Switch – Five Star Review.

My recently released novel just received its first review. It is available free on Smashwords until Sept. 23, 2001. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1097582 Get your copy now.

Here is the blurb followed by the review.

Buy link https://amzn.to/33pr71H

Blurb

In the time of Queen Elizabeth I of England, fourteen-year-old Rosemary Prowd has a secret that could kill her. When she flees, with her parents, to her godmother’s cottage, the danger follows her. She seems to be destined to become a homeless beggar, the victim of a stalker, accused of witchcraft, or hung as a thief. As her support system collapses, her survival depends on her wits, courage, and determination. Then a mysterious plant opens a world of possibilities. Will using it be her salvation or her doom?

Review

D.J. Hawkins reviewed on Sep. 17, 2021 5 stars
This is the first book of Bonnie’s that I’ve read and let’s just say that I’m a fan. Bonnie’s writing style is so immersive and detailed. And who doesn’t love a classic you’re-a-witch, ghost story? As the protagonist, young Rosemary is misunderstood, snarky, and plagued with the ability to see ghosts. But she is endearing and oftentimes quite hilarious, even if she doesn’t mean to be that way. Another aspect of this book that I LOVE is the images throughout; the headers and the scene breaks. Visually, they pulled the story together and made me so much more intrigued. Although historical fiction (the book is set in England during Queen Elizabeth I’s time) is not my usual go-to genre, I can definitely say that Bonnie has prompted me to explore this genre more and I’ll definitely be reading more of her books.
(reviewed 6 days after purchase)

Fairy in Waiting by Sophie Kinsella. Illustrated by Marta Kissi. Book Review.

Buy link https://amzn.to/3fIfPrI

 This  popular humor writer now has two children’s books. Both feature a girl whose mother is a fairy and father is  a mortal. This isn’t your typical fairy story however, as she uses a computerized wand and presents herself as a normal woman most of the time. The husband is reminiscent of the early Bewitched  television series. He’s not too crazy about her using magic.

  Kinsella  uses humor and suspense  effectively and engages a young audience from the first page. My almost six year old granddaughter listened eagerly as I read this book to her in four sittings.  This early chapter book is supplemented with many pictures.

 If you are a traveler to resorts, you’ll chuckle at the scene where two fairy mothers have a wand battle over reserving poolside seats with their towels. There is also a chapter with wacky monkeys that children will love.

All in all, this is a light-hearted romp through modern magic and family dynamics.

 

I am accepting books for review. For information on how to submit, go here: https://bferrante.wordpress.com/2016/07/09/get-featured-on-my-blog/

Buy link https://amzn.to/3ljMNj4

Julia Unbound by Catherine Egan. Book Review.

I won this book in a giveaway and didn’t realize until I received it that it was part three in a series. There was a lot of backstory that I had to figure out which made it difficult to connect with the main character. I suspect I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had read the first two books.

The writer provides extensive detail into both the landscape and the history encompassing this novel. Her world-building is complex  and rich. Thankfully there is a detailed map and the city and a list of the thirty-nine terms and characters introduced in this book. Again, someone who had read the first books would probably be familiar with most of these.

The major premise of the story focuses on Julia who, in order to save her brother, has agreed to allow a parasite to slowly infect her body and take over her brain. She has only a short time to defeat her enemy, remove a sabotaged bomb from her brother’s chest, and pull out her parasite before it  takes over her mind. She has a watchdog reporting back all her movements to her enemy and must secretly fight against him or her brother will be killed even sooner.

Julia becomes embroiled in a fight for the throne involving witches  and other powerful beings. To complicate matters, she develops a fondness for the rightful heir while being forced to support a false claim. But Julia has  a special magical skill of her own which gives her a chance to navigate through the complex and deceptive political forays.

Perhaps because the story was so detailed and I had not read the first books, I found it difficult to connect with Julia and took quite a long time to finish the novel and tackle this review. Your experience, especially if you read the first two in the series, may be different. Eden is an excellent plotter and world builder. If you enjoy complex fantasies, this series is worth looking into.

 

 

Backyard Fairies by Phoebe Wahl. Book review.

This is a delightful picture book for the imaginative child. There are only a few words on each page; the detailed and intriguing gardens filled with secretive hidden fairies dominate.

If I remember my grammar lessons correctly, the book is written in present perfect tense thereby pulling the reader into the story and engaging them in imaginative response. It is also written in a gentle pattern of rhyming couplets. It begins, ” Have you ever found, while out on your own…/A tiny, magical somebody’s home?”  The illustration shows a little girl examining a tree stump with an opening perfect for habitation.

As the story continues, the little girl searches everywhere for fairies who unknown to her, are within Arm’s Reach. There are also other magical creatures like a rock gnome. The child leaves a gift for the fairies. It vanishes overnight and they give something to her. My granddaughter and I were so delighted to read this part. We have made fairy doors in her garden and done exactly that.

The reader  empathizes with the little girl who, despite her thoroughness and determination, is unable to spot a fairy. She goes to bed wondering if they really exist. During her sleep, fairies fly in with flowers and create a wreath for her head. She wakes up in the morning wearing it.

Phoebe Wahl not only writes her own text but does her own illustrations. They are incredibly detailed and intriguing. This is a special book that your child will ask to hear over and over and never tire of finding all the fairies.

Buy Link

Unforeseen Consequences – Erasable by Linda Yiannakis. Book Review.

If you read yesterday’s interview with Linda Yiannakis, you have already realised that Erasable is an intriguing novel for children.

The protagonist, nine-year-old Ellie, discovers something in her grandmother’s attic that promises to solve all her problems. But like the genie who grants three wishes, one never knows where magic will lead. Ellie has little understanding of the karmic results of her decisions. What begins as little improvements cascades into major life changes, not all positive.

I love how this book explains that one small action can have huge impacts on numerous people. It is impossible to tell what “erasing” something or someone from her life will cause. No one is immune to the results, not even Ellie.

The characters are likable. The family dynamics are realistic without being syrupy. The kids are kids, thoughtless and impulsive one minute, wonderful the next.

Yiannakis writes like a professional. The reader loses herself in the book. The prose is tight, the plot is trim, the dialogue is natural, and everything flows the way it should. It’s hard to believe this is Linda’s first book.

Although this book is targeted towards 9, 10 and 11-year-olds, it can be enjoyed by readers outside that age range. It would be a great book for a parent and child to read and discuss.

The book is not illustrated, per se, but there are little pen sketches dotted throughout. These are tiny, almost thumbnails, at the top of the chapter. I wondered why they weren’t larger.

All in all, this is an interesting, enjoyable, and thought-provoking read.

Click on this link to buy Erasable

Power Without Wisdom – Author Linda Yiannakis Three Random Questions Interview

Linda Yiannakis has worked with children as a Speech-language pathologist for over 30 years. Her interest in language on becoming a writer has been an important influence on becoming a writer. She also teaches martial arts and there are certain philosophical elements from that world that have made their way into her work. Linda lives in the high desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, where roadrunners and bobcats are some of her closest neighbors.

Bonnie Ferrante: Welcome, Linda. I think we live at opposite environments, although we also get bobcats in Northern Ontario.

Linda Yiannakis: Thank you. I’m happy to be here.

Ferrante: What martial arts do you teach? Have you ever written about them?

Yiannakis: I teach traditional judo and a style of Japanese jujutsu. Over the years I’ve studied other arts as well, such as kenjutsu (swordsmanship), which is based on the same principles as the unarmed arts. I have published several articles in various martial arts publications and on the websites of international organizations. I also write summaries and further explanations of points I’ve discussed in class for my students. 

Ferrante: Kenjustsu is impressive to watch.

As a former teacher, I was always grateful for the difference speech therapy can make to a child’s ability to be understood. Has your experience with this work ever shown up in your writing?

Yiannakis: It has, in a yet-to-be-published manuscript called Digby of the Dinosaurs. In that story there are serious issues of communication to be overcome by the main character.

Ferrante: I look forward to seeing that in print. Erasable is your first book, correct? What inspired you to write this story?

Yiannakis: Erasable is my first published book, yes. I think that years of working with children who often wanted to just wish their problems away rather than deal with them made an impression on me. You do have to learn how to deal with problems, but not everyone has an adult who guides them through that process as they grow up. Children often can’t see the potential unhappy consequences of things that they wish for. I hope Erasable at least plants the seed of that idea in some young minds.

Ferrante: Unfortunatly, not everyone understands that. All that power in the hands of an inexperienced child parallels what often goes on in the adult world as well.

There is a strong element of karma in the novel. Every time one part of history is changed, the ripple effects are unpredictable. What are your thoughts on this?

Yiannakis: Change doesn’t always turn out the way we envision that it will. I think that as humans we are more connected to other people and events than we sometimes realize. And we can see less far into the whole cascade of future events that can occur as a result of our changing things than we think. 

Ferrante: I loved the book and the subtle messages given about our choices, impulses, and perspective. Without trying to give away too much of the story, one prevalent theme is the impact of our close associates on our lives. The presence or absence of another can greatly influence who we are. What would you hope readers gather from that?

Yiannakis: We should reflect on the fact that everyone leaves imprints or influences on other people. Some leave just a trace that we barely notice; others change our lives. And we ourselves are leaving imprints on others. It’s important to take stock once in a while of who you believe yourself to be and who you want to be because you are sharing little pieces of yourself with the people around you, whether you are aware of that or not. There is a Japanese legend about the « red string of fate » that says that the gods tie a red string around the pinky fingers of those who are destined to meet, help one another, or achieve something together. There are variations in how the legend is told but it presents the idea that all of our encounters are not random, but meaningful.

Ferrante:  Interesting.

How do you organize or schedule your writing? Do you have a routine?

Yiannakis: I do best when I get a lot of little chores out of the way so they aren’t nagging at me. I’m most comfortable writing in the late afternoons or early evenings. I like to write to some sort of closure. So in a book like Erasable, generally I tried to finish a draft of a chapter each time I sat down. Then about every three or four chapters I went back to reread and begin revising previous chapters. This was a process that I did over and over until I was ready to go through the whole thing from the beginning and do further revision on the book as a whole.

Ferrante: I would consider this book suitable for ages ten and up. Why did you decide to write for that age?

Yiannakis: It’s a wonderful age. They’re old enough to consider some more mature life concepts and scientific principles than children just a few years younger. But they’re still young enough to believe in magic and wishes.

Click on this link to buy Erasable

Ferrante: Yes, I loved teaching kids that age. They also have developed a fun sense of humor by age ten.

What do you think makes your writing original?

Yiannakis: I believe I bring a voice that reflects not just my own perspective on life but experiences from many children from a variety of backgrounds.

Ferrante: Yes, spending a day with a child is more valuable than any writers’ workshop.

Are you working on anything new that you would like to share?

Yiannakis: I’m working on more revisions to Digby of the Dinosaurs, a story about culture shock, identity and self-empowerment in a little boy who finds himself among living dinosaurs.

Ferrante: Well, that could go a lot of different ways! LOL. Now for three random questions (From a Bit of Banter, the Game That Gets You Talking).

Ferrante: What is the most useless thing you have ever bought?

Yiannakis: That’s a tough question. I guess recently, a tomato slicer. It should have been called a tomato squasher. 

Ferrante: As a child what was your favourite meal?

Yiannakis: Lasagna. Still is!

Ferrante: What is people’s most common misconception about you?

Yiannakis: I learn languages pretty easily, but not without a lot of work. I’ve had several people tell me over the years that they wished they had my ability to « just pick up a new language. » They don’t realize how much study and mental practice I build into my day to progress.

Ferrante: That’s admirable. Perhaps that will show up in your writing in the future.  Best of luck with Digby and thank you for participating in my interview series.

Erasable will be reviewed tomorrow on this blog.

Click on this link to buy Erasable.

www.lindayiannakis.weebly.com

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages

Digby of the Dinosaurs by Linda Yiannakis. Book Review.

Unforeseen Consequences – Erasable by Linda Yiannakis. Book Review.

The Wizard by Jack Prelutsky. Illustrated by Brandon Dorman. Book Review.

This book is a wondrous blend of poetry and illustration. The cover draws you in immediately. A wizard, with long white hair and beard, wearing a green robe raises his arms to a magical light above. In one hand is a crooked wand. Caught in the rays is a small green frog. The picture fairly glows with magic.

The illustrations inside are not a disappointment. They are all exquisite two page illustrations. They gleam with magical charm.

The story rhymes but not in that irritating singsong way that many picture books adapt. It feels as though you are reading a book of poetry, much like one of my favorite books by Prelutsky The Dragon’s Are Singing Tonight.

It begins:

“The Wizard, watchful, waits alone

within his tower of cold gray stone

and ponders in his wicked way

what evil deeds he’ll do this day.”

A ragged crow, sitting on a cobwebbed table filled with magical paraphernalia, watches the Wizard as he gazes out his tower window onto the small town. The reader is instinctively intrigued as to what wickedness is about to unfold.

This story is basically a vignette wherein the Wizard transforms a frog into a flea into a pair of mice into a cockatoo into chalk into a silver bell and back into the bullfrog. Children may find it upsetting that at the end he dispenses of the bullfrog in a cloud of smoke. The story ends:

“Should you encounter a toad or lizard, look closely…

it may be the work of the Wizard.”

Although the story is easy to understand, I would recommend it for school-age children and up. Younger children, especially those who believe in magic, may be disturbed by the events.

School-age children who love magic and wizardry will be captivated by this beautiful book.

Click on the cover of the book to purchase a copy.

Other books written by Jack Prelutsky.

      

Other books illustrated by Brandon Dorman.

    

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages

See the World From a Unique Perspective: The Moon Thieves by Sandra Horn illustrated by Esther Connon. Book Review.

Click here to buy The Moon Thieves

What catches your attention immediately is the unusual illustration on the front cover of this book. A large moon is in the background. A woman and a boy in their nightclothes, wearing coats and long unmanageable scarves, hold hands in a line. They are followed by a cat carrying a rat on its tail. The scene is framed by two trees on each side. The entire picture is awash with chaotic watercolor. Once you start reading, you realize Esther Connon’s unusual illustrative style is eminently suitable to the text.

It begins, “Long ago in a far-off land,/ a cat, a rat, a boy and his gran/ lived in a small round house/ on the far side of the hill.”

As you scan the book, you discover many round things besides the house such as the curled up cat, the wash basin, the dish of cream, the teapot, the ends of the arms of the chair, the chickens curled in their nest, and so forth. It is unlikely that younger children will catch on to this but once you have read the book a couple of times, point it out to them. They may surprise you with answers you hadn’t considered.

Sandra Horn tells the story of a boy in his Gran working all day and asleep before the moon rises. One day they succumb to cravings. The cat wants a dish of cream. The rat wants a whole blue cheese. Gran wants a pillow for her “poor old nod”. A silver penny, to buy a big red ball, is the boy’s desire. They have a disappointing day and, on the way home from the market, spot the moon in the sky. Each believe it is what they desire. By piling one atop the other, they try to reach it but collapse in pain. Then they try to catch the moon’s reflection in the pond, but fail. When they return home, a moonbeam dances on the step and there they find a bright silver penny, a soft silken pillow, a whole blue cheese, and a big round dish of cream.

This is an imaginative, unique picture book. I love how it makes adults and children see and think in different ways. Both the words and visuals are a step off the path from typical children’s picture books. I found it intriguing, absorbing, and stimulating.

A copy of this book was generously donated by the author to my Little Free Library.

The author will be interviewed on this blog, Wednesday December 21, 2016.

 Click here to buy Moon Light – 7 Color Settings

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages

Mysterious Carvings in the Attic – Erasable by Linda Yiannakis.

Linda Yiannakis is a speech-language pathologist who has loved helping children with reading and writing for over thirty years. She is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and the University of South Florida. When she’s not at work, she can be found at home waiting on her dog and being bossed around by a Siamese cat. Linda lives in the high desert of Albuquerque, New Mexico, with roadrunners and bobcats as some of her closest neighbors.

Click here to buy Erasable

Could life be more unfair? Nine year old Ellie doesn’t think so. With her summer off to a terrible start, she stumbles across a mysterious carved chest in the attic. What she finds inside gives her the power to change her life exactly the way she wants it to be. But it’s not long before Ellie learns to be careful what she wishes for — and what she wishes gone.

Imaginative and original – a beautifully written tale that blends magic and realism. Young people will easily identify with the spirited young heroine, Ellie, as she tries to solve the problem areas in her family and school life with the help of a magic gift. The vivid descriptions and unexpected plot twists will keep young readers fully engaged. Just wonderful!   K. Wilkins, Educational Consultant, UK

Nine year old Ellie is frustrated and unhappy about the many unfair things in her life. She soon discovers a secret which allows her to enter a world of possibilities to solve her problems, only to find out that life is a lot more complicated than she thought. Suspenseful and entertaining right up to the very end! Excellent book for dealing with the concepts of temptation, fear, redemption, and patience.   Mary Kay Weeks, Instructional Consultant, IN

 

Three cheers for Linda Yiannakis! She understands how children feel and she draws them in right from the first page. Her prose is simple enough for children to follow the story and interesting enough to keep them turning the pages with her rich vocabulary, plot action and realistic characters. Young readers will identify with the emotions and actions of the main character and join in the fun wholeheartedly. A magical journey from beginning to end.   Joan Lewis, Grade 3/4 teacher, CT

A reading from _Erasable_, a new book for the young and the young at heart, by Linda Yiannakis.

The author’s site.

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages

 

Who Wants to Live Forever? – Walking Through Walls by Karen Cioffi. Illustrated by Willow Raven. Book Review.

Click here to buy Walking Through Walls

This is a book for young people who like to read chapter books that aren’t too long and have the occasional illustration. The story takes place in ancient China. A 12-year-old boy, Wang, does not want to spend his life working in the fields like his father. He leaves his family in order to find the legendary Eternals, learn magic, and become rich and powerful. When he tells his father this, his father responds, “Wang, we do not believe in the legend of the Internals. You are giving into foolish longings. A man is valued for his worth, not for his wealth.” This is the theme of the story and it is delivered well.

Wang is a lazy and greedy boy at the beginning of the story. He spends a year in Zen-like training but it is not until he returns home that he understands who he truly needs to be. This is a coming-of-age story with an important message.

Cioffi creates a believable setting without focusing too much on Chinese culture. This is not an historical novel, but a fantasy/fable and it is true to its genre. The style of speech gives one a sensation of listening to a Chinese person speak without being overdone. Although the focus is on Wang, the supporting characters are believable and important to the overall significance of the plot and Wang’s inward and outward journey.

Willow Raven does an exemplary job of illustrating with black and white drawings. The pictures are simple with little to no background, focusing on Wang’s emotions. The cover, a red, white, and black dragon, is attractive and intriguing. It may be a little misleading, however, as the dragon only appears in Wang’s dream.

Readers aged 10 and up will enjoy this short novel.

A copy of this book was generously donated by the author to my Little Free Library.

Karen Cioffi was interviewed on this blog on September 28, 2016.

Bonnie Ferrante: Books For All Ages