Book Review: Little Fish: A Memoir From a Different Kind of Year By: Ramsey Beyer

"i make lists about everything.

some of them are really old, some are new, some i'll make up as we go"

Title: Little Fish: A Memoir From A Different Kind of Year
Author: Ramsey Beyer
HARDBACK
Amount of Pages: 272
Publisher: Houghton Miffin Harcourt
Release Date: September 2013
Geared Towards: Teens (Ages 12+)
From: Zest Books (Review Copy)
Extra Notes: This is an illustrated novel
I was not paid for this review


Summary (From Front Flap): Ramsey Beyer was a teenager from a small town in Michigan, looking forward to her first year living in a city far away from home. She chronicled that year in a series of zines featuring personalized lists (such as "things I can't wait for" and "top 10 worst sounds") alongside comic illustrations. Through her blog, Ramsey also reflected on her struggles with loneliness, friendship, and potential romance. Ten years later, Little Fish weaves all of these materials into a poignant, beautifully illustrated, and deeply reflective graphic memoir detailing her transformation from an eighteen-year-old small-town teenager to an independent, city-dwelling college art student. The blending of new artwork with old lists and new reflections on past events allows us to see Ramsey's formative year with the excitement of a teenager and the wisdom of an adult. 

Wdebo's Review: Most of the books I review are full length novels, so reviewing Little Fish is a little bit difficult because this is a very interestingly organized book.

As someone who is about to become a college junior, I have been in undergrad long enough to have had time to mull over my freshman experience, but I have only been in this institution for short enough that I can clearly remember my thoughts and feelings when I first came to this school.

The entire work was organized through comic, list and doodle form. It was a great way to explore the journey of Ramsey through her first year in art college. The main idea to take from the book is not the minute details of Ramsey's journey but the patterns and the pathways that she explored. All of our lives, though greatly different, have many similarities, including our explorations of new milestones. College is a life-changing experience that a good percentage of the world's population has the privilege of experiencing. However, the change from home life to college life is a great shock and as exciting as it is frightening. Reading this story really allowed me to reminisce on my experience as a freshman undergrad as I tried to navigate through campus, trying to meet new people and find a little section of campus that I felt like I could blend in with and call my own.

However, since the story goes by pretty fast, I am not entirely sure it's one of those books you should have on your shelf, I believe many people should read it, but maybe consume a library copy of then novel instead.

I recommend this story for anyone who is currently going through a big change, be it going to college or starting at a new job, etc. We go through so many changes in life and it may be frightening but everything will always work out in the end and the journey is a wonderful memory to keep with us as we continue through life.

Cafe Cover Chit Chat: I like the cover, it is a good symbolism of what Ramsey went through. She started out in a small town and migrated to a big city for college. (And that is also shown through the fishbowl she is holding in her arms).

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)

Blog Tour: Book Review + Guest Post + Giveaway: Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves

Title: Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves
Edited By: E. Kristen Anderson and Miranda Kenneally
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 192
Publisher: Zest Books
Release Date: October 31, 2012
Geared Towards: All Readers
From: Publisher (ARC Copy)
Extra Info: This is an anthology of letters written by authors. It is in full color



Summary (From B.O.B): Growing pains are an essential part of teenage life, for better and for worse. Some "mistakes"turn into positive, life-changing experiences, and some apparent triumphs seem in retrospect, like low points. Some first kisses leave you feeling on top of the world, and others can mae you want to hide undre a rock. In DEAR TEEN ME, your favorite YA authors-including Lauren Oliver, Ellen Hopkins, Tom Angleberger, and Carrie Jones-revisit critical moments from their young lives and offer advice and guidance to their teeange selves. So pick a page, and find out...

*Who found true love at 18?

*Who wishes she'd had more fun in high school instead of studying so hard?

*And who skipped prom to go to a Grateful Dead concert, only to wind up stranded?

The letters cover a wide range of topics, including physical abuse, body issues, bullying, friendship, love, and enough insecurities to fill an auditorium. So whether you're a theatre kid, a band geek, a bad boy, a good girl, a loner, a stoner, a nerd or a jock, you'll find friends-and a lot of familiar faces-in DEAR TEEN ME.

Wdebo's Review: Once I saw the summary of DEAR TEEN ME, I was instantly intrigued and knew I just had to read it and I am so happy I did. This book is filled with letters from all kinds of authors so reading it, I saw a lot of familiar (and not so familiar faces) and will definitely help you to relive all of your good (and not so pleasent) teenage years. And for readers that are not yet teens it will give them something to look forward to (or dread) later in their lives.

The topics of the letters span to all sorts of different topics. They range from very funny, lighthearted warnings to deep issues. No matter what stage of life you are currently in, there will definitely be at least one story which you will be able to identify with. I especially liked the letters about being weird with "weird friends" because that was totally how my friends and I were like in high school. We were the nerds the holed up in the library and talked books and other things (like dramas) 24/7.

I also liked the fact that is was in full color, it just made it look cooler and was much more fun to read.

Cafe Cover Chat: The cover is pretty good but not the best. I like the postal theme. (B-)

All in all, a great anthology that is sure to keep you busy for a couple of fun, nostalgic hours.

Grade: B+

~~~

For a "guest post," I asked a few of my friends to create their own "Dear Teen Me"s and this is what they came up with. Enjoy!

Dear Teen Me,

Don't be afraid of trying new things. You'll never know what you are capable of until you actually try it. Have fun and be surprised!

Pricilla

Dear Teen Me,
You'll fall in love...and out of love many times before you find Mr. Right, so don't obsess over the first or even fifth. Don't be stupid just to prove a point. Lastly, Miss Congeniality taught me to S.I.N.G, and you should learn it well!
Always Yours,
Liz

Dear Teen Me,

There are some pretty huge changes coming in your life, so just go with it! Never forget who you are, don't worry too much about the future because everything will work out, and most importantly, you'll get freckles from too much sun exposure so stop trying to get tan.

Lots of love, 

Lisa

Dear Teen Me,
Forever cherish the good times and learn from the bad. Always stay true to yourself and have faith that life is on your side. Listen to others but remember to think critically about what they say and let curiosity be your guiding light. Oh and don't forgot about that thing you left that time in the room of your best friend's boyfriend's cousin's house.You'll need it back.
Your Number One Fan,Steph

Dear Teen Me,

Remember: "Life is a great big canvas and you should throw all the paint on it you can"~Danny Kaye. That red streak of anger you slap on when your close friends betray you...it will be covered by a multitude of blue dots that represent all your newly formed friendships.

The black paint that drenches the entire canvas will be washed away by a fiery orange-yellow. And along the way, you'll add playful purple swirls and splatters of lime green. 

In the end, through the good ties and the bad, you'll turn out to be a wonderful masterpiece. 

Take this piece of advice and start painting.

Yours truly,

Older me

Dear Teen Me,
Eat the damn food. Keep it down.
Sincerely,
Someone who cares.

Dear Teen Me,

Your teens will be over before you know it, so stop moping because the past is over, and jump head first into the adventures of everyday life. Cherish time spent with loved ones RIGHT NOW and don't forget to live in the moment. Take it from me: your life will work out how it's supposed to. So don't sweat the small stuff, don't sell yourself short, and keep that head up, kid.

Yours truly,

Older Rissa

Dear Teen Me,

I want to promise you right here, right now that everything turns out okay. There are some storms ahead but you know what? You will never be alone.
Hannah

Dear Teen Me,

Every day is a new chance for you to ensure that the future isn't like the past. Lighten up!

I love you,

Eva

Dear Teen Me,

Sweet girl, don’t be so shy or so scared. You will see, honey, everything (and I mean everything) in this world happens for a reason. Hold on to those sweet moments at home and at school because you will miss them dearly. Love and accept yourself.

Dear Teen Me,

Focus on the important stuff in life, more precisely, the important people, like true friends and above all your mom. She did everything and gave everything she had for you, so don't disrespect her to be "cool." The people you are trying to be cool for will move on it life and forget about you as you will them. Your mom will love you and care about you forever (as will your aunt and other family members/true friends).

Much love,

Mariam 

PS-Don't watch Gossip Girl or other teen crap-it does you no good!

~~~

And now for a giveaway!

Just fill out the form below...best of luck to you!

Giveaway ends:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wdebo :)

I was not paid for this post.

Blog Tour: Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1 (Character Post)

Today, we have Matt, the warrior of a warrior/angel partnership, joining us from Amy Lignor's new book Until Next Time: The Angel Chronicles, Book 1.

Summary: How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

Now, onto the actual post! Enjoy~

~~~

From the Desk of the Warrior

I know that these are usually always told from the female perspective, but Emily owes me one. My name is Matt. I’m the warrior side of this angelic partnership, and I’m the one who desperately wants to come back down there.

Emily told me that our ‘story’ was coming out for all to read. I suppose that’s a good thing, even though I didn’t look all that great the first time around. But after you read it, you’ll understand that I was there to do my job. I had no idea that I would end up getting wrapped up in all that human emotion stuff. I mean, I like being down there, but I had no clue that my best friend would become the girl who would steal my heart and then have the nerve to fall in love with Daniel. Boy, is HE a pain in the wing!

Emily told me that whole thing is over now. She says that she knows I’m her soulmate and the feelings she had for this other one will pass. I hope so. After all, I’m not exactly from a ‘line’ that gives up easily.

In the beginning you’ll read about a location that seems a bit harsh, but we’ve been training and fighting forever in that pit; it’s part of what we do. Besides, when we’re in there it’s not like I can even cause a bruise. Emily is an angel, after all. She’s still quick, and even though she knows that she deserves to take a ‘blow’ once in a while her pride (which she’s not even supposed to have) just won’t let her do it. Her wings always expand when she’s had enough. They’re bright pearl, which is actually nice to look at except when she’s about to win the match and disappear on me.

I’ve trained with Gabe for a long time, and Emily and I have sat beside each other in classes that taught us everything from how to deal with ‘dark’ situations to how to save, defend and protect our ‘assignments.’ I think the thing that really hit us was the love factor. I mean, I have to give you all credit down there; you certainly have huge hearts. Whether they’re used for the infliction of pain, or for the absolute love and passion you have for one another, they certainly are big. Of course…the bigger a heart the more painful the break. And, your imaginations? I give you credit for those too. I swear, humans are the only creatures I’ve ever met who have the power to have such amazingly fantastic dreams and such horrific nightmares all at the same time.

When you read our tale I hope you can see that there was a reason for everything. My name is Matt, hers is Emily, and this the first tale of our very first life. I know a whole lot more now, yet the hardest thing is still trying to keep our faith in each other in a world that’s trying to rip us apart. But no matter what happens…we will.

Until Next Time, Everybody.
Matt

~~~

Wdebo :)

Links~

Official Site

Book Facebook

Blog Tour: Crush Control By: Jennifer Jabaley

Title: Crush Control
Author: Jennifer Jabley
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 318
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 9, 2011
Geared Towards: Teens
From: Blog Tour

"I had a sudden feeling that everything I wanted in moving back to Worthington was about to come true. Like all I had to do was dream-and all my wishes would be granted, just like that."

Summary (From B.O.B):

Willow hypnotized Max

to be her friend forever

...which is why she
never expected to fall for him.

When Willow Grey was nine, her mom dropped the bomb of ultimate betrayl: they would be moving from their small town in Georgia to glitzy Las Vegas. Willow was devastated to have to leave her best friend, Max, behind. So she decided to take control of the situation: she told Max to relax, to let his eyelids droop, and then she said: Max Montgomery, for as long as we live, you and I will be best friends...

Now, at seventeen, Willow and her mom move back to their hometown, and Willow is determined to pick up where she and Max left off. But even though he's still her best friend, his heart now belongs to someone else-and Willow realizes what she feels for him is so much more than just friendship. For the second time in her life, Willow finds herself using hypnosis to get what she wants. But what starts off as a harmless experiment soon spirals into chaos, and Willow is forced to wonder:

Is the heart really something you can control-with mind control?

Wdebo's Review: When I first began this book I had no idea what to expect, I have never read a book by Jennifer Jabely so I wasn't really sure about her writting style and the last YA novel I read that delt with hypnotism, Human.4, actually scared me and made me decide to never be hypnotized. However, Crush Control dealt wonderfully with the funny, over-the-top consequences of using hypnotism and added a lovely, healthy-sized dallop of romance into the mix.

I enjoyed reading this novel, it was a perfect summer read, romance filled, light (no thinking required. A high school graduate must!), funny and cute. Though it wasn't my favorite book ever or that I've read this year, it still ranks up there, I liked it from the beginning when it started it with one of those cheesy Once-upon-a-time-there-was-a-boy-and-girl starts and as it lead to some memorably funny hot-guy-leg-dog-humping action in the next chapter and ended with a cliche but adorablely statisfying ending for a die-hard romantic like me. I enjoyed the story itself, I mean seriously, it filled a desire of mine to mind controlling my crush to like me.

The writing was very enticing, simple and addicting, it added nicely to the storyline and I really enjoyed Willow's voice, it was quite...soothing.

The thing I wasn't too happy about was that Max and Willow did not have enough interaction when she and Quinton were together. I thought it would have made for nice I-like-you-but-I-can't-tell-you tension =]

Willow is a good character, though she infuriates me at times with her...ugh...stupidity, but overall she was a good main character, Georgia, her best friend fit that quirky, eccentric best friend mold, but I liked her. Well, looking back now all of the characters in the book were pretty stereotypical, but then again, what realistic YA book isn't? Anywho, I liked all of the characters, they all had their loveable points, especially Max, haha, then again, that is typically of me to like the hot main guy/best friend.

Though I wasn't the biggest fan of Quinton, the guy Willow hypnotizes to like her, he seemed like a blah character to me, I wasn't very attracted to him. And for some strange reason, I had pictured him as Garrett Ecstasy, even though they are nothing alike. And even though Garrett is quite attractive he just so happens to be gay and just so happens to posess a, I don't know how to say it, but a "stereotypical gay voice", really not sure how I can put that kind of idea into words, that's the best I can do, so the entire time Quinton was talking he seemed to have Garrett's voice and, yeah, it was weird.

Cafe Cover Chat: I like this cover, the swirly lines make me feel like I'm getting hypnotized...zzz.... (B+)

All in all, a great light, romantic book, a perfect candidate for a fun summer read.

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)

Blog Tour: Love, Capri Style By: Lynn Reynolds

I don't have my review yet, but I will post it as soon as I have finished. And will link to it :3

I have a guest post from author Lynn Reynolds in which she answers two questions/topics I have asked so it's like a guest post/interview hybrid ^^

Enjoy!

~~~

If you could make up one summer romance for yourself what would it be like?

I think I’d love the sort of summer romance my heroine Amanda experiences in Love Capri Style.

Amanda’s a slightly inept celebrity news reporter who gets sent to the swanky island of Capri to cover a music festival. Since the magazine she works for is paying for her trip she gets to travel in some pretty fancy circles. Then a dashing and handsome British playboy takes an interest in her, so she gets wined and dined at the best restaurants and parties. Amanda gets to travel first class, bask in the Mediterranean sun, have lots of delicious Italian food, and get romanced by a gorgeous rich guy with a British accent. Sounds like the perfect summer romance, which is why I wrote it ;-)

What are some things any aspiring author should know?

First - Don’t worry so much about perfection. Too many people write the perfect first chapter, but never go on from there. It’s more important to get the whole story down on paper – even if parts of the plot are a bit shaky. You can always go back and fix that stuff later; but you can’t do much of anything if you just keep revising the first chapter and don’t move forward.

Second – don’t be in such a hurry to get published. Really. I’d strongly advise taking some time to write several stories before worrying about getting published. Because once you’re published, you have to spend all kinds of time trying to publicize yourself, which means less time for writing. It helps to have a second or even third story all ready to go. That way you can get that into production quickly while you’re still learning all the ropes of how to publicize yourself.

Third – Relax and enjoy yourself. It’s the rare writer who actually becomes rich and famous. So try to focus on telling stories you enjoy. Entertain yourself, rather than trying to write what you think someone else will like!

Fourth – Read. It’s the best training out there for learning how to write!

~~~

For this blog tour Lynn will be giving away a $15 Amazon gift card along with a copy of Colbie Cailat's CD "Coco" [EEKK I love that CD :3 ], which has the song "Capri". How do you win this awesome bundle? Well, COMMENT!! Not just on this tour but on other ones too, dates can be found HERE.

Wdebo :)

Blog Tour + Cafe Chit Chat: Bitter Melon By: Cara Chow

Bitter Melon is a novel by Cara Chow that tells the story of Frances a girl of Chinese decent whose one goal in life is to get into UC Berkley (Well, actually it's her mother's goal for her.) Everything was going the way it should until a scheduling mixup that caused her to be put into speech instead of AP Calculus. At first, Frances thinks her life is going to end if she doesn't change her class, but she soon finds out that Speech gives her a chance to speak out in a way she never thought possible, in the classroom, in her home, in her life.

I have reviewed Bitter Melon HERE, and now, without further ado is an interview with the author Cara Chow.

Enjoy!

~~~

Wdebo: Please describe yourself in three adjectives.

Cara Chow:

Workaholic

Conscientious

Obsessive

(This wouldn't look very sexy on Match.com, would it?)

W: Please describe a typical day

CC: WARNING: it’s not glamorous.

7:20am: Roll out of bed.
7:45am: Warm up milk, feed son, change diaper.
8:10am: Wrestle son into stroller, walk around neighborhood.
8:50am: Make breakfast.
9:00-1:00pm: Nanny is here! Time to write/work.
1:00-3:00pm: Eat lunch. Pray that son stays asleep so I can work some more.
3:00pm: Warm up milk, feed son, change diaper. Then we go outside to play: playground, beach, parks, etc.
6:00pm: Feed son, make dinner.
7:00pm: Dinner, wash dishes.
8:00pm: Give son a bath. Then play with son, sing songs, teach new words. OR, if I have a deadline, pass son to husband like football, then lock self in office to work.
9:45pm: Read to son, sing songs, then put son to bed.
10:00pm: Prepare son’s food and diaper bag for the next day.
10:15: Shower, then some TV, then read 2 sentences in bed before falling asleep. OR, if I have a deadline, work until 11:30pm.

Not too exciting, huh? That’s why I write fiction, not autobiography!

W: What is your favorite color?

CC: Honestly, I don’t have one! What makes a color beautiful is how it looks next to another color. Think about this the next time you gaze at a sunset or the highlights in someone’s hair.

W: In Bitter Melon Frances was put into speech class through a scheduling mistake. I know that you competed in speech during high school, how were you introduced to speech class? What was speech like for you?

CC: I don’t remember how I got introduced to speech class. (I still talk to my speech coach, who is now retired, and we both marvel at how memory deteriorates with age.) As for how speech was for me, it was fun but very stressful, so stressful that is was necessary to wear an extra coat of deodorant as insurance. There are different categories of speech competition. I was good at original oratory because I could take my time writing, rehearsing, and memorizing my speech before reciting it to an audience. But I was horrible at impromptu, in which they gave you a topic, and then you had two minutes to prepare a speech before delivering it. I don’t think fast on my feet, and when I’m under pressure, I freeze up and start sounding like a clip from The King’s Speech. In fact, the one and only time I did impromptu, I stood in front of my competitors and the judge for several seconds, frozen in terror. One of my competitors was this tall blond kid who wore a nice suit and a long black coat. He could see that I was struggling, so he nodded at me and gave me this “you can do it” look. Because of his encouragement, I was able to relax and deliver my speech. Afterwards, he applauded warmly, which was rather charitable, considering my mediocre performance. When it was his turn to speak, my jaw dropped. He delivered his speech like he had been preparing it for weeks! Of course, he won that competition. I was eliminated before the semi-final round. Anyway, that blonde kid became the inspiration for the character of Derek Collins in Bitter Melon.

W: What inspired you to write Bitter Melon?

CC: Though I have a very positive relationship with my mother today, we struggled a lot when I was a teen. My mother wanted me to be the best, and her way of motivating me was by being very hard on me. Unfortunately, I was a very sensitive kid, so I took my mother’s words and actions personally. This not only strained our relationship for many years, but it also affected my confidence and self-image well into my twenties. As I got older, I felt compelled to understand how we became the people we became and how our relationship had gotten so bad in my teens. Bitter Melon, in part, reflects that journey of understanding.

W: What is one important message you want your readers to get from your book?

CC: For readers who identify with Frances, the message is: “You’re not alone.” For all my readers, I hope this book will show the psychological and cultural factors that influence Frances’s and Gracie’s attitudes and behaviors. I hope that readers can apply this understanding to themselves and others.

W: If you were stranded on an island and could only bring five items what would they be?

CC: First of all, I insist on choosing my island because I don’t want to be like Tom Hanks in Castaway. So I choose Maui, and here are my top 5:

1. Husband (my son would be with a sitter—now I get a second honeymoon!)
2. Reservation for a nice B&B.
3. A gift certificate to eat at Roy’s. Make that 5 gift certificates.
4. Tour reservation to swim with dolphins and turtles.
5. My camera, plus extra batteries and memory chips.

W: Are you working on any projects now? And if so, can you tell us a bit about them?

CC: The only project I’m working on now is Project Bitter Melon Blog Tour. After this is done, I will work on Project Rest and Recuperation. Then I’ll get to work on Project Book #2.

W: Who are some of your FAVORITE authors?

CC: Everyone asks me this, and it is a hard question to answer because there are so many authors I enjoy. It is also hard to answer because I usually think in terms of favorite books rather than favorite authors.

Here are some favorite authors I haven’t mentioned in previous blog posts. Non-fiction: Temple Grandin, who has written many books on animals and autism. Fiction: I really love and recommend Talking to the Moon, which was written by Noel Alumnit.

W: What are some books that you would recommended to readers who are of Chinese heritage or enjoy reading books like Bitter Melon?

CC: Bitter Melon has been compared most often to The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan and Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua because all three are Chinese-American, mother-daughter stories. Joy Luck is an awesome book—I’ve read it at least twice. Though I’ve read the excerpt from Battle Hymn in the WSJ, I haven’t read the entire book yet so I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

W: Do you have anything you would like to add?

CC: Thanks for inviting me to participate in your blog!

W: Thank you for letting me interview you!

~~~

Wdebo :)

Double Blog Dare Tour: Alison Dare Series

For this one will have two summaries + one review:)
Title: Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures
Author: J. Torres + J. Bone
PAPERBACK
Amount Of Pages:90
Publisher: Tundra Books
Genre: Graphic Novel
Geared Towards: Middle Graders

From: Publisher (Review Copy)

"Just outside the ancient city of Ala-Ed-Din. There was a bored little girl named Alison Dare"

Summary (From Back): She's not your typical 12-year-old. She's the daughter of world renowned archaeologist Dr. Alice Dare and the masked superhero the Blue Scarab, not to mention the niece of international spy and master of disguise Johnny Dare. Action, adventure, and awesomeness are in her blood.

Follow Alison around the world and back, revealing some of the closely guarded secrets of the dynamic Dare family and thrilling to adventure all the while. On the way, you'll meet a genie a mummy, and evil baron, and you'll discover senses shattering answers to some mighty big mysteries.

~~~~

Title: Alison Dare: The Heart of the Maiden

Author: J. Torres + J. Bone

PAPERBACK

Amount of Pages: 99

Publisher: Tundra Books

Genre: Graphic Novel

Geared Towards: Middle School

From: Publisher (Review Copy)

"Here we go..."

Summary (From B.O.B): She's not your typical twelve-year-old girl. She's the daughter of world-renowned archaeologist Dr. Alice Dare and the masked superhero The Blue Scarab, not to mention the niece of international spy and master of disguise Johnny Dare. Action, adventure and awesomeness are in her blood. Even Alison's teachers at the prestigious St. Joan of Arc Academy for Girls can't keep her from sneaking out in search of ancient artifacts, lost treasure, and secret societies.

Follow Alison Dare on two amazing adventures that span the globe, and search every inch of her school for answers to some intriguing mysteries.

~~~

Wdebo's Review: I am not the biggest fan of graphic novels, but I find them intriguing so I was interested to read the Alison Dare series, because I wanted to try out a different genre. Though they were not my favorite books ever (and that might be because the age group was a bit below me) I thought they were kinda of interesting and entertaining. The drawings were pretty good, but I am still not that used to it, and I perfer mangas more. I thought, however, that Alison's life seemed WAY too perfect, but I guess that always works for middle grade books. There were however some good action scenes, especially for a middle grade book!

Cafe Cover Chat: Not the best, but it fits the stories (B-)

All in all, a good graphic novel for younger readers + more reluctant readers, there are some good action if you like that. :)

Grade: B-

Wdebo :)

TLC Tour: Chow Hounds By: Ernie Ward, D.V.M

Title: Chow Hounds: Why Our Dogs Are Getting Fatter -A Vet's Plan to Save Their Lives
Author: Earnest Ward, DVM
PAPERBACK
Amount of Pages: 312
Publisher: HCI
Release Date: March 1, 2010
Geared Towards: Doggie Lovers/Owners J

"We're killing our dogs by making them fat."

Summary (From Amazon):

Is Your Dog Big Boned, Overly Fluffy . . . Or Does He Need a Doggy Diet?

Almost half of the dogs in North America are overweight or obese, putting them at risk for major medical problems and untimely death. Is your dog one of them?Esteemed national television veterinarian and founder of the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, Ernie Ward has helped hundreds of dogs reclaim their optimum health with his comprehensive plan, and now he can help your dog, too. In this unprecedented look at how we care for our pets, Dr. Ernie opens our eyes to the shocking truth about why we have unknowingly created a Perfect Storm of Portly Pets. For example, did you know that many pet foods are so spiked with sugar and fat that they actually cause your dog to eat even when she isn't hungry? Or that many pet formulas are so loaded with carbohydrates that they're causing a nation of carboholic canines? And even worse: Most well-intentioned pet owners are overfeeding their dogs by 25 percent every day. The good news is there are simple ways you can turn the tide for good—and for the good of your dog. You'll discover:

· Must-know tips for stocking a healthy pet pantry
· Homemade meals and healthy treats that won't pack on the pounds
· How to avoid the unscrupulous marketing and packaging of some pet foods, supplements, and weight-loss formulas
· The best activities and exercises to maximize your pet's fitness without maxing out your time.

With cutting-edge science and ultra-practical tips, Dr. Ernie will help you give your dog the gift of great health that he or she deserves.

Wdebo’s Review: This is one of my first nonfiction books, and also my first blog tour post, so I’m not really quite sure what I’m doing…please bear with me :)

My family and I are the proud owners of an Australian shepherd, by the name of Shiao-Hwa (She is my profile picture!) We had always thought that her extra weight was nothing to worry about, but this book has really opened my eyes. It has a very blunt, straight forward way of writing and has so many facts, I didn’t even know doggie nutrition could contain that much facts!

All the information were very interesting and all the tips were very helpful.

Cafe Cover Chat: I like the cover it’s quite cute…..then again, anything with a dog on the front is an “A” cover! (A-)

All in all, a perfect book for dog owners and dog lovers alike as they learn how those extra poundage on dogs are more serious then expected.

Grade: B+

Wdebo :)