SICK HOUSE is yet another example of Jeff Strand's crazy and sick mind. What fun!
It's a relatively short book written in such a way that it just flies by. There's crime, violence, murder, witchcraft, a haunted house, lots of blood and gore and a satisfying ending. What else is there to say?
Recommended for those who like their in horror in short, bloody bites!
*I bought this book with my hard earned money and it was worth it.*
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
A cute enough story.
Growing up, I never liked Curious George. It always bugged me that George does naughty things (usually unknowingly), but then never gets in trouble (or worse yet, is rewarded). At least use the situation as a teaching moment. No wonder George is always messing things up. Nobody bothers to teach him why he should or shouldn't do anything. Clearly, I was a very mature child.
Anyway, this book was okay. I haven't watched the show, but I'm assuming this comes straight from it. Following the old-school arch of the original George books, George messes up two of his neighbors projects, because they are vague in their speak, then they forgive him (even though he doesn't apologize or thank them in any way) and don't bother to teach him what they meant, once again rewarding George in his behavior.
Side note: what is George? They always call him "little monkey", but he has no tail and the only monkey that doesn't have a tail is the Barbary Macaque, which George looks nothing like. I'm pretty sure he's supposed to be a chimpanzee, which is an ape. Small thing, but it's still annoying we are teaching children that monkeys and apes are the same animals. Clearly, I am overly critical of children's books, but whatever.
I did like the learning section at the end with suggested building activities. A fun way for kids to learn about building and construction.
The Carrow Haunt is Darcy Coates newest release. It's about a girl named Remy that gives tours of the famously haunted Carrow House. On one of her tours, a guest asks if she will proposition the owner to allow a group of people including Remy, to stay at Carrow House for a couple of weeks in order to study the paranormal phenomena up close and personal. Not willing to pass up a chance to experience some of the sightings she talks about in her tours everyday, Remy agrees to participate; and the owner, a huge paranormal enthusiast, jumps on the chance, with the stipulation that she has to be included in the guest list too. None of the guests are quite prepared though, for the terrifying experience Carrow House has in store for them.
So this is the second book I've ever read by Darcy Coates and I was just as impressed with it as I was with Craven Manor. I love a good ghost and haunted house story and she's delivered in both books. The Carrow Haunt was deliciously creepy and suspenseful! Once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. I'm definitely looking forward to reading a lot more of her books.
Source: Library
Robot Revolution is another great entry into one of my favorite fiction series for kids. I love House of Robots series for so many reasons. First off, it’s an accessible science fiction series for middle graders. Then there’s the fact that it features a family that is diverse both in race and disability. And then, of course, one can’t forget the house full of robots. I can’t forget the fact that the mom is the brilliant scientist and the dad is the artist in the family. But House of Robots has something going for it that I just don’t see in other middle-grade books. That is: The Hayes-Rodriguez family is tight. They love and support each other, and you know that no matter what goes wrong, they’re going to be together.
This book is where we see Sammy really show some frustration with his situation. He’s expressed it before in previous books, but this one feels like where he’s pushed to his limits. Sammy has it easy in a lot of ways, but he’s still just a kid in a family where he is not the priority. Maddie is. It’s perfectly understandable that she tends to take precedence at times, but no one can blame Sammy for the frustration that arises in Robot Revolution. Everyone needs time and attention, whether you be a young boy or a neglected robot. And the robots are definitely feeling neglected too.
Chris Grabenstein and James Patterson do a great job of relaying the frantic chaos of the Hayes-Rodriguez house. All the characters (including the robots) in Robot Revolution are unique and memorable. The new ‘villain’ (well, school bully) is one that it’s quite easy to loathe. It’s nice to see him get his comeuppance at the end. But the best thing that happens in Robot Revolution is one you’ll have to read to find out. I totally wasn’t expecting it, and it definitely made me happy to read. (I can only imagine the expression on my kiddo’s face when she finishes the last few chapters at bedtime tomorrow.)
House of Robots is a series you need to get for your kids. It deals with various issues that lots of kids can relate to. The illustrations are perfect. The dialogue, pacing, and action can’t be beat. It really is one of the best sci-fi novel series for kids on the market today.
I usually get most of my books from Authors, Publishers, and Narrators. This one I actually bought. I listened to the sample on Audible and had to hear the rest of the story. The Audiobook is about 6 1/2 hours long. It is written by Darcy Coates and Narrated by Joe Hempel. Both have done and awesome job with this book. it is a very creepy tale of an abandoned house. Ghosts are my favorite and this one is filled with them.
Guy is helping his mom go through the attic when he stumbles across a deed to a house. When he asks about it she doesn't remember the house which was part of her inheritance. Guy decides to go look at the house thinking that maybe they could sell it and be able to move from the town they live in, and be able to get away from some bad memories and start over.
When Guy gets to the house he looks it over and thinks it is worth fixing up, and that they will get more money out of it if it is livable. The house even has a name Rookward House. It is about 3 hours from home so Guy decides it would be better to camp out in the house while working on it.
Strange things start to happen almost immediately but Guy chocks the noises up to settling, and the shadows up to the darkness. One night a couple of teenagers come around. Guy invites them in and they tell him about the horrible murders that happened in the house and the legend of it being haunted.
The strange things really amp up after this. Guy has to figure out how to get away from Rookward house with his life since the ghost has decided to make him her own.
I personally really enjoyed this book and cannot wait to listen to more books by Darcy Coates.
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