Friday, August 5, 2022

Book Review - Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton + Giveaway

 


Claire is the best gymnast in her school's team. She is even on her way to qualifying for the state championships. Claire does her best at the gym but, in school she is known as the troublemaker. At school, she spends more time in the principal's office than in the classroom. Claire doesn't mind being in trouble because it helps hide the fact that she can't read. She has trouble reading because everything looks like a jumble of mess.

Her principal is sympathetic to Claire and wonders if she is acting out because she has dyslexic. Claire's mother is hesitant to get her tested because she doesn't want Claire to be labeled. Claire never realized that she might be able to get help for her reading problems. Will she be able to convince her mother that she needs help?

I was a bit torn on this book. The book has a great message and shows how everyone can have their own private struggles while appearing differently in public. However, I didn't really like Claire and her mother. Claire was very aggressive and took out her anger on others when things got hard. There was even a scene in the book where Claire was aggressive towards an animal because she was frustrated. Claire and her mother seem to have a close bond but, it seems that her mother never really paid any attention to Claire's school work. They would spend time cuddling and watching movies but, I am hesitant to believe that her mother never noticed anything amiss or that her school never contacted her before about Claire's aggressive behavior since, she seems to have a pattern of aggressive behavior. Then when Claire's mother is called in because Claire pushed a child and he lost a tooth, her mother didn't even try to get to the bottom of the fight. Claire wants to get help but, when she notices a teacher paying attention to her and trying to help, Claire still tries to rebel against the teacher. Also, I am not sure about the part where they require the parents permission to put children into "special programs". I remember being in one because they thought I didn't speak English since I was an immigrant (even though English is the only language I spoke) and they didn't seek my parents' approval before placing me in that program.

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**

 

 

 

About The Book:

Title: FLIPPING FORWARD TWISTING BACKWARD

Author: Alma Fullerton

Pub. Date: August 2, 2022

Publisher: Peachtree

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 144

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

A high-energy novel in verse starring a fifth grader who is almost as devoted to competitive gymnastics as she is to hiding her poor reading skills. What happens when Claire’s secret starts unraveling?

Claire is by far the best gymnast on her team, and she’s well on her way to qualifying for the state championships. The gym is where Claire shines. But at school, she’s known as a troublemaker. She seems to spend more time in the office than in class—which is fine with her since it enables her to hide the fact that she can’t read. She has never been able to make sense of the wobbling jumble of letters on a page. No one except her BFF knows.
 
But when a sympathetic principal wonders if Claire is acting out because she’s dyslexic, her mother balks. She’s afraid Claire will be labeled “stupid” and refuses testing. Claire has always assumed she’s dumb; she never imagined her reading problem could have a solution. Is she strong enough to take on both her reading challenges and her mother’s denial? Is it worth jeopardizing her spot in qualifiers?
 
Told in clear and poignant verse and featuring black and white illustrations, Claire’s struggle with something that seems to come easily to everyone else will resonate with readers and have them cheering her on.

 

 

About Alma Fullerton:

Alma Fullerton couldn’t read until she was in the fourth grade. Today she works with students who have learning disabilities. She is the author of several middle grade and young adult novels that garnered acclaim and awards in her native Canada. Alma is also the author/illustrator of several picture books. She is on faculty with the Highlights Foundation for teaching novel in verse writing and is an RA for SCBWI’s Canada East region. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

 




Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of FLIPPING FORWARD TWISTING BACKWARD, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/25/2022

hodophile_z

IG Review

7/25/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

7/26/2022

The Paperback Princess

Review/IG Post

7/26/2022

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt/IG Post

7/27/2022

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

7/27/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

7/28/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

7/28/2022

BookHounds YA

Excerpt/IG Post

7/29/2022

@just_another_mother_with_books

IG Review

7/29/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

 Week Two:

8/1/2022

Strange Brew Reviews

Excerpt

8/1/2022

Yabookscentral

Excerpt

8/2/2022

GryffindorBookishNerd

Review/IG Post

8/2/2022

celiamcmahonreads on insta

Review/IG Post

8/3/2022

Little Red Reads

Review/IG Post

8/3/2022

@enjoyingbooksagain

Review/IG Post

8/4/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review/IG Post

8/4/2022

Nerdophiles

Review/

8/5/2022

A Backwards Story

Review/IG Post

8/5/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post


Thursday, August 4, 2022

Book Review - Lunch from Home by Joshua David Stein

 

In a classroom with other students, four students bring culturally-specific homemade lunches while their peers bring sandwiches. The students are excited to eat their lunch but, their mood is spoiled when other classmates make comments and have disgusted reactions to their food.

The illustrated book is inspired by experiences of four "famous" chefs and their childhood experiences. The book provides a learning moment of empathy and to appreciate other cultures. As a foodie, it was interesting to see the lunches the students bought. However, as an immigrant I can relate to other people not appreciating my food the same way as they would other Americanized food. The book bought up my own memories of eating food that other people considered "gross".  The book was beautifully illustrated with vibrant colored and detailed illustrations.


Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Book Review - Kenzie's Kingdom by Shea Fontana + Giveaway

Kenzie hates that her family moved to a castle and started a Medieval themed resort. She misses her old friends and her old life back home. However, when a time-traveling squire needs Kenzie's help, will she be able to help her friend?

The graphic novel was a cute and brightly illustrated book. It had themes of being a friend, accepting and figuring out who you are. I enjoyed reading the graphic novel but, wished it had a bit more humor at times.

 **Disclosure - I received a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest opinion**


 

About The Book:

Title: KENZIE'S KINGDOM

Author: Shea Fontana, Agnes Garbowska (Illustrated), Rebecca Taylor (Editor)

Pub. Date: July 26, 2022

Publisher: Wonderbound

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 128

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NiBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

When modern meets medieval, Kenzie must help a squire get back to the past in this time-traveling fantasy adventure!

A DIFFERENT KIND OF PRINCESS

Kenzie hates that her family moved to a castle to start a Medieval-themed resort, but all that changes when a time-traveling squire needs Kenzie’s help to get back home to the past! From the best-selling creative team behind DC Superhero Girls, this is a perfect read for fans of Phoebe and her Unicorn, The Baby-Sitter’s Club, or Witches of Brooklyn.


 

About Shea Fontana:

Shea Fontana is a writer for film, television and graphic novels. Her credits include developing and writing the DC Super Hero Girls animated shorts, TV specials, movies and graphic novels; Polly Pocket (developed and story editor), Doc McStuffins, The 7D, Whisker Haven Tales with the Palace Pets (wrote show bible and first season), Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz (story editor), the new Muppet Babies series; two Disney on Ice shows where she wrote new material for the worlds of Mickey Mouse, Inside Out, Disney Princesses, Finding Dori, Frozen, and other Disney and Pixar properties; and the feature film, Crowning Jules. She has also written for top comic titles including Justice League, Wonder Woman, Batman: Overdrive (coming 2019), Catwoman/Looney Tunes, and contributed anthology pieces starring Deathstroke and Teen Titans.

Her DC Super Hero Girls graphic novels have been New York Times Best Sellers. Her debut graphic novel, Finals Crisis, was honored with Diamond's 2016 Gem Award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel, and DC Super Hero Girls: Past Times at Super Hero High won the 2017 Gem Award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel as well as the Comixology Reader's Pick award for Best All-Ages Graphic Novel of 2017. DC Super Hero Girls won the 2018 Ringo Award for Best Kids Comic or Graphic Novel. She was listed 61st on Bleeding Cool’s Power List of Comics for 2018. The London Free Press declared her “not afraid to be corny,” which is an accurate assessment of her persona both on and off the page.

She lives in sunny Los Angeles where she enjoys hiking, hanging out with her beagle, Ziggy, and changing her hair color. Using the secret identity “Shea Q. Off,” Shea played roller derby until her angry knees forced her into early retirement. 

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

About Agnes Garbowska:

Agnes has worked with many of the major comic book publishers illustrating such titles as the New York Times Best Sellers & Gem Award winner DC Superhero Girls for DC Comics, My Little Pony, Care Bears, and Jem and the Holograms for IDW, Grumpy Cat, Boo: the World's Cutest Dog, and Li’l Vampi  for Dynamite Entertainment, Sonic Universe Off-Panel Stripes for Archie Comics, and Victories for Dark Horse. She has worked with Marvel Comics, providing artwork for Girl Comics and Spider-Ham 25th Anniversary Special. She is also the artist for the 2014 Halloween Comic Fest comic, The Adventure of Ernie from Aspen Comics.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads

 

 



Giveaway Details:

2 winners will receive a finished copy of KENZIE'S KINGDOM, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/11/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

7/12/2022

Write. Read. Live.

Excerpt/IG Post

7/13/2022

BookHounds YA

Guest Post/IG Post

7/14/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

7/15/2022

Ya Books Central

Guest Post

7/16/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Post

Week Two:

7/17/2022

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Post

7/18/2022

Lady Hawkeye

Excerpt/IG Post

7/19/2022

@meetcuteromancebooks

IG Post

7/20/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

7/21/2022

@just_another_mother_with_books

IG Post

7/22/2022

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

7/23/2022

GryffindorBookishNerd

Review/IG Post

Week Three:

7/24/2022

Books and Zebras

Review/IG Post

7/25/2022

The Clever Reader

Guest Post/IG Post

7/26/2022

Little Red Reads

Review

7/27/2022

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

7/28/2022

FictionalFey

Review/IG Post

7/29/2022

Nerdophiles

Review/IG Post

7/30/2022

More Books Please blog

Review/IG Post

Week Four:

7/31/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review/IG Post

8/1/2022

hodophile_z

IG Review

8/2/2022

Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf

IG Review

8/3/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

8/4/2022

@enjoyingbooksagain

Review/IG Post

8/5/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review


Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Book Spotlight - Sword and Sorcery: Frostfire by Ethan Avery + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: FROSTFIRE (Sword and Sorcery #1)

Author: Ethan Avery

Pub. Date: April 22, 2022

Publisher: Stories by Storytellers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 454

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, B&NTBD, Bookshop.org

Read for FREE with a Kindle Unlimited Membership!

If you could change your life by trusting in a stranger… would you?

Erevan has a problem. He grew up on the unforgiving streets of Bogudos and has the scars to prove it. His friend, however, is stuck in jail because of his mistake. But when a suspicious courier offers him a chance to fix things, should he lift his sword and journey across treacherous lands to aid her cause?

Meanwhile, Aireyal has been accepted into the wealthiest and most prestigious magical school in all the land. There’s just one problem. She can’t do magic. But that’s far from the only secret within the walls of Darr-Kamo. And what she discovers might just change the world.

Swordsman & Sorcerer
Scholar & Spiritualist

All four have enemies. And all four need help to get what they want. But help is never free.
What would you sacrifice to get what you most desire? 

Reviews:

"An intricate and enjoyable adventure with a striking cast." —Kirkus Reviews

"Buoyant, character-driven debut." —Publishers Weekly's BookLife Reviews

"The systems of magic are elaborate, immersive, and vibrant." —Foreword Clarion Reviews

"Readers will find...thought-provoking insights about growth and opportunity and a vivid adventure." —Midwest Book Review

 

About Ethan Avery:

Ethan Avery believes in the power of stories. As a child growing up in Ohio, they gave him a chance to see a bigger world, and to hear what life was like for people that didn’t look like him or believe what he did. And now, years later, he hopes to do the same for others. When he's not writing novels, directing movies, or wasting other people's time with his YouTube channel, Ethan plays video games (poorly), basketball (painfully), and D&D (problematically with praiseworthy peers). Send him a tweet @StoriesByEthan, he loves nerding out!

Website | Twitter | YouTube | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of FROSTFIRE, US Only.

Ends August 9th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/25/2022

Ya Books Central

Excerpt

7/25/2022

BookHounds YA

Excerpt/IG Post

7/26/2022

#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog

Excerpt

7/26/2022

Author Z. Knight’s Guild

Excerpt

7/27/2022

Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog

Review/IG Post

7/27/2022

@allyluvsbooksalatte

IG Spotlight

7/28/2022

FictionalFey

Review/IG Post

7/28/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Excerpt

7/29/2022

GryffindorBookishNerd

IG Review

7/29/2022

One More Exclamation

Review/IG Post

Week Two:

8/1/2022

Locks, Hooks and Books

Review

8/1/2022

_popreads_

IG Review

8/2/2022

@ReadsReaders

YouTube Review/IG Post

8/2/2022

@jaimerockstarbooktours

IG Spotlight

8/3/2022

@thebookishfoxwitch

IG Review

8/3/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

8/4/2022

travelersguidetobooks

IG Review

8/4/2022

The Chatty Bookworm

TikTok Review/IG Post

8/5/2022

More Books Please blog

Review

8/5/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post