The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart by Lauren DeStefano

Title: The Peculiar Night of the Blue Heart
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: September 13th 2016
Source: ARC from the publisher. Thank you Bloomsbury!

Summary from Goodreads:

Lionel is a wild boy, who doesn’t much like to be around other people. He’d rather be a purring cat or a wolf stalking the woods.

Marybeth is a nice girl. She doesn’t need to be told to comb her hair or brush her teeth, and she’s kind to everyone at the orphanage . . . Lionel most of all.

Different though they are, Lionel and Marybeth are best friends in a world that has forgotten about them. So when a mysterious blue spirit possesses Marybeth—and starts to take control—they know they must stop it before the real Marybeth fades away forever.

Review

The Peculiar Night was a well written, attention-grabbing middle grade story. DeStefano weaves a delicate story about two young children and their peculiar encounter. The young friendship between the two characters is heart warming. I love that each character has such a different personality. I think it is important to show that young kids and friendships come in all forms and the bond between two friends can so strong.

Lionel is so different; I just want to hug him for being him. His unrelenting fight for Marybeth and her safety really makes the story. Even though he would rather be an animal then a human boy because of a troubled past he never loses faith in his friend.

The Peculiar Night, while a shorter book, really draws the reader into this journey of friendship, mystery, tragedy, and family. Readers of all ages can enjoy this book!

The Minpins by Roald Dahl - Road Dahl's 100th Birthday Blog Tour

Title: The Minpins
Author: Roald Dahl
Illustrator: Patrick Benson
Publisher: Puffin Books

Summary from Goodreads:

Come deep into the forest if you dare...but beware the Terrible Bloodsuckling Toothpluckling Stonechuckling Spittler!

Amazon  | Barnes & Noble

Review

Oh, Roald Dahl, how I love your writing.  Starting from the first page I was grinning from ear to ear.  Dahl is an amazing storyteller.  The illustrations beautifully compliments the fun story.

Little Billy is to be a 'good boy' but after always being a good boy he really wants to explore.  He sneaks out and what started as a simple journey ended up being a life-changing adventure.  Little Billy encounters the fire-breathing creature while also meeting the Minpins.

The Minpins provide Little Billy adventure and friendship.  The ending feels a bit rushed, like there should be more story there but overall The Minpins was a great read and would serve as a great book to read aloud!

About the Author

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s most imaginative, successful and beloved storytellers. He was born in Wales of Norwegian parents and spent much of his childhood in England. After establishing himself as a writer for adults with short story collections such as Kiss Kiss and Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 while living with his family in both the U.S. and in England. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated.

Roald Dahl’s first children’s story, The Gremlins, was a story about little creatures that were responsible for the various mechanical failures on airplanes. The Gremlins came to the attention of both First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who loved to read the story to her grandchildren, and Walt Disney, with whom Roald Dahl had discussions about the production of a movie.

Roald Dahl was inspired by American culture and by many of the most quintessential American landmarks to write some of his most memorable passages, such as the thrilling final scenes in James and the Giant Peach - when the peach lands on the Empire State Building! Upon the publication of James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl began work on the story that would later be published as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and today, Roald Dahl’s stories are available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, have sold more than 200 million copies.

Roald Dahl also enjoyed great success for the screenplays he wrote for both the James Bond film You Only Live Twice in 1967 and for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, released one year later, which went on to become a beloved family film. Roald Dahl’s popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans.

Two charities have been founded in Roald Dahl’s memory: the first charity, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, created in 1991, focuses on making life better for seriously ill children through the funding of specialist nurses, innovative medical training, hospitals, and individual families across the UK.

The second charity, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – a unique cultural, literary and education hub – opened in June 2005 in Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived and wrote many of his best-loved works. 10% of income from Roald Dahl books and adaptations are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities.

On September 13, 2006, the first national Roald Dahl Day was celebrated, on what would have been the author’s 90th birthday. The event proved such a success that Roald Dahl Day is now marked annually all over the world. September 13, 2016 is Roald Dahl 100, marking 100 years since the birth of the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.

Giveaway:

1 winner can pick 5 books from the Roald Dahl collection! US Only.

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Danny the Champion of the World by Roald Dahl- Roald Dahl 100th Celebratory Blog Tour

Title: Danny the Champion of the World
Author: Roald Dahl
Publisher: Puffin

Summary from Goodreads:

Can Danny and his father outsmart the villainous Mr. Hazell?

Danny has a life any boy would love—his home is a gypsy caravan, he's the youngest master car mechanic around, and his best friend is his dad, who never runs out of wonderful stories to tell. But one night Danny discovers a shocking secret that his father has kept hidden for years. Soon Danny finds himself the mastermind behind the most incredible plot ever attempted against nasty Victor Hazell, a wealthy landowner with a bad attitude. Can they pull it off? If so, Danny will truly be the champion of the world.

Review

Danny the Champion of the World was a fantastically fun read.  I remember reading Roald Dahl as a kid and really enjoying this book so I was excited to reread it as an adult.  It is still 100% the same book, still a wonderful read even as an adult.  Dahl truly is a storytelling master.

Danny is raised by is loving father in a unique environment; the live in a small quiet caravan and live a relatively peaceful life.  That is until Danny learns that his father is a poacher!  Together they plan a crazy scheme to get the biggest poach ever.  The plot is crazy and when they both go to pull it off, I was nervous for them!  The story builds a wonderful amount of tension that flows right into the laugh out loud ending.

My favorite part is the ending, everything about the ending was well done, from the humor, to the interaction with the villian Victor Hazel, to the final pages that fit the story so well.  I highly recommend Danny the Champion of the World to any reader both young and old that want a fun, imaginative, laugh out loud story!

About the Author

Roald Dahl (1916–1990) was one of the world’s most imaginative, successful and beloved storytellers. He was born in Wales of Norwegian parents and spent much of his childhood in England. After establishing himself as a writer for adults with short story collections such as Kiss Kiss and Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl began writing children's stories in 1960 while living with his family in both the U.S. and in England. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated.

Roald Dahl’s first children’s story, The Gremlins, was a story about little creatures that were responsible for the various mechanical failures on airplanes. The Gremlins came to the attention of both First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who loved to read the story to her grandchildren, and Walt Disney, with whom Roald Dahl had discussions about the production of a movie.

Roald Dahl was inspired by American culture and by many of the most quintessential American landmarks to write some of his most memorable passages, such as the thrilling final scenes in James and the Giant Peach - when the peach lands on the Empire State Building! Upon the publication of James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl began work on the story that would later be published as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and today, Roald Dahl’s stories are available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, have sold more than 200 million copies.

Roald Dahl also enjoyed great success for the screenplays he wrote for both the James Bond film You Only Live Twice in 1967 and for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, released one year later, which went on to become a beloved family film. Roald Dahl’s popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans.

Two charities have been founded in Roald Dahl’s memory: the first charity, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, created in 1991, focuses on making life better for seriously ill children through the funding of specialist nurses, innovative medical training, hospitals, and individual families across the UK.

The second charity, The Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre – a unique cultural, literary and education hub – opened in June 2005 in Great Missenden where Roald Dahl lived and wrote many of his best-loved works. 10% of income from Roald Dahl books and adaptations are donated to the two Roald Dahl charities.

On September 13, 2006, the first national Roald Dahl Day was celebrated, on what would have been the author’s 90th birthday. The event proved such a success that Roald Dahl Day is now marked annually all over the world. September 13, 2016 is Roald Dahl 100, marking 100 years since the birth of the world’s number one storyteller. There will be celebrations for Roald Dahl 100 throughout 2016, delivering a year packed with gloriumptious treats and surprises for everyone.

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Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry

Title: Nowhere But Here
Author: Katie McGarry
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: May 26th 2015
Source: BEA!

Summary from Goodreads:

An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.

Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.

Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.

No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.

Review

It says a lot when I dislike an audio book's narrator yet continued with the book. Nowhere But Here was worth the read/listen.  While the narrator's voice didn't sit well with me, the story was great and I had to continue.

Nowhere But Here teleported me into what felt like a TV drama (in a good way).  At times the motorcycle club drama seemed a bit excessive but it worked.  I was drawn into this vastly different world.  It all seemed so foreign  to me but the main character was having the same feelings so it was easy to relate in that sense.  Oz is the picture perfect bad boy; he is rough around the edges, has a strong protective nature, and loves fiercely.

The dynamic between Emily and Oz is cute and slow building with no love triangle.  Emily's choices at times and her overall attitude was not always my favorite.  Oz, on the other hand, I really liked him as a character.  The family of both main characters play a huge role in the overarching plot.  There are a lot of pieces in this motorcycle club territory battle/love story.  Nowhere But Here reminded me a bit of Jay Crownover's book in their plot execution and characters, just with a younger MC.

Overall there were a lot of pieces to this story that had me engaged from start to finish. I look forward to the next companion novel!