Review and Guest Post: The Classroom- Student Council Smackdown by Robin Mellom

Today I'm not only sharing my review of The Classroom: Student Council Smackdown, but author Robin Mellom is also stopping by for a quick guest post...

The Classroom: Student Council Smackdown

(The Classroom #2)

by Robin Mellom

6/25/13

Disney-Hyperion

Libby Gardner and Cindy Applegate are smile-without-teeth friends, but they are fierce rivals when it comes to politics. Cindy owned the student council elections in fourth and sixth grades, while Libby came out on top in fifth. Now, they both hunger for the prestigious title of seventh grade class president.But middle school elections have their own rules...and pressures. When Trevor Jones is forced to join the presidential race, he devises a plan to make sure his best friend Libby wins. That all changes when he discovers that Libby has oh-so-sneakily gone behind his back by hiring Molly Decker to be her campaign manager. Now, he's in it to win it. And things are going to get ugly.Join Trevor, Libby, Cindy, and the whole Westside contingency (along with the documentary film crew) as they explore the ugly underbelly of middle school politics.

I received a review copy of this book from the pub in exchange for my honest review

During my last Middle-Grade March Madness, I had thepleasure of reading and reviewing Robin Mellom’s hilarious The Classroom and I’m back today to review the equally enjoyable sequel, The Classroom: Student Council Smackdown. Mellom returns to Westside Middle School, a few weeks after Trevor Jones’ brief foray into epicness, as the documentary crew continues to film middle-school life. The events at the dance have left Trevor with some unexpected popularity; popularity he hopes to use to help Libby win the job of Student Council President. Libby has some stiff competition in the form of her frenemy Cindy Applegate and the tweens learn that middle-school campaigns are a whole new ballgame.

I really enjoyed The Classroom and am happy to report that this sequel does not disappoint. Mellom returns with even more laughs, fun, and heart, and has once again crafted a wonderfully written middle-school romp with that pitch-perfect voice I always look for and storytelling that sparkles.

The refreshingly unique format of the book, with its mix of third person prose and first person documentary interviews, makes for a really captivating and entertaining story. Let’s face it, there’s no place filled with more drama, romance, and excitement than a middle-school, so this documentary premise makes total sense. And the middle-school environment Mellom has created is super realistic and believable. Like book one, The Classroom: Student Council Smackdown is brimming with laugh-out-loud humor and surprising heart. The race for seventh grade student council president is full of tough obstacles, crazy situations, and some important life lessons, all of which will enthrall and amuse young readers from beginning to end.

Mellom’s story sparkles and her characters really shine. With a mix of over-the-top, shy, and endearing personalities, these books offer a character for every reader to love and relate to. Trevor Jones is such a lovable, relatable main character and I just love journeying through middle-school with him. Trevor is surrounded by the kind of kids you’d expect to find in a middle-school (the jocks, the over-achievers, the bullies, the rebels, etc) and yet, they’re continuously surprising and impressing me with their wit, humor, and heart.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The Classroom: Student Council, with its laughs, relatable characters, and fun storytelling is a wonderful and worthy sequel to The Classroom. Both books in this series are great reads for the middle-grade readers in your life!

MY RATING

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From Teaching Middle Schoolers to Writing for Them

By Robin Mellom

I started teaching fifth grade back in 1992. (Oh sheesh, that was a long time ago. Richard Marx and Bryan Adams were popular. Oh, the hair!)

Anyway. After lunch each day, I would read out loud to my students and their most common request was for me to read a funny book. At the time, they were hard to come by. So I ended up reading SIDEWAYS STORIES FROM WAYSIDE SCHOOL over and over and over. They couldn’t get enough!

That was when I decided to take my childhood dream of writing and turn it into something REAL. I decided to write funny books for middle schoolers.

Most of my ideas and details about life in middle school don’t come from my years of teaching. When you’re the one IN CHARGE of the kids, it’s very hard to soak in what they’re experiencing because you’re so concerned with everyone simply SURVIVING. So what I did was go observe other teachers’ classrooms. I paid attention to what the students were doing during class, how they dressed, and how they talked. I even took small groups aside and interviewed them about their favorite moments in middle school as well as their most humiliating. The stories they told me were GEMS.

Writing for middle schoolers has been a longtime dream of min and I am so grateful that I get to do this thing I love. I pinch myself daily.

Robin Mellom

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Robin Mellom grew up outside of Atlanta, Georgia. She has taught grades five through eight and has a master's degree in education. She now writes full time for kids and teens and lives with her husband and son on the central coast of California.

icing on the Cake Blog Tour {review}

I'm so thrilled to have the Icing on the Cake Blog Tour stopping Word Spelunking today with my review of this sweet, yummy book...

Icing on the Cake

(The Cupcake Club Series)

Authors: Sheryl and Carrie Berk

Pub Date: 9/3/13

Pub: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Format: eARC

Source: Netgalley

"Kids and cupcakes are the perfect recipe!"-Sophie and Katherine, stars of TLC's DC Cupcakes
Meet Jenna.
She's the cupcake club's official taste tester, but the past few weeks have not been so sweet. Her mom just got engaged to Leo-who Jenna is sure is not "The One"-and Peace, Love, and Cupcakes has to bake the wedding cake. Jenna is ready to throw in the towel, especially when she hears the wedding will be in Las Vegas on Easter weekend, one of the most important holidays for the club's business.
Can Jenna and her friends handle their busy orders-and the Elvis impersonators-or will they have a cupcake meltdown?  

Y’all know that I’m a cupcake fantatic, a cupcake fangirl, a true cupcake enthusiast, so when I was asked to review a book in a series call The Cupcake Club, well, I was all over THAT! And I’m so thrilled to have discovered this yummy series. Sheryl and Carrie Berk are a mother-daughter writing duo and The Cupcake Club is their sweet creation. Each book in the series focuses on one member of The Cupcake Club, a club consisting of a group of elementary aged girls, and Icing on the Cake is Jenna’s story. Jenna is the official taste tester of the club, and when her mother gets engaged to Leo, Jenna’s life is anything but frosting and sprinkles. Jenna’s mom asks The Cupcake Club to bake the cupcake wedding cake and even invites the club to join the family in Vegas for the wedding. It seems like EVERYONE is excited about the wedding except Jenna. Will the club be able to deal with Elvis impersonators, the melting Vegas heat, and a less than thrilled Jenna, AND bake the best cupcake cake ever?!

The Berks have certainly found the recipe for cupcakey goodness! Icing on the Cake, like the other books in the series, are the perfect length for younger middle-grade readers and contain plenty of fun, humor, and heart to charm readers of all ages. Jenna’s story in Icing on the Cake is a relatable one that touches upon relevant subjects like mixed families, bullying, and responsibility, and the authors explore these things in way that is entertaining, yet completely appropriate for its intended audience. Readers will learn important life lessons and not even realize it!

Jenna’s story is one that many young readers will be able to relate to and appreciate. Jenna’s anger, confusion, and fear over her mother’s impending marriage, and the changes it will bring their family, are deftly and sensitively explored with a lot of heart, humor, and honesty.

At the heart of this book and the series, is The Cupcake Club, and the friendship among its members. The club itself, with its kid run business, offers such an exciting premise. I love how each member plays an important role in the club and how the members actually responsibly run a money making business. The characters are wonderfully diverse, unique, and endearing. There’s definitely at least one club member for every reader to connect and identify with. And the genuine love, support, and friendship among the club members is so heartwarming.

I want to point out that this isn’t a series that necessarily needs to be read in order. Icing on the Cake isn’t the first book in the series, but it is the first book in the series I’ve read and I was easily able to understand all that’s going on. The authors do a great job of recapping previous books and giving readers a clear sense of the club and characters.

AND, the book includes cupcake recipes used by the club, which is just super cool!

 MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Diverse, likable characters; a sweet, heart-warming story; and lots of yummy fun make Icing on the Cake a delicious read. Readers of all ages can appreciate and enjoy this book and series, but younger middle-grade readers will be especially captivated. I look forward to devouring the rest of the books in this delicious series!

MY RATING

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Rose Blog Tour {Review and Interview}

I'm thrilled to have the Rose Blog Tour stopping by Word Spelunking today! Below you can read my review of this magical and charming middle-grade book and a fun interview with its author Holly Webb...

Rose

(Rose #1)

Author: Holly Webb

Pub Date: 9/3/13

Pub:  Sourcebooks

Format: eARC

Source: Netgalley

Rose isn't like the other orphans at St Bridget's Home for Abandoned Girls. Instead of dreaming of getting adopted by loving, wealthy parents, Rose wants to get a job and be independent. She doesn't need anyone but herself. She finds her escape working as a maid for Mr. Fountain, an alchemist. Unable to ignore the magic that flows throughout the grand residence, Rose realizes that just maybe; she might have a little bit of magic in her too. This new series featuring magicians, witches, talking cats, mist-monsters, and friendships will have young readers in a trance!

Holly Webb’s Rose (Rose #1) is a fun middle-grade read that enchanted and charmed me. Set in an alternate Victorian England where magic is real and those who have it are called alchemists and have great power and wealth, this story is all about one very special orphan. Ten year old Rose doesn’t dream of being whisked away from the orphanage by a new family. She wants nothing more than to find a job and make her own way in life, and she gets the chance when she’s hired as a maid in the grand home of the famous alchemist Mr. Fountain. Here Rose finds a surrogate family of sorts, a house brimming with magic, and unexpected friendships. And when children all over the city start to go missing, Rose and her new friends, and her maybe magical powers, must save them.

There is so much to like about Rose: its endearing characters, captivating settings, and magic filled plot. Holly Webb is a wonderful storyteller and has crafted a story that is bursting with whimsy, excitement, humor, and heart, and she’s captured that sparkling pitch-perfect middle-grade voice. The only thing that I found a bit annoying about the writing, is an overabundance of unnecessary adverbs; but other than that, the writing is excellent. The world-building is rich in details, vivid, and layered. The Victorian England in Rose is both familiar yet intriguingly new with the addition of magic that is widely known about and revered. The grand Fountain house reminds me of Hogwarts (on a much smaller scale), in that it’s overflowing with magic, unexpected sounds; sights; and smells, and oddly behaving objects, and every turn of a doorknob leaves you in excited anticipation, never knowing what you’ll find. I do, however, wish that this magical abode was explored further and I’m hoping we see even more of it in future books.

Webb’s characters are all charming and likable in their own ways. Rose is a fantastic middle-grade heroine with a lot spunk, smarts, and sass. She’s super relatable and easy to root for. The Fountain household is comprised of an eclectic and entertaining bunch. The other servants really become a new family for Rose, while Freddie (Mr. Fountain’s young apprentice) and Isabelle (his little girl) become unexpected friends for Rose. We don’t get to know Mr. Fountain too well in this first book, but there’s something very delightful and admirable in his pleasant, fun-loving demeanor. And of course, there’s Gus, the clever, posh talking cat (love him!).

The magical elements (talking cats, mist-monsters, witches, and spells, oh my!) are super fun and both fantastically whimsical and thrillingly dark. I look forward to exploring the magical aspects of this world even more in future books.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Rose is brimming with magic, fun, and heart, and is an immensely entertaining and enjoyable middle-grade read. The characters charmed me, the setting captivated me, and the story thrilled me. This is a fantastic book for the middle-grade audience and older readers looking for a quick, delightful read.

MY RATING

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WS: What three words best describe your book Rose?

HW: Mysterious. Funny (hopefully, and that isn't one of my three!). Magical. 

WS: Can you give us your best one sentence pitch to convince readers (especially reluctant readers) to give Rose a try?

HW: Rose has a new home and a new life - but will the magic steal it all away? 

WS: Grab a copy of Rose and answer the following:

Favorite chapter?

HW: Chapter three - Rose's first introduction to her new home, and the strange magic inside it. 

Favorite page?

HW: p43 - the first introduction to my favourite character...

Favorite character?

HW: I have to split this - Rose is my favourite, but actually, the funnest person in the book to write is Gus, the fat, white, magician's cat.

Flip to a random page and give us a 1-2 sentence teaser:

HW: Little pillow-shaped sweets in glorious stripes - pink and white, green and gold, purple and red. They looked like something from a fairy tale. Rose could imagine a princess's bed piled with them. 

WS: Close your eyes, imagine your dream library, and answer the following:

My dream library is located in___

HW: the same road as my house.

The first thing you notice about my dream library is___

HW: that there are lot of very comfy armchairs for reading in.

Outside my dream library's window I see___

HW: the sea.

The most unique/special thing about my dream library is___

HW: that everyone there loves books.

My dream library is called___

 HW: The Everlasting Library - lots of areas in England, where I live, are finding it hard to afford libraries, and schools find it difficult too. I hate the thought of libraries being closed.

WS: Fill in the blanks:

I'm really awesome at___ 

HW: making chocolate brownies.

I'm really embarrassed to admit that___ 

HW: that I'm terrified of spiders. Lots of characters in my books are too, including Rose.

The last great book I read was___ 

HW: We Need to Talk About Kevin. But it was terribly sad.

WS: If you were to bake a cupcake inspired by Rose what would it look and taste like, and what would you call it?

HW: Oooh, it would be a cupcake inspired by Rose's first ever sweets, the chocolate satins in the random quote I picked above. A red velvet cupcake, as the Victorian house she lives in is full of velvet curtains and sofas, with glittering, magical icing, and piled up with chocolate satins... But Gus would probably get to it before anyone else got a chance to taste! A Chocolate Satin Surprise, maybe? Do you have chocolate satins in the US? I hope so!

Thanks so much, Holly, for taking the time to answer my questions! That cupcake sounds super yummy!!

Holly Webb

site / goodreads 

Holly was born and grew up in south-east London, but spent a lot of time on the Suffolk coast. As a child, she had two dogs, a cat, and at one point, nine gerbils (an accident). At about ten, Holly fell in love with stories from Ancient Greek myths, which led to studying Latin and Greek, and eventually to reading Classics at university. She worked for five years as a children's fiction editor, before deciding that writing was more fun, and easier to do from a sofa. Now living in Reading with her husband, three sons and one cat, Holly runs a Guide unit. The Rose books stem from a childhood love of historical novels, and the wish that animals really could talk.

Review and Giveaway: Counting by 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan

Today I'm not only reviewing Counting by 7's, but I'm also giving away a finished copy...

Counting by 7’s

Author: Holly Goldberg Sloan

Pub Date: August 29, 2013

Pub: Penguin

Format: ARC

Source: from pub

In the tradition of Out of My Mind, Wonder, and Mockingbird, this is an intensely moving middle grade novel about being an outsider, coping with loss, and discovering the true meaning of family. 
Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life . . . until now. Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy. This extraordinarily odd, but extraordinarily endearing, girl manages to push through her grief. Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.

I received an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review 

When it comes to contemporary novels, I tend to gravitate toward middle-grade contemp and Holly Goldberg Sloan’s Counting by 7’s reminded me why I love this genre so much. Counting by 7’s is a moving, heartbreaking, yet utterly heartwarming, story about 12 year old genius Willow Chance. Willow, with her obsession with plants and disease diagnosing, inability to connect with anyone but her parents, and habit of counting by 7’s, is extraordinarily odd. When Willow’s parents are killed, her organized, routine based life is turned upside down and she finds herself living in an unexpected place, with unexpected people, and discovers some wonderfully unexpected things about life.

Holly Goldberg Sloan drew me in quickly with her oddball genius main character and her subtle, yet totally sparkling storytelling.  There are so many wonderful things I love about this book: the refreshingly different characters, Willow’s voice, the tangible and excellently woven emotional aspects to the story, and its powerful message of love; friendship; and acceptance. Most of the main characters, including Willow, are people of color and mixed races, which we don’t see nearly enough of in any genre. And while the various races and cultures are celebrated and explored within Counting by 7’s, they aren’t lazily used to define the characters; which I appreciated. The characters’ personalities and character growth and development are what define them and make them richly complex and well-crafted.

And these are unforgettable characters that I grew to greatly love. One of the most impressive aspects of Sloan’s storytelling and writing ability in this book is Willow’s distinct, memorable voice. Sloan has managed to capture Willow’s extraordinary genius and uniqueness, while still making her sound and feel 12 years old. And there’s something so captivating in the mix of Willow’s logical observations, frank honesty, profound musings and her still childlike wonder and point of view. This is a character that really captured my heart and moved me. I felt like Willow almost became a part of me as I read this book, and I not only witnessed her emotional journey, but experienced it with her. Willow’s new surrogate family is equally memorable in their individual and group uniqueness, oddities, and refreshing differences. And Sloan has done a great job of creating very real, perfectly flawed characters.  

This book is rich in emotions and, trust me, you will feel them ALL! Sloan has beautifully and authentically explored the all consuming world of grief and heartache and all that comes with it. Yet, this story is as hopeful, delightful, and inspiring as it is dark and heart-aching, and it is surprisingly funny. As much as I enjoyed (and even loved) this book, I must admit that I found the ending disappointing and lacking, which keeps me from giving this book 5 cupcakes. I won’t spoil the ending for anyone, but I will say that it felt forced and contradictory to the rest of the story :(

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The disappointing ending aside (which you can easily re-imagine), Counting by 7’s is a wonderfully moving and captivating read. Willow Chance is a truly unforgettable character and I’d recommend this book merely for her alone, but luckily for readers the rest of the book is pretty great too. I think older middle-grade readers and up will get the most enjoyment out of this book.

 MY RATING

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Holly Goldberg Sloan

Site / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Holly Goldberg Sloan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in California, the Netherlands, Istanbul, Washington, DC, and Oregon. She has written and directed a number of successful family feature films. The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband in Santa Monica, California. I'll Be There was her debut novel (she earlier had written a middle reader book called Keeper). Her next novel, Counting By 7s, will be published August 29th 2013 by Dial.

Win a finished copy of Counting by 7's!

Thanks to Penguin I have one finished copy to give away...

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-will end 8/30

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Review: The Flame in the Mist by Kit Grindstaff

The Flame in the Mist

by Kit Grindstaff

Pub Date: April 9, 2013

Pub: Random House

Format: hardcover

Source: from pub

Set in an imagined past, this dark fantasy-adventure is for fans of Philip Pullman's The Golden Compass. Features  Jemma, a fiery-headed heroine held captive in Agromond Castle, yet destined to save mist-shrouded Anglavia. Fiery-headed Jemma Agromond is not who she thinks she is, and when the secrets and lies behind her life at mist-shrouded Agromond Castle begin to unravel, she finds herself in a chilling race for her life. Ghosts and misfits, a stone and crystals, a mysterious book, an ancient prophecy—all these reveal the truth about Jemma's past and a destiny far greater and more dangerous than she could have imagined in her wildest fantasies. With her telepathic golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and her trusted friend, Digby, Jemma navigates increasingly dark forces, as helpers both seen and unseen, gather. But in the end, it is her own powers that she must bring to light, for only she has the key to defeating the evil ones and fulfilling the prophecy that will bring back the sun and restore peace in Anglavia.

I received a review copy of this title from the pub in exchange for my honest review

WATCH THE BOOK TRAILER

When it comes to books there's nothing I crave and love more than an enthralling and well crafted middle-grade read, and Kit Grindstaff's The Flame in the Mist is just that! Wonderfully imagined, with fantastic world-building, storytelling that shines, and a great heroine, The Flame in the Mist was a lot of fun to read.

Set in a world where magic exist and those that can wield it hold all the power, young Jemma Agromond discovers that her whole life has been a lie. A dangerous lie. With her telepathic golden ratusses, Noodle and Pie, and her very best friend, Digby, Jemma must journey away from the dark Argomond Castle and its inhabitants to a home she has never known, but longs for. Along the way, she must also learn to use her burgeoning powers because she is the key to the Prophecy, the key to bringing the light back to Anglavia.

The very basic premise of The Flame in the Mist is nothing new- young heroine discovers unbelievable powers/abilities, learns she is the key to defeat some wicked evil, and overcomes obstacles to make sure good triumphs over evil- but, Kit Grindstaff infuses this premise with so much of her fantastic imagination and storytelling, creating a story that is uniquely hers and wonderfully refreshing. There are always certain things a middle-grade book must have for me to truly enjoy it-- captivating storytelling, excellent world-building, and an awesome hero or heroine-- The Flame in the Mist has all three. The world of Anglavia is crafted and laid out in rich, vivid details and is smartly layered. This is a world that is both whimsical and dark, enchanting and terrifying, real and fantastical. I love when middle-grade authors aren't afraid to bring an eerie, bewitching kind of darkness to their stories and Grindstaff does this so wonderfully. The world of Jemma's foes is dark in a fascinatingly creepy, spine-tingly way, but still completely appropriate for its intended audience. The tone and voice are pitch-perfect and exciting, but, at times, the pacing was too slow for my liking. There are plenty of thrills and twists, but, at over 400 pages, this is a long middle-grade book and some chapters dragged.

At the heart of this fantasy/adventure are its great characters. Jemma is my favorite kind of middle-grade heroine: brave, capable, smart, compassionate, but believably flawed; she isn't perfect and makes relatable mistakes. And she actually feels and acts her age (13 years old), which may not seem like a big deal, but there are so many MG characters out there that act way older than they are. I love Jemma's relationship with her two golden rats, Noodle and Pie, and how cute are those names?! And of course, every great heroine needs an equally captivating villain, and we get a whole family of them in The Flame in the Mist.

The last quarter of the book is especially thrilling and had me furiously turning pages; Kit Grindstaff definitely knows how to keep readers on the edge of their seats! And the story ends in such a satisfying way.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The Flame in the Mist is an awesome middle-grade fantasy that will keep readers, especially younger readers, enthralled with its darkly whimsical world, likable characters, and well-crafted story. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more of Kit Grindstaff's work. 

MY RATING

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Kit Grindstaff

Site / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Kit Grindstaff was born near London, and grew up in the rolling countryside of England. After a brush with pop stardom (under her maiden name, Hain) she moved to New York and embarked on her career as a pop song writer. 
Kit now lives with her husband in the rolling countryside of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the SCBWI. The Flame In The Mist is her first novel. You can also find her at http://www.kitgrindstaff.com 
http://www.facebook.com/kitgrindstaff and on Twitter: @kitgrindstaff

Review: Rules for Ghosting by A.J. Paquette

Rules for Ghosting

by A.J. Paquette

Pub Date: 7/9/13

Pub: Bloomsbury & Walker

Format: eARC

Source: Netgalley

Twelve-year-old Dahlia has always lived at Silverton Manor-having spent fifty years as its resident ghost. When Oliver Day and his family show up as house-sitters the day Mrs. Tibbs, a Liberator sent by the Spectral Investigative Council, arrives to teach Dahlia the proper rules for ghosting, Dahlia can't wait to make new friends. But the unscrupulous ghost hunter, Rank Wiley, and the crooked town councilman, Jock Rutabartle, plan to rid Silverton Manor of its ghosts and sell it to the highest bidder. With her home and friendships at stake Dahlia may have to break the rules of ghosting as quickly as she learns them to solve the mystery of her death and save the manor. Equal parts charming and eerie, this ghostly caper hits all the right notes for the middle-grade audience.

I received an eARC of this title in exchange for an honest review

A.J. Paquette's Rules for Ghosting is an utterly delightful and superbly entertaining middle-grade read! This ghoulicious gem of a book is full of spooky, charming fun and storytelling that simply sparkles and shines!

For fifty years, 12 year old Dahlia has lived at Silverton Manor as its resident ghost. Mrs. Tibbs, a Liberator from the very important and rigid Spectral Investigation Council, shows up to teach Dahlia the proper rules for ghosting and help her uncover the anchor that is keeping her stuck at Silverton Manor. On the same day as Mrs. Tibbs arrival, Oliver Day and his family of house-sitters move into the manor. The Days' job is to ensure the manor gets a pretty makeover, both for its physical appearance and its reputation, so that Jock Rutabartle can sell it. But a nasty ghost hunter named Rank Wiley gets in the way of both Dahlia and the Days. Dahlia must break some ghosting rules to save herself and help Oliver save the beloved manor.

I loved everything about this book! The characters, the plot, the writing- it's all just awesome. Rules for Ghosting is the perfect middle-grade blend of fun thrills, eerie whimsy, and smart mystery. Paquette's storytelling has that special spark, the kind that is fueled by a wonderfully imaginative and addicting story, that I always look for in middle-grade books. With a pitch-perfect voice, amusing humor, and clever plotting, Rules for Ghosting is truly captivating from beginning to end.

I'm huge fan of ghost stories and ghost hunting, and Paquette has created the perfect middle-grade ghost story that has a enough eerie spookiness to keep readers enthralled, but is brimming with charm and age-appropriate thrills. This book was seriously just SO MUCH fun to read! It has so many fantastic elements, from an enchanting setting (Silverton Manor) to a compelling mystery to awesome characters, this book has it all. Silverton Manor, with its irresistible charm; mysterious allure; and many rooms waiting to be explored, is like a character in itself. Given the chance, I'd move into Silverton Manor (and claim Poppy's room!). Paquette weaves a clever, unpredictable mystery that kept me on my toes and was exciting to unravel with Dahlia and Oliver.

The characters in Rules for Ghosting shine! I adore ghost-girl Dahlia; she's everything I look for in a middle-grade heroine: smart, brave, capable, inquisitive, and endearing. Oliver and his rambunctious younger siblings make for an engaging and amusing bunch. Younger readers will love this group of young characters and want to join their ghost-hunter busting team (I know I do!). And Rank and Jock make for fun baddies.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: With spooks and kooks, thrills and chills, and sparkle and shine, Rules for Ghosting is an awesome middle-grade read that charmed me completely. I can't recommend this book enough, especially for all the younger readers in your life!

MY RATING

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A.J. Paquette

Website / Goodreads / Twitter

A.J. Paquette has been writing stories since early childhood. She and her sister would spend hours creating masterpieces of stapled paper and handwritten words, complete with pen-and-ink covers and boxed illustrations. The road to publication was long and winding, peppered with many small successes including: a variety of national magazine publications, being a 2005 PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award honoree, and receiving the 2008 SCBWI’s Susan Landers Glass Scholarship Award, for the book that would later become Nowhere Girl. Her first picture book, The Tiptoe Guide to Tracking Fairies, was published in 2009. She now lives with her husband and two daughters in the Boston area, where she continues to write books for children and young adults. She is also an agent with the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.