Book Review – The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop

Saunders, Kate - The Whizz Pop Chocolate ShopWhen the Spoffards inherit a candy shop, they never expected to move in. But there’s something magical and mysterious about the old place. Twins, Oz and Lily, aren’t sure what to think, especially when they meet the strange immortal inhabitants of their new home.

 

Oz wasn’t too scared of rats in general, but this rat was different—it was smoking.

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Book Review – Eight Cousins

Alcott, Louisa May - Eight Cousins

Rose is pampered and protected by her fussy aunts, whose odd cures have left her just as fussy and unhappy as they are. Ready to prove that the simplest medicine is the most effective, Uncle Alec steps in and introduces Rose to the things she needs most. Fresh air, good food, hard work, and the company of her many rambunctious cousins.

 

If you dear little girls would only learn what real beauty is, and not pinch and starve and bleach yourselves out so, you’d save an immense deal of time and money and pain. A happy soul in a healthy body makes the best sort of beauty for man or woman.

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Book Review – The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole

Cuevas, Michelle - Care and Feeding of a Pet Black HoleWhen a black hole follows Stella home one night, it’s up to her to care for the tiny, hungry phenomenon. Having a pet black hole can be convenient for getting rid of things that trouble her: Brussels sprouts, her brother’s annoying music, and things that remind her of her dad. But the more that goes into the void, the bigger her problems seem to grow.

 

I had a hunch that if Mom found out I was entertaining a space phenomenon in my room, she wouldn’t approve.

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Book Review – Wizard at Work

Velde, Vivian Vande - Wizard at WorkIt’s summer, and all the wizard wants to do is relax now that school is out. But, of course, that doesn’t happen. With princesses to rescue, dragons to chase, and ghosts to hunt down, a wizard’s work is never done. Continue reading “Book Review – Wizard at Work”

Book Review – The Chocolate Touch

Catling, Patrick Skene - Chocolate TouchJohn Midas is usually a good boy, but his one weakness is candy. His parents beg him to keep to a balanced diet, but John continues to spoil his appetite and refuses to eat a proper dinner. When a magical curse begins turning everything he eats to chocolate, John realizes that his unhealthy habits come with some nasty side effects.

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Book Review – The Cat Who Went to Heaven

Coatsworth, Elizabeth - The Cat Who Went to HeavenWhen a poor artist’s housekeeper brings home a cat instead of food, it seems that it won’t be long before they all starve. But their luck begins to change when the artist is commissioned to create a painting of the Buddha for their village’s temple.

Sometimes the painting came easy, sometimes it came hard; sometimes the artist was pleased with what he had done, sometimes he was disgusted.

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Book Review – Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Look, Lenore - Alvin Ho, Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary ThingsAlvin Ho is afraid of pretty much everything, and when he’s afraid, Alvin can’t speak. It’s hard to make friends at school when you can’t talk, but Alvin has a Personal Disaster Kit and a plan.

Not being able to talk in school is a terrible problem. But having a girl desk buddy is even worse; it is the kiss of death.

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Book Review – Skies of Dripping Gold

Heath, Hannah - Skies of Dripping GoldGabriel works hard to keep his sister, Lilly, in medicine. Her faith in the place where skies drip with gold keeps Lilly strong though her health continues to decline. But Gabriel knows once she’s gone he won’t have anything left to live for. So Gabriel decides to climb to Paradise and see for himself where Lilly’s belief will take her.

They entered the building that neither of them really wanted to enter, but still walked into six days of the week. He wasn’t sure why Cole did it, but Gabriel could explain his in a single, beautiful word: Lilly.

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Book Review – Beaumont & Beasley

Shultz, Kyle Robert, 1&2Nick Beasley is a professional myth buster, disproving conspiracies and scandals involving the so-called magic that’s been lost to history. But when a suspicious case leads to an unfortunate accident, Nick is forced to rethink everything he’s been fighting against and join forces with the feisty daughter of a nefarious noble to undo a famous fairy tale curse.

So, the people of the Afterlands closed their dusty old books, left their great palaces to crumble into ruin, and set off into the future to do more worthwhile things like inventing automobiles and airships.

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Book Review – The Crystal Tree

DjeRALuUYAEvyKRBriar’s efforts to rebuild her life shatter when a dangerous group of magicians arrive in Osman, bringing nothing but trouble and taking Briar’s sister, Ava, with them. Left with nothing, Briar chases down the Nameless Ones with the aid of some mysterious travelers and her own meager magic in a reckless attempt to save her family.

Briar squared her shoulders. There wasn’t really a choice here. If the soldiers couldn’t do anything to help her, then she was just going to have to go after Ava herself.

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