A BOY WITNESSES THE FALL OF UFOs. NOW EVERYONE IS AFTER HIM.
The Wishing Shelf Book Awards 2019 Silver Medal Winner – READER’S FAVORITE ★★★★★
Twelve-year-old Ben Archer’s life is turned upside-down when UFOs crash near his grandfather’s house. And when a dying extraterrestrial entrusts him with a superpower, he is catapulted into hair-rising adventures across land, ocean, and space.
Now everyone is after him. The government considers him a cumbersome witness to The Cosmic Fall, a deadly shapeshifter wants his ability, and Ben finds himself in a race against time to unravel the secrets of his new-found power before they catch him.
With no choice but to flee, Ben joins forces with the sole survivor of the crash – an alien man called Mesmo. And while the destinies of boy and alien become inextricably linked, one question hovers above their unlikely friendship: why did the aliens come to Earth in the first place?
The Alien Skill Series is a science-fiction adventure story for fans of Percy Jackson, Epic Zero and Crime Travelers.With over 50,000 copies sold and ranking at the top of “Amazons. Com’s Children’s Explore Canada best-seller list” for over 6 months, these upper middle-grade books have won the hearts of young and old alike, turning them into a best-selling, award-winning coming-of-age series filled with superpowers, alien contact,hidden enemies, and a thought-provoking glimpse into the way we treat our planet. Ideal for young readers (10-12+) and the young-at-heart.
Another amazing book, it is number one in a series of six books, and I will certainly be reviewing the other books for you. I am, giving this book ★★★★★ as I found it to be a great read that kept my attention until the very last page.
These books are available from Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
Read this Murder Mystery Novel set in an English Country House“:
Of course, it’s very hampering being a detective, when you don’t know anything about detecting, and when nobody knows that you’re doing detection, and you can’t have people up to cross-examine them, and you have neither the energy nor the means to make proper inquiries; and, in short, when you’re doing the whole thing in a thoroughly amateur, haphazard way.” ― A.A. Milne, The Red House Mystery
This Xist Classics edition has been professionally formatted for e-readers with a linked table of contents. This e-book also contains a bonus book club leadership guide and discussion questions. We hope you will share this book with your friends, neighbors and colleagues and cannot wait to hear what you have to say about it.
A house party in the county turns into a crime scene when one the host is murdered. A.A. Milne’s delightful mystery novel takes the reader on twists and turns and arrives at a logical solution to the case.
I remember when as a teen we were given this book as a reader for our class, I really enjoyed it then many years ago, and enjoyed it when I recently read it again after I found my copy at the back of my bookcase,
This is a delightful twisty mystery with a duo who were by their own admission playing Holmes and Watson. As country house mystery it lacks the array of guests but otherwise satisfies. I just wish there were more mysteries with these two!
Available as kindle and paperback at www.amazon.com, www.amazon.ca and available at your School and Public Libraires.
Xist Publishing is a digital-first publisher. Xist Publishing creates books for the touchscreen generation and is dedicated to helping everyone develop a lifetime love of reading, no matter what form it takes
ATTENTION ALL YOUNG WRITERS: NANOWRIMO STARTS NOVEMBER 1ST!
Are you a young writer 17 years of age or under who has always wanted to participate in NaNoWriMo? Well, you can!!! Did you know that NaNoWriMo has a Young Writers Programme just for you.
WHAT IS NANOWRIMO?
Every year approximately 100,000 young writers participate check out their website and sign up to participate…..http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/
NaNoWriMo allows an individual to silence their inner critic, as it does tend to emphasize quantity over quality. For those writers who are often intimidated by their inner critic the urgency of the contest motivates them to push through fears, the need for perfection and keep writing. With the fast pace of NaNoWriMo, adult writers need to produce approximately 1667 words per day so there is not a lot of time left for editing or worrying. Young writers can choose a goal which is achievable to you. With school, homework and afterschool activities you can set a reasonable goal for you to reach.
NaNoWriMo hosts virtual writing events to provide participants with an active supportive community and raises money via donations as well as sales of promotional items, which it donates approximately 50% of its net intake to reading charities.
NaNoWriMo has proven to be a popular contest and does not appear to be slowing down. The first year only 21 people participated to date the number reached 798,162 participants producing approximately 367,913 novels. NaNoWriMo initially began to instigate and inspire writers to create impromptu novels, and it has become an exceptionally successful contest. In fact, many of those NaNoWriMo novels became rough drafts which eventually became published novels. Books such as Water for Elephants, by Sara Gruen, The Night Circus, by Erin Morgenstern, Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell, Wool, by Hugh Howey, The Darwin Elevator, by Jason M. Hough and Cinder, Scarlet, and Cress by Marissa Meyer were all born out of NaNoWriMo.
PREPARING FOR NANOWRIMO
We are less than a week away to the start of this year’s NANOWRIMO and if you haven’t started making plans it’s not too late.
There is no set way on how to write a novel, everyone has their own way. You may have heard the phrase “Plotter or Pantser” which describes whether a person outlines their novel before writing it or whether they fly by the seat of their pants and go without making too many plans. There are benefits of doing it both ways and it really is all about what works for you. I, myself, am an outliner, I like having a rough map of where I’m going before I set out. I plan out my chapters and create my characters in advance of sitting down to write. While some feel this is way too stifling and can’t be quite as creative it helps give me a framework to keep the story moving forward and avoid getting stuck for ideas halfway through. If I’m struck by some paths or ideas that aren’t on my outline, I still draft out the scenes and see if they’ll fit in down the road. I recommend you follow the path that feels right for you. If you are not sure where to start, there are some terrific books out there. Two I recommend are No Plot, No Problem by Chris Baty, the founder of NANOWRIMO and Outlining Your Novel by K.M. Weiland. Both are incredibly good books that each offer a unique perspective on whether to plot or not. NaNoWriMo also has a great NaNo Prep handbook that’s free to download here.
Personally, I can’t wait until November first, and I am putting the finishing touches to my story notebook, have already set up my outline on my computer and I’ve been busy creating a mood board for my new story on Pinterest and my writing soundtrack on Spotify, all to help keep me inspired and motivated while I write. If you are thinking of joining the website, please feel free to add me as a buddy here! Don’t forget to log-in, buddy up and get valuable tips and encouragement on the NaNoWriMo website please feel free to add me as a buddy here!
Welcome to this week’s Book Corner, we hope you are now into your regular school routine and are all keeping safe and well.
This week we have a different kind of book of the week, a new fantasy that is due out this month, to get some idea of previous books in this series we suggest you may look at one of your local or school Libraries for previous books on I am Margaret Moore in this series or see if they are available for your readers so that you appreciated this week’s. book.
Lyrical and haunting, Hannah Capin’s I Am Margaret Moore is a paranormal thriller that tests the hold of sisterhood and truth.
I am a girl. I am a monster, too.
Each summer the girls of Deck Five come back to Marshall Naval School. They sail on jewel-blue waters; they march on green drill fields; they earn sunburns and honors. They push until they break apart and heal again, stronger.
Each summer Margaret and Rose and Flor and Nisreen come back to the place where they are girls, safe away from the world: sisters bound by something more than blood.
But this summer everything has changed. Girls are missing and a boy is dead. It’s because of Margaret Moore, the boys say. It’s because of what happened that night in the storm.
Margaret’s friends vanish one by one, swallowed up into the lies she has told about what happened between her and a boy with the world at his feet. Can she unravel the secrets of this summer and last, or will she be pulled under by the place she once called home.
Eerie and unsettling yet filled with hope. When Margaret Moore meets a young man and falls in love during summer camp, everything is perfect. And then it is not…
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader in exchange for my review.
Although this was not the usual kind of book I review, it was a little slow in getting started, but once into the story plot and great word building, I must say it was a surprisingly enjoyable read and I will be looking for future books in this series. I give this book four stars ****.
This book is available at www.amazon.com, www.amazon.ca other good books stores, and your Public and School Libraries.
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“A love letter to family relationships and Alaskan life, No Fences in Alaska is a gratifying young adult novel.” –Foreword Reviews “All told, readers will find No Fences in Alaska impossible to put down.” –BlueInk Starred Review
Their worlds are about to come crashing down…
At sixteen years old, Harper Lyon’s life is spinning out of control. She threatens her parents with suicide unless she can meet her drug-dealing boyfriend, a college student who doesn’t know she’s pregnant. Cooper Lyons, her estranged grandfather, lives in rural Alaska with only his dog and cat for company. He has just been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s, and he doesn’t plan on letting the disease run its course. Harper needs to escape her parents and decide what to do about the baby. She and her grandpa are worlds apart, but they may be exactly what the other needs. When Harper calls her grandfather, he welcomes the opportunity to help her and redeem his previous failure with his daughter Heather, who died from a drug overdose years ago.
I really loved this book, I was simply drawn into the story and went from thinking Harper was going to be a maybe “wayward”, alcoholic teen but the more I read into the book I realised that she is rather misunderstood. The characters and story line were very well done it explores family relationships and character development. The book is on the mature side, dealing with some intense themes. It does, however, induce a sense of joy that happens when one is part of a complete family, chosen or biological.
This the first book I have read from author Glen Sobey and certainly look for his other books.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity of receiving an advance copy of this book for reviewing.
Glen Sobey lives in rural Alaska with his wife, three dogs, and a forest cat. He plays several musical instruments, hikes, kayaks, catches fish (sometimes), builds things, repairs more things, gardens, shovels lots of snow, splits too much wood, enjoys his family, and writes as often as he can.
Black Swan meets Paranormal Activity in this compelling ghost story about a former dancer whose grip on reality slips when she begins to think a dark entity is stalking her.
Something is wrong with Marianne.
It’s not just that her parents have finally split up. Or that life hasn’t been the same since she quit dancing. Or even that her mother has checked herself into the hospital.
She’s losing time. Doing things, she would never do. And objects around her seem to break whenever she comes close. Something is after her. And the only one who seems to believe her is the daughter of a local psychic.
But their first attempt at an exorcism calls down the full force of the thing’s rage. It demands Marianne give back what she stole. Whatever is haunting her, it wants everything she has-everything it’s convinced she stole. Marianne must uncover the truth that lies beneath it all before the nightmare can take what it thinks it’s owed, leaving Marianne trapped in the darkness of the other side.
The Dark Beneath the Ice was truly an unnerving story with a well-planned plot, characters and motivated storyline. I haven’t enjoyed reading a scary book in a long time, which says a lot because I read a great deal of horror and zombie books. I was spellbound by the story this author has created and look forward to reading and reviewing more of her work.
Other Reviews:
“Fun frights and a well-constructed haunting..it’s Black Swan meets Carrie. “ – Kirkus
“The book’s haunting, waterlogged atmosphere and Marianne’s psychological turmoil will build an effective and growing sense of dread in readers…hand this novel to those who enjoy spooky, psychological books with strong themes of self-discovery.” – School Library Journal
“The vivid descriptions make the tension real. Fans of thrillers will enjoy Marianne’s struggles.” – School Library Connection
AMELINDA BÉRUBÉ has been a writer and editor with a small department in the Canadian public service since 2008. She holds a Bachelor of Humanities from Carleton University and a Master of Arts from McGill. Amelinda is also a member of SCBWI and can be found on Twitter at @metuiteme. Visit amelindaberube.com.
A hero’s tournament. A defiant contender. Does one girl have the courage to take on Mount Olympus?
Hope’s world doesn’t have room for heroes. She barely has time for schoolwork, swim team, and taking care of her ailing mother. But when she’s invited to a mysterious tournament, the all-powerful hosts won’t take no for an answer.
Transported to Mount Olympus, Hope comes face to face with her new trainers—the pantheon of Greek gods. While other contenders train hard to gain a fighting edge, Hope searches for a way out. Instead, she finds a gorgeous shadow god who may just convince her to stay…
As each round unfolds, the ultimate prize draws closer—the granting of her heart’s deepest desire. If she survives the final challenge, her mother’s cure would be within reach…but only if Hope can ignore the tournament’s dark purpose.
Olympian Challenger is the first book in a bold YA urban fantasy trilogy. If you like Greek mythology, forbidden romance, and feats of courage, then you’ll love Astrid Arditi’s heroic coming-of-age tale.
This book was very well written with great story line and interesting and unforgettable characters, I am sure Astride got as much enjoyment in writing this story as I did reading it. It was a another book I could not put down until I finished it. Will certainly want to be reading the second book in this series.
I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review another great book.
Astrid Arditi has studied at Hogwarts, ridden a dragon, swam with mermaids and flown to the moon. Recently, she traveled to Mount Olympus… She leads a double life: one of words and whimsy; the other one chasing her two young kids around the playground and kissing away booboos. She’s a spy, a princess, a unicorn, a wife, a mother and an author. Life is never dull in her messy home in Brooklyn, or in her dreams where she escapes as often as she can. She writes from experience, of course. You may not believe it, but everything in her books has actually happened to her…even if only in her imagination.
Everyone in the universe knows his name. Everyone in the universe fears him. But no one realizes that notorious outlaw Ia Cōcha is a seventeen-year-old girl.
A criminal mastermind and unrivalled pilot, Ia has spent her life terrorizing the Olympus Commonwealth, the imperialist nation that destroyed her home. When the Commonwealth captures her, and her identity is exposed, they see Ia’s age and talent as an opportunity: by forcing her to serve them, they will prove that no one is beyond their control.
Soon, Ia is trapped at the Commonwealth’s military academy, desperately plotting her escape. But new acquaintances—including Brinn, a seemingly average student with a closely-held secret, and their charming Flight Master, Knives—cause Ia to question her own alliances. Can she find a way to escape the Commonwealth’s clutches before these bonds deepen?
In this exhilarating edge-of-your-seat sci-fi adventure—perfect for fans of The Lunar Chronicles—debut author Maura Milan introduces our world to a thrilling new heroine.
Ignite the Stars is a fast-paced sci-fi adventure with strong female characters. If you can get past the idea that a 17-year-old girl has been the most wanted criminal and rebel in the universe for several years, then this book is a fun and quick read.
The best part of this book is the way it handles the treatment of refugees and people from minority ethnic backgrounds. It feels very relevant to the world today and comes with a strong message of accepting who you are and being proud of your heritage, even when people around you are hateful. This is another great reason to read this story.
I really enjoyed reading this book and think it’s worth picking up. I would like to thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book for Professor Owl’s readers.
Maura Milan received her BA in Film Production from USC’s School of Cinema-Television and currently lives in Los Angeles, where she works in video production. Ignite the Stars is her first novel.
They killed my mother.
They took our magic.
They tried to bury us.
Now we rise.
Zélie Adebola remembers when the soil of Orïsha hummed with magic. Burners ignited flames, Tiders beckoned waves, and Zélie’s Reaper mother summoned forth souls.
But everything changed the night magic disappeared. Under the orders of a ruthless King, Maji were killed, leaving Zélie without a mother and her people without hope.
Now Zélie has one chance to bring back magic and strike against the monarchy. With the help of a rogue princess, Zélie must outwit and outrun the crown prince, who is hell-bent on eradicating magic for good.
Danger lurks in Orïsha, where snow leoponaires prowl and vengeful spirits wait in the waters. Yet the greatest danger may be Zélie herself as she struggles to control her powers and her growing feelings for an enemy.
Overall, I’m honestly so surprised Children of Blood and Bone was a debut: the characters, the pacing, the writing, and plot were all practically perfect. I would highly recommend it.
I received this book in return for my honest opinion ~ Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read a great story.
Other reviews of this great book:
“A phenomenon.” —Entertainment Weekly
“The epic I’ve been waiting for.” —New York Times-bestselling author Marie Lu
“You will be changed. You will be ready to rise up and reclaim your own magic!” —New York Times-bestselling author Dhonielle Clayton
“The next big thing in literature and film.” —Ebony
About the Author
Tomi Adeyemi
Tomi Adeyemi is a Nigerian-American writer and creative writing coach based in San Diego, California. After graduating Harvard University with an honors degree in English literature, she received a fellowship that allowed her to study West African mythology and culture in Salvador, Brazil. When she’s not working on her novels or watching Scandal, she can be found blogging and teaching creative writing to her 4,500 subscribers at tomiadeyemi.com. Her website has been named one of the 101 best websites for writers by Writer’s Digest.
Her debut West African YA Fantasy novel is CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE (Holt Books for Young Readers/Macmillan). The CHILDREN OF BLOOD AND BONE movie is in development at Fox 2000/Temple Hill Productions with Karen Rosenfelt and Marty Bowen (Twilight, Maze Runner, The Fault In Our Stars) producing it.
A power cut and a series of mini-disasters mean friends, Jess, Nadia, Tomma, and Ash barely make it to the station to catch their train to school. What they find is a far cry from the usually packed commuter train they’re expecting…
When they arrive at Hickley School, the children are surprised to find some of the buildings missing and they don’t recognize any of the other pupils, who are all dressed in a different style of uniform. The only person who takes the time to help them is Martha, despite being preoccupied with her own worries about her family being hungry and not hearing from brother, Henry whom she says is away fighting.
The children soon realise this is no normal day and it’s not until they return home that they’re able to figure out what happened. What they don’t know is whether it was a one-off day, or if they will get to see Martha and the other pupils again. Jess hopes so. She has something she needs to tell Martha. Not knowing how or why she feels a connection and an obligation to this girl she can’t explain.
I thoroughly enjoyed this great read. All the characters in the story felt so real, I could imagine what they were like and they felt rounded. I was especially impressed by the dialogue which sounded like the way I have heard children talk to each other and really helped to bring all the characters alive. I am looking forward to reading more in this series and enjoying the adventures of these four-time travelers.
About the Author
Nikki Young
Nikki Young is a writer and lover of stories, her first book, a spy story for children aged 8-12, was published in April 2017.
Nikki credits her lively imagination to an amazing childhood, growing up in Yorkshire in England and living in a cul-de-sac in the days when children could run free and left to make their own fun!
Now, she is a mum of three, but in her head, she has not really grown up and those memories of her childhood days remain strong and active.
Astrid assumed all dragons should be killed – until she met one that changed her mind.
In the medieval Northlands, a dangerous family seeks power.
They slaughter all who get in their way.
Children’s rhymes hint at what’s to come, but no one recognizes the danger at hand.
Astrid doesn’t know she holds the key to this power.
She’s just a blacksmith who makes swords for dragonslayers.
But Astrid has a dark secret …
A dragon once chewed her up and spit her out.
She hides the old scars covering her body through shapeshifting.
But the time for hiding is over.
A really well written and captivating book. I’m really looking forward to the next in the series. The storyline and the characters are really well rounded, Once I started reading the book it was hard to put it down. I will certainly keep a lookout for this author’s works in future. In the meantime watch the weekly reviews for all of the books in this series and my reviews in the not too distant future.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This YA Epic Sword & Sorcery Fantasy series is written for adults but appropriate for ages 14 and up.
Series: Dragonslayer 1-4
Book 1 – The Dragonslayer’s Sword
Book 2 – The Iron Maiden
Book 3 – The Sword of Darkness
Book 4 – The Dragon’s Egg
About the Author
Resa Nelson
Resa Nelson is a long-time member of SFWA (Science Fiction Writers of America) and a graduate of the Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Workshop. Resa writes fantasy and mystery/thriller novels about women who are strong, smart, and courageous. Her characters are everyday people faced by overwhelming problems that threaten to destroy the existence they know.
by Amelinda Berube
Amelinda Bérubé 
Astrid Ardit
Nikki Young
Resa Nelson
Professor Owl's Book Corner 