Easy Ways to Get Involved in Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Easy Ways to Get Involved in Multicultural Children’s Book Day 2019

The online world is buzzing with the excitement and anticipation as the global online diverse children’s literature celebration known as Multicultural Children’s Book Day (MCBD) draws closer. This on and offline diverse kids’ and YA book-related event is in its sixth year and their mission of getting diverse children’s books into the hands of readers, parents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians has never wavered. To date, the non-profit has worked diligently to get over 5,000 free diverse kids’ and YA books into homes, classrooms, daycares, organizations, and libraries.

How MCBD Came to Be
After being frustrated by a lack of diverse and multicultural children’s books available to their own families, reading and play advocates Valarie Budayr from Audrey Press Books and Mia Wenjen from Pragmatic Mom decided to take matters into their own hands. The book-loving moms then teamed up to create a much-needed national event and on January 27th, 2012 the first ever Multicultural Children’s Book Day was celebrated.
Using the Multicultural Children’s Book Day platform, the mission from Day One has been to not only raise awareness around kid’s books that celebrate diversity, but to also get more of these types of books into classrooms and libraries.  
“Kids need to ‘see themselves’ in the pages of the books they read,” noted Budayr. “We are determined to not only shine the spotlight on all of the multicultural books available but also offer visibility for the amazing authors and publishers who create them.”
Now in its sixth year, the MCBD online celebration attracts thousands of supports, over 600 book reviewers and dozens of quality authors and publishers. The non-profit has also shifted from an “every January 27^th” model to “the last Friday in January” to avoid conflicting with International Holocaust Remembrance Day. The upcoming MCBD celebration will occur on and offline on January 25, 2019. 

4 Ways to Get Involved in MCBD as an Author or Publisher

1.     Donate Books: Diverse kids’ or YA books donated to the MCBD non-profit are used a variety of ways including donation to the over 2,000 classrooms waiting for a free diverse book via the Free Diverse Books for Classroom Project, as books given to reviewers to review via social media during the January event, or as prizes for their wildly popular (and much-anticipated) Twitter Party on January 25^th.

Go here to learn how you can donate brand new diverse books to the cause: http://bit.ly/2zx1YjX

2.     Multiple options for Sponsorship: Sponsorship is not only a great way to support this event; it is an excellent way for authors/publisher to get their books in front of thousands of readers. All Sponsors get a name mention within the hundreds of reviews that get posted from December to January 25^th and also on the sites of MCBD’s 26 CoHosts and Global CoHost sites. Go here to learn more about MCBD2019 Sponsorship: http://bit.ly/2TXuh3x

3.     Connect with Multicultural Children’s Book Day on social media: NOTE: Their official hashtag is #ReadYourWorld

- Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MulticulturalChildrensBookDay
- Twitter https://twitter.com/MCChildsBookDay
-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/readyourworldmcbd/

4.     Guest posts: The MCBD Team is always looking for quality diverse children’s book-related guest posts on their blog. Authors and publishers are invited to share the story of their writing journey or their thoughts on the importance of diversity in children’s literature.  

4 Ways to Get Involved as an Educator or Librarian
Throughout the months of November-January, leading up to the celebratory day, educators, librarians and parents can start planning and preparing with FREE activities available today at www.multiculturalchildrensbookday.com
FREE Classroom “Empathy” Kit:  
The free Classroom Empathy Kit focuses on empathy and compassion through shared booklists and special home or classroom activities. The kit includes 18 book recommends on the topic of Understanding Immigration and Refugees, Classroom Empathy Activities, and a very special custom printable Empathy Poster courtesy of author/illustrator Juana Medina. Educators, parents and librarians can sign-up to receive the free classroom kit here: http://bit.ly/2BGu4uQ
FREE Poverty Doesn’t Discriminate: Understanding Poverty in America Classroom Kit:  
Created in 2018, this free classroom kit includes over 2 dozen poverty in the U.S.-themed book recommends for ages 4-12, two classroom or home activities, and a copy of the official “Poverty Doesn’t Discriminate” Classroom Poster thanks to the talents of award-winning illustrator, Mehrdokht Amini. http://bit.ly/2P6cXWE
Free Diversity Book Lists and Activities for Teachers and Parents: Curated lists of books about diverse topics including: countries, religions, holidays, ethnicities, in addition to special needs and LGBTQ. http://bit.ly/1kGZrta
Share a Classroom Celebration: Teachers who host a celebration in the classroom can send in a picture of their party to receive 3 free diverse books and a swag pack as a thank you.  Teachers and librarians can enter their event info HERE (http://multiculturalchildrensbookday.com/category/offline-classroomlibrary-event-project/)


Don’t forget to connect with Multicultural Children’s Book Day on social media and be sure and look for/use their official hashtag #ReadYourWorld.

Thank you for reading!

Carolyn Wilhelm, Wise Owl Factory

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG AND GETTING REVIEWS AND ANOTHER FREEBIE

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. C. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Carolyn the link to this post, too!

Insecure Writers Group Releases Its 2020 Anthology

Title: Voyagers: The Third Ghost

Anthology from Insecure Writers Group

 Available May 5, 2020 online, retail, and for all eBook platforms. 

Publisher:  Freedom Fox Press an imprint of Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. 

Genre: Juvenile fiction -  historical/action and adventure/fantasy and magic. 

Trade paperback $13.95 

ISBN 9781939844729, 

ISBN 9781939844736

www.DancingLemurPress.com

MEDIA RELEASE

History Comes Alive for Children New Anthology Offers an Entertaining  Glimpse into the Past The Insecure Writer’s Support Group hosted their fifth annual anthology contest last year and Voyagers: The Third Ghost is the result. A Writer’s Digest Top 101 Site for Writers, the IWSG  called for juvenile historical fiction stories with the theme of “voyagers.” The group’s 20,000+ members responded, and once the administrators selected the top stories, they were forwarded to the official judges—a panel of authors, agents, and publishing industry experts. This is the first children’s title produced by the group and by focusing on history, the book teaches as it entertains. The stories touch upon a wide variety of time periods, which adds extra appeal to teachers and librarians. Yvonne Ventresca, who also appeared in the second IWSG anthology, Hero Lost: Mysteries of Death and Life, won the top spot in the contest. Her story, The Third Ghost, received the subtitle and cover art honor. Journey into the past… Will the third ghost be found before fires take more lives? Can everyone be warned before Pompeii is buried again? What happens if a blizzard traps a family in East Germany? Will the Firebird help Soviet sisters outwit evil during WWII? And sneaking off to see the first aeroplane – what could go wrong? Ten authors explore the past, sending their young protagonists on harrowing adventures. Featuring the talents of Yvonne Ventresca, Katharina Gerlach, Roland Clarke, Sherry Ellis, Rebecca M. Douglass, Bish Denham, Charles Kowalski, Louise MacBeath Barbour, Beth Anderson Schuck, and L.T. Ward. Hand-picked by a panel of agents, authors, and editors, these ten tales will take readers on a voyage of wonder into history. Get ready for an exciting ride! Founded by author Alex J. Cavanaugh, the Insecure Writer’s Support Group offers support for writers and authors alike. It provides an online database; articles; monthly blog posting; Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram groups; #IWSGPit, and a newsletter. Voyagers: The Third Ghost will be available May 5, 2020 online, retail, and for all eBook platforms. Published by Freedom Fox Press an imprint of Dancing Lemur Press, L.L.C. Juvenile fiction – historical/action & adventure/fantasy & magic. Trade paperback $13.95 ISBN 9781939844729, eBook 4.99 ISBN 9781939844736 www.DancingLemurPress.com Judges for the contest were:  Dan Koboldt, author and #SFFpit founder Dan Koboldt is the author of the Gateways to Alissia trilogy (Harper Voyager), the editor of Putting the Science in Fiction (Writers Digest, 2018), and the creator of the sci-fi adventure serial The Triangle (Serial Box, 2019). As a genetics researcher, he has co-authored more than 80 publications in Nature, Science, The New England Journal of Medicine, and other scientific journals. He is represented by Paul Stevens of Donald Maass Literary Agency.  Lynda R. Young, author Lynda R. Young is an Aussie writing fantasy novels as Elle Cardy. Wielder’s Prize is her debut YA epic fantasy. She is also an editor, game developer, 3D artist, graphic designer, photographer, gamer and more.  Colleen Oefelein, agent, The Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency Colleen Oefelein is an author of YA, picture books, and author promotion guides, a devourer of books, and the owner of the book review site North of Normal. Formerly an associate agent and PR manager with Inklings Literary Agency, Colleen has hosted numerous “Pitch Perfect” and “Rejection Correction” workshops on Facebook and at conferences nationwide, and she’s mentored several authors one-on-one through online pitch contests such as Pitch Wars.  Damien Larkin, author Damien Larkin is an Irish science fiction author and co-founder of the British and Irish Writing Community. His debut novel Big Red was published by Dancing Lemur Press and went on to be longlisted for the BSFA award for Best Novel. He currently lives in Dublin, Ireland and is working on his next novel Blood Red Sand.  Ion Newcombe, eidtor and publisher is the editor and publisher of AntipodeanSF, Australia's longest running online speculative fiction magazine, regularly issued since January 1998. His qualifications and employment range from horticulture through electronics into literature and communications.  Julie Gwinn, agent, The Seymour Agency Julie Gwinn most recently served as Marketing Manager for the Christian Living line at Abingdon Press and before that served as Trade Book Marketing Manager and then Fiction Publisher for the Pure Enjoyment line at B&H Publishing Group, a Division of LifeWay Christian Resources. Recently, she was awarded Editor of the Year from the American Christian Fiction Writers and won B&H’s first Christy award for Ginny Yttrup’s debut novel Words.  David Powers King, author David's works include Woven, The Undead Road,, and Full Dark: An Anthology. He currently resides in the Mountain West with his wife and 4 children.  MORE ABOUT ISWG:  The Insecure Writer’s Support Group  was founded by Ninja Captain, Alex J. Cavanaugh. Learn more about the opportunities it offers: Watch for the new The Insecure Writer’s Support Group anthology contest 2021 on May 6. Learn more about the group at   https://www.insecurewriterssupportgroup.com/  LEARN MORE ABOUT VOYAGERS AND BUY LINKS: Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/dp/193984472X/ Barnes and Noble - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/voyagers-yvonne-ventresca/1135912991?ean=2940163430857 ITunes - https://books.apple.com/ca/book/voyagers-the-third-ghost/id1493413956 Kobo - https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/voyagers-the-third-ghost Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50364415-voyagers MORE ABOUT THE  BLOGGER AND WAYS TO GET THE MOST FROM THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too!

 #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

YA Author Crosses Over into Sci-Fi That Engages Adults

Title: You Have No Power Over Me
Author: Mark Logie
Genre: Sci-Fi, Also for adult reading.
ASIN: B0051/6D3M
Available as an e-book on Amazon 

YA AUTHOR PENS SCI FI STORY FOR ADULTS

5.0 out of 5 starsSubtle Science Fiction: A Quick, Fully Engaging Story!

April 4, 2018

Format: Kindle Edition

I enjoyed this story. I especially liked the literary approach at the end. That is, Logie 

suggested an ending but didn't preach or go into great detail; he left something to the imagination

 or discretion of the reader. In the playwright and screenwriter worlds, directors want the author 

to leave enough of the visual so they can use their own creativity in the onstage or screen storytelling.

Most readers are also quite capable of reading between the lines. Logie sets up the mystery well from 

the point of view of the protagonist, a homeless man. The unexpected--even improbable--danger from 

a child is alluded to and keeps the reader turning the page. There are spots that might benefit from a 

good editor; that often happens when authors are fully engaged in their story. They may not see the trees

for the forest. Still, Logie, known for his young adult fiction, seems to have realized in this piece that--much 

like Ray Bradbury's work--sci-fi and aliens are not just for kids. I certainly found myself fully engaged.

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Learn more by clicking on his name on Amazon to take you to his profile page.
Find him on Facebook.com/mark-logie-author-1022617024509611/
Twitter: @MarkLogieAuthor

MORE ABOUT THIS BLOG

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion and a whole lot you didn't know including how to use blurbs from reviews to sell books to catalogs. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically! 

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Horse Lovers Alert! Betsy Kelleher Shares Her Love of Mares

Mares! (Ya Gotta LOVE ‘em)
Fifty Stories to Aid and Inspire Mare Owners
Compiled by Betsy Kelleher
Nonfiction Anthology
Xulon Press, 2008. $23.99
ISBN: 978-1-60477-547-1


Reviewed by Carol M. Upton for Horses All Magazine



Mares often require special handling before their best side is evident ~ Betsy Kelleher


In Mares! (Ya Gotta LOVE ’em), Betsy Kelleher has assembled a diverse collection of horse lovers' tales representing different breeds and backgrounds. Each of the fifty stories has one thing in common – each is an inspired tribute to the elusive Mare.

The book is also about women, and the essence of being female is an interwoven theme. The original true stories, written by 38 different mare owners, enlighten and entertain while introducing us to the seeming paradoxical nature of mares – from stubborn to loving to dangerous to protective and loyal.

Mary Wynn Craig’s Lisa, the quarter horse with the permanent scowl, will capture your heart. Trainer Ron Meredith includes an excellent article on Gender Differences: Training Mares. If you’ve ever loved and lost any horse, you’ll cry when young Erin Landers tells the tale of Duchess, her very first horse. You’ll root for Factor, the thoroughbred brood mare, in Chiropractic Saves a Life. Helen Farley sticks with her little bay Abby, despite repeated admonishments about mares being no good, in the touching Kindred Females.

This book acknowledges the unexplainable moments present in the lives of horse owners and encourages us to find God at work even in more difficult situations. Some of the stories are completely zany and others touch on profound sorrow, yet lessons of love and hope show up in each tender tale, alongside practical tips for handling your mare.

Mares! will leave a heartfelt impression and is an irresistible read for those moments when you just want to take care of you.

Author Biography:

Betsy Kelleher’s first riding horse was a Percheron mare from her grandfather’s work team on an Iowa farm. She writes a monthly column for the Illinois Horse Network newspaper. Her website, www.goduseshorses.com, shares her columns, horse photos, and information about her books. She is offering a Christmas special at: www.goduseshorses.com
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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've loved. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by author names, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the index handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Romantic Reading Escapes Reviewer Gives Novel a WOW!

Title: Loving David
Author: Gina Hummer
Books website link: www.lovingdavidnovel.com
Genre: Contemporary / Romance
ISBN: 1466343303
Name of Reviewer: Kathryn Hamilton
Reviewers link: romanticreadingescapes.com
Reviewers rating 4.5

Reviewed by Kathryn Hamilton

WOW! I am one big blubbering mess right now. From laughter to tears SOBS, this book raised every possible emotion to the surface. I had read somewhere that the author, Gina Hummer, has been compared to Nicholas Sparks in her writing...well, let me assure you that it is my belief that Nicholas Sparks must be channeling his inner Gina Hummer when he writes, not the other way around, because she is the queen at eliciting that WOW response from me.

David King, a well known British Hollywood actor in his early 30's, is trying to enjoy a private vacation in Southern California away from the hustle and bustle of L.A. When a fan catches a glimpse of him, David is forced to hide away in the most convenient place he can find at the time....the back floorboard of Charlotte's jeep. Charlotte is a romance writer in her mid 40's and is on a writer's retreat with her divorcee and widowed fellow writer friends. Before David has a chance to escape the uncomfortable floorboard, Charlotte takes off down the highway, almost wrecking her jeep when she notices a pair of piercing emerald eyes staring at her through the rear view mirror. After getting past the point of almost macing David to blindness, a beautiful friendship develops. Don't be misled by thinking this is just another Hollywood celebrity focus...it definitely is not. As a matter of fact, David's celebrity status is rarely touched...the focus remains on Charlotte and "Loving David."

"Loving David was the easiest thing I've ever done. It was effortless. I fell more in love with him every day to the point where I thought I would burst."

I love the slow-building relationship between Charlotte and David that Gina Hummer gave me. She allowed me, the reader, to really develop a strong connection with the main characters and envelope them in such a way as to invoke in me every smile, tingle, pain, and angst that Charlotte felt when interacting with David. Charlotte is a very strong woman who has experienced love and loss of love in life before. However, Charlotte didn't let her circumstance break her. She has such compassion for those whom others would spit on had they experienced the betrayal Charlotte experienced in life. But, she tends to make lemonade out of lemons and moves on in life....enter David, the sexy and handsome Brit who can have any blonde bombshell he wants, but he just wants to find someone to love him for who he is and not for his high celebrity status. He is what I would call a hot and sexy hometown boy with love for his family and strong roots to keep him grounded. He is definitely a swoon-worthy hero. He is perfect for Charlotte, no matter the age difference.

The secondary characters in the novel are stellar as well:

Emma - the near 80 year old widowed writer with a libido made me laugh out loud with her first impressions of David and her flirtatious banter.

"Nice huh?" Emma said. "I may have a whole new reason to change my Depends today," she said as she nudged Karen, who shrieked.

Karen and Hendra - the straight-laced, no nonsense, 'play by our ya ya sisterhood rules' women whose strength and resolve melts when exposed to David's natural charms. They are complete busy-bodies when it comes to Charlotte, but completely acting - and advising - out of love and in Charlotte's best interest.

"It's not like you're gonna have some great romance with him. Have a fling with him. A little sex never hurt anybody." Karen paused. "I mean safe sex."

Olivia - the selfish *bleep* I really enjoyed hating. She is a blonde Barbie-doll who will stop at nothing to manipulate and use others in the name of love, but with her, there is a fine line between love and revenge for not loving her back. She is completely hate-worthy.

This book is chocked full of love, romance, angst, heartache, and sadness. I don't normally comment on a book cover or title, but both, in this case, are so significant to the story of Charlotte and David, they are perfect. The 'happily ever after' in this book is in the eye of the reader. Gina Hummer brings to the table a big-screen worthy novel that is touching and sensitive to anyone with compassion and feeling. The writing is smooth and fluent, making it a fast read. But, don't mistake this novel for being just another romance; it contains its share of steamy sex, angst, heartbreak, and hurt to keep this story with you a long time after finishing. I give this book 4.5 stars and recommend it to all the Tissue-Owner's Book Clubs with a hankering for that next great read.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. As a courtesy to the author, please tweet and retweet this post using this little green retweet widget :

Dr. Wesley Britton's Reviews Always as Entertaining as His Reading Choices

 

The Ascension Machine

Author: Rob Edwards

Genre: YA, 

Publication date : September 1, 2020

Publisher : Shadow Dragon Press (September 1, 2020)

ASIN : B089HNNVFM

Available on Amazon 

Reviewed by: Dr. Wesley Britton originally for Book Pleasures 

 

Maybe I'm showing my age, but my first thoughts when meeting the lead character of Grey in The Ascension Machine, I thought of Harry Harrison's Stainless Steel Rat series.

 

 That's because, like Harrison's Jim Di Griz, Edward's Gray starts out as  an amoral con artist on the run from one space station to the next. He's very good at finding hiding places to elude capture all over the galaxy.   Like Di Griz, Gray's yarn is told in the first person, allowing for his personality to be expressed in nearly every sentence of the saga.

 

 Like the Rat books, Edwards' story is full of clever humor. For example, when we begin meeting the young students wanting to be "space alien super heroes," one is named Gadget Dude. Another calls herself Sky Diamond, born simply Lucy. But these young would-be heroes aren't in Sgt. Peppers' Lonely Hearths Club Band.  Nor are they candidates for Professor Charles Xavier's Institute where young mutants learned teamwork, how to use super-powers, and how to combat bigotry.

 

 Gray isn't anything like an X-Man. He only goes to the super-hero school to pretend to be a student, has no obvious powers, and has no drive to benefit anyone other than himself.    Well, he spends much of the novel in a wheelchair and ultimately becomes the leader of a team of young super-heroes out to save a planet from nasty invaders. I must admit, beyond the main baddie, Gravane/ Dr. Gravestone,    those powerful invaders aren't especially well-defined. I confess, the contrivance of villains being constant bad shots, even with super-weapons,  is a trope rather overused by now.

 

If it sounds like I'm describing a comic book in novel form, that's pretty much what Ascension Machine is. Nothing wrong with that.  Ascension Machine is intended to be light reading, straight-ahead action-adventure, and is quite suitable for YA readers. For example, it has a character arc where a young grifter finds his identity, finds a purpose greater than himself, and we see how important teamwork is in solving complex problems. In short, the very sort of comic book I'd be happy to give the grandkids to read, knowing they'd enjoy the colorful ride.

   

Me too. Reading the final coda in this debut novel, it seems clear we're going to be seeing more of the young heroes taking on new super-villains.   Here's your chance to get in on the ground-floor of an entertaining new series. With any luck, Edwards will spark up some romances among the new "space alien super-heroes" and the team will encounter some memorable new opponents.

 

More About the Reviewer

Dr. Wesley Britton is the author of the The Beta Earth Chronicles. His reviews appear in  BookPleasures.com and this blog. Learn more about him at: 

 

Explore the Beta Earth Chronicles website:

 

Follow Wes Britton’s Goodreads blog:

 

Check out Wes Britton’s Beta Earth Chronicles Facebook page:

 

Enjoy the videos at Wes Britton’s YouTube Channel:

More About the Blogger and What This Blog Offers

  

 The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. Of particular interest to readers of this blog is her most recent How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically (http://bit.ly/GreatBkReviews ) that covers 325 jam-packed pages covering everithing from Amazon vine to writing reviews for profit and promotion. Reviewers will have a special interest in the chapter on how to make reviewing pay, either as way to market their own books or as a career path--ethically!

This blog is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Note about other #TheNewBookReview free services: Participating authors and their publishers may request the social sharing image by Carolyn Wilhelm at no charge.  Please contact the designer at:  cwilhelm (at) thewiseowlfactory (dot) com. Provide the name of the book being reviewed and--if an image or headshot of the author --isn't already part of the badge, include it as an attachment. Wilhelm will send you the badge to use in your own Internet marketing. Give Wilhelm the link to this post, too!

Lois W. Stern, educator, anthology editor, and authors' advocate, offers a way for authors, readers, and publishers to find new reviewers for their books. It's also a way for reviewers to find new books at no charge. Find her submission guidelines in the tabs at the top of The New Book Review home page.  

 Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor. #TheFrugalbookPromoter, #CarolynHowardJohnson, #TheNewBookReview, #TheFrugalEditor, #SharingwithWriters, #reading #BookReviews #GreatBkReviews #BookMarketing

Book and Cat Librarian Wants More Than Five Stars for YA Novel

Title: Wild Awake
Author: Hilary T. Smith
Author's Web site: http://www.hilarytsmith.com/
Genre: YA
Publication date: 5/28/2013
Rating: 5 stars

ISBN: 9780062184689
Originally reviewed for The Book and Cat Librarian. www.bookandcatlibrarian.com.

Can I give this book more than 5 stars? Please? I was blown away. At first, I was impressed by the writing, and I took notes about what I liked, so that I could improve my own writing. For instance, the character development and amount of detail that went into describing characters, and everything else, was amazing. While we're on the subject of characters, Smith's were 3-dimensional and so vivid. Plus many were really interesting. The introduction of all these new characters into Kiri's life was part of what made her adventure so fun and um adventurey. The story sucked me in. With such great writing, that was bound to happen, but not all well-written novels are as absorbing. One note I took while reading said "Fun, crazy, mysterious story." That should tell you enough about this book. You know what was really neat? There was a MONTAGE in the book! It was of her playing the piano and all the prep work she was doing to get ready for a recital.  The pacing was fantastic, except for one part where there was some filler and I had trouble getting through it, but that was not far into the book and it didn't last many pages at all (this was the only negative thing I have to say and it's such a small thing in the grand scheme of things). Once I got past the short hump, the story gained momentum again. Speaking of momentum, the story starts off with a sane teenage girl. Once she finds out that her sister was murdered, we see how this news triggers a drug-fueled mental breakdown. Things get intense, but it happens at the right pace. It was a bit hard to read, because her mental illness was described too perfectly and was so realistic... but who am I kidding, even if it was hard to bare, I could not stop reading! There was even a love story! OK, there usually is, but this one was in the middle of the madness and was with a somewhat mysterious stranger, which is always the most fun in books. Kiri goes on an incredible life-changing journey, and I'm so happy I got to take it right along with her. Is it realistic for her to suddenly become sane at the end? No, so that doesn't happen, because that takes time, meds, and therapy, but the book ends on a positive and perfect note (hehe, she's a musician... NOTE. Yeah, yeah, I'll stop).

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.

Reviewer Calls Novel Universally Appealing

Deception Peak
By Dianne Lynn Gardner
Author's Web site: http://dragontargeseries.blogspot.com/
Genre: MG/YA adventure fantasy
ISBN: 978-0615679709

Reviewed by Daniel Cann originally for The Independent Review UK


Dianne Lynn Gardner has written a ‘rites-of-passage’ YA fantasy novel with Deception Peak. This is a ripping yarn in the tradition of all heroic quest tales. We have an unlikely (and initially) unwilling hero, a father-son relationship, and a vivid, exciting new world to explore.

 

The synopsis of this universally appealing adventure is:

“The first book of a trilogy, Deception Peak is a young adult adventure fantasy about a teenager, Ian Wilson, who follows his father through a portal that magically appears on their computer screen. They travel into a deceptively beautiful Realm, where horses run free, the wind sings prophetic melodies, and their computer avatars come to life.

But when the two are separated, Ian is abducted by a tribe of dragon worshippers and is forced to find his courage. As he struggles for his freedom and embarks on a perilous search to find his father, Ian meets the true peacekeepers of the Realm. It's then that he learns there is a greater purpose for being there.”

What I liked about this were the characters of Ian and Alex Wilson. Ian is a young lad who is a bit of a daydreamer and an aspiring artist. There is nothing particularly remarkable about him, and he therefore has an ‘everyman’ quality about him which readers of all ages will find easy in relating to.

His father, Alex, is a different proposition: recently widowed, he is struggling to come to terms with the loss of his beloved wife and the pressures of being a single parent.

Technically gifted and practical, Alex hunts, fishes and works at a foundry. He is also an adept computer game programmer and designer. He is currently obsessed with a new game he has created and is in danger of literally losing himself in this new cyber world.

The theme of fathers and sons has been explored before, but Gardner has created a believable relationship and skilfully weaves it into her plot.

The dangers of finding solace in gaming and a fantasy world are very real twenty first century concerns which are adeptly explored here. Unfortunately, for out two protagonists, this world is a little too immersive!

I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes with horse riding, exploration and adventure in a new landscape. This world’s features include: plains, prairies, woodland, wilderness, mountains, wild boar, wolves, pumas and dragons!

Whilst Alex is in his element in this new world, poor Ian is completely out of his comfort zone. The ‘fish out of water’ adverb is very apt for his situation. He would much rather be at home in the company of his school friend Abbi and enjoying his creature comforts.

Here he finds himself tested against the elements and suffering the hardships of this organic and challenging world. He goes through the mill in his quest to be reunited with his father. Ian is a long way from his native Seattle!

Gardner’s prose is very descriptive: the sights, sounds and smells of the Realm are brought vividly to life; it was easy to picture it. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about a reluctant hero finding resolve and reserves of courage in testing circumstances. The value of friends and family, being able to survive in hostile surroundings, becoming self-reliant, are all excellent themes for children to learn.

It is also important to note that with a title like Deception Peak you should expect plenty of mind games, trickery, and sorcery! This one is a winner; look out for the sequel soon.

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The New Book Review is blogged by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers. It is a free service offered to those who want to encourage the reading of books they love. That includes authors who want to share their favorite reviews, reviewers who'd like to see their reviews get more exposure, and readers who want to shout out praise of books they've read. Please see submission guidelines on the left of this page. Reviews and essays are indexed by genre, reviewer names, and review sites. Writers will find the search engine handy for gleaning the names of small publishers. Find other writer-related blogs at Sharing with Writers and The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor.