Adventure on the Sea with a K9 Spy | Review of May Saves the Day

About the Book

AMBUSHED!

Undercover missions are challenging, especially with a sinister chef and a Cheetah on deck.

Agent May returns, working incognito to protect young delegates of the international Mastermind contest as they travel from Tallinn to St. Petersburg and beyond.

An elite K9 Squad and Cassidy, an unforeseen Schnauzer ally, join her to fend off Falcons and skilled Russian spies... Leading to a situation she hoped never to encounter.

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My Review

Have you met May the K9 Spy? She's a talented pup who's growing in her skills and having lots of great adventures!

This series for middle-grade readers (and those who simply enjoy a good story starring our animal friends) continues with Book 4, May Saves the Day: Situation in St. Petersburg. Most of the story takes place at sea, and between the setting and the unique cast of characters, there are plenty of new things for May and her readers to learn. Some of the spy terminology might go over the readers' heads...but then again, I love how this story reminds us how smart kids can be and how much potential they have. :)

These books would be great to read aloud with an elementary-age child; May's point of view really stands out that way, as you hear the curiosity, enthusiasm, and energy in her tone. May is always coming up with new ideas, thinking about the case from new angles, and impulsively giving her all to track down leads.

As for May's friends and foes, this book is chock-full of them! There's a Cheetah on the prowl, fellow spies (but whose side are they really on?), the ship's crew, and kids from different countries. Those kids are incredibly smart, but they still have some important lessons to learn about working together, showing humility and compassion, and persevering in the face of hardship and disappointment. Great things for all readers to contemplate, as well!

Join May and the delegates she's duty-bound to guard as they discover old history and new ways of seeing the world. There are some intense moments for young ones (danger is definitely present, and the bad guys aren't always spared), but the adventure and discussion points are worthwhile. And, as with other books in this series, the illustrations add to the unfolding drama...while showing May's cute side. ;)

*With thanks to the author for providing me with an e-copy of the book.*

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Read my reviews of Book 1 and Book 2 by clicking on the covers below...

Of Mayhem and Misunderstandings | Review of Finders Reapers

About the Book

Marcus is a Cupid. Lena is a Reaper. Opposites attract in book 2 of the adorkable Switched At First Kiss series by the acclaimed author of The Dirt Diary.

Lena's not ready for any more supernatural surprises. Her new boyfriend, Marcus, is a cupid. She's a soul collector ("reaper" just sounds so harsh). And they just got their powers un-swapped. But things aren't as back to "normal" as they seem...

On his next assignment, Marcus's "love boost" is a little too powerful. (Baby talk is so annoying.) And Lena's soul sort of...escapes. The cause? Lena and Marcus's powers are still intertwined! Their emotions are affecting each other's power. So, basically the fate of the world depends on them getting along in their brand new romance. (Okay, just love and death, but still.)

No pressure, right?

Releases March 1, 2016!

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My Rating

Spring/Summer

My Review

Finders Reapers is a cute addition to the Switched at First Kiss series! Lena has grown on me since her introduction in I'm with Cupid, and Marcus is as sweet as ever. (I just love the way he relies on the book his grandfather gave him on being a gentleman. How wonderful is that?)

Mayhem and misunderstandings abound in this story, but it's all fun! There's a prankster ghost who can't stop messing with Lena...the loyal ghost cat of Book 1 makes a few appearances...and the bonds of friends and family are tested as love crops up in unexpected places and in unexpected ways. Not to mention the drama that ensues with the school play and the arrival of new and familiar faces.

Potential Spoiler/Warning: There's a very quick (and, in my opinion, rather gratuitous) reference to homosexuality at the very end of the story involving a couple of minor characters. I wish it wasn't included, and I'm hoping it's not an indicator of the direction of this series. End of Spoiler.

All in all, Finders Reapers was another sweet read. I love the lesson about finding your "perfect" match with imperfect people. For some middle-grade fun, this is an enjoyable series!

*With thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Jabberwocky for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Curious about Book 1? 

You can read my review of I'm with Cupid HERE!

My Review of Dinosaur Boy

Here's a description of the book from Sourcebooks:

Everyone knows the dinosaur gene skips a generation.

So it isn’t a complete surprise when Sawyer sprouts spikes and a tail before the start of fifth grade. After all, his grandfather was part stegosaurus.

Despite the Principal’s Zero Tolerance Policy, Sawyer becomes a bully magnet, befriended only by Elliot aka “Gigantor” and the weird new girl. When the bullies start disappearing, Sawyer is relieved—until he discovers a secret about the principal that’s more shocking than Dino DNA.

The bullies are in for a galactically horrible fate…and it’s up to Sawyer and his friends to rescue them.

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My Rating

Spring/Summer

My Review

Cory Putman Oakes's debut, The Veil, demonstrated a great deal of imagination and creativity. And wow - did she ever find an awesome outlet for all that promise in the MG (middle grade) category with her second release, Dinosaur Boy!

I'm the kind of girl who loves a good romance, and I prefer my stories with at least some hint of that. The age level of the main characters in Dinosaur Boy, though, means that the relationships portrayed are limited to friendships, familial ties, and teacher- and principal-student interactions. You know what? I still got completely caught up in the story and immensely enjoyed myself!

Right from the get-go, the far-out premise of a boy who finds out he's part-dinosaur when he starts growing a tail and spinal plates had me smiling and laughing. There's sort of a dry humor to Putman's style - a wryness that makes the absurd situations poor Sawyer finds himself in so hilarious and yet still relatable. Sawyer is a wonderful character who learns a great deal about confidence, loyalty, and convictions, all while navigating the start of a new school year as a salad-loving hybrid.

And that's not even the strangest part. But I'll let you discover the other out-there twists and turns for yourself...

Just know that this is an entertaining read for a wide audience. Anyone who's ever felt like a misfit could appreciate the struggles of Sawyer, his very tall friend Elliot, and the new girl who likes to hide inside her hoodie. Full of LOL moments, surprises, and just the right amount of heart, Dinosaur Boy is a brilliant sophomore story from Oakes.

*With thanks to Sourcebooks and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

About the Author

Sometime around sixth grade, Cory was forced to face the sad truth that being a heroine in a Tamora Pierce, Robin McKinley, or Madeleine L’Engle book was not, in fact, a valid future career choice. But since she thought it might be almost as much fun to grow up to be Tamora Pierce, Robin McKinley, or Madeleine L’Engle, she decided to do just that. She’s still working on it.

Cory’s path to being an author did not go in a straight line. There was the whole “maybe-I’ll-be-a-psychologist” thing (just on the side, until the writing took off) which led her to UCLA and an eventual B.A. in Psychology. Then there was the “maybe-I’ll-be-a-lawyer” thing (just on the side, until the writing took off) which led her to Cornell Law School, a J.D., and a year of working as a litigation associate at Sullivan & Cromwell. There was also a brief “maybe-I’ll-teach-law” phase (just on the . . . well, you know) where she taught business law to undergraduates at Texas State University.

But the writing thing was a bug that she just couldn’t shake, and she officially made her sixth grade dream come true in 2011, with her debut young adult novel, THE VEIL. Cory’s debut middle grade, DINOSAUR BOY, is due out from Sourcebooks in February of 2015. Its sequel (tentatively entitled DINOSAUR BOY SAVES MARS) will be out the following year.

Cory lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, Mark (who, luckily for all concerned, decided to stick with the whole “maybe-I’ll-be-a-lawyer” thing), their two kids, and their pets. In addition to writing, Cory enjoys running, cooking, and hanging out with her family. She is proud to be represented by Sarah LaPolla of Bradford Literary Agency.

Cory can often be found on Twitter and Facebook. Visit her website HERE.

Giveaway!

Enter to win a copy of Dinosaur Boy using the Rafflecopter form below. Giveaway ends February 28, 2015, and is hosted by the publisher.

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