Bed with Books

The Lost Track of Time is a debut middle grade novel by Paige Britt. With her mind full of ideas and bursting with imagination, Penelope has aspirations of being a writer. Yet her mother’s plans for her are quite different – and every minute of Penelope’s days are scheduled and planned, leaving no time for her dreaming since she must use time to be “productive.” But when the unexpected happens – a hole in her schedule lasting an entire day! – Penelope somehow falls into it. Suddenly she is in a wonderful place called the Realm of Possibility that is being destroyed by the Clockworkers, led by the villain Chronos. Thrust into a position where her imagination is desperately needed, Penelope begins an adventure like no other – looking to find the Great Moodler, the one person that can save the Realm of Possibility and answer her many, many questions. The Lost Track of Time was a charming, intelligent, warm novel of brilliant wordplay! Anyone who is familiar with my reading habits knows...

The School for Good and Evil: The Last Ever After is the final book in the middle grade fantasy trilogy by Soman Chainani. As a huge fan of The School for Good and Evil and The School for Good and Evil: A World Without Princes , I pre-ordered this last book. If you have not read the prior two books, I would strongly suggest avoiding this review for any potential spoilers – the books are too good to spoil!! I am trusting that you are not continuing to read unless you are already a fan… Back in Gavaldon, Agatha is happy that her prince, Tedros, is not really a prince in her hometown – and neither is she a future queen. Yet, very quickly, she begins to doubt their Ever After. Part of the problem is that Tedros and Agatha’s story has not truly finished yet – it is still being written. Their tale is still connected with Agatha’s old best friend, Sophie. Now enemies with Agatha, Sophie has embraced the now young School Master, whom has convinced her of their love and that love on the side o...

A World without Princes is the second book in the middle grade fantasy trilogy The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani. As you may recall from my review of The School for Good and Evil , I absolutely LOVED book one. I strongly, strongly suggest reading these books in order. If you have not done so already – run, don’t walk, to a copy of The School for Good and Evil. In the meantime, avoid this review of book two for potential spoilers of book one. If, however, you have devoured The School for Good and Evil already – feel free to proceed in learning about A World without Princes . Best friends Sophie and Agatha have returned to their hometown of Gavaldon to live out their Happily Ever After. But things don’t seem as perfect as they expected… When Agatha secretly wishes she chose a different happy ending – with Tedros – she inadvertently reopens the gateway from Gavaldon to the School for Good and Evil. And it’s not at all the way they left it. Inextricably changed, Sophie and...

Coraline is a middle grade contemporary fantasy by Neil Gaiman. Perhaps you’ve already read Coraline . Perhaps you are wondering, “How on earth could a self-proclaimed bibliophile have not yet read this modern classic?” Perhaps I am wondering the same thing. Yet this is an issue that has been rectified! In Coraline’s new flat there is a door that when opened reveals nothing but a wall of bricks. Yet being the young adventurer she is, Coraline tries it again another day and instead finds it is an entrance to another house – a house just like hers but better. Instead of always working and being very busy, these new versions of her parents want to spend time with her and want her to stay with them on this side of the door. Coraline, though, wonders why. There appears to be something sinister and secretive beneath the improved surface of this mirror house – and Coraline will have to use her wits and her nerve to save herself. I can’t say my summary of the premise of Coraline really does ...

The Truth About Twinkie Pie is a middle grade contemporary novel by Kat Yeh. What would you do if you won a million dollars from a national cooking contest? Intellectual twelve-year-old GiGi is not real impressed by her hairdresser big sister DiDi’s choice of living the same modest lifestyle – not even buying a new car! However, DiDi does move them out of the trailer park of South Carolina and into a little apartment in the North Shore of Long Island, enrolling GiGi in a fancy school to better her academic gifts. That’s all fine and good, but GiGi feels that a change should mean things actually change – so she decides that she is going to try and make friends, let herself indulge in a crush and try to do more “normal” things than studying 24/7. Yet, GiGi’s changes seem to be putting a strain on her relationship with DiDi – something they’ve never had, like this, before – and leads GiGi to a road full of unexpected family secrets that could change everything… The Truth About Twinkie P...

How to Destroy the New Girl’s Killer Robot Army is a middle grade, humor horror novel by Mick Bogerman and the third in the Slug Pie series. Again, I think it’s not necessary to read these books in order but it could certainly enhance the fun! After zombies and ugly mermaids, you wouldn’t think much would faze Mick Bogerman. Until the new girl. She gets on his nerves – using her Big Words and her Big Brain to mess with him. She’s even spending time at his Mr. Gee’s comic shop – pushing him out of his own territory! So… maybe he does something about it. But that doesn’t excuse her creating a robot army that is dead-set on terrorizing Mick and his friends and family!!! Another strong entry in the Slug Pie series, this was a whole lot of FUN! Again we get more of Mick’s personal life – all fairly quick as these books are so short they could practically be called novellas, but it’s effective nonetheless – and his mom, brother and friends. Score! Truly an entertaining riot as we follow M...

How to Rid Your Swimming Pool of a Bloodthirsty Mermaid is a middle grade humorous horror novel by Mick Bogerman, and the second book in the Slug Pie Series. Though I think you would enjoy reading these books in order, these are ones I can honestly say should be just fine not to – if needed. All Mick wanted was to fulfill his promise to his little brother – teach him how to swim. To do so, he agreed to do wealthy PJ’s lawn moving in exchange for access to his pool. But there’s a mermaid in there. And not a gorgeous, sweet, innocent mermaid. Oh, no. A bloodthirsty, man-eating, red-scaled monstrosity! Well, Mick is just going to have to figure out how to rid the pool of it. After all, how else will his little brother learn to swim? Now, I felt that How to Rid Your Swimming Pool of a Bloodthirsty Mermaid was a great improvement on the first book, How to Navigate Zombie Cave and Defeat Pirate Pete , for a few different reasons. Reason One: Far more setup – thank you!!! Instead of jumpi...

How to Navigate Zombie Cave and Defeat Pirate Pete is a middle grade humorous horror novel by Mick Bogerman. Mick Bogerman is a typical 12-year-old boy. That is, the kind that is determined to fight off zombies with a pitchfork and locate long-lost pirate gold, all the while doing everything he can to avoid gagging on the smell. And if this is an endeavor that interests you, Mick is happy to provide this “how to”, which regales his experience and the tips he’d provide. Time to get some pirate gold! How to Navigate Zombie Cave and Defeat Pirate Pete is the first in Slug Pie Story series narrated by Mick Bogerman. It’s a fast paced, gory, gross, funny debut that made me wince and laugh at the same time. I can see 12-year-old boys loving it, or anyone with a penchant for middle grade horror, such as the Goosebumps series. This first outing is not as substantial or story driven as I prefer and ended up feeling a bit forgettable, but I am happy to say that I personally feel the next two b...

The True Meaning of Smekday is a middle grade sci-fi contemporary humor novel by Adam Rex. Hoo Boy! I think I’m in love!!! When young Gratuity (Tip) Tucci is assigned a school five-page essay to explain the true meaning of Smekday (previously Christmas, now the day the first aliens invaded and renamed Christmas), she ends up writing a WHOLE LOT MORE than five pages. Instead we get the full story of just what happened to Tip when she determined to find her Mom as the aliens stated that all American humans must migrate to Florida, how she joined forces with the alien J.Lo and kept track of her cat, Pig. I can’t really imagine saying more without giving away too much laugh-out-loud goodness! The True Meaning of Smekday is AWESOME!!! It’s very funny – yet also has enough seriousness and legitimate emotion to have a level of care and investment in the characters to make it, well, all the more AWESOME! I absolutely adored J.Lo – a hilarious, adorable, lovable alien that provides a hefty a...

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making is a middle grade fantasy for all ages by Catherynnne M. Valente. Twelve-year-old September has gotten rather tired of the sameness of each day – washing the same dishes, sleeping on the same pillow, etc. That is why she leaps at the chance to go to Fairyland when the Green Wind and his flying leopard extend an invitation. Adventure at last! Yet Fairyland is in turmoil – things are not as they once were now that the evil Marquess is ruling after the suspicious disappearance of the beloved Queen Mallow. With the help of a dragon-like creature who has memorized A-through-L of the encyclopedia and a blue boy who is almost, but not quite, human – September will try to restore Fairyland back to its former glory. Days after finishing The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making I am still thinking about it! The prose and plot is astonishingly rich in its cleverness, inventiveness and beauty. I had to ex...