Book Review: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain is scheduled for release on Jan. 24, 2012. This book chronicles the history of society's changing focus on character and personality. It takes a close look at the differences between introverts and extroverts, and America's current cultural push to be an extrovert. Scientific studies, in-depth personal research and detailed case studies of individuals come together in this intriguing book. Cain argues that those of us that can be considered introverts are as important and valuable as our more gregarious counterparts and are often undervalued. Readers will be enthralled by the life stories, the psychological details, and personal insights that Quiet offers. I had greater insight about myself, relationships and all manner of interpersonal communications after finishing this book.

My complete review is available here on Yahoo! Voices.

Picturebook Review: Pirates & Princesses

Pirates and Princesses is a picture book written by Jill and Sadie Kargman and illustrated by Christine Davenier. The colorful and playful illustrations paired with smart text tell the story of a pair of friends. Ivy and Fletch have been friends since they were babies. Even in preschool they remained the bet of friends. However, when they get to kindergarten they discover new friends, which seem to never cross the gender line. The girls play princess, while the boys play pirate. Can the two friends reconnect at school, or will they stay divided along the gender lines?

Some might peg Pirates and Princesses as unrealistic, but I think this is a fantastic tale. As a young girl I was much like Ivy, and enjoyed the games typically considered 'boy's' games. I still am more likely to be seen swinging a hammer or digging in the garden than painting my finger nails. I am trying to instill in my own two kids the understanding that it is more than okay for my daughter to play pirates and my son to don a tutu if that is what they like, if that is what they want to do. So far they have no gender fear, but I know that once they enter elementary school scenarios like the one in this story might take place. There is nothing wrong with the girls plating ballerina or princess. There is nothing wrong with the boys playing pirate, or cowboy, or astronaut. But when the walls between the genders fall and anyone can join in any game, there is so much more fun to be had! I hope that this type of thing can happen in schools, playgrounds, and groups everywhere. Teaching our kids that any kids can be a pirate or a princess, to be good friends, and to stand up for what you believe we can all have kids as cool as Fletch and Ivy.

Book Review: Dark Sins and Desert Sands by Stephanie Draven

Dark Sins and Desert Sands by Stephanie Draven is romance novel that combines suspense and the paranormal in a contemporary setting. It is part of Draven's Mythica series, but the only one that I have read. I enjoyed that the characters were flawed individuals and I appreciated the new twist on mythology and the gods. It was a quick read, with action and romance that moved at a fast pace.

In Dark Sins and Desert Sands, Ray Stavrakis is an American soldier that has endured the stresses of war and then torture. The result of the trials he has survived is that Ray is on the run, but now gifted with mind control powers. However, he also has to contend with the tolls of using those powers and violent rages. He is now a minotaur, and he is on the hunt for the woman that took part in his interrogation, the only person he believes can clear his name. The woman he is searching for, Layla Bahset, has problems of her own to contend with. 

My complete review can be found here on Yahoo! Voices.

Early Book Review: Popular Clone by M.E. Castle

Popular Clone by M.E. Castle is a book that is perfect for middle school students and younger high school students. It is scheduled for release Jan. 24, 2012. Fisher Bas is a 12-year-old with some serious bully issues. He is the son of two scientists and is not lacking in the science department himself. Fisher is smart, a bit of a dreamer and small. This has gained the attention of one teacher who seems to be a kindred spirit and three bullies who have named themselves the Vikings. In his eagerness to escape the trials of school, Fisher spawns an idea using his mother's top secret experiment, that scientist Dr. Xander would do anything to get his hands on. He creates a clone to go to school and endure those terrors while Fisher gets to stay home and enjoy video games and snack food. His plan could have results ranging from perfect to disastrous. Unsurprisingly, Fisher's experiment and the resulting adventure hold a little from both extremes.

Read my complete review here on Yahoo! Voices.

Picturebook Review: Maddie's Monster Dad by Scott Gibala-Broxholm

Maddie's Monster Dad is a picture book written and illustrated by Scott Gibala-Broxholm.  Maddie is a girl who loved monsters; she loved everything related to monsters. The only thing she loved more than monsters is her father. She loves baking Glob cookies with him, drawing monster pictures with him, and watching monster movies with him. But lately, Maddie's father has been to busy working to ply with her. So, Maddie uses the Build-a-Beast kit her father had given her for her birthday to build herself a new father. Her results are fantastic, but still leave her bored by the end of the day, so she goes with her new dad to scare her real father. The results of her attempted scare offer the perfect reconciliation for the story.

I really loved Maddie's Monster Dad, and highly recommend it as a book to read aloud and share with the children in your life. I think the story can bring home to parents the need to recognize when our work or other responsibilities live others feeling neglected. However, it also offers children the understanding that sometimes adults do need to do less exciting things than play, and that using their imagination can make those times a little easier to bear. Maddie and her father came alive in the illustrations, which were done in gouache and pencil. The colors and images did a great job of capturing the moods of Maddie and the images from her life and imagination. As someone that does some significant computer time at home, it really struck a chord with me personally.

Early Book Review: Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor

Hades: Lord of the Dead by George O'Connor is a young adult graphic novel scheduled for release on January 31, 2012. It is volume four in the Olympian series. This is another look at the legend of Hades and Persephone. Those already very familiar with the tale will not have many surprises, but there are some new perspectives to the story in this interpretation. Nothing mind blowing, but a reasonable and well-done look at the story behind why we have seasons and the personality of Persephone. This volume would serve well as an introduction to the story and the way it can change with the perspectives of the teller and reader.

In the Olympians series, O’Connor draws thoroughly researches and then retells Greek myths with his own touch. Hades: Lord of the Dead is no exception. O'Connor gives Persephone, or Kore, some strength and say in her future that is often missing in the more traditional re-tellings. The art is vibrant and gives the characters some personality and small details from the story that might otherwise be lost in this condensed myth re-telling. I also liked that O'Connor added notes at the end of the graphic novel explaining why he made certain changes to the original story, and how he felt about certain aspects of the book. He also includes factual tidbits that will be useful to those not already well-versed in the Greek gods and the related myths.

As someone that loves mythology and the many ways the classic stories can be re-imagined, I felt that Hades: Lord of the Dead was lacking some depth. Hades could have used more background story, particularly in how Persephone caught his eye. However; readers that are looking for a fun read, an introduction to the story, or a basic re-telling of the story will be well pleased with what they find here.

Book Review: Highland Knight by Hannah Howell

Highland Knight by Hannah Howell is my first review in the TBR Challenge 2012. Hannah Howell has written more Highland novels then I have read, sometime I feel like she has more than I can count. That does not keep me from adding all of them to me to be read list or adding ones I find to my pile. Every single time I pick one up I am happy I did. Highland Knight was among those I need to read to complete the list of the Highland books, which center around the Murray family. Eventually I will catch up and have read all the published Highland books, but I have no idea when I will see the end of the list.

In Highland Knight, Cameron MacAlpin is given a woman and a girl as payment for a debt payment, after discovering who they are. The woman is Avery Murray, sister to Payton Murray, the same man who is said to have dishonored Cameron's own sister. Cameron plans to use Avery and then to trade her to Payton in order to ensure he marries his sister and to get some revenge on his treatment of her. However, nothing goes as smoothly as he would like. Avery and her twelve year old cousin Gillyanne are smart and courageous women that slowly win the hearts of Cameron's people as they travel across France towards Scotland. Escape attempts, teasing, general mischief, and outside threats keep the men on their toes. The women defend Payton's honor and yet still start to feel like family to those they travel with. While Avery is angered at the accusations aimed at her brother, and her own attraction to Cameron, who openly admits that he plans on seducing her for revenge against her brother. Can she change Cameron's made and convince him that all women are not as deceitful as those in his past, or is she fated to desire him long after he casts her aside?

Highland Knight offered exactly what I would expect from any of Howell's Highland romance novels. There is the stubborn hero with baggage to spare, strong women with powers of intuition, a great cast of supporting characters, and some steamy scenes to entertain. There are threads of adventure and humor woven through out the book, so even if you find something bothersome, like the twelve year old cousin dishing out sex advise, you are still compelled to keep reading to see what happens next.

I did not think that Highland Knight was the best of Howell's work, but it was a nice change of pace from the children's book that I had been reading heavily as of late. It also shook my case of reading blahs, where you know that a book you are reading is good or not but just cannot get emotionally involved in any story. Even if I had not liked the story, I would have appreciated the book for that alone. I would recommend Highland Knight to fans of Howell, and those looking for a fun historical romance with a Scottish flavor.

Book Review: First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts by Lari Don

First Aid for Fairies and Other Fabled Beasts by Lari Don is a children's book for readers around 9 and older. Helen wants to be a musician, not a veterinarian like her mother, although she has retained some of the knowledge and skills her mother has tried to teach her. That knowledge comes in handy when she finds an injured horse, which is not just a horse. Soon Helen is caught in a quest with mythical beast to help them right a wrong that their own curiosity set into motion. Helen and her new friends need to solve riddles to find a very special book before the evil Master of the Maze can. While on these adventures Helen must also stay in the good graces of her parents, protect her younger sister and master a fiddle solo to attend a summer camp with some of the best musicians in the world. A collection of Scottish landscape, folklore and fables are intertwined with the adventure to keep readers enthralled.

 My complete review is available here on Yahoo! Voices.

Picturebook Review: My Name is Elizabeth!

My Name is Elizabeth! is a picturebook written by Annika Dunklee and illustrated by Matthew Forsythe. Elizabeth loves her name, her pet duck, and her family. However, she is greatly bothered when people insist on calling her names like Beth or Lizzy. Elizabeth is a name she shares with a queen, and she does not want to be called anything else. Her name is great, and she loves everything about it, and freely lists all the wonderful things about the name Elizabeth. She puts up with the nicknames for as long as she can before making it known, loud and clear, that she wants to be called Elizabeth. In the end, she just might let some people get away with calling her something other than Elizabeth.

My Name is Elizabeth! is a fun, simple story that I easily relate to since I have always had to struggle with a serious dislike to any name derived nicknames people tried to use for me. Miss Elizabeth is a normal, feisty child with a mind of her own. I really loved the artwork for the book as well. The illustrations are two-toned, and do a great job of illustrating Elizabeth's nature and moods. The drawings are a little retro, and the format is simple and easy to follow. The speech bubbles combined with the two-toned illustrations give the format a comic book feel, which could appeal to many readers. While not every kid is lucky enough to have a pet duck, all will be able to relate to not like nicknames family and other people in their lives might use for them, and the need to speak up and communicate that to the people around them.

Early Book Review: How to Make a Golem and Terrify People

How to Make a Golem and Terrify People by Allete J. Willis is a children's book set for publication on Jan. 23 2012, that is appropriate for children around 10 and older. Younger children with the reading skills for the book will enjoy it as well, but since the main character turns 12, it might be most relatable for those around the same age. The story opens with Edda, nicknamed "Mouse" for her small size and gentle nature. She wants to be braver, but keeps letting herself be frightened by a bully at school and other things in day-to-day life. When her home is robbed while her family is out celebrating her birthday Edda feels even more afraid and thinks that she will never escape her fear. The next day a new boy appears at school, Michael Scot, who is more than a little odd. He offers to help Edda be braver, to defeat her fear. Michael says that he is an alchemist and will help her to build a golem. Edda is reluctant to believe that anyone could bring a giant mud monster to life, but is willing to try. Can they really bring a golem to life and if they do will it really solve Edda's fear problem? My complete review is available here on Yahoo! Voices.