Book Review: Fluff Dragon (Bad Unicorn Book 2) by Platte F. Clark

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Book received at no charge to facilitate my review.

Fresh off the defeat of a killer unicorn, Max Spencer and his friends want nothing more to return home. Instead they are trapped in the magical world of Margus. Unfortunately, Max is the only one who can read the Codex of Infinite Knowability so when it stops working, he has to figure out how to reboot it before he and his friends can return.

Max, his friends, and a cast of zany characters must thwart the evil Rezormoor Dreadbringer, who wants to acquire the Codex and find the recipe for reproducing a fluff dragon, a creature essential for making hair pieces for the powerful men of the kingdom. The humor in the first part of the book makes it hard to take the plot serious but it ends up working in the end. The reader will get plenty of laughs while still recognizing the danger for Max and his group.

Book 2 of the Bad Unicorn Trilogy, Fluff Dragon is a case where the second installment is better than the first.

Publishing Information

Publisher: Aladdin (4/14/2014)

Pages: 384

Ages:8-12

ISBN-13 9781442450158

Rating:  Recommended ★★★★☆

This book can be purchased at the following retailers.

Book Review: The Boy Who Cried Ninja by Alex Latimer

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Book received at no charge to facilitate my review.

Tim can't get anybody to believe him. When he explains that the Ninja ate the last piece of cake or that the astronaut took his dad's hammer, he is sent outside to rake leaves and to think about his lies. But when he decides to tell real lies and own up to all of the trouble created the giant squid, tea drinking pirate and time-traveling monkey, his parents assign him more chores to think about the bad things he has done.

Poor Time just can't win.

Instead he conjures up a fabulous idea. He writes a letter inviting the band of miscreants to a party at his house. When they actually show up, his parents have no choice but to apologize to Tim. The modern, stylized characters are sure to illicit giggles from the young reader. A humorous twist on a classic theme. Clever and fun for the ninja lover.

Publishing Information:

Peachtree Publishers (Feb. 1, 2014)

32 pages

Ages: 4-8

ISBN: 978-1561457748

This book can be purchased from the following retailers:

Book Review: Charlie Bumpers Vs. Really Nice Gnome by Bill Harley & Illustrated by Adam Gustavson

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

Charlie Bumpers can't wait until his teacher posts the parts for the school play. He knows which part he wants, the Evil Sorcerer Kragon. Playing the bad guy sounds awesome. Instead, he gets the part of the Nice Gnome. He can't think of anything worse. Any part would be better than the Nice Gnome, even if it is the biggest part in the play. Too bad he can't just trade.

In fact, Charlie does try to trade parts but his teacher, Mrs. Burke, won't let him. When trading doesn't work, Charlie tries two other times to rid himself of such a nice part, even going so far as to rewrite all of his lines. All to no avail. 

Luckily, his big brother Matt gives Charlie a special set of sneakers to add to his costume, sure to put put the part of the Nice Gnome somewhere in the "cool" spectrum. Even better,  Charlie saves the play elevating him to hero status.

The younger middle grade reader will delight in Charlie's antics while at the same time will relate to the disappointment of not always getting what you want. Author, Bill Harley, pegs elementary school humor in a sequel that won't disappoint. The illustrations by Gustavson elicits additional laughs. The reader will anxiously wait the next installment.

Rating:  Recommended ★★★★☆


Publishing Information:

Publisher: Peachtree (April 1 2014)
Pages: 160 
ISBN: 978-1-56145-740-3
Ages: 7-10

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**Disclosure: Book received at no charge from publisher to facilitate review. No monetary compensation was received. As always, I am free to give an honest review based upon my actual experience.**

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Book Review: Out of the Blue by S.L. Rottman

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Book received at no charge to facilitate review.

With his mother's new promotion, Stuart Ballentyne faces yet another move. He and his mother head off to Minot, North Dakota where his mother will take command of the Air Force base. Though they have moved a lot, this move challenges Stu in ways which he has never experienced.

While his eight year-old neighbor, Billy, tries to befriend him, Stu notices odd things about the situation across the street and wonders about his young neighbor. Unfortunately, his older brother started college and did not make the move with them, nor did his father. This leaves no one for Stu to confide in about his suspicions. Instead, Stu keeps tries not to meddle. When he does finally intervene, it is not without serious consequences.

Stu's helplessness at what he witnesses leaves a gripping reminder that abuse can happen anywhere. The realistic look on the effects of deployment on the family and community will hit a chord to any teen who has a parent in the military. A strong plot-driven novel with a powerful social message recommended for the teen reader.

Rating:  Recommended ★★★★☆

Publishing Information

Publisher: Peachtree Publishers  (Reprint March 2014)

Pages: 288

ISBN 13- 978-1561457861

Ages: 12 and up

This book can be purchased from the following retailers: