The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley

by Carol7 Comments
The Unusual Suspects by Michael Buckley Amber (10) and I read this together and both really enjoyed it. It's a fun read, full of familiar fairytale  characters whose lives have been re-imagined in the contemporary world. Daphne and Sabrina Grimm finally start school at Ferryport Landing Elementary. Daphne's lucky and has Snow White as a teacher, but Sabrina is stuck with Mr. Grumpner and a group of sixth-graders who are either asleep or just plain mean. The mystery starts when Mr. Grumpner is found murdered, dangling in a huge spider's web. What is going on at the school? The Grimm sisters and their grandmother have to investigate, and this time Mayor Charming actually admits the town needs the Grimms' help. "This conversation must be an absolute secret," [Charming] said as he stood before them. He leaned down and pinned a shiny tin star on Sabrina's coat. It looked like the kind sheriffs wore in old black-and-white western movies. She peered down at it...
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Game Night – Kingsburg

by Carol5 Comments
Kingsburg Designer: Andrea Chiarvesio, Luca Iennaco Manufacturers: Fantasy Flight Games Artists: Mad4Gamestyle Year: 2008 Players: 2 - 5 Time: 90 minutes Ages: 10 and up David got this fantasy-themed game for Christmas and since then, we've played it several times. It takes place in the realm of Kingsburg, which is under attack! Invaders, dragons, zombies, demons, are gathering at the borders, aiming to invade and plunder the realm! The king has chosen governors (the players) to take charge of provinces: each will manage their province and help defend the realm. Governors must influence the King's Advisers and the Royal Family to obtain gold, wood, stones, and soldiers to expand and defend their lands. The goal ultimately, is to earn victory points by building buildings, influencing advisers and defeating the enemy. In the end, only one Governor will earn the King's rewards. The game is played in five years (rounds), each consisting of 3 productive seasons, spring, summer, and fall, and then the enemy attacks each winter. There...
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W is for Warders

by Carol9 Comments
Vicki of Reading At The Beach hosts A-Z Wednesday. Today's letter is W. This is one I read in the spring of 2008 and I still remember. Of course, I'm waiting for the sequel, which hasn't come out yet. Last I heard, the author was hoping for 2010. Warders of the Gate by Mark Murray In Rhillai there is no High King, and the nine dukes of the realm fight amongst themselves for the coveted seat. Alisandra, a powerful mage, wants nothing of it and she plots to put a puppet on the throne. someone that she can control. But in her attempt, she opens a Gate to another world and provides entry to the Hylnan--an alien race bent on destroying everything in sight. Caught in the midst of the mayhem are the Warders--the sworn protectors of these magical Gates. Using their abilities to shape shift they fight against the oncoming power struggles in an attempt to keep the Gates open with the...
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The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman

by Carol9 Comments
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illustrations by Dave McKean (Reading level: Ages 9-12) I just finished The Graveyard Book, and no one warned me. No one told me how attached I would become to the graveyard residents and Bod's life there that I would end up crying when Bod had to leave. A little boy's family is killed, but he escaped and wandered to the graveyard at the top of the hill. The ghosts who live there decided that he can stay and he takes the name Nobody Owens. The Owens become his parents and Silas, who is neither dead nor alive, his guardian. The ghosts are his friends and Silas his protector. He is safe in the graveyard, but no where else, as the killer is still out there. I enjoyed this a lot, more than I expected. I liked meeting all the people and reading about Bod's adventures both in the graveyard and in the real world.  One of his closest...
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Teaser Tuesday

by Carol11 Comments
Grab your current read. Let the book fall open to a random page. Share with us two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page. You also need to share the title of the book that you're getting your "teaser" from...that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you've given. Please avoid spoilers! My teaser: There was a witch buried at the edge of the graveyard, it was common knowledge. Bod had been told to keep away from that corner of the world by Mrs. Owens as far back as he could remember. -pg 99, The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Teaser Tuesdays is hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Play along. My copy was borrowed from the library. I am an Amazon Associate.....
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Mailbox Monday and Library Loot

by Carol8 Comments
Thanks to Marcia at The Printed Page for hosting Mailbox Monday. I got two book in the mail this week, both of which I won in giveaways. Leaves of Grass by Walt Whitman (Thanks, Stacy!) The 13 Days of Halloween by Carol Greene (Thanks, Melanie! We already read this and loved it.) I picked up a couple at the library this past week, too. Library Loot is co-hosted by Eva and Marg. The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman Graceling by Kristin Cashore What books found their way to your house?...
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