Book Review - Rapunzel's Revenge written by Shannon and Dean Hale and illustrated by Nathan Hale

I am a huge Shannon Hale fan. She has written some of my favourite youth fiction books including Princess Academy, Book of a Thousand Days and Goose Girl, as well as Austenland, one of her adult fiction novels. So when I heard she had teamed up with her husband to write a graphic novel I knew I had to check it out. The story is loosely based on the character of Rapunzel. At the age of twelve, Rapunzel discovers that the woman she thought was her mother is actually a witch who stole her from her parents when she was a baby. The witch locks her in a giant tree (grown with magic) so that she cannot escape. The magic used to grow the tree also causes her hair to grow EXTREMELY long in the three years she is locked up. She finally escapes and her adventures really start. Rapunzel teams up with Jack, an outlaw that carries around a goose and a bean.... This take on the story really makes Rapunzel the heroine of the story, as she is the one who rescues Jack and many others along her way. She is strong and brave, making her a great role model. As far as story goes, it is typical "comic book" type action sequences, one after another, as Rapunzel battles wild boars, bands of outlaws, giant seas snakes, etc... The story lacks depths, but that seems to be inevitable in this format. Overall, a good story I would recommend highly, especially to reluctant readers.

Click on the page for a sneak peek!

Movie Review - Despicable Me

For my birthday, my friend took me out to dinner and a movie. We went to see "Despicable Me". We were drawn to the movie for the voice credits: Steve Carell, Jason Segal, Russel Brand, Julie Andrews, Will Arnett, Kristen Wiig, Miranda Cosgrove, etc. The commercials were sparse on details. The main premise of the story is that Gru is an aging super villain who wants to make a name for himself in the circles of evil. He adopts three little girls to use in his plot to steal the moon. As the girls start to get a hold on his heart, he becomes conflicted about the purpose for his life. The little girls are adorable. The minions are hilarious and Steve Carrel does an amazing job with Gru's accent and sayings. A very funny, cute movie. 4 out of 5. I would recommend it.

Book Review - The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart

Book # 2 in the series. I again listened to it on Audiobook, read by Del Roy. I love his voice. He is the perfect voice for this book. It's an ageless type of mystery/action story. There is more imminent danger to the children in this second book, as they are following clues and puzzles left behind by Mr. Benedict before he was kidnapped. These clues lead them to venture half way around the world on their own. The story is just as long as the first one (roughly 500 pages) and does have certain moments that drag a bit, but the puzzles are great, the characters are realistic and the action in this one keep the reader wanting to know more. The new characters introduced, including a circus strongman and a ship's captain, add to the delightful combination of personalities. All of the children are dealing with new personal dilemma as they grow older and are facing even more danger. Yet they all manage to work together and come through their struggles just fine (not to ruin the ending).

Movie Review - Eclipse: Twilight Series

I went out for a night with the girls. We are all huge fans of the Twilight Book series, so we decided to go see the movie together, since none of our husbands were at all interested. We had a great night of food and laughter before even reaching the theatre. The room was filled with people wearing team Edward or team Jacob t-shirts, showing their loyalty clearly when the two aforementioned characters were on the screen. We seemed to be in the middle of the Team Jacob crowd, because every time Jacob was on screen, usually shirtless, their were catcalls and cheers. There were a few scenes that I disagreed with when compared with the book. I also hated the new choice for Victoria. She was wimpy. I don't like the actors that play Rosalie or Jasper either. But I enjoyed the acting in this movie much more than the last two movies. I also loved seeing the tent scene with my eyes and not just in my mind. They also did an amazing job on the proposal scene.

All in all, I give it a 4 out of 5.

Book Review - The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

This was my first encounter with the Mysterious Benedict Society. This first installment of the series follows the creation of the secret society. The children include: Reny- age 11, leader and puzzle solver; Sticky- 11 yr old genius with amazing memory; Kate- Resourceful 12 year old who carries her prized possessions in a bucket at her waist; and Constance- a pint-sized child who retains her willful independence. These orphans and runaways are contracted to help Mr. Benedict, a narcoleptic recluse, stop the evil Mr. Curtain from brainwashing the world through child messengers. The story, though written in 2007, has a style reminiscent of the 50's mystery novel. The characters and settings are timeless and the children present a positive deviation from the norm. I highly recommend this book. I "read" it on audiobook and the narrator's voice is fabulous!

Book Review: Airman by Eoin Colfer

This is my second time reading this book. It held me in it's grip the same way it did the first time through. I am a huge fan of Eoin Colfer (the author the Artemis Fowl Series) and have read nearly all of his books.

In Airman, Colfer recounts the tragic and adventurous story of Conor Broekhart, a boy destined to fly. Conor's birth in a hot air balloon foretold his life-long obsession with flight. His ingenuity and bravery allowed him to save the life of the princess, his best friend, when he was only 9 years old. But how will he cope when his world is over-turned and he is forced to become another man altogether. This story has romance, daring, adventure, mystery, and more. It is fantastic. Even though Colfer writes for youth, he has a way of writing that draws in readers of any age.

Check out this Airman Promotional Video