaids.

Thanks to NetGalley and HMH Books for Young Readers for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It's action-packed.
2. You really come to care about the characters.
3. It's an interesting take on merpeople. 

THE BAD:

1. The first part of the story may not get your attention right away. 

READ IT IF:

1. You like mermaid stories.
2. You like stories about forbidden love.
3. You like stories that are dark and action-packed. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?

Teaser Tuesday

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!

“You don't remember what happened. What you remember becomes what happened.”  

Review: Complete Children's Cookbook by DK Publishing

SUMMARY FROM EDELWEISS:

Delicious dishes kids will really want to make.
More than 150 fabulous recipes, divided into nine themed chapters (Breakfast, Soups and Salads, Light Bites, and more) will have you and your child in the kitchen and cooking in no time. From French toast to rainbow salad, vegetable lasagna to tomato soup, and ice cream to mini muffins, Complete Children’s Cookbook has a recipe for every occasion. And with beautiful full-color photography, simple instructions, and a focus on safety, each one makes an ideal cook-together project that will have children excited to try the new flavors in the dishes they helped make. The step-by-step instructions are easy to follow and feature a picture for every step, so children can see clearly just what to do as they build basic cooking skills, safe kitchen practices, and adventurous palates.

MY TAKE:
If your child wants to learn to cook and you can only buy one book, get this one.

Complete Children's Cookbook contains recipes, health reminders, tips, illustrated list of the equipment you'll need, as well as illustrated descriptions of different cooking techniques.

It's always nice to find a cookbook like this one that has everything you'll need, but doesn't try to pack way too much in. The various information contained at the start of the book is very useful for kids and adults who consider themselves beginners when it comes to cooking.

Each recipe page contains estimated preparation and cooking times, ingredients and tools list, and tips for recipe variations. The step-by-step instructions with pictures are a great way for children to understand the instructions and follow along.

The recipes, although meant mostly for children, given the warning signs on the pictures whenever there's something that you should be careful with, are also good recipes for adults to try. The recipes, while easy to do, aren't so simplistic that they can't be served for dinner guests. In fact, there's even a section of food you can serve at parties, like pizza squares and mini burgers.

The difficulty of the recipes vary so there's something for those who are just starting out and those who are looking for a little more challenging recipes. Some of my favorite recipes in the book are those that have a basic recipe and then you are presented with four different foods that you can make from that starting point. That's something you don't usually in cookbooks, or if you do, it's not presented in as fun and interesting a manner as this one.

Aside from the variation recipes I mentioned, I also liked the recipes for phyllo and spinach tarts, marinated lime chicken, apple pie, and banoffee pie. There are also recipes for raspberry creme brulee and ice cream (not made with an ice cream maker) that look much easier than I thought it would be.

I took note of some recipes that I would like to try very soon. I'm sure they'll be delicious.

Thanks to NetGalley and DK Children for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The recipes all look delicious and easy to do.
2. The step-by-step illustrations are very useful.
3. The additional tips and information at the start of the book are really helpful.

THE BAD:

1. There's no part two yet. 

READ IT IF:

1. Your child wants to learn how to cook.
2. You're looking for a cookbook for your child that has most of everything they'll need.
3. You're looking for easy recipes.

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?

In My Mailbox

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

FROM EDELWEISS:

My Stinky New School by Rebecca Elliott

Review: Ultimate Spy by H. Keith Melton

SUMMARY FROM EDELWEISS:

Ultimate Spy is the insider’s guide to the secret world of espionage.
Peek inside the covert world of espionage — its history, high-tech spy gadgets, and aspects of spycraft from surveillance to assassination. This updated edition includes the latest on the revelations from Wikileaks and Edward Snowden and is filled with stunning photographs that show details of equipment such as spycams, bugs, weapons, and drone aircraft.
Ultimate Spy also includes information on what it takes to be a spy: how spies are recruited, the training they receive, and tricks of the trade. A glossary explains abbreviations of important intelligence and security organizations and defines many common terms used in espionage.
From early espionage to the latest high-tech spy equipment, Ultimate Spy belongs on the bookshelf of mystery lovers, tech fans, and anyone who wants to know how modern spycraft works.
About the author: H. Keith Melton is a tradecraft historian and internationally renowned authority on espionage, and a founding board member of the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C. A portion of his extensive collection of clandestine devices and equipment is on display inside the CIA. Melton is an adjunct professor at the Interagency Training Center, and an advisor to US intelligence agencies.

MY TAKE:
I've always been fascinated by the world of espionage so this book was right up my alley.

In Ultimate Spy, readers learn about spies throughout history; equipment, weapons and techniques used by spies, and the training they have to undergo to become spies, analysts and the like. The intelligence agencies covered include CIA, KGB, and Mossad, among others.

"Interesting" doesn't even begin to describe this book. This book was very detailed and comprehensive. Short of actually visiting a spy museum or scouring the internet and spending days online, I don't think you'll learn as much about espionage from any other source.

I appreciated the fact that the language used in the book was easy enough to understand and technical terms were kept to a minimum. Whenever technical terms or names of certain spies or organizations were used or mentioned, it would be followed by a page number or you would be referred to the glossary. The glossary, by the way, is very helpful, although I didn't get to use it much as I had an e-ARC.

My favorite parts of the book were the spy profiles (self-explanatory) and the stories of espionage missions all over the world. It's fascinating, but it's definitely not as easy as it looks. Agents need to have nerves of steel to do what they do. Even being an analyst probably isn't all that easy, either.

If you've read other DK titles before, then you'll have an idea about the book's layout. The combination of text, photos and layout variations help keep you from being bored.

The photos here are high-quality, and some even look like file photos. Not classified, of course, but also probably not something you'd see often. I was particularly impressed with the pictures of the equipment and weapons. Majority, if not all of them, were labelled so you'd know its parts. I'm not particularly into how the equipment actually works, so while I looked at the pictures, I wasn't interested enough to read most of the descriptions.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. If you enjoy reading spy novels or watching spy films/movies, you should definitely get a copy of this book.

Thanks to Edelweiss and DK Adult for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. It's very comprehensive and informative.
2. You learn what it takes to be a spy.
3. The stories about the spies and the espionage missions are very interesting.

THE BAD:

1. The section on equipment can be somewhat boring if you're mostly interested in spy stories than actually becoming a spy.

READ IT IF:

1. You've always wanted to be a spy.
2. You like reading spy novels and watching shows and movies that involve espionage of some sort.
3. You like learning new things.

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?

Review: Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular: A Mystery with Animatronics, Alien Makeup, Camera Gear, and Other Movie Magic You Can Make Yourself! by Bob Pflugfelder, Steve Hockensmith

SUMMARY FROM NETGALLEY.COM:

Bright siblings—and amateur inventors—Nick and Tesla Holt are back for another thrill-a-minute adventure. This time a Hollywood movie is being filmed in town, but the real drama happens when the cameras are turned off. Mystery awaits behind the scenes, and the whole production may shut down unless the DIY detectives can crack the case, with the help of their friends Silas and DeMarco and a fresh assortment of homemade gadgets. Featuring instructions for all-new movie magic projects that kids can build themselves, this whiz-bang adventure is sure to delight fans of the series. Science and electronics have never been so much fun!

MY TAKE:
I wasn't too sure about the illustration on the cover of the book, but the premise sounded intriguing so I decided to request this anyway.

In Nick and Tesla's Special Effects Spectacular: A Mystery with Animatronics, Alien Makeup, Camera Gear, and Other Movie Magic You Can Make Yourself!, Nick and Tesla, as well as their friends DeMarco and Silas, are invited by DeMarco's aunt to spend the day at a movie set. However, someone is trying to sabotage the production. It's up to the siblings and their friends to find out what exactly is going on.

It's too bad there weren't any books like this when I was growing up. The book was able to combine a mystery story with an instruction manual of sorts. The overall effect was something like Phineas and Ferb meets The Bobbsey Twins. This makes it perfect for budding inventors and kids who like to build stuff and do experiments. I wasn't able to try any of them to check if they really do work, though, since they required a couple or so materials that I didn't have at home. They all can be easily procured at regular stores, however, so kids and parents shouldn't have a hard time getting everything they need.

The book is also chockful of movie production-related information, which makes it a fascinating read for kids who are curious about the industry or want to work in it someday.

As for the novel itself, I kinda liked it. Nick and Tesla were fun to read about, and while I thought Silas was irritating sometimes, the group's dynamic was quite good. The mystery itself was interesting, particularly because you really only had bits and pieces at the start, and you learn important information at the same time as the kids, so there's the feeling that you're part of the group.

Thanks to NetGalley and Quirk Books for the e-ARC.

THE GOOD:

1. The kids' inventions can be recreated using the instructions provided.
2. You'll learn a lot about the movie industry.
3. It's an entertaining read.

THE BAD:

1. The influx of information can sometimes feel forced. 

READ IT IF:

1. You or your child like building things.
2. Your child loves Phineas and Ferb.
3. Your child likes mysteries. 

RATING:


SOUNDS INTERESTING?