Book Review - The Super Life of Ben Braver by Marcus Emerson

Photo Credit - Amazon

Ben Braver was enjoying his day like another kid. Except for today, he had a craving for a peanut butter cup and had none left. He decided to go to the store and get some. On his way back home, he answers a call for help.

After Ben tries to help a stranger, he ends up getting an offer that will forever change his life. He receives an invitation to join a secret school for children with special abilities.  Ben doesn't have a special power but, this is the chance he's been waiting for. Will Ben be able to become the superhero he always dreamed of becoming?

I thought this was a fun and cute read. The book was packed with adventure and thrills along with humor sprinkled through. I enjoyed reading the adventures of Ben and his classmates. This book is the perfect start of the series and young readers won't be able to stop reading it.

**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.**

Book Review - City Spies by James Ponti + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Sara Martinez is a hacker who hacked into the foster care system to expose the crimes of her foster parents. Instead of being thanked for exposing the fraud, she finds herself spending time in a juvenile detention facility along with being banned from using the computer.  Mother is a British spy that offers Sara a haven to practice her hacking skills by working with the M16 agency.

The five kids who were recruited from across the globe are now based at the M16 in Scotland. When they are not in school, they are working on developing their unique skills such as hacking, sleight of hand and explosives. This will help them become better spies in the world of espionage. Sara was bought into the team before she was able to be trained. Along with her four teammates, Sara will need to stop a villain along with managing the complex dynamics of her team.

I thought the book was a fun read. I like that the author included a diverse cast of characters. I enjoyed reading the background on each character and how they overcame difficult situations. Young readers will enjoy following along with the characters as they solve crimes while learning about themselves.

**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.**

About The Book:

Title: CITY SPIES

Author: James Ponti

Pub. Date: March 10, 2020

Publisher: Aladdin

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, audiobook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

In this new series James Ponti brings together five kids from all over the world and transforms them into real-life spies.

Sara Martinez is a hacker. She recently broke into the New York City foster care system to expose her foster parents as cheats and lawbreakers. However, instead of being hailed as a hero, Sara finds herself facing years in a juvenile detention facility and banned from using computers for the same stretch of time. Enter Mother, a British spy who not only gets Sara released from jail but also offers her a chance to make a home for herself within a secret MI6 agency.

Operating out of a base in Scotland, the City Spies are five kids from various parts of the world. When they’re not attending the local boarding school, they’re honing their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t.

Before she knows what she’s doing, Sarah is heading to Paris for an international youth summit, hacking into a rival school’s computer to prevent them from winning a million euros, dangling thirty feet off the side of a building, and trying to stop a villain…all while navigating the complex dynamics of her new team.

No one said saving the world was easy…

About James:

James Ponti was born in Italy, raised in Florida, and went to college in California. After receiving a degree in screenwriting from the USC Film School, he began a career writing and producing television shows for the likes of Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, PBS, Spike TV, History Channel, and Golf Channel. James loves writing, travel, and the Boston Red Sox. He lives with his family in Maitland, Florida.

Photo by Elena Seibert Photography.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

Three lucky winners will receive a finished copy of CITY SPIES, US Only.

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21059/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

3/2/2020	Little Red Reads	Review
3/3/2020	BookHounds YA	Review
3/4/2020	Book-Keeping	Review
3/5/2020	Nay's Pink Bookshelf	Review
3/6/2020	YA Book Nerd	Review

Week Two:

3/9/2020	Wonder Struck	Review
3/10/2020	fictitious.fox	Review
3/11/2020	momfluenster	Review
3/12/2020	Two Points of interest	Review
3/13/2020	Savings in Seconds	Review

Book Review - Such a Perfect Wife by Kate White

Photo Credit - Amazon

Shannon Blaine sets off her a morning jog near her home in Lake George, NY, one sunny day during late September. Shannon runs the same rural road every day but, this day she never returns home.  Bailey Weggins is a true-crime writer and reporter. She receives an assignment from the website Crime Beat and heads north to report on the young mother's disappearance. While searching for leads, Bailey receives a call from the murderer that leads to a shocking discovery. As Bailey starts to dig deeper into the case, she realizes everyone has secrets but, how far will someone keep theirs?

I thought the novel was easy to read and kept me hooked until the ending. I wasn't a fan of the ending and thought it felt like rushed especially, with the suspense build-up. The middle of the novel had a bit of fluff and it picked up towards the end. This was my first book by the author and I look forward to reading more.

 **Disclosure -  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.**

Book Review - Bridge 108 by Anne Charnock + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

In the late twenty-first century, drought and wildfires ravage southern Europe causing residents to flee. When twelve-year-old Caleb and his mother make the journey north, he becomes separated from her and falls victim to human traffickers. He becomes enslaved in an enclave outside Manchester but, he uses the opportunity to improve his situation. Even when his situation looks dire, Caleb never loses hope.

Caleb meets another victim of trafficking and together they look for better opportunities. He hides in the woods and searches for a new place to call home. As Caleb searches for his path, he realizes he can't trust anyone because he might end up in a perilous situation. 

I enjoyed reading this novel as the writing flowed smoothly. The book grabbed my attention and kept it until the end. I enjoyed reading about Caleb and his adventures in finding a place to belong. I liked that the author included different points of view in the book but, I felt like some characters should have been included. I would have liked to have read about his friend in the enclave roof next door and her motivations. The book was fast-paced but, lacked a bit of world-building. The author mentioned a few things in passing but, I wanted to know more about the tech or the political landscape. I felt like this book would be a great introductory novel into an awesome series about a new "world".

**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.**

Print Length: 195 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1542006082
Publisher: 47North (February 18, 2020)
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07PLHGMQN

Praise for BRIDGE 108

“Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with hopeful messages will be gratified by this topical tale of human resourcefulness in the face of climate disaster.” —Publishers Weekly

A dystopian novel set in the climate-ravaged Europe of A Calculated Life. Told through multiple voices against the backdrop of a haunting and frighteningly believable future, Bridge 108 charts the passage of a young boy into adulthood amid oppressive circumstances that are increasingly relevant to our present day.

From the Arthur C. Clarke Award–winning author, a dystopian novel of oppression set in the climate-ravaged Europe of A Calculated Life, a finalist for the Kitschies award and Philip K. Dick Award.

Late in the twenty-first century, drought and wildfires prompt an exodus from southern Europe. When twelve-year-old Caleb is separated from his mother during their trek north, he soon falls prey to traffickers. Enslaved in an enclave outside Manchester, the resourceful and determined Caleb never loses hope of bettering himself.

After Caleb is befriended by a fellow victim of trafficking, another road opens. Hiding in the woodlands by day, guided by the stars at night, he begins a new journey—to escape to a better life, to meet someone he can trust, and to find his family. For Caleb, only one thing is certain: making his way in the world will be far more difficult than his mother imagined.

Told through multiple voices and set against the backdrop of a haunting and frighteningly believable future, Bridge 108 charts the passage of a young boy into adulthood amid oppressive circumstances that are increasingly relevant to our present day.

You can purchase Bridge 108 at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Anne Charnock

Anne Charnock's latest novel, DREAMS BEFORE THE START OF TIME, is the winner of the 2018 Arthur C. Clarke Award, and was shortlisted for the BSFA 2017 Best Novel Award. Her novella THE ENCLAVE has won the BSFA 2017 Best Short Fiction Award. This novella is written in the same world as her debut novel, A CALCULATED LIFE, which was a finalist for the 2013 Philip K. Dick and The Kitschies Golden Tentacle Awards.

SLEEPING EMBERS OF AN ORDINARY MIND, her second novel, was named by The Guardian as one of the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2015

Anne Charnock's journalism has appeared in New Scientist, The Guardian, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune and Geographical. She was educated at the University of East Anglia, where she studied Environmental Sciences, and at The Manchester School of Art, England where she gained a Masters in Fine Art.

As a foreign correspondent, she travelled widely in Africa, the Middle East and India and spent a year overlanding through Egypt, Sudan and Kenya.

        

FEBRUARY 17th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

FEBRUARY 18th TUESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books REVIEW

FEBRUARY 19th WEDNESDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 20th THURSDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

FEBRUARY 20th THURSDAY A Dream Within A Dream EXCERPT

FEBRUARY 21st FRIDAY Insane About Books REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 22nd SATURDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW
FEBRUARY 22nd SATURDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

FEBRUARY 23rd SUNDAY BookHounds EXCERPT

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Book Review - Star Wars: Are You Scared, Darth Vader? by Adam Rex + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

 It's a midnight with a full moon out. Darth Vader isn't scared, though. Nothing can scare Lord Vader, not even scary monsters, ghosts, or witches. So, what exactly is Darth Vader scared of?

This was a cute and silly book to read alone (no judgment) or with a child. The book is beautifully illustrated and filled with fun. It is a quick read which means kids will want to read it over and over again. A must read for any fan!

**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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

About the Book:

Title: ARE YOU SCARED, DARTH VADER?

Author: Adam Rex

Pub. Date: July 3, 2018

Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 48

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

It's midnight and the moon is full, but Darth Vader isn't scared.

OF COURSE I AM NOT SCARED.

Nothing can scare Lord Vader!

CORRECT.

Not monsters or witches or ghosts, and especially not the dark.

So what is Darth Vader scared of?

Read on in Adam Rex's hilarious and spooky Star Wars tale to find out!

YOU WILL LEARN NOTHING.

 

About Adam:

Adam Rex grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, the middle of three children. He was neither the smart one (older brother) or the cute one (younger sister), but he was the one who could draw. He took a lot of art classes as a kid, trying to learn to draw better, and started painting when he was 11. Later he got a BFA from the University of Arizona, and met his physicist wife Marie (who is both the smart and cute one).

Adam and Marie live in Tucson, where Adam draws, paints, writes, spends too much time on the internet, and listens to public radio. Adam is nearsighted, bad at all sports, learning to play the theremin, and usually in need of a shave. He can carry a tune, if you don't mind the tune getting dropped and stepped on occasionally. He never remembers anyone's name until he's heard it at least three times. He likes animals, spacemen, Mexican food, Ethiopian food, monsters, puppets, comic books, 19th century art, skeletons, bugs, and robots.

His first picture book, THE DIRTY COWBOY by Amy Timberlake, was published by FSG in 2003. His picture book FRANKENSTEIN MAKES A SANDWICH, a collection of stories about monsters and their problems, was a New York Times Bestseller. 2007 saw the release of his first novel, THE TRUE MEANING OF SMEKDAY, which was adapted into the DreamWorks film HOME in 2014. He has illustrated the work of many authors, including Jon Scieszka, Mac Barnett, Neil Gaiman, Jeff Kinney, David Lubar, Kate DiCamillo, Eoin Colfer, Christopher Paul Curtis, and Paul Fieg.

Garlic and crosses are useless against Adam. Sunlight has been shown to be at least moderately effective. A silver bullet does the trick. Pretty much any bullet, really.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

  

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of ARE YOU SCARED, DARTH VADER?, US Only.

Rafflecopter Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba2823/?

Tour Schedule:

Week Two:

10/29/2018- Eli to the nth- Review

10/30/2018- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

10/31/2018- Such A Novel Idea- Review

11/1/2018- Novel Novice- Review

11/2/2018- Two Points of Interest- Review