Blue Bloods- a vampire novel

Wow! I have to start by saying, thank goodness for good Children's Librarians as I would never have selected this book if left to my own devices. My husband is an ex-librarian and through him I have developed a good relationship with some of the local librarians whom he used to work with. One lady in particular suggested Blue Bloods by Melissa De la Cruz to me after we had spent a mini session moaning about what a negative role model Bella from Twilight is for teenage girls, with her whiny, obsessive personality. I have to thank her next time I see her, as I spent the whole weekend (when I wasn't with the kids) engrossed in this book. It was very gripping and I can't wait to get the next one, requested online already. Don't be put off by the boring cover, the contents while not "Pulitzer prize winning" are very entertaining.


Blue Bloods by Melissa De La Cruz

Set in New York at a pretentious private school we are introduced to a type of vampire we have never met before. The author has made the clever decision to cast her vampires as fallen angels and they are working on making their way back into Heaven, albeit a lot of them are a way off the mark at the moment. They have rules they must live by, but these rules are falling by the wayside or being twisted to suit their own personal needs/gains. Add to this that they are being hunted and killed by something they cannot easily recognise and you have a gripping novel (or series as is the case here).

Schuyler Van Alen is a misfit at this school, but is happy in this role. She is the protagonist and while a bit too skinny for my liking, is actually a great role model for outcasts and misfits everywhere as she is comfortable in her own skin and dances to her own tune.

I loved this book, the author has developed interesting characters that can be related to, especially in the catty high school world we all know so well. There are no wishy-washy, whiny, needy characters which is quite surprising for a book chock full of teenagers. Yes, they have their own individual issues but there is no "tormented" character as of yet.

If I had one complaint it would be that De la Cruz flits from idea to idea a little too quickly, sometimes not fully developing a situation, such as the love that develops between Jack Force and Schuyler (Skyla) Van Alenen. After saying that, this is a series of books and she does need to hold on to some things that she can build upon in other novels.

There is a sex scene (and the characters aren't much older than fifteen) so if you are wanting to keep your child innocent for a little bit longer then maybe this book isn't for them. There is also death and violence but it is necessary for the story, it is about vampires after all.

Masquerade is the follow on from this novel and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy. A great novel to huddle up under the covers with. Don't be put off by the boring cover, the contents while not "Pulitzer prize winning" are very entertaining.

Havoc

Havoc my children are very good at causing this in our lounge. In fact it isn't very often that I feel comfortable in inviting people over as the house is such a mess, it looks as though a medium sized toy box has exploded. Then if we move into the car, it is just the same, however in this instance it is more a case of used tissues and baby wipes used to clean up dirty fingers, and remove squashed raisins from in between seats.

I'm pleased to write though that this blog entry is actually about the next installment of the comic Malice that Chris Wooding has so cleverly scripted. Now, once again I must digress, if your school does the Scholastic Book pamphlets I would seriously recommend that you take a look at them when the kids bring them home as they are full of fabulous books at some fabulous prices. Even if you don't buy them you are up with the play on what current books are around and you can order them from the local library. There is also the Scholastic Bookshop in East Tamaki in Auckland, where they have fantastic deals, and every now and then a warehouse sale where the books are HALF PRICE!!!

I have been a fan of Chris Wooding's ever since I first read Poison a few years ago. His writing has always had a different "feel" to it from other authors. Almost as though he taps into a completely different creative outlet from the rest of us. I also get the impression that he bases his stories on his personal views and philosophies of the world. I admit to having bought a few of his books and they sit on our bookshelves waiting for the children to be of an age to enjoy them, which I hope they don't reach too quickly. Malice and shortly Havoc (once I go to Scholastic) are among them

His stories always have a few layers to them, meaning you can read as much or as little as you like into the tales he weaves. That is why he appeals to me so much I think, his books encourage me to think "outside the square" so to speak.

Havoc by Chris Wooding llustrations by Dan Chernett

Havoc is the follow up to Malice, so if your child hasn't read Malice I would strongly suggest they do before reading Havoc. It continues in the comic book world where Tall Jake reigns. This novel has portions that are written in a graphic novel style, as Malic is a comic book that children in our world desperately try to get their hands on, and once they have they complete a ritual to call "Tall Jake" to take them to Malice. The ritual is similar to the "Bloody Mary" urban myth. Once he comes to claim them there is a great chance that they will die inside the comic book.

Personally, I don't understand why this appeals to so many of the characters in the book, but it is suggested that all young people are looking for a thrill, as they believe their lives are too safe. I suppose you could say they are after the adrenalin rush that Malice promises as our world has become more about T.V and computers than real life experiences (so it suggests in Havoc).

I loved Malice and couldn't wait to get my hands on Havoc. It took me awhile to actually feel involved with the characters this time, in comparison to Malice, but now it's over I know I will miss them. It may seem weird, but Tall Jake was actually one of my favourite character's, although he was taking children to their deaths there is something in the way that he is written that makes me want to see him stick around.

The main characters Seth, Kady, Justin and Tatyana are back, and this time they have the Sgard and are on a quest to find The Queen of the Cats to help them confront and hopefully defeat Tall Jake.

It's not a story for the faint hearted, Chris Wooding's books never are. There are plenty of scary, nightmarish creatures and some deaths. So I would certainly recommend this book for mature readers, those who aren't likely to want to crawl into your bed if they wake from a nightmare about Tall Jake.

I would certainly recommend Malice and Havoc. Wooding is a very talented story teller and if you have a child who is a reluctant reader but loves gory horror movies and late night camp fire tales then this book is for them.

I couldn't wait to get to the comic book sections in the book which have been illustrated by Dan Chernett, they certainly add interest to the novel. It is very, very cleverly done. There's no word if Wooding is planning on another Malice book, but looking on the Internet there is certainly a lot of pressure from fans for him to do so, and Havoc is written in such a manner that gives him the opportunity to if he so wished.

Pants by Giles Andreae, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

A new Kids Outlet bookstore has opened up in Onehunga, just up from Toyworld, on the corner. So, me being me, I just had to go and check it out. It was good that I did because I stopped off at Toyworld and discovered they were having a 40% off Schleich sale so needless to say this household now has a few more animals and elves.


Now I feel I must digress a bit here so you can understand what led me to this book. A girl I used to go to school with posted this Youtube clip which is a book called Pants by Giles Andrea, sung by Lenny Henry (G. Andrea is the creator of Purple Ronnie if you are interested). vvvvv bbbb Now my son had watched it months ago and loved it, so when we walked into this bookshop, he saw it and pointed it out to me. It was the only one on the table and I had never seen it before, so I snatched it up, it was quite the bargain I have to say.


Once we got it home it was demanded by both children that I read it, after I had read it through once, my daughter automatically demanded I read it again. It is super cute and the children love the rhyme. As I am also struggling a bit with toilet training at the moment with my eldest, I'm using it to get him excited about wearing underpants.


I think there is an 80% chance that if you have a preschooler in the house or a middle aged man, they will probably find themselves smiling at it : ). Oh, who am I kidding, I love it too. So imagine my excitement when I discovered there is More Pants!!!Finding a copy of this be it from the library or second hand bookshop is my next mission. I love finding books that the kids enjoy so much and demand again and again.

How to Train your Dragon by Cressida Cowell

Just before the last set of school holidays began I took my two kidlets to see How to Train your Dragon on the big screen. It was the first time either of them had ever been to the movies and it was a roaring success. They were fixated for at least 45 minutes on the massive images in front of them before I had to reside to food bribery. The movie was adorable and if you haven't had a chance to see it here is a quick clip from YouTube.

So it pains me to say this, it really does, but... I liked the movie better than the book.

Phew, that was a hard confession to make, especially as one of the worlds biggest book lovers.

Perhaps if I had read the book first and thought they were fantastic I would be feeling rather differently around about now, but I truly found the book lacking.

The storyline in the movie is COMPLETELY different to the book. Did I emphasize, the completely enough? In fact the only common threads were the vikings, the dragons (even Toothless was a different kind of dragon to the one in the book), and the name Hiccup. Otherwise I wouldn't have thought they were the same story at all.

Now, don't get me wrong, the book is O.K. Just not what I was expecting and the movie has probably renewed interest in these books but don't get them for your kids thinking that they will relate it to the movie, because it is sooooo different.

I would think they would suit 7 years +, and perhaps particularly boys, because girls don't even really rate a mention in the story at all so there may not be a character they can relate to.

I do intend to read another book in the series (although I am in no hurry now) as the idea is good, but lets put it this way. I wouldn't race out to buy one for the kids bookshelf.

Beautiful Creatures

Gosh, I spent some of this afternoon looking at some of the Kiwi Mum Bloggers and I have to say there are some incredibly talented people on our fair shores! I wish I had been blessed with some of the creative abilities that so many of you have been.

I've also decided to start saving for one of A Little Vintage's custom made dolls. I love the image of having something made out of the kidlets old clothes. What a fabulous idea, an heirloom that can be kept for many years to come. I'm afraid all I have to offer are my opinions on books and hope that somehow, somewhere it will help somebody out : ).

This latest blog may alienate a whole lot of people, but I have never been one to shy away from my beliefs. I love great books, books that beckon you in with the possibility of a great story and then wraps it's pages around you, building up great characters and an interesting plot. That's why I never really got in to the Twilight series. It had the beckoning part down, but the characters were awful, I couldn't stand whiny Bella with her "me me me" attitude and the fact she was nothing without Edward, and Edward was such an enabler. I felt for poor Jacob, mind you he was a sucker (no pun intended) for punishment. I felt nothing for the rest of the characters, if Bella had been savaged by a rogue werewolf I probably would have felt some form of relief that her sad little life was over.

Character development is in fact a really hard thing to do well. In fact, for the last month or so I have been longing for a good book where I felt a connection with the characters and finally I have found one. Beautiful Creatures is a wonderfully written debut novel. The two authors have obviously studied the craft of writing and the story carries me along with them on their story telling journey. I care about these characters and what is going to happen to them, they have strength, determination and hope. All qualities I would like to foster in my children, yes they hit rocky patches but the message is that if you support each other you CAN get through. It is a story of true friendship and love, with a fair bit of kissing for good measure.


Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Ethan Wate always knew that he was going to get out of Gatlin, a small Southern town in the U.S. , even if nobody else ever had. He had a map pinned to his bedroom wall with all the different places he had read about in his sixteen years and planned to visit once he graduated. Little did he know that his future is tied to his families past.

When Lena Duchannes, the town recluse's niece comes to stay Ethan discovers a Gatlin he never knew existed. One full of curses, magic and the answer to the accidental death of his mother one year before.

Where I found the character of Bella whiny, wishy washy and down right painful, I find Lena strong and thoughtful. Yes, she bears the weight of the world on her shoulders, just like Bella, but she handles it in a more believable manner. She wants to take charge of her destiny and takes steps towards doing so, rather than whining about the fact that she isn't getting her own way and stamping her foot like a three year old.

The narrator is Ethan (surprise!) and he too has a lot of issues that he needs to deal with such as his father withdrawing from the real world after the death of Ethan's mother, instead choosing to lock himself in the downstairs study supposedly working on the next big American novel.

Once again I admit to some bias towards this book as they do use "To Kill a Mockingbird" one of my favourite books ever, as a spring board, comparing the Gaitlin town recluse to Boo Radley. So this clever choice had me hooked almost from the get go.

If you have often fantasized about living a life full of mystery and witch craft then this book is for you. I love the Southern flavour, the plot is well developed and relatively fast paced and the characters are 3 dimensional.

A few questions the reader has may remain unanswered such as "why was Ethan's mother killed?" But at least we discover who was responsible.

Although the two main characters in this book do become a couple and they are very physical, it is still quite innocent, with as noted earlier, a great deal of kissing. I would happily let my child read this at around about the age of 11 years, but as it is 563 pages long, they would have to be quite the avid or advanced reader.

So, for the average reader I would lean closer to 14 years plus.

It's also in the process of being made into a movie, so if your teenager hasn't read it already, let them know how with it you are and introduce it!


If you've already read the book, then you'll know the song "Sixteen Moons". I found someones version of it on Youtube (what can't you find on youtube these days?). Have a listen and tell me what you think.

Sixteen Moons

Gifted Gaiman

I am aware  that Neil Gaiman's following is such, that if I tried to claim I was his biggest fan then about 10,000 other people would protest that in actual fact they were. Neil Gaiman has penned many a story, from his "Sandman" graphic novels to picture books, young adult fiction to old adult fiction and the odd screen play thrown in for good measure. I have thoroughly enjoyed most of his stories but one of my favourites at present is Blueberry Girl, a picture book I will review here shortly, that is if you can call it reviewing.

Before I do this however, I would like to take a small amount of time to boast about how I got to meet him when he came to New Zealand for the Wellington Readers and Writers Festival. My fabulous husband booked tickets for us and we flew down to Wellington to hear him speak. I was so excited I could have spontaneously combusted. 

I discovered the joy of Gaiman's work in the school library many years ago while teaching. I stumbled across Coraline on the shelf and that was it, my Gaiman addiction was born.

My husband and I were only going down to Wellywood for the night and so packed lightly, pretty much a fresh pair of undies each, toothbrushes and a small bag crammed full of Neil Gaiman's classics that I was hoping to get signed. In the bag was Stardust (for me), Coraline (for my son, thinking about when he is older), and Blueberry Girl (for my daughter). The children were staying with Nana and so it also meant some couple time.

 The "interview" he gave with Kate de Goldi was enjoyable and entertaining, although I would have liked more opportunity for the audience to ask questions of him, not that I had one, I just thought it would have been more intriguing.

Then it was time for the book signing, the rush was MAD, it was almost as if someone had announced there was 90% off all books at Dymocks. Surprisingly, and I'm not even sure how, hubby and I managed to find ourselves near the front of the queue. We were told that he was

only signing one book per person, which was understandable considering the masses of people, so the decision was made that my son and daughter would get theirs signed.

He was a very charming man and I feel very honoured to have met such a creative talent. So with all of the showing off out of the way, let the review of Blueberry Girl begin.

Blueberry Girl by Neil Gaiman. 

Illustrated by Charles Vess

The reason I have said this isn't really a review is because I will be posting a clip of Gaiman reading the story and so you can make up your own mind about whether or not it appeals to you. To view it, click here.

Neil Gaiman wrote this poem for his friend, songwriter and singer Tori Amos when she discovered she was having a little girl. The sentiment behind the words is beautiful. The choice of words are powerful and there is wisdom in the advice offered. It resonated strongly with me being a grown woman and what he has written are things that I would like my baby girl to know and be aware of as she makes her own way in the world. I like the fact that it supports the views that she will hear coming out of the mouths of her parents.

Let me know if it effects you in the same way it did me. Enjoy : ).

The Grumble Rumble Mumbler

As a child, I was never particularly proud of the country I was born in. I always wished I had been born in England and sent to an English boarding school like the characters in my favourite books, so I could have midnight feasts with my dorm mates. Upon reflection maybe I was a bit too obsessed with food as a child.

I was also in love with the idea of finding fairies in the woods and mermaids in the lake beside the boarding school. Even as a child I associated the "fey" with England, it was a magical, exciting country. New Zealand had rugby, not something I have ever felt that passionate about to be 100% honest.

As an adult however, I have developed a strong connection with New Zealand. I am proud of the fact that we are nuclear free and that we are developing, however slowly, a cultural heritage and most of all we are unique in so many ways. Perhaps this is why I enjoyed the book I am about to review so much. It has a very distinctive New Zealand feel and is published by Huia Publishers "an award-winning independent New Zealand book publisher producing wonderful and provocative books with a uniquely New Zealand or Pacific perspective" (www.huia.co.nz). If books such as this one were around when I was a little girl, maybe I would have found the beautiful surrounds of Aotearoa that much more exciting. So without further ado here is my review for:

The Grumble Rumble Mumbler by Melanie Drewery.

Most small children hear strange noises in the night and immediately conjure up visions of monsters under the bed. This little girl brings a distinctly Kiwi flavour to the mix. When she hears a grumble, rumble, mumbling noise she believes it is a maero (wild person). When splurgle, gurgle, urgling noises disturb her sleep she automatically thinks it's a taniwha (a water monster). Her poor sleep deprived mother helps calm her down, but what is making all of that racket?

This book has flaps to lift which conceal the different creatures and help keep the kids transfixed. I have read it to both my 4 year old and 2 year old before bed and Poppy has been known to chuckle away at the creatures revealed. It is entertaining for children and adults alike and the illustrations are fabulous. If you are an ex-pat but are wanting to keep the bond with New Zealand alive for your kids, then I would strongly recommend this book. What makes it even better is that there is an explanation of what each creature is at the end. To end this review I lay down a challenge, can you figure out what is making all of the ruckus before you reach the end of the story? Let me know.

Trying to calm my nerves

Hi and welcome to my brand new blog. I'm a bit of a novice to all of this so please bear with me as I find my way. I thought I would start this blogging journey by telling you a bit about myself and how this blog was born.

My name is Kat and I am the mother to two wonderful children, a handsome and cheeky young man whose pet name is Va and is almost 4 years old and a gorgeous and equally as cheeky 2 year old girl whose pet name is Poppy.

I am a NZ trained primary school teacher who has a passion for books, especially children's literature. I have always loved a range of children's books from picture to young adult and you can often find me lurking in the children's book section in various book shops scoping out the latest additions. I often over hear parents asking the retail assistants for their advice about what bo

oks their children would enjoy reading and I need to restrain myself from offering my 10 cents worth. So to fulfil that need, this blog has been born! 

I will be reviewing a broad range of children's literature from basic picture books to graphic novels, sophisticated picture books to young adult fiction and everything in between.

My thesis was inspired by the amount of reluctant readers I have come across in my teaching and the belief that there is a book out there for everyone. Sometimes you just need a hand to find it. So whether or not you are trying to help a reluctant reader build up their reading mileage, are trying to find a book for a birthday present, or are just wanting some cool books to read aloud to your children before bedtime, this is the right place to come.

To kick start this blog I thought I would review a current picture book favourite of my sons. It's called:

When Dinosaurs came with everything by Elise Broach 

A little boy with a dislike for Fridays because they are his mothers "errand days" quickly changes his mind when one Friday "dinosaurs come with everything". He gets a triceratops with doughnuts from the bakery, a stegosaurus when he goes to the doctors for a check up and a pterosaur with a haircut. The problem now is what are they going to do with them?

I'll be the first to admit that dinosaurs have never been a huge interest of mine, but I found this book a joy to read with the kids. I will warn you however that all of a sudden my son has a fixation with dinosaurs, stamping around the house and roaring like a T-Rex, so you may wish to purchase a set of earplugs at the same time. The illustrations are gorgeous and it is a pleasure to read aloud. If your child enjoys Harry and his Bucketful of Dinosaurs or is going through a dinosaur stage then this book would be perfect.

As a read aloud I would say this book would be great for 3 years +.