Book Review - Leave No Trace by Mindy Mejia

 

In Minnesota, there are hundreds of miles of glacial lakes and forests that are known as the Boundary Waters. Ten years ago, a man and his son went into the wilderness to camp and was never heard from again. People and search teams searched desperately for the pair because their campsite looks like it was ravaged by a bear. 

Everyone assumed that they were dead until a decade later, the son, Lucas, returns. He was found ransacking an outfitter store during the middle of the night. When the police arrived, Lucas became violent and uncommunicative. He was sent to a psychiatric facility to help him. 

Maya Stark is an assistant language therapist that is assigned to help Lucas. Maya tries to help Lucas answer what happened to his father and the last ten years of his life. Maya was abandoned by her mother at a young age. As she tries to help Lucas, her own secrets start to bubble up to the surface. She finds herself drawn to Lucas and she is willing to risk everything to reunite him with his father.

I found the novel to be an interesting and entertaining read. I found some parts of the novel to be unbelievable and predictable. I thought that the novel progressed very slowly during some parts with Maya and Lucas. I liked the backstory of Sarah and Josiah and enjoyed reading his narration. Personally, I didn't understand his need to be outside all the time but, I felt his story was poignant. I am a bit torn over the ending. The ending wrapped everything up neatly but, I felt like I needed something more.

Book Review - The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

The highly opinionated Moxie McCoy has the biggest challenge of the century! Someone kidnapped their beloved school mascot Eddie the Owl and Moxie is on the case. However, Moxie has to fly solo on this case because her crime-solving best friend has moved away.  As Moxie interviews her classmates as possible suspects and potential best friends, she discovers a few new things about the people in her life. Will Moxie be able the solve the disappearance of Eddie?

The book was a cute read with fun illustrations. I love the relationship between Moxie and her brother, Milton.  The mystery behind Eddie's disappearance was an emotional rollercoaster as Moxie tried to figure out who the culprit was. I look forward to reading the other books in the series.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Title: THE REAL MCCOYS (The Real McCoys #1)

Author: Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr (Illustrator)

Pub. Date: November 7, 2017

Publisher: Imprint

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook

Pages: 336

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD

Her name's Moxie. Moxie McCoy.

Bold, opinionated, and haplessly self-confident, the world's greatest fourth-grade detective faces her biggest challenge! When someone kidnaps beloved school mascot Eddie the Owl, Moxie is on the case--but she's forced to fly solo now that her best friend (and crime-solving partner) has moved away.

Moxie must interview her classmates--both as potential new best friends and as possible suspects. She finds clues and points fingers but can't save the owl on her own. Enter Moxie's little brother, Milton. Quiet, cautious, and boring as a butter knife, he's a good listener.

Can the Real McCoys form an unlikely alliance and solve the crime of the century?

"A marvelous standalone sequel that will inspire random acts of kindness." —School Library Journal, starred review

"An outstanding, truly unique reading experience." —Booklist

Praise for The Real McCoys:

"Readers will breeze through this ingenious combination of text and art, eager for Moxie and Milton’s next case." —School Library Journal, starred review

"Swanson’s witty text is enhanced exponentially by Behr’s bold, original artwork to create a uniquely told whodunit with wide appeal ... An exceptional book." —Booklist, starred review

"Delightfully topsy-turvy...readers will hope to see more of both siblings soon." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

"An exceptional middle-grade read packed with giggles for young sleuths who love to explore a little off the beaten path." —Kirkus Reviews

“An ingenious new series…an innovative reading experience that surprises and delights. Wordplay, witty descriptions and visual jokes abound.” —The Washington Post

"Swanson and Behr have created a gem with this hilarious elementary-level read with graphic novel tendencies." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This clever, funny, delightful book is just what this crazy world needs. The surprising and inventive interaction between text and illustration shows that two brains are, indeed, better than one--especially when they belong to Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr." —Andrea Beaty, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ada Twist Scientist

A Junior Library Guild Selection

 

 

About Robbi & Matthew: 

WE ARE MATTHEW SWANSON AND ROBBI BEHR—

A WRITER/ILLUSTRATOR, HUSBAND/WIFE, TASKMASTER/LOAFER DUO

WE LIVE AND WORK AND MAKE STUFF TOGETHER IN THE HAYLOFT OF AN OLD BARN ON THE EASTERN SHORE OF MARYLAND.

Combining Robbi’s illustrations and Matthew’s words, we run two small presses— Idiots’Books (illustrated picture books for adults) and Bobbledy Books, (a picture book and music club for kids). Together, we have published more than 60 volumes, including titles with Macmillan, Chronicle Books and LB Kids. We speak, teach, and run workshops on collaboration and creative entrepreneurship (with appearances at TEDx, Mom 2.0,Alt Summit, and ICON7). And we blog about our ongoing adventures in creative mishap.

Website

ROBBI BEHR

is an illustrator/print maker/commercial salmon fisherwoman who earned a BA from Williams College and an MFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design. When she is not drawing stuff or eating ice cream or watching sappy late-90s chick movies, she is, in all likelihood, fast asleep.

FOLLOW ROBBI:

 Twitter | Facebbok | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads 

MATTHEW SWANSON

is a writer/art director/blues harmonica player who has so far failed in every attempt to be swashbuckling. He managed to secure a BA from Williams but was summarily rejected from every MFA program to which he applied—thus emboldening Robbi to remind him almost daily that he is a master of nothing.

FOLLOW MATTHEW:

Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE REAL MCCOYS SERIES, US Only.

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21016/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/4/2019	Lifestyle Of Me	Review
11/4/2019	Life Within The Pages	Review
11/5/2019	Cuz I’m a Nerd	Review
11/5/2019	For the Love of KidLit	Excerpt
11/6/2019	Here's to Happy Endings	Review
11/6/2019	Bookhounds YA	Excerpt
11/7/2019	Inspired by Savannah	Review
11/7/2019	A Gingerly Review	Review
11/8/2019	A Dream Within A Dream	Review
11/8/2019	Little Red Reads	Review

Week Two:

11/11/2019	Reading Is My SuperPower	Review
11/11/2019	Hurn Publications	Review
11/12/2019	DWantsToRead	Review
11/12/2019	Jypsylynn	Review
11/13/2019	Savings in Seconds	Review
11/13/2019	Wonder Struck	Review
11/14/2019	Nerdophiles	Review
11/14/2019	Southern Girl Bookaholic	Review
11/15/2019	Two points of interest	Review
11/15/2019	BookishRealmReviews	Review