Stories 4 Children ~ Amanda Reviews page 1
Leap Year by Daniel M Warloch
Because of the Moon by Colleen Cutayne
I'm Dougal Trump... and it's not my fault! by Jackie Marchant
Tabitha Posy was ever so nosy by Julie Fulton
Meg the Egg by Rita Antoinette Borg
Loose Connections by Rosemary Hayes
Storm Shelter by April Sali
Pink Moon by Tonya Coffey
Thunder Moon by Tonya Coffey
16 and pregnant with twins by Elisabeth van der Wilt
My little heart Ruthie by Toni Jannotta
Well I feel blessed today - I have come across an incredible new children�s author, Daniel M Warloch.
I was passed his debut novel Leap Year by my good friend, Melanie Winrow, and assured I was in for an enjoyable few hours reading.
I settled down after dinner to read a few chapters and, to my surprise, it was tea time before I looked up again, having finished the book in one sitting � amazingly I was sad that the story had ended and wondered if, indeed, it had� for my part, I was certainly gasping for more!
Here�s a brief outline of the story to whet your appetite:
As the clock strikes midnight on 28th February, 3 young brothers find themselves trapped in a terrifying adventure when they visit an Thorngarth Hall, an old dilapidated building near where they live.
By day the Hall is just a ruin but once every four years a mysterious transformation occurs when the Hall returns to its former glory for a few hours. When the boys see what has happened they are naturally curious and, completely unaware of the dangers that lie ahead, they go to investigate. The next few hours are the most frightening of their lives young lives so far as they find themselves transported back in time to another leap year�
The Hall itself almost becomes a character as the children are trapped within its walls, first trying to hide from the terrifying giants who seem to rule the other scary children who also live there with a rod of iron, then desperately trying to escape the clutches of this terrifying, strange old Hall. The children eventually become separated and each has to face his fears - my heart went out to brave little Thomas, trapped in the dark, dank cellar with no hope of escape.
What I loved about this book was that I could see it as a film instead of just words on a page (and I believe there are, indeed, plans to make this book into a movie in the not too distant future). The other thing that made my heart sing was that it was written in such a way that when I was reading it, I had the strangest sensation that the author himself was reading it to me� I felt as though I was a child again, safe in the comfort of my mother�s arms, with her reading an exciting but scary story.
Also, on a par with those early stories, the chapters are very short. When I was little I was told that I could read a chapter of a book before going to bed but would often fall asleep before I could finish. The chapters in this book are both short and keep your interest so I�d be able to obey my parents easily. Something interesting happens on every page and it seems every chapter ends on a cliffhanger, enticing the reader back, calling to him not to close it but instead keep reading, no matter the consequences of being tired the following day!
This is one book which is set to make it to the top � a wonderful story that has broken down the barriers of many hardened, cynical readers, and returned reading to what it should be � a fun escape from the reality of this harsh world.
Because of the Moon by Colleen Cutayne
Kindle: Paperback:
Just one word: Wow!
This book took just over 2 days (about 15 hours) to read and I�ve got tears trickling from my eyes right now� it�s that good!
There are a few swear words sprinkled throughout the book so parents/carers might want to read it before giving it to the child but it doesn�t take away from the story.
It�s an amazing story about the protagonist (Jay) finding out about the things that have been happening in the community outside the City� the First Nation � I�m personally fascinated by how the Native American Indians (the First Nation in the book) have lived and how they currently live.
If your child is interested in the diversity of other cultures and how they are the same but different to their own then get them to read this book!
It definitely claims a piece of your heart!
I'm Dougal Trump... and it's not my fault! by Jackie Marchant
Kindle: Paperback:
This is a fantastic story that keeps you guessing about the creature that lives in the shed at the bottom of Dougal's garden... the story is wonderfully written and the illustrations are amazing. I really felt I was there with Dougal all the way through this book!
So funny!
I won't spoil it for you, but you find out what the creature is at the end... don't skip to the end of the book though - it will spoil the ending!
I love the humour in Dougal's wills too... I could just imagine a child writing the things in the book! Such a unique and totally believable story... WTG Jackie!
Go on, buy the book... you won't regret it! :-)
Tabitha Posy was ever so nosy by Julie Fulton
I'm a SCBWI member along with the author of this book, so I'll be easier on her than others, right? Nope! I know how much time and effort it takes to come up with a picture book because I write them too.
Julie has done so well with this book... it's funny, it's just the right length and it'll make children laugh out loud. Julie's sense of fun and being able to get into the head of a young child is just incredible!
Every school has a Tabitha Posy and most homes have them to a small degree too. Don't deny it, just because your little angel never puts a foot wrong with you, doesn't mean they don't have a little bit of Tabitha inside them... don't say I didn't warn you!
Meg the Egg by Rita Antoinette Borg
What a fantastic story!
Meg is so scared of all the noises on the farm that she doesn't want to hatch. Mother Hen tries to encourage her but there's no way little Meg is coming out, even when Mother Hen talks about the farmer thinking that Meg is a rotten egg.
In the end though, Meg saves the day and it ends happily ever after!
It's a great story for all children, whether they live out in the country or near a town or city. The countryside children will be able to relate to all the countryside noises and it will help them to learn about how farms work, how to look after and protect farm animals and also the dangers to animals on farms. If the child is near a town or city, it will encourage talking about how animals live and survive as well as the dangers they all face.
Way to go Rita!
Loose Connections by Rosemary Hayes
Oh. My. Goddess.
I've had to stop reading this book at the end of chapter 11 so that I can compose myself enough to keep reading! If you're a child, don't read chapters 9 to 11 in public or at school so that you don't start crying and get embarrassed. If you're an adult, be prepared to come up with excuses for your quivering voice on the phone or at work or whatever.
Rosemary has really got into Jake's head and life... you have got to read this book!
Oh. My. Goddess. Again!
I've just finished reading the book and tears are desperate to escape my eyes. Again.
Rosemary... just wow! I rarely cry but this book has got me crying twice! Huge great tears!
Oh wow... I just don't have the words to review this book... it's worth so much more money than I paid for it! If you only read one book this month, make it this one... just make sure you have a supply of tissues at the ready after chapters 9 and 10!
I have to admit that I started the book thinking it would be an OK book for children to read but that they wouldn't really get into it... I've never been so glad to be wrong!
It's books like this one that re-awaken the bookworm in me!
WTG Rosemary!
***
This is a wonderful little book - I couldn't stop reading it! The only reason I'm giving it four stars instead of the full five is purely because it is so short. Needs to be oneheckuva lot longer than it is... Amelia could have had a lot more adventures before she found her gift and expanded on how the bully seemed to go from someone that everyone was scared of to suddenly feeling able to confide his deepest thoughts in the Amelia.
The author has an amazing way with words, she just needs to put a lot more into the book to help the reader go on the journey with Amelia... really tug at the heart strings of the readers and let them grow really attached to Amelia.
If you want a feel-good, very quick read, then get yourself this book... you won't regret it!
***
Just finished reading this and it's a book that confuses me with all the names and seeming to change genders of the main character throughout the book.
It seems to be aimed at the hi-lo market... written with the maturity that would appeal to the upper end of Young Adults but using language that is more aimed at Middle Graders.
If you or your teen fancy an easy read then definitely get this book, just be aware that it'll be a challenging read for those who aren't at the upper end of Young Adult readers is all.
Can't wait to read the next book!
***
✰✰✰ out of 5
I so wish I could give this book a better rating, but, like the previous one, it's very confusing for me.
It's prolly the way that the author uses "I" for the main character which is a very different way of doing the books, but I was expecting to see everything from the main characters POV instead of jumping around so much... it's written in first person, yet it jumps around to other characters without any of the journey to that person, then back to the main character then onto another part.
It's almost like you need to take notes throughout the book!
Not an easy read, but definitely give it a go if you can spend the time quickly moving from one place to another... just don't expect no confusion is all... sorry!
***
16 and pregnant with twins by Elisabeth van der Wilt
This is an OK book, it just seems very confusing in parts and there are jumps in time as well as making me confused about who was talking and to whom.
It's an easy read, it could just have done with going through some professional editing and the POV changes were weird too.
Keep writing, Elisabeth, just be prepared to go through more editing before your next book is published... sorry!
***
My little heart Ruthie by Toni Jannotta
It's an OK book that is more of a very short story than novel.
It's good to hear the author telling the story, but her voice doesn't match the grammar she's used in the book, for example she's used ... in the book but rushes over them without any kind of break at all, not even pausing for a comma!
The author also speed-read between 2 pages and I couldn't catch up with her... she started on one page then immediately went to the next page without even a hint at a pause.
If you want a quick read, get this book.