Mundie Moms

Thursday, July 31, 2014

The Time of The Fireflies by Kimberly Griffith, Book Trailer Reveal

Hello MG (middle grade) readers! I've got a fabulous treat for you today. I'm so thrilled to be revealing Kimberly Griffiths Little's book trailer for her The TIME of The FIREFLIES. Before you check out the trailer, here's a little bit about her book:



When Larissa Renaud starts receiving eerie phone calls on a disconnected old phone in her family's antique shop, she knows she's in for a strange summer. A series of clues leads her to the muddy river banks, where clouds of fireflies dance among the cypress knees and cattails each evening at twilight. The fireflies are beautiful and mysterious, and they take her on a magical journey through time, where Larissa learns secrets about her family's tragic past -- deadly, curse-ridden secrets that could harm the future of her family as she knows it. It soon becomes clear that it is up to Larissa to prevent history from repeating itself and a fatal tragedy from striking the people she loves.

Critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little spins a thrilling tale filled with family secrets, haunting mystery, and dangerous adventure in the story of one girl's race to unravel the curse that has haunted her family for generations. (Synopsis from Scholastic Press)


Order from:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Add it to  Goodreads! 



 



Professional Reviews for The TIME of The FIREFLIES: 


“Haunting, well-constructed tale . . . A plot filled with suspense, adventure, and mystery.  Perfect choice for lovers of ghost stories, historical fiction, or just a good yarn.”
—School Library Journal

“Little’s strengths lie in building a strong sense of the history of a place, its inhabitants, and how one can greatly affect the other. A satisfyingly creepy mystery, wrapped up in the bonds of family.” —Publisher’s Weekly 

“Suspense builds quickly and doesn’t falter . . . Larissa’s first-person narration is fresh and engaging, and the richly evoked south Louisiana setting serves to ground this ethereal tale in a real time and place while contributing to the mysterious mood it requires. —Kirkus Reviews 



Find Kimberly via: 
Enter To Win
A signed finished hardcover copy as well as some swag, including a glow-in-the-dark firefly necklace. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Homeroom Diaries by James Patterson, Giveaway

Happy almost end of the week! One more day to go until it's Friday!! I've got a little treat for you to make your Thursday that much more enjoyable. Today I'm thrilled to spotlight a new YA book out from acclaimed author James Patterson. His newest YA book, Homeroom Diaries has recently hit shelves, but I've got a copy of it, and a few other James Patterson goodies to giveaway today. First, here's a little bit about Homeroom Diaries:


ABOUT THE BOOK
In James Patterson's first highly illustrated "diary fiction" story for teens, the mega-bestselling author's most endearing and original teen heroine ever proves that everyone can use a helping hand once in a while.

Margaret "Cuckoo" Clarke recently had a brief stay in a mental institution following an emotional breakdown, but she's turning over a new leaf with her "Happiness Project". She's determined to beat down the bad vibes of the Haters, the Terror Teachers, and all of the trials and tribulations of high school by writing and drawing in her diary. And when life gets really tough, she works through her own moments of uncertainty through imaginary conversations with her favorite literary characters.

Cuckoo's also got a nearly impossible mission: she, along with her misfit band of self-deprecating friends (who call themselves "the Freakshow") decide to bridge the gap between warring cliques and "bring the Nations together". Not everyone is so willing to join hands and get along, but Cuckoo never stops smiling...until one of her closest friends, pushed to desperation by a Hater prank, decides that enough is enough.

Purchase from:
·         Apple Store
·         Barnes & Noble
·         Buy.com
·         Google eBooks
·         IndieBound
·         Kobo eBooks
·         Powells
·         Target
·         Walmart
·         Amazon

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs, Book Review

By: Sarah Combs
Publisher: Candlewick
Release Date: April 8, 2014
Source: netgalley

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 quirky and perfect stars 

Buy: IndieBound | Barnes and Noble | amazon | Book Depository

Breakfast Served Anytime

Synopsis:  A coming-of-age debut evokes the bittersweet joys and pangs of finding independence in one unforgettable summer away at "geek camp."

When Gloria sets out to spend the summer before her senior year at a camp for gifted and talented students, she doesn’t know quite what to expect. Fresh from the heartache of losing her grandmother and missing her best friend, Gloria resolves to make the best of her new circumstances. But some things are proving to be more challenging than she expected. Like the series of mysterious clues left by a certain Professor X before he even shows up to teach his class, Secrets of the Written Word. Or the very sweet, but very conservative, roommate whose coal-industry family champions mountaintop removal. Not to mention the obnoxious Mason, who dresses like the Mad Hatter and immediately gets on Gloria’s nerves — but somehow won’t escape her thoughts.

Beautifully told by debut author Sarah Combs, this honest and touching story of growing up is imbued with the serene atmosphere of Kentucky’s natural landscape.

You guys know how I love tension in a story, well, I'm here to say that every once in a while a quiet story catches my attention. In the inner sanctum of my reader's heart, I'm a character-driven reader. I fall easily for well constructed fictional people and I fell hard for quirky Gloria. Every detail about her, from her love of To Kill a Mockingbird to her habit of adding little bits of findings and scraps to her Gloria Bishop Book of Ephemera made me love her more. The geek camp setting allows Sarah Combs to explore even more interesting characters and every, single one (and I do mean, every single one) is worthwhile meeting.

There are not many stories like this one. There are flashier titles out there. But in my summer reading so far, I haven't come across a book like this. Everyone in this story is so much deeper than they first appear to be and everyone serves a purpose in showing how, in the end (and in spite of changing circumstances), the characters remain true to themselves.

I realize I'm babbling, so let me use one of my favorite quotes from the book, and I know it will resonate with my fellow bookworms. In one of the class assignments, Gloria explains her love of To Kill a Mockingbird and how it's meaningful to her because it was her grandmother's favorite (page 245):
I guess what I'm trying to say is that sometimes you can love a book not so much because of what it's about or what happens in it, but because it belongs to a certain time or person in your life -- like you'll always remember where you were when you read it for the first time, or who gave it to you, or what season it was, or who you were before you read it and how you were different when it was over.
See what I mean? Sarah's writing rings true and her words simply slice through that reader-heart of mine.

When you're tired of quick beach reads, cute romances or the latest buzzy title, pick up Breakfast Served Everywhere. I guarantee you will fall in love with Sarah's characters. What a memorable debut story, and yes, now I want more stories from Sarah.

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