Trust No One by Karen Bass

After a long run of book birthdays, it's time to lean back, catch my breath, and sink into a book with chills and thrills. Better yet, this book is designed for readers, who don't want to dive into a week(s) long read but just want a quick tale. The publisher, Orca, has an entire series of books directed toward reluctant reading young adults...and I enjoy these quite a bit. The stories tend to take on themes, fitting to this older age group, while opening the door to more reluctant readers and more impatient ones. These are just right for an evening or weekend read and promise surprises along the way. 

As for today's read, the title won me over and the blurb sealed the deal. Teens make mistakes, and this one promises to be a tough one to resolve. I'm hoping to digs deep and keeps me at the edge of my seat.

So, let's open it up and find out if its as grabbing as I hope it is.

TRUST NO ONE

by Karen Bass

Orca Book Publishing

YA Thriller

128 pages

COMING APRIL 14th!!!

Seventeen-year-old Ben Hamer knows it’s never a good sign when the cops know your name.

Unfortunately, being harassed by the police and questioned about being the son of a career thief has started to become his norm. Only this time, when the police stop Ben for jaywalking by his school, he has an audience. The new girl in Ben's grade, Abigail, notices his exchange with the police and asks him out on a date.

It starts out as the best date of Ben’s life until Abigail stops to run an errand and rushes out of the store shouting, “Go, go, go!” As they race away, Ben realizes he has just become an accomplice in a robbery. Abigail takes off with the money, and Ben is worried the police won't give him a fair chance because of his criminal father. He needs to track down Abigail and make a plan to get his life back, but the cops are closing in and time is running out...

This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading-level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

GOODREADS     /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

A frustrating situation suddenly turns into a dangerous problem and keeps the reader at the edge of their seat while waiting to see what finally happens in the end.

Ben's dad is sitting in prison for his crimes, and some of the local cops involved in his father's case have dubbed Ben as a trouble-maker, too. Ben tries his best to keep his head down, but even jay-walking to get to school can get him into trouble quick. When a girl at school shows interest in him, he can't believe it. After all, no one gives him a second glance. Before he knows what happens, he's agreed to go on a date with her...and it's great. At least, it is until she asks him to quickly stop somewhere and comes running back to the car, demanding he take off quick. She's a thief, and he's about to take the fallout...if the cops catch him, that is.

This is the latest addition to an entire series of books, which is created for those young adult readers, who aren't devoted bookworms. At less than 130 pages, it's quick and easy to read, making it great for even reluctant or slower readers. Still, it's written for the teen audience and hits themes and situations, which they can relate to. In this tale, it circles around a teen, who is dealing with a tough family situation and doing his best to get through school without causing waves. His situation comes across with natural grit, while staying believable. He's a nice guy, who has been dealt a bad hand, and this makes him sympathetic right away. His reactions are understandable, and even when the girl tricks him, it's understandable how and why he didn't see it coming. So, the entire thing flows well.

When the tension mounts, the author still keeps the situation believable and works in dangerous moments as well as ones, which reinforce Ben's golden heart. It creates a read, which is hard to put down. The ending wraps up things rather quickly, but with the short page count, that's to be expected. But even this works just fine and ties up all strings nicely.

It's a grabbing read and well crafted for the intended audience.

And here she is...

Karen Bass is the award-winning author of a number of novels for young adult readers. Her novel Graffiti Knight won the CLA Young Adult Book Award, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, the R. Ross Annett Award and the CAA Exporting Alberta Award, among other honors. Uncertain Soldier, winner of the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, and The Hill were both nominated for the Forest of Reading Red Maple Award. Karen was a public library manager in Alberta for sixteen years before turning to full-time writing. She lives in Hamilton, Ontario.

Happy Book Birthday, The Wild Trip by Sue Marasciulo!

This week's been all about book birthdays, and I'm going to use it to shoutout one last read, which hit the shelves earlier this week. This read is the latest in a series for beginning readers with tons of thought placed into reading tools. You might think that the cover looks a little familiar...and you'd be right! I reviewed another book in this series not that long ago (HERE) I was very won over by the thought, fun, and tale goodness, and found it very well done for this reading category. So of course, I was eager to get my hands on the next book and see if it was just as good.

To say I'm heading into this one with high expectations is an understatement...but I bet I'll be more than satisfied. So, off we go!

THE WILD TRIP

Pat & Pals Series, Book 7

by Sue Marasciulo

Illustrated by Mangoyu

Beginning Reader   /   Graphic Novel

123 pages

ages 3 to 18

Pat and his pals are back in the seventh installment of the Pat & Pals series! And this time, it’s a chapter book with a hilarious story in a vibrantly illustrated graphic novel, The Wild Trip: A Decodable Chapter Book for Graphic Novel Fans.

This story includes decodable text based on a limited number of previously learned phonics rules, making it perfect for readers who have mastered decoding single and multisyllabic closed syllable words, as well as vowel-consonant-e syllables.

Alongside this comical decodable story, this book includes sections designed to assist educators and parents. These sections feature vocabulary words, questions to develop inferencing and comprehension, and suggestions for connecting reading and writing.

If you love Hot Chips, Mad Fish & Other Tales, Can Ten Pigs Fit in a Tub?, Bed Hog & Other Tales, Fox Trot & Other Tales, Jill and Pat's Egg Shack, A Picnic For Kit, and Pat & Pals Decodable Readers Theater Scripts, this new one won’t disappoint! Follow along with the latest adventures of Pat and his pals!

AMAZON    /     GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Get ready for another exciting adventure...and that while working on those reading skills.

This is the latest addition to a series, which focuses on beginning readers and helps them build their skills while having fun. There is a quick guide to steer into the world of decodable books and how to use the various learning tools, but then, the fun begins with several adventures. These hit the pages with in graphic novel style, letting each scene support the text, while introducing a humorous and enjoyable mini-adventure. There's a sticky-word help at the end as well questions for reading comprehension, which rounds this off to create a lovely addition to homeschooling, classrooms, or simply, extra-reading practice.

My favorite aspect of this book is the fun. While it does aim to help readers and offer guidance to improve their reading abilities, the author and illustrator do not forget that the audience wants to be entertained. The tales are anything but boring and offer enjoyable back-and-forth with personality-packed characters. The graphics are bright and energetic, but simple in their layout so as not to overpower with details. The text is kept short and concise, never allowing readers to feel overwhelmed, and yet, making sure to practice certain skills. It's a great combination, which draws readers in without letting them feel as if they are being directly taught.

I can only hope that there will be future additions to this series, since practice makes perfect and this is a fun way to accomplish that.

And here they are...

Sue Marasciulo is a retired elementary special education teacher with a certification in an Orton Gillingham approved program (Wilson Reading System). Her passion is helping children with dyslexia to feel more confident in their abilities and gifts. Throughout her many years of teaching, she was inspired by her students’ fortitude, adaptability to learn, and how they excelled in many areas.
Now that Sue is retired, she has more time to focus on her passion for writing decodable books that will help beginner readers and those with dyslexia become independent readers. She enjoys hearing about how so many children are learning to feel successful with decodable books!

Sue lives in South Carolina with her husband, Al and their two rescued dogs, Scrappy Doo and Sunny. Sue has three sons, Matt, Greg and J.P. Her middle son, Greg is a professional wrestler with AEW and every now and again, Sue makes a brief appearance on the show with her famous van!

https://suemarasciulo.com/

Mangoyu, also affectionately known as Mango, spent the 2020 pandemic online happily bothering wrestlers with funny cartoon drawings of themselves, blissfully unaware that someday, the beloved world-famous Sue (mother of wrestler Trent Beretta) would discover her silly wrestling doodles. Two years later, Sue would ask Mango to join her on the exciting adventure of illustrating a children's books for kids with dyslexia.

Happy Book Birthday, Odd Bugs by Laura Gehl!

What? Another book birthday? This week is definitely packed with tons of new releases. Today's read, again, heads more into the nonfiction direction, and this time takes a look at the world of insects. I was drawn in by the cover...so bright and colorful! Then, there's bugs. While I'm not a fan of bugs inside my house, I find them horribly interesting (outside of the house). It's always fun to learn something new and with bugs, there's always something unexpected to discover.

So, let's open this one up and see what it's about.

ODD BUGS

Meet Nature's Weirdest Insects

by Laura Gehl

Illustrated by Gareth Lucas

Abrams Appleseed

Board Book

pages 22

ages 2 to 4

Meet nature’s oddballs in author Laura Gehl and illustrator Gareth Lucas’s engaging board book about some of the most unique insects in the world

Get ready to buzz with excitement! Odd Bugs introduces babies and toddlers to highly unusual creepy-crawlies, including a beautiful glasswing butterfly and the treacherous robber fly! Lively rhyming verses provide the comforting repetition that little ones crave, even as their minds are opened to new and fascinating creatures from around the world. At the end of the book, readers will find photographs of each bug, along with more detailed factual information. The eight insects featured are the goliath beetle, Picasso moth, red-headed bush cricket, saddleback caterpillar, robber fly, glasswing butterfly, and the leaf insect.

GOODREADS     /     AMAZON    /     PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

This is a book for the younger range of readers out there and dives into the world of bugs with a playful touch.

Each two-page spread introduces a single, interesting insect...a baorisa moth, weaver ants, saddleback caterpillars, and more. The insect is presented large and bold. It's easy to distinguish and, still, each one pops with color and carries an artistic flair thanks to the illustrations. Each one is introduced with a very short sentence, which doesn't name the insect, but rather, hints at a special aspect it holds such as stings, is enormous, and so on. Then, at the end of the book, there's a real-life photo of each insect as well as a short paragraph giving more facts about it.

The illustrations are very vibrant, which gives everything a playful and interesting touch. It almost overpowers the insects...but just almost. The insects are still identifiable (well, except the last one, since hiding is its ability), and by mixing them with this style, they gain an approachable and more relaxed atmosphere. This will probably be more inviting to some readers than others. The real-life photos in the back of the book add a nice foundation to compare the insects to. I was surprised that the name of the insect isn't presented with the illustration, but by doing this, the author gives young readers time to soak in the appearance and specialty before getting to the names. This is especially nice for the youngest end of the age group.

It's definitely a bright and inviting book, which holds interesting insect facts for little bug fans who enjoy learning new things.

And here they are...

Laura Gehl is the author of 20 books for young readers, including One Big Pair of Underwear (Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, International Literacy Association Honor Book, Booklist Books for Youth Editors’ Choice); the Peep and Egg series (Parents’ Choice Recommendation, Children’s Choice Book Award Finalist); My Pillow Keeps Moving (Junior Library Guild selection, New York Public Library Best Books of 2018 selection); and I Got a Chicken for My Birthday (Kirkus Best Picture Books of 2018 selection). Her recent picture book, Except When They Don’t, received a starred review from School Library Journal, and the fourth title in her Baby Scientist board book series, Baby Paleontologist, received a starred review from Kirkus. Gehl lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four children.

Gareth Lucas is an illustrator and designer living in Essex, England with his wife and five children. After studying at Brighton and Central Saint Martin's Art Schools he has worked on a variety of projects, but enjoys nothing more than illustrating animals, birds, and the natural world. When he is not working he can be heard indulging his other love—the banjo!

Happy Book Birthday, Tiny Garden by Deborah Underwood!

We're just going to keep the celebration going and shoutout another book birthday. Today's read heads outside and should let sunshine, garden, and good feelings flow. The cover hints at lovely artwork, and I'm enjoying the joyful butterflies. Now, it's time to see what the rest of this book holds.

So, grab those sun hats because we're going outside!

TINY GARDEN

by Deborah Underwood

Illustrated by Jax Chow

Abrams Books

Picture Book

32 pages

ages 4 to 8

On a street that covets big, showy gardens, Andrew sets out to grow his own tiny garden in this picture book about slowing down, appreciating the little things, and staying true to yourself. From bestselling, award-winning author Deborah Underwood and debut illustrator Jax Chow

Andrew loves plants, but he’s overwhelmed by the fancy plots in his neighborhood—too big, too tall, too much.

With soil, seeds, water, and patience, Andrew’s tiny garden blooms into a size his neighbors may not understand, but that’s perfect for tiny leaves, tiny colors, and tiny visitors.

Beloved author Deborah Underwood’s ode to cultivating and caring for one small rectangle of the world, paired with Jax Chow’s exquisite debut illustrations, is also about caring for oneself—and staying true to both, no matter what.

GOODREADS    /   AMAZON    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

 

Beautiful illustrations mix with carefully laid words to create a story to get lost in time and again.

Andrew loves plants but finds many gardens overwhelming. With seeds, he heads outdoors and creates his own, small plot, and watches what happens.

I'm just going to start with the illustrations because they are gorgeous. The watercolor scenes allow readers to sink into the world with a playful vibrance, which invites to dreams and, yet, stays in the lovely reality of flowers, plants, and being outdoors to watch everything grow and thrive. It's a treat to flip through each one and simply enjoy the scenes...which works great, since not every page has words.

The text is as potent as the illustrations, and carefully used to propel the tale forward but never overtaking the illustrations. The words feel poetic, at times, and lead the actions at others. It creates a nice read-aloud for even more reluctant listeners and works well for the age group.

Andrew's love for plants is contagious, and these pages show readers that they can grow their own, colorful plots as well. They don't have to be big to be enjoyable. So, there's a lovely message about community, growing plants, cultivating, and enjoying the world. In other words, there is quite a bit enjoy in these pages. This even works well to lead into an activity of planting seeds.

Happy Book Birthday, Taking Turns With Turtles by Shari Becker!

I have another book birthday today! I love celebrating, and this week will hold plenty of opportunities for that. Just like yesterday, today's read leans toward the nonfiction end. This one swirls around turtle rescue and will, hopefully, hold a few interesting, turtle care facts.

TAKING TURNS WITH TURTLES 

by Shari Becker

Illustrated by Brittany Lane

Groundwood Books

Picture Book

36 pages

ages 3 to 6

COMING MARCH 3rd!!!

Turtles have been tending the ocean for millions of years. Now it’s my turn to tend to the turtles.

One chilly morning in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a child and their parents wake up early to search the beach for cold-stunned turtles. When they find one, they keep it warm and safe until another rescuer can bring it to a rehabilitation center. There, a volunteer cleans the turtle before it goes to a biologist who glues its cracked shell back together. The turtle then moves to a tank room to recover. Finally, a volunteer pilot flies the turtle south to a warmer beach. At last, a parent and child place the turtle in the ocean and watch it swim away as a crowd of cheering volunteers look on.

Sea turtles have been an important part of ocean and shoreline ecosystems for millions of years. But the changing climate is shifting migration cues, trapping some turtles in frigid waters in late autumn and early winter. Luckily, many volunteers are working together with scientists to help them. In this story, follow a months-long journey and many human helpers working together to rescue a cold-stunned turtle.

Includes back matter with more information about cold-stunned turtles.

GOODREADS    /    PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Saving a turtle involves so much more than the first moments at the beach, and these pages take readers on the long journey involved  before injured turtles can be released back into the ocean.

A child helps find an injured sea turtle on the beach and keeps it warm until a rescuer comes. Then, the turtle is brought to a center, where it is carefully taken care of. After its wounds are cared for, it spends a longer time in a tank, recovering before it can be released again. Finally, the day comes for it to be returned to the ocean.

The first scenes grab as a child wakes up before sunrise, one morning, to head out to the beach and search for injured turtles. Readers will be drawn in as the darker scenes bring a sense of urgency and tension as the child tenderly covers the turtle. It warms the heart to watch the concern and inspires readers in their own view of wildlife. When the turtle is taken to the facility, the story shifts to a more relaxed tone as the scientists care for the injuries and help the turtle to recover. Not only are the various steps in the process brought across in an understandable way, but readers should gain a greater awareness for the time and effort it takes to help a turtle recover to the point of being able to reenter the ocean. It doesn't drop facts directly but lets the reader accompany the process and see it unfold. Plus, there are phrases to inspire readers to learn more themselves and small tips on how they can assist animals in similar situations.

While this one is advertised for ages 3 to 6, I'd slide it up a bit to audiences 4 to 8. The text level fits nicely to this slightly older age group. Plus, listeners/readers can better understand the process, since it is a little longer than a quick, step-by-step. The text flows smoothly to form a nice read-aloud or to be read by those beginning readers, who are more sure of their words. The illustrations are done in watercolor, which fits nicely to the theme and brings across the scenes with gentleness and calmness.

And here they are...

SHARI BECKER has been writing and creating content for children and teens for over twenty-five years. Shari’s books include Sprouting Wings, which she co-authored with Louisa Jaggar, illustrated by Floyd Cooper, The Stellow Project and Maxwell’s Mountain. Her books have been named Junior Library Guild Selections as well as Bank Street Best Books. Shari is the founder of Whale Rock Literary Workshops, a

master-level writing education company for kidlit authors. Shari lives in Toronto, Ontario, with her family.

BRITTANY LANE is an illustrator and fine artist based in a small town in rural Ontario. She worked for a decade as a wildlife biologist before turning to illustration as a way to highlight and share the wonders of the natural world. Her debut picture book, Rock? Plant? Animal? How Nature Keeps Us Guessing, written by Etta Kaner, won the Silver Birch Express Award. The Day Dancer Flew, by Tiffany Stone, was named a CCBC Best Book for Kids and Teens, and an Ontario Library Association Best Bet.