Girl of Lore by Melanie Dale

Ghosts, spooks, and more are hitting today's read. Well, sort of, I think. This is the first in a brand new series for the young adult audience and will explore the paranormal end of things. I'm getting the impression it will embrace quite a bit of heart and high school drama as well. And it includes a graveyard and secrets. Sounds like a promising setting, right?

Let's open it up and see what chilling moments lie in store!

GIRL OF LORE

by Melanie Dale

Aladdin

Middle grade Paranormal

368 pages

ages 9 to 12

COMING APRIL 21st!!!

A girl who’s used to battling the monster of her own mind discovers there’s a sinister evil lurking in her small town in this atmospheric paranormal novel that’s perfect for fans of Tracy Wolff and Maggie Stiefvater.

Stories of dark magic and even darker creatures have always swirled about Mina Murray’s town of London, Georgia. Mina knows they aren’t true—and are likely perpetuated only to drive the quirky tourist-trap ghost tours of downtown—but that doesn’t stop her from collecting the stories and drawing them in her sketchbook. Something about the possibility of real monsters helps her deal with the monster in her own her OCD, which convinces her danger lurks everywhere.

But when a body is found drained of blood and a classmate goes missing, Mina is thrust into a tangled web of London secrets…that she seems to be at the center of.

GOODREADS   /   PUBLISHER

MY TIDBITS

Town's secrets and myths swirl with dark undertones to create a read, which is packed with danger, drama, and more.

Mina suffers from severe OCD, her mind constantly shoving everything into category, sense, and place. She fights through each day in her mental, jumbled mess, and if that wasn't bad enough, the nights bring constant nightmares. She's found a way to gain, at least, a few minutes peace by hiding in the graveyard with her sketchbook and drawing the monsters in her mind. Or those from local myths and tales, which she know don't really exist but still finds fascinating. It's also gained her the 'creepy label at school, despite her fight to come across as normal-ish. When her dreams start showing up in reality and a dead body is found drained of all blood, she begins to realize that her nightmares and the myths might hold a truth more terrifying than anything she could have imagined.

The story starts out with delicious, dark tones and lets the reader dive right into chills before pulling back just enough to bring Mina and her circumstances across with sympathy. From paranormal fears to high school drama, the tale slides back-and-forth to weave both together to keep spooks, heart, and drama flowing. It's the OCD aspect, however, which the author brings across with potency. Mina doesn't just carry the label with a few hints of the challenge, but it grips her every move and thought. The chaos in her head constantly holds a battle, which not only lays an interesting background for everything else but also raises awareness of what OCD can really mean.

While the reader dives into Mina's mind, the entire atmosphere hangs a bit on the young side. There's enough depth to keep most characters interesting, and the author has packed in a lot on the plot and subplot end, bringing in the paranormal danger, Mina's OCD, family issues, school drama, and much more. Something is always happening and shifting, to keep Mina's world anything but boring. At the same time, less can be more, and the large amount of directions means that some points get lost in the crowd and don't receive the power they could wield. 

Fans of vampire, graveyards, friendship drama, dark secrets, and more will want to take a peek at this tale, and it will be interesting to see where Mina might go next.

And here she is...

Before embracing her love of monsters and sneaking into Mina’s fictional world, Melanie Dale published a bunch of nonfiction books, shambled around as a zombie on TV, and survived cancer. She’s written episodes for the anthology horror television series Creepshow and over a decade of essays for Coffee + Crumbs. While she has won no awards for literature, she won a Halloween costume contest one time and still feels pretty stoked about it. When she’s not writing, she’s teaching yoga or battling her own brain. She lives in the Atlanta area. 

Uh, Oh Spaghetti-Oh! by Susie O'Leary

Ready for a little humor and fun? At least, I hope that describes today's read. The title mixed with the wondrous little girl on the cover promise all of this. Add that this is a music book...meaning that there is a song, which can be played right along with it...and it should be more than just a little entertaining.

But let's open it up and find out!

UH, OH SPAGHETTI-OH!

by Susie O'Leary

Illustrated by Amna Zaki

Happy Singing Kids

Picture Book

26 pages

ages 3 to 6

"Uh oh spaghetti-oh!" is a bubbly tale that spins life's little hiccups into hilarious, sing-songy moments.

When zany mishaps, tumbling tumbles, or cheeky ant nibbles come your way, what's the perfect chant to chase the blues away - "Uh oh spaghetti-oh!" Join the silly spree, where a sprinkle of fun can fix any Whoopsie-doo!

GOODREADS    /    AMAZON

MY TIDBITS

Mistakes and mishaps are a part of life, and this book takes a silly and enjoyable twist to release the tension that comes with it.

This little girl is a ball of energy and enjoys almost everything she does, but not everything runs smoothly. Little mishaps happen, and instead of growing upset, she sings a silly song. This leads to a book, which listeners can join in on themselves, since it is connected with a song. This is available through the included QR code in the book (or through the website if you want to take a peek first).

The verses are short and describe an every day life situation, which suddenly takes a small turn in an awkward or not-so-great direction. Then, the refrain dives in, and here's where listeners can quickly join in with the funny words.

The book is brightly illustrated with familiar situations and a bubbly girl with a perky attitude. Some situations will make readers cringe and others will make them giggle. Each one is brought across clearly and shows the little girl, while not super happy about each incident, taking it with relaxed style. The text rhymes and flows smoothly, since it's also the lyrics of the song. Still, the book works nicely as a read-aloud. Of course, it also works very well when the song is played with it and lets listeners sing along.

There's a lovely message about taking things in stride and not turning every little incident into a huge problem or depressing moment. So, there's quite a bit of goodness in the pages.

You can find out more as well as other titles and songs at :  happysingingkids.com

Five Days at the Hotel Adams by Hailey Alcaraz

I'm a bit late...really late...with today's read. Let's just say that I had a change of plans last night as to things to do to day...real life things...and didn't get this up before heading out this morning. But there's no way I could skip today's read because I've been looking forward to picking it up for more than a few weeks. 

It is part of the American Stories for Gutsy Girls series, which I haven't read before but understand that it's a series of wholesome reads and highlights girls, who stretch beyond what usual life requires. So I'm expecting this to be a tale which inspires. I'm also expecting historical goodness and mystery.

Ready to see what these pages hold? I know I am!

FIVE DAYS AT THE HOTEL ADAMS

by Hailey Alcaraz

Tommy Nelson

Middle Grade Historical Mystery

272 pages

ages 8 to 12

COMING MAY 26th!!!

From Hispanic author Hailey Alcaraz, this historical tale of arson, sleuthing, and finding friendship in unlikely places is based on the real Hotel Adams fire of 1910. It's up to two Latina girls to turn their knack for being overlooked and underestimated into their greatest strength as they unravel a complex web of suspects, clues, and motives.

Ruth and Luisa live very different lives within the dusty desert town of Phoenix. Ruth is the only child of a political official. She spends her days stuffed into scratchy dresses and smiling prettily in the ballrooms of the Hotel Adams. Luisa is a young housekeeper. She looks at the Persian rug and thinks, I also know what it feels like to be walked over, barely noticed, and covered in other people's dirt. The girls stumble into a partnership when they overhear a plan to set fire to the hotel, a political hot spot for the growing western town. As they race to figure out who is behind the plot--and how to stop them--they must not only overcome what other people expect from them but what they've grown to expect from themselves.

Part of the Own Voices historical series American Stories for Gutsy Girls Five Days at the Hotel Adams ...

Transports children into the past with a compelling story full of secrets, subterfuge, and sisterhood;

Encourages tweens to look for friends in unexpected places;

Is perfect for fans of Pam Muñoz Ryan and Erin Entrada Kelly;

Includes black-and-white illustrations.

Enjoy this fast-paced adventure story in which two girls race against the clock to stop a crime as they learn that good always comes from trying your best--even if the outcome is the last thing you expected.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Set in 1910, this book takes a look at two very different girls and throws them into an exciting adventure.

Luisa is a very young housekeeper for the Hotel Adams and has a tendency to get side-tracked from her work...and this often gets her into trouble with the head maid. There's a lot going on at the hotel, especially with several big ordeals and very wealthy and prominent people involved. Ruth is about Luisa's age, and she's the daughter of one of the wealthy men staying at the hotel. Unlike many of the others from the upper class, Ruth finds it more important to see people for who they are rather than what they are. When she literally runs into Luisa, she finds her interesting right away. So, when Ruth accidentally overhears two unseen men whispering about setting the hotel on fire and knows no one will believe her, she decides right away who she wants to turn to for help, Luisa. Luckily, Luisa is all about mysteries and determined to stop the possible disaster.

This is a read wrapped with wholesome goodness. It begins with Luisa and her work as a maid, and she comes across sympathetic from the get-go. She's clever, has a good heart, but also tends to cause a little bit of clumsy trouble, which makes her very easy to connect with and root for. Ruth carries a tad bit more of astuteness thanks to her family's wealth, and yet, she's just as fun to meet. It's this forming friendship between two completely different girls, which gives this book its heart and inspiration.

While friendship is key, history and mystery roll right in as well. The setting is well done with natural descriptions to let readers sink right into the time frame. The novel has a steady pace, allowing the scenes and characters to unfold with grace. It brings readers into the scenes and life of that time smoothly. The mystery aspects add tension and urgency, which builds as the chapters progress. The clues are well laid, keeping readers guessing, and it's not clear how the two are going to work things out. 

It's an enjoyable read for mystery fans, who enjoy a wonderful tale of friendship along the way.

Wake Up!! by Benjamin Leavitt

With Spring comes early morning days and so much to do. Today's read should slide into this thought process nicely. I'm assuming there will be tons of humor and plenty of moments to draw giggles and smiles. But let's just open it up and find out!

WAKE UP!!

by Benjamin Leavitt

Illustrated by Ethan Roffler

Fair Oak Books

 Picture Book

44 pages

ages 3 to 8

COMING APRIL 20th!!!

This is no time to sleep! Too much fun to be had!

There’s a hippo in the bath, a gorilla doing math…joy and absurdity abound as an exuberant little girl awakens her dad with all the reasons why she can’t possibly stay asleep. A rhyming read-aloud that will help everyone (maybe!) catch a few more zzzzzzs.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

With energy in hyper-drive, these pages race through a little girl's imagination and leave in smile unexplored.

The stars are still out, but this little girl can't sleep anymore. Not knowing what else to do, she wakes her father up. He tries to explain that she should let him sleep unless there's an emergency...and according to the little girl, there is. But this emergency isn't what anyone might guess, and it rattles on into an avalanche of fantastical fun.

This is an adorable book, which is sure to draw giggles and more. The little girl's energy is catchy, and while listeners will sympathize with the father, they'll most likely, connect with the little girl as well. As she starts to explain the problem, surprise after surprise unfolds, and each described situation is more ridiculous than the last. Add that this is written in fairly smooth flowing rhyme, and it creates a fun read-aloud, which will have listeners wondering what will come next.

The text is fitting to the age group and brings across each moment with, usually, a line or two. It's just enough to introduce the situation before letting the illustrations take over. Each scene thrives off of the illustrations as the sheer ridiculousness comes across with clarity and chaos. Young listeners can flip through these on their own and enjoy the lively scenes.

It's a chaotic silliness, which lightens the mood and might even have listeners wanting to come up with their own ridiculous moments.

The League of Dangerous Young Ladies by J.A. Morgenstein

The second I saw today's read, I knew I had to read it. The mix of the historical setting with monsters with mystery sounds like it could be right down my alley. Plus, the blurb compares it to Buffy, the Vampire Slayer meets Enola Holmes. That would be amazing if true. Honestly, I hate such comparisons because while they perk my interest, it's super, super, super rare that the comparisons, actually, are spot on. Like almost never. Still, I do hope that this read holds everything promised and will have my fingers itching to pick up book two...whenever it comes out. If there will be a book two. Hmmm...I think there will (?)

Anyway, off we go!

THE LEAGUE OF DANGEROUS YOUNG LADIES

by J.A. Morgenstein

Stonefruit Studio

YA Historical Fantasy / Mystery

368 pages

COMING JUNE 2nd!!!

Enola Holmes meets Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this thrilling YA fantasy adventure from debut author J. A. Morgenstein, perfect for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes and Philip Pullman.

It's 1909 and Rose Moriarty—teenage daughter of Sherlock Holmes' greatest enemy—has made a name for herself fighting monsters and solving crimes. But that was before Rose met the one mystery she couldn't the disappearance of her headmistress. Now, her school has shut down, her classmates have scattered, and Rose is on her own.

On the very day Rose receives word that an old friend is dying, the shadowy Count Christoph and his ward Clara show up at her door. Rose has already figured out why they're here (to hire her) and what's in their bag (an ancient orb with incredible powers), but questions Can Rose convince these strangers to help save her friend's life? What are the grotesque, bug-shaped stalkers that plague their every step? And how can Rose pursue this adventure while avoiding a certain boy from her childhood? The only thing certain is that Rose is no longer alone, because danger forges strange alliances . . .

. . . and Professor Moriarty wasn't the only famous villain to have a daughter.

Unexpected friendships, supernatural mystery, high-stakes heists, and budding romance billow together in this thrilling fantasy adventure, which introduces a motley crew of daredevil heroines who hunt monsters . . . in all their forms.

GOODREADS

MY TIDBITS

Echoes of Sherlock Holmes meets monsters, adventure, and fantasy from other tales and myths, mixing with a group of unexpected friends in an entertaining and suspenseful way.

Count Christoph has gotten his hands on the sphere, an object said to grant god-like powers, but it's very unclear how it works. Luckily, his assistant, Clara, knows where to go and leads him to Rose, the daughter of Professor Moriarty. Her cleverness is unparalleled, but she has her own issues as she's in a race to save a former teacher, an amazing genius in the science realm who suffers from an incurable disease. While Rose agrees to help the Count for a favor only he can give, solving the sphere is just the beginning of that task, since dangerous bug-men are determined to have the sphere for themselves and will do anything to get it. But Rose isn't alone, and her friends are nothing to scoff at. But then, the Count and Clara hold more than a few small secrets, too.

This is a fun read with tons of spunk, character quirks, scenes to keep the reader on the edge of their seats, surprises, and even humor. It's historical setting places it around the late 1800's/early 1900's-ish. At least, there is the mention of very rare cars, while carriages still seem to be popular. It flies all over the world as the clues lead the odd group from one unexpected situation to the next. It's impossible to guess what is really going to happen on the mystery end, but then, this entire world is unpredictable. After all, you have the ancestors of Holmes and Moriarty involved, nods toward vampires, Frankenstein, and echoes reminding of The Umbrella Academy. It's fast-paced, brings action, and keeps secrets flowing with every page.

While imagination abounds, the characters bring quite a bit of personality to spice things up even more. Each one shines in their own way, making the group a broad mix in so many respects. This leads to fun interactions and adds unexpected moments as well as ones to smile. But it's not all fun and games as each one also carries a mighty amount of luggage from their past. Some characters have worked through their issues already, while others like Rose have more than a little inner-conflict to still sort out. There are also friendship struggles and trust hurdles between the newly forming friends, which melds between the other moments to add heart and give the reader a second to take a breath before dashing into the next impossible situation. 

It's a quick-paced read with plenty of energy and spirit...and it will be a treat to see where another adventure might lead this league of individuals next.