Only a few weeks ago I had the privilege of reading and reviewing Gillian Neimark’s debut middle grade novel, The Secret Spiral. It was wonderful and as I mention in my review, I can’t wait for the story to continue!

After my review posted I received one of the most flattering emails from Gillian Neimark herself. Obviously, I was extremely excited and couldn’t wait to see if there was anything I could do to share her book further. I also wanted to know what was in the works for sweet Flor and her beloved Dr. Pi. Request granted! Gillian sent me the following info on her work for the sequel:

The sequel–which has a character named Square Man who wants to get rid of all the circles and spirals, and make the whole universe into his beloved squares and rectangles . He wants to unwravel the spirals back into golden rectangles. Needless to say Flor, Dr. PI and the two brothers have to stop that from happening…along with the help of a southern wanna-be-horse rustler, ten year old Lucy Moon…

I’m beyond excited to see where she takes these wonderful characters because it sounds like quite a ride! So, for those of you wondering who Dr. Pi is, what do two brothers have to do with anything and why in the world are the spirals & circles so important, I’ve got the perfect solution!

Giveaway!

I’m giving away one copy of the eBook version of The Secret Spiral by Gillian Neimark to one very lucky There’s A Book reader! So, take a look at the new The Secret Spiral website, my review and the synopsis below then fill out the form for your chance to win!

The Secret Spiral by Gillian Neimark
Published by Aladdin
Publication Date: July 26, 2011 (Just yesterday!)
Pages: 208
Ages: 8-12 (Middle Grade)
Publishers Summary:

It’s just another boring Wednesday in May for ten-year-old Flor Bernoulli of Brooklyn, New York. As soon as school is out she hurries to the popular Sky High Pie Shop down the block, owned by the wonderfully mysterious Dr. Pi. But when she gets there, her life changes forever. Dr. Pi reveals he is actually an ancient wizard, in charge of a very special cosmic fire that keeps nature in balance. Without him, every single thing that has the shape of a spiral—from seashells to galaxies to the inside of your ear—will cease to exist. Flor wonders if Dr. Pi has lost his mind, but then two tall blond strangers from another planet show up, hoping to steal Dr. Pi’s fire for themselves. The adventure of a lifetime has begun. As she travels in time and travels in space, Flor learns that only she has the magic to help Dr. Pi protect the fire, save the spiral, and keep the world spinning just as it should.

Find The Secret Spiral by Gillian Neimark at the following spots:
Amazon
Powell’s Books
Indiebound
Goodreads

Thank you so much to the publisher, Aladdin, for providing a copy of this book for review! Connect with them on Twitter and on Facebook!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.

The Secret Spiral by Gillian Neimark

Published by Aladdin

Pages: 208

Ages: 8-12 (Middle Grade)

Publishers Summary: It’s just another boring Wednesday in May for ten-year-old Flor Bernoulli of Brooklyn, New York. As soon as school is out she hurries to the popular Sky High Pie Shop down the block, owned by the wonderfully mysterious Dr. Pi. But when she gets there, her life changes forever. Dr. Pi reveals he is actually an ancient wizard, in charge of a very special cosmic fire that keeps nature in balance. Without him, every single thing that has the shape of a spiral—from seashells to galaxies to the inside of your ear—will cease to exist. Flor wonders if Dr. Pi has lost his mind, but then two tall blond strangers from another planet show up, hoping to steal Dr. Pi’s fire for themselves. The adventure of a lifetime has begun. As she travels in time and travels in space, Flor learns that only she has the magic to help Dr. Pi protect the fire, save the spiral, and keep the world spinning just as it should.

Flor sticks out like a sore thumb in the midst of average everyday rectangle-liking ten year olds and even most adults as well. It’s only her beloved Dr. Pi, the owner of Sky High Pies that can see the beauty in her flamboyant style sense and love her even more so because of it. It’s Dr. Pi though that may be holding a secret to not only her past, but one that could alter the existence of everyone on the earth if it’s discovered. When suddenly Dr. Pi goes missing Flor has but only one choice, save him and protect his secret, the spiral.

So, if you’re completely confused by the introduction don’t worry, it goes perfectly with the story. That being said, I thought The Secret Spiral by Gillian Neimark was a fantastically written journey filled with magic and mystery that reminded me much of Roald Dahl & Lewis Carroll stories. In the beginning of the story Flor seemed just like any other tween girl with a flare for her own sense of fashion, but as the story continued it turned out she was a bit more like James from James and the Giant Peach or even Alice having fallen down the rabbit hole. What her story made for was a magical adventure young readers will absolutely love.

Incorporated into this whacky tale are a few subtle mentions of mathematics that will possibly even have readers thinking about the universe as well. This is mentioned through the use of shapes and numbers, specifically spirals and often rectangles. In addition to that there are also two characters who are made up entirely of numbers, adding to the magical improbability of the story but making it a fun way of incorporating a small bit of learning along the way.

The Secret Spiral by Gillian Neimark was one of those reads that leaves you feeling a bit like you’ve fallen down the rabbit hole. It was magical and light mixed with a bit of mathematical education in the form of a spiral. Flor’s life growing up with a single mother, abandoned by her father, is a story that many tween readers will most likely relate to on some level and will find comfort in her discoveries & self-confidence. A delightful journey through the magic of the spiral, one that tween readers will love and devour quickly.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 7-14. A bit of magical whimsy sprinkled with small amounts of learning will have young readers hoping for a sequel.

PS…Don’t you just love this cover? I think it’s fabulous!

Find The Secret Spiral by Gillian Neimark at the following spots:
Amazon
Powell’s Books
Indiebound
Goodreads

Thank you so much to the publisher, Aladdin, for providing a copy of this book for review! Connect with them on Twitter and on Facebook!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our various affiliate relationships.

Wither by Lauren Destefano

Published by Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing

Pages: 368

Ages: Young Adult

Publishers Summary: By age sixteen, Rhine Ellery has four years left to live. She can thank modern science for this genetic time bomb. A botched effort to create a perfect race has left all males with a lifespan of 25 years, and females with a lifespan of 20 years. Geneticists are seeking a miracle antidote to restore the human race, desperate orphans crowd the population, crime and poverty have skyrocketed, and young girls are being kidnapped and sold as polygamous brides to bear more children.

When Rhine is kidnapped and sold as a bride, she vows to do all she can to escape. Her husband, Linden, is hopelessly in love with her, and Rhine can’t bring herself to hate him as much as she’d like to. He opens her to a magical world of wealth and illusion she never thought existed, and it almost makes it possible to ignore the clock ticking away her short life. But Rhine quickly learns that not everything in her new husband’s strange world is what it seems. Her father-in-law, an eccentric doctor bent on finding the antidote, is hoarding corpses in the basement. Her fellow sister wives are to be trusted one day and feared the next, and Rhine is desperate to communicate to her twin brother that she is safe and alive. Will Rhine be able to escape–before her time runs out?

Life begins and ends in a single breathe. Before you know it you’ve lived half your life by the time you’re only ten years old, all those around you who would care for you are gone save one or perhaps two, and suddenly your only future is ripped away before your eyes. This is the story of Rhine. Growing up in a world where lives are lived in fear of truly living, unless you happen to be the select few who reign in power, she lives worrying about the possibility of being taken from her only remaining family – her twin brother. When one day her fears come to fruition she’s suddenly trapped between two choices, a life of privilege and fear or the possibility of being reunited with her twin brother again. Her choices are only made more difficult by the love her new husband, sister-wives and a new friendship. In a struggle to the last pages Rhine will have to make difficult decisions and take terrible risks to escape the imprisoning grasp of her new life and especially her father-in-law.

Wow! If it sounds like a lot to pack into a small space, you are absolutely right, but it’s so well done. When I initially read this (nearly 3 months ago) I was in a terrible reading slump, struggling to find something I could enjoy and dreading the next droning book. I needed something unique, something I’d never read before. Wither was exactly what I needed. It kick started my reading in a way that hasn’t happened in a long time and I’m so happy it did.

So really, how do I do this book justice? First of all it’s not your typical dystopian novel. I mean, who throws in polygamy into a YA dystopian novel and who would normally think it would work? Not me, for sure. I was extremely hesitant about that aspect, it could have gone so wrong, but it didn’t. It was incredibly tasteful and added a dimension to the story I wouldn’t have expected. The dynamic between Rhine and her new sister-wives adds so much to the story, one I anticipate will further complicate things as the next two books in the series are published. As well as the pure love her husband has for her, unlike any of the other sister-wives, you could see he was conflicted by everything in their world and in the end this could play out for good or bad.

On the aspect of timing and genetics, I’m so interested to see how this plays out. It was obvious that Rhine’s father-in-law had plans for her because of her unusual genetic characteristics, one blue eye and one brown. I’m eager to see what his intentions are for her because of that. The complication lies in the time, with only 20 years of life within her Rhine is running on empty. And as she’s demonstrated already she’s willing to truly “live,” unlike so many others. It’s inevitable that there will be some sort of evil “show-down” with the father-in-law and I for one can’t wait, I love a good bad guy!

This is a book that absolutely lives up to the hype in every way possible. Do not pass this one up! From day one, when I initially saw the cover (which is gorgeous by the way!) to the time I read it, it’s invigorated my love of reading again. A unique dystopian novel that shows the world there are still fantastic new writers out there to be discovered and their writing devoured. Take the time to be surprised by the topic of polygamy and genetics in a whole new way. Lauren DeStefano has made a superb debut and I have no doubt we’ll see much more amazing writing from her in the future.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 14 and up. Be prepared to be surprised by this debut dystopian novel with the twist of polygamy and short lives. How would you choose to live, if you knew you only had 20-25 years to “live”?

Take a look at the incredible new book trailer for another sneak peak at this fantastic novel:

Thank you so much to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for providing a copy of this book for review! Make sure to check them out on Twitter and Facebook!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with IndieBound.

ZooBorns by Andrew Bleiman and Chris Eastland

Published by Simon & Schuster

Pages: 160

Ages: All

Publishers Summary: ZooBorns showcases the newest and cutest animal babies from accredited zoos and aquariums around the world. With interesting animal facts and background stories on the featured babies, ZooBorns illustrates the connections between zoo births and conservation initiatives in the wild.

Littlebug Speaks Up: “‘Phant! Did you know my absolute most favoritest animal in the whole world, besides cows, are ‘phants? They are the very very best! They are super funny with their really long noses and they don’t have hair. Isn’t that funny? But you know what? Baby ‘phants do have hair! And they are super cute! My mom even found this really fun video to watch with the book of the ‘phant and his momma, just look!…

“Isn’t that so fun?! I asked my mom if we could get one soon and bring it home, but she said that wouldn’t be a good idea. That maybe we could go visit one at a zoo like the book talks about. That sounds good to me, but I think I might want to stay for awhile! ‘Specially if all the animals are as cuddly as the ones in this book. You really should read it! It’s one of my favorites!”

Mom’s Two Cents: “Baby elephants to chimps to penguins to zebras and more and more. ZooBorns is an image rich book filled with endless information on the world’s smallest (and sometimes large) animals. With facts about where they’re from, if they’re endangered, where they were born and often special stories about a certain animal’s species or birth story. ZooBorns is perfect for readers of every age level, especially those that are young at heart.

“This book has truly been a delight in our home. From the moment it arrived I began to look over it with both the Turkeybird and Littlebug a few pages at a time. They’ve absolutely loved it, but Littlebug even more so. She’s definitely more of an animal gal. One of the more enjoyable parts about the book is being able to explain to them the stories that accompany many of the animals, like this one for the baby Crowned Sifaka named Tahina…

“With her mother unable to care for her, tiny Tahina relied on zookeepers for nourishment and a stuffed teddy bear for comfort.

“Crowned sifaka lemurs are found only in Madagascar, and their survival is threatened by deforestation. Less than 1,000 remain in the wild.” p.55 ZooBorns

“I was able to share with them the stories of these incredible animals, what they could do to help and how one day they may be able to visit them in person. It’s been extremely enjoyable. Obviously you might have already guessed Littlebug’s favorite animal was the elephant, but it was even before the book (she’s just a gal who loves elephants, who knew?). The Turkeybird on the other hand loved the Green Turtles with their dark shells, he said he’d like to visit the aquarium
again to touch one. We’ll see if he actually does.

“Overall, I feel like ZooBorns was an extremely enjoyable read. It’s not a book I’d necessarily finish in a single setting, but over a period of a few days – especially with children. Kiddos will love getting to know all the different animals that are out there, in they’re ‘just born’ stage, and adults will also love the images throughout the book. This could easily make it’s way into the home of someone who appreciates great photography as well as the world around us, making it a fantastic coffee table book. But for my purposes it was fantastic! One I will pick up again and again with the kiddos, especially as we venture to the zoo and other environments to help explain & describe the world around them. A beautiful book for animal lovers of all ages!”

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages…ALL! Who doesn’t need a dose of cuteness from time to time? Not only educational, but entirely enjoyable for all ages.

Take a Look!

There were some really neat things I found while researching about the book I thought I’d share…

ZooBorns Blog
ZooBorns on Twitter (Daily dose of cuteness!)
Free iPhone App
Free Android App

Oh, and if you need a really good laugh, take a look here…
ZooBorns endorsed Cake Wrecks appearance.

This book was provided for review by FSB Associates. Follow them on Twitter here. Thank you!
Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with IndieBound.

Cryer’s Cross by Lisa McMann

Published by Simon Pulse (An Imprint of Simon & Schuster)

Pages: 240

Ages: Young Adult

Publishers Summary: The small town of Cryer’s Cross is rocked by tragedy when an unassuming freshman disappears without a trace. Kendall Fletcher wasn’t that friendly with the missing girl, but the angst wreaks havoc on her OCD-addled brain.

When a second student goes missing—someone close to Kendall’s heart—the community is in an uproar. Caught in a downward spiral of fear and anxiety, Kendall’s not sure she can hold it together. When she starts hearing the voices of the missing, calling out to her and pleading for help, she fears she’s losing her grip on reality. But when she finds messages scratched in a desk at school—messages that could only be from the missing student who used to sit there—Kendall decides that crazy or not, she’d never forgive herself if she didn’t act on her suspicions.

Something’s not right in Cryer’s Cross—and Kendall’s about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried.

A brain riddled with the accumulation of things. Things that need to be ordered, numbered, checked off and categorized. When Kendall steps out of her bed each morning it’s an endless stream of tasks that need to be accomplished, not because they require it, but because she is plagued by obsessive compulsive disorder. When one of her classmates in a school that lists less than three dozen students total goes missing it’s enough to send her into a panic. And when Kendall loses another, more significant friend, she begins to wonder if she’s losing her mind when messages appear on a now-empty desk. Only time and a dark secret revealed will help Kendall, and will potentially uncover the secrets of Cryer’s Cross.

As some of you may already know, I’m a fan of Lisa McMann’s Wake Trilogy (well, except the last one) and so when I heard about this new addition to her library I really wanted to pick it up. Thankfully I was able to review a Galley copy from Simon & Schuster! Well, this was above and beyond what I would have expected. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy or don’t still enjoy her first series, but this was just so much more. In Cryer’s Cross it seemed the writing was more developed, the characters seemed deeper, the plot was better executed and overall it was a fantastic read. Albeit, a bit creepy, but I still really enjoyed this one.

What I loved…first off, Kendall. How can you not love a fellow OCD girl, and a teen at that? Granted I’m not anywhere near as bad as Kendall gets, but I’ve had my fair share of experiences worrying about things left undone (ie. stove left on, curling iron, etc.). Also, I’m a huge task list person, sometimes to a fault. I can’t move forward until things are checked off of my list, it’s almost paralyzing unfortunately. Again, though, I’m not anywhere near as bad as Kendall, but it was so nice to see how developed her character was in this regard in such a short period of time. And though Kendall had this disability I liked that she wasn’t overcome by it, she was still independent, she still took charge and didn’t rely on others to “take care of her.” An incredibly refreshing female lead character, especially for a YA “horror” novel.

In addition to Kendall, the others in the cast of characters were excellent as well. Although, I was of course saddened by one of the losses in the story, it still made perfect sense in the scheme of things. What I did enjoy though was how well connected Kendall became to Jacian, a new member of her town and high school. Initially they aren’t drawn to each other in the slightest, but it’s nice to see how their relationship progresses without being the “main” theme of the story, more of the background.

This was an incredibly gripping story. Cryer’s Cross is by far, in my opinion, Lisa McMann’s best work to date. If you aren’t easily creeped out, and love a great mystery with a bit of paranormal thrown in to make it extra interesting than you definitely need to read this. McMann’s storytelling is tight and the characters are incredibly true to life. Cryer’s Cross will keep you at night until you finish the very last page and then leave you begging for more.

The1stdaughter Recommends: Ages 16 and up. Teen paranormal-horror fans will absolutely love this new YA novel by Lisa McMann. Be warned, it’s definitely not a story for bedtime reading.

Purchasing products by clicking through the links in this post will provide us a modest commission through our affiliate relationship with IndieBound.

Book Dreaming is just that. It’s a feature I’m going to use to highlight those books that make you dreamy or possibly just end up making you dream about them. It could be anything from newly released books to one’s that are already out that I can’t get out of my head to those I can’t seem to get my hands on soon enough!

Were you a fan of Jonathan Maberry’s first YA book, Rot & Ruin? If so, than you’ll be excited to know there’s a sequel due out in August of 2011 titled, Dust & Decay. As a few of you may know, I have a bit of a recently discovered obsession with zombies. Who knew? Right. I never would have guessed. But if done right, and Maberry certainly knows how to write zombies, then it can be some of the most gripping story telling out there. Not to mention, isn’t that a creepy cover? Wow!

Here’s the synopsis for Dust & Decay by Jonathan Maberry due out August 2011…

Six months have passed since the terrifying battle with Charlie Pink-eye and the Motor City Hammer in the zombie-infested mountains of the Rot & Ruin. It’s also six months since Benny Imura and Nix Riley saw something in the air that changed their lives. Now, after months of rigorous training with Benny’s zombie-hunter brother Tom, Benny and Nix are ready to leave their home forever and search for a better future. Lilah the Lost Girl and Benny’s best friend Lou Chong are going with them.

Sounds easy. Sounds wonderful. Except that everything that can go wrong does. Before they can even leave there is a shocking zombie attack in town. But as soon as they step into the Rot & Ruin they are pursued by the living dead, wild animals, insane murderers and the horrors of Gameland –where teenagers are forced to fight for their lives in the zombie pits. Worst of all…could the evil Charlie Pink-eye still be alive?

In the great Rot & Ruin everything wants to kill you. Everything…and not everyone in Benny’s small band of travelers will make it out alive.

This is definitely going on my wish list and I’m eager to hear who else might be picking this one up in the near future?