Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Blog Tour, Giveaway, Excerpts and Review: The Lumpy Duckling by Kai Strand



Lumpy Duckling
The Lumpy Duckling by Kai Strand



Lumpy may be hefty with a misshapen mouth, but he’s funny and the most loyal friend Wheezy could ask for. When she meets Unwanted, she casts a wish for people to be able to see her best friend like she does. Her wish nearly kills him.

All the Weaver Tales are set in the same fictional village of The Tales. The villagers are called Word Weavers, because they speak in story. The same little gnome-elf, Unwanted, grants a wish in each book that makes the main character's problem worse. The books do not have to be read in any order.
Praise for The Lucky Duckling






Kai Strand explores friendship, perception, and the consequences of wishes in this fast-paced read. - Mary Waibel

This is a wonderful story of loyalty and friendship. It also shows how one’s fears and insecurities sometimes sabotage the good things we have in our lives. Like Wheezy, we have to learn to trust, to accept change, to be patient and understanding, and to try not to jump to conclusions. The end is most satisfying, but it’s an exciting, nerve-wracking ride getting there. The Lumpy Duckling is highly recommended for middle grade readers. - Penelope Anne Cole



The lumpy

My Review
This is an amazing middle grade story about a girl and her best friend and a wish that she wishes she never made.  A few tears were shed (of both joy and sadness) while I was reading this story, but I am so glad that I read it.  This story reminds you what is important in life: friendships.  Beautifully written, The Lumpy Duckling teaches you lessons that anyone no matter what age needs to be reminded of.  I would recommend this book to kids of all ages, from 1 to 99!
Rating: 5/5 stars


KaiAuthor Kai Strand

When her children were young and the electricity winked out, Kai Strand gathered her family around the fireplace and they told stories, one sentence at a time. Her boys were rather fond of the ending, “And then everybody died. The end.” Now an award winning children’s author, Kai crafts fiction for kids and teens to provide an escape hatch from their reality. With a selection of novels for young adult and middle grade readers and short stories for the younger ones, Kai entertains children of all ages, and their adults.






Excerpt:

Isn’t seventh grade too young to worry about boys? In that way at least. She always worried about her very closest friend, Lumpy. She and Lawrence Nightingale had been inseparable since she tripped over him in the sandbox almost nine years ago. Well, inseparable might be a bit strong, since they couldn’t even go to school together, Lumpy being a year older than
her and all.
     Being picked on wasn’t the only thing they had in common. Wheezy smiled. They both liked…um…they preferred…um. Her smile fell away when she stared out the window picturing herself and Lumpy together.
     They had nothing in common. He liked to watch sports and whittle wood; she liked to create sand art and find shapes in the clouds. He chowed down steak and pan fried potatoes, or liverwurst and ketchup sandwiches, while she nibbled pickled zucchini spears and rye crisps. He spit into a pennywhistle, calling it music, while she sang like a songbird.
     Even their Word Weaving was different. She weaved reports and updates of current events while he …um…whatever his weavings were classified as, they made people laugh. Gnawing the inside of her cheek, she searched for a
commonality in their personalities, hobbies or interests. A reason they were friends.
     An image of Lumpy, a dirt stained baseball cap slightly askew, round face, red from laughing, an ever present lumpy grin on his lips which sparked in his bright blue eyes, formed in her mind, and a smile brightened her face again. It didn’t matter that they had nothing in common. He was her best friend. That was enough for her.
25_Amazon_Paypal
Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 12/29/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.


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Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Children's Book Review Tuesdays: The Tiger Rising by Kate Dicamillo

Book Title: The Tiger Rising

Author: Kate D. Camillo

Publish Date: July 1, 2002

Genre: Middle Grade












About the Book (from Goodreads):  


The National Book Award finalist from the best-selling author of BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE - now in paperback

Walking through the misty Florida woods one morning, twelve-year-old Rob Horton is stunned to encounter a tiger - a real-life, very large tiger - pacing back and forth in a cage. What’s more, on the same extraordinary day, he meets Sistine Bailey, a girl who shows her feelings as readily as Rob hides his. As they learn to trust each other, and ultimately, to be friends, Rob and Sistine prove that some things - like memories, and heartaches, and tigers - can’t be locked up forever.


Why I Read this Book: I checked out this book from my local library to read during the last Dewey's 24 hour read-a-thon.
 

Review



The Tiger Rising is an engaging story about a boy who finds a caged tiger in the woods behind where he lives.  Rob, who is a young lonely boy, finds a friend in a girl who he attends school with, Sistine.


The Tiger Rising was heartbreaking and kept you wondering about what would happen next.  The journey is the best part about this story, so I will not ruin that for you.


Although this story is too intense for younger readers, The Tiger Rising  is sure to keep your teen or pre-teen hooked and eager to read more.

 

Final Statements



Recommended Reading Age: 10+


Overall Rating: 4/5