My 2 Cents on Rebel: A Legend Novel

Six years have passed since 2013, which was when Marie Lu (Warcross, The Young Elites) wrapped up her YA dystopian Legend novel series by publishing the third—and what was intended to be the final—entry, Champion. Just recently, however, on October 1st, she released the fourth book, Rebel—a moving story that digs deep into the heart and … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Rebel: A Legend Novel →

My 2 Cents on Frindle

Frindle, Andrew Clements's 1996 debut children's novel, tells the story of Nicholas Allen, an imaginative fifth-grader with a bit of a troublemaking streak. Devising angles to sidetrack his teachers before they can give the class homework is his forte, making him especially popular among his peers. But this doesn't work at all on his language-arts … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Frindle →

My 2 Cents on Seinfeldia

Twenty-one years after "The Finale" aired on May 14, 1998, Seinfeld has left a remarkable legacy as a revolutionary sitcom that entertained audiences with hilarious comedy and an unprecedented insight into everyday life's inane and mundane minutiae. So it's only appropriate for something like Seinfeldia, a book written by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong (Mary and Lou … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Seinfeldia →

My 2 Cents on Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game

There is plenty of fantabulous fun to be had in Mr. Lemoncello's All-Star Breakout Game, the fourth entry in the Mr. Lemoncello series by Chris Grabenstein (The Island of Dr. Libris, coauthor of I, Funny with James Patterson). Kyle Keeley, a boy who eats, sleeps, and breathes board games, and his friends enter the All-Star … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Mr. Lemoncello’s All-Star Breakout Game →

My 2 Cents on Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America

Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America by Jeff Ryan, published in hardcover in 2011 and then paperback in 2012 with a bonus chapter, is a necessity for any gamer, being a stimulating, cleverly written book that takes you on a journey through the enthralling tales and trivia facts behind the multibillion-dollar video game publisher Nintendo. … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America →

My 2 Cents on Matched

Matched has a natural ability to weave the gripping twists of a mystery and the genuine emotions of a romance into one plot, giving it a creative edge over typical YA dystopian sci-fi books. Sometime in the far future, people live in a utopian world of tranquility watched over by the Society. The defining feature of … Continue reading My 2 Cents on Matched →

My 2 Cents on The School Story

A girl with an amazing novel in her hands and her best friend who pushes and pushes to get it out there — even when the publication process gets glossed over at times, the signatures of memorable characters, snappy dialogue, and sincere story/character arcs from Andrew Clements' other books (Frindle, Lunch Money) are clearly present … Continue reading My 2 Cents on The School Story →

My 2 Cents on The Gollywhopper Games

Playing in a gigantic puzzle competition with a sliver of hope for the title of champion — you'll be right there with Gil as he does just that in one of my favorite books, The Gollywhopper Games, his compelling quest aided by Jody Feldman's snappy voice and her intelligent brainteasers. Gil's family has been shunned … Continue reading My 2 Cents on The Gollywhopper Games →

My 2 Cents on The Gollywhopper Games

My 2 Cents on The Puzzling World of Winston Breen

If you're in the mood for a good treasure hunt, clever puzzles, or a mystery surrounding a would-be thief, one of my favorite books, The Puzzling World of Winston Breen by Eric Berlin, will go above and beyond to fulfill all three conditions.