Lamar Giles really outdid himself with The Last Last Day of Summer. Filled with otherworldly experiences, random magic, strange occurrences, the concept of time, and two, plucky cousins, this novel is the perfect summer read. We loved the humor, the joy, the battles, and the breathtaking speed of twists and turns. We also loved the concepts of familial bonds, the idea of aging and growing older, the fact that lessons of permanence and impermanence are embedded with the realistic expressions of time and how it is gauged. Oh, Fuzzy could definitely gush about this one. This book was absolutely amazing, but let’s give a synopsis, too, eh?
The Last Last Day of Summer starts out with Otto and Sheed Alston meeting a stranger, one Mr. Flux, who tricks them into freezing time with an altered camera. What happens next is a chaotic jaunt through Logan County, a town and area that is known for its “strangeness”. With the help of several friends, a few members of time personified, and a futuristic stranger, they have to unfreeze time and try to put things back to their own normal. As they do, they experience growth and a glimpse into what the future may hold.
Definitely pick up a copy. We found that the cost was similar on Amazon, B&N, and Thriftbooks.
Rashad Jennings has created an engaging, fun world with this first book in the Coin Slot Chronicles series.
Arcade Livingston is eleven-years-old, and life isn’t going the way he would like. With a new home in a big city, a set of bullies, and a ton of homework, Arcade is totally struggling to fit in. The wild part is so is his sister, Zoe.
As if they don’t have enough going on, one day, at the library, Arcade is approached by a mysterious old woman who gives him a golden arcade token as a gift. But the necklace isn’t the only part of the present, it is actually the opportunity to time travel! The best part is that he can bring his friends with him, and each can experience their future in different places. From meeting Babe Ruth to performing veterinarian surgery, Arcade is in for one of the greatest thrills of his life. But not everything that glitters is gold, and that also means that not everything is as it seems with the token. There is someone else after it.
Filled with adventure and a ripping ride, Arcade and the Triple T Token is the beginning of a series that is well worth the read. Pick up a copy by selecting the image above.
We all know that Fuzzy loves Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat, and that didn’t change with The Spacedog Cometh. If anything, this was the funniest Klawde book yet.
In the third installment of this series, we return to Raj and Klawde, but this time, Klawde has a visitor: Barx, an agent of Pack of United Planets Peacekeeping Service (PUPPS), who has been sent to bring Klawde to justice. Now we have a talking cat, a talking dog, and one boy who is dealing with chaos on all fronts.
Raj’s ajii (grandmother) is in town, making extravagent Indian dishes and planning unwanted birthday parties. His nemesis has moved to town, his cat is an alien, and all Raj wants to do is maintain some popularity. With all of these different factors, hijinks, of course, ensue.
If you are seeking hilarity, along with science fiction, Klawde is your series. If you are seeking normalization of minority ethnic kids in your child’s reading, Klawde still has it. If you are seeking to show your child that culture and being different is to be celebrated, Klawde is still your book!
Pick up a copy by selecting the main image above.
We really wanted to like The Dragon Thief as much as we liked Dragons in a Bag. We did, but Jaxon had to split the book with Kavita, and as avid, eager fans of Jaxon and Ma, we had to work hard, AT FIRST, to not be disappointed.
If you remember from Dragons in a Bag (If you don’t, we reviewed it on Tween Reviews, Page 1) no one likes Kavita, and, in our biased eyes, she doesn’t redeem herself in this book. Kavita spends most of The Dragon Thief trying to find a way to hide her stolen dragon while also running the city with her elderly grandmother, who is irresponsible enough to not tell Kavita’s parents where she has taken her.
Thankfully, Jaxon is definitely coming to the rescue, and while he may be upset with Kavita, he is still willing to help. Returning to the world of dragons, magic in the city, and an amazing cast, The Dragon Thief brings that Zetta Elliot fantasy magic that we were hoping for and takes us on an amazing adventure. Pick up a copy by selecting the main image. You won’t be disappointed…with Jaxon’s parts (a coerced addendum by fans of Jaxon and Ma).
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