The Resistance

 

About the Book

 

Mamá Graciela’s Secret

 

Publication date: October 10, 2017

 

 

 

Written by Mayra Calvani

 

Illustrated by Sheila Fein


 

MacLaren-Cochrane Publishing

 

www.maclaren-cochranepublishing.com

 

36 pages, 3-7 year olds

 

Reading guide at: www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com

 

Description:

 

Mamá Graciela’s TENDER, CRUNCHY, SPICY bacalaítos fritos are the best in town…

 

Local customers (including stray cats!) come from all over the island to enjoy her secret recipe. But when the Inspector discovers that Mamá secretly caters to so many cats and he threatens to close her tiny restaurant, Mamá must come up with a plan to save it—and all of the animals she loves.

 

Author Bio

 

 

 

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her children’s picture book, Frederico the Mouse Violinist was a finalist in the 2011 International Book Awards; her anthology Latina Authors and Their Muses was a First Place winner at the 2016 International Latino Book Awards; her nonfiction book, The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing, was a Foreword Best Book of the Year winner. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications like The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, Bloomsbury Review, and others.

 

She lives in Belgium with her husband of 30+ years, two wonderful kids, and her three beloved pets. When she’s not writing, editing, reading or reviewing, she enjoys walking with her dog, traveling, and spending time with her family. www.MayrasSecretBookcase.com

 

Connect with the author:

 

https://www.facebook.com/Author-Mayra-Calvani-162383023775888/

 

https://twitter.com/mcalvani

 

https://www.instagram.com/mayracalvani

 

 

 

 

 

Review

 

I teach two year olds, and picture books are a stable in our classroom! So when given a chance to read a new picture book to my littles I jumped at the chance. Now the story is really cute and the meaning in the book is priceless, I love how lives are more important than money. We need to be teaching our children this every day! For my children who speak two languages this is a wonderful book that mixes cultures, and for my one langugae kids this helps give insight to another culture/language. I enjoyed this book, I do think that this was higher than picture level but it does help with raising the bar for understanding. I give this a four pots of gold out of five.

 

 

About the Book

 

Title: Work of Art: An Intention of Flowers

 

Author: Ken La Salle

 

Genre: YA / Contemporary Fiction

 

 

 

Oily pavement.

 

Thick tempera paint.

 

A parking lot filled with history, fear, and regret.

 

A young man named Joseph Arillo sits in the parking lot and paints the pavement with flowers.

 

And Andy Hollis steps in it.

 

As the new art teacher at Santa Ana High School, he’s too curious about Joseph’s Flowers and unravels both of their lives in his pursuit for answers.

 

He learns that it’s all part of a rite of passage, an absurd test started by Joseph Arillo’s father, the suspiciously world-renowned artist named only Tom. Which also connects to the drama teacher at Santa Ana High, Katie Bustos. Whose daughter, Desiree, may or may not be dating Joseph. Who is putting himself in danger from a local gang, the lot’s mysterious history, and the police.

 

Andy puts himself in danger of losing his job, his home, and his freedom. If he can’t solve the riddle of Joseph’s Flowers, both of their lives will go up in smoke – despite any help from Winny, the old, Slovakian bureaucrat at school, or his students, or Tom himself.

 

But is Tom trying to help? And is Joseph really up to his father’s test?

 

And is Andy really fit to be a teacher? He doesn’t understand kids, can’t get to school on time, and… doesn’t appear to care about art or families or anything. But Joseph’s Flowers will challenge everything Andy believes: about himself, about the world, and most importantly of all about art.

 

Before Andy and Joseph are finished, they will witness the power art has to provide inspiration, to waken our hearts, and to shatter everything you ever believed about humanity.

 

An Intention of Flowers is the first book in a 5-book series, modestly titled Work of Art, about growing into the person you always wanted to be, making the most of what you have to give and not just what you have, and the power in each of us when we chose to be ourselves.

 

Author Bio

 

 

 

Author and occasional philosopher and monologist, Ken La Salle’s passion is intense humor, meaningful drama, and finding answers to the questions that define our lives. Ken La Salle grew up in Santa Ana, California and has remained in the surrounding area his entire life. He was raised with strong, blue collar roots, which have given his writing a progressive and environmentalist view. You can find a growing number of his books and performances available online. Find out more about Ken on his website at www.kenlasalle.com.

 

Links

 

Twitter

 

Facebook

 

Youtube

 

Website

 

Amazon Page

 

 

 

Review

 

I remember watching a movie when I was a kid called Dangerous Minds, it was a about a teacher who goes into a high school to teach English to teenagers that were lost in the school system just passed along that most couldn't even read very well. I remember it had me on edge wondering if they were going to graduate with their lack of skills.

 

Reading this book really had me interested, not that even compares to Dangerous Minds movie! I kept reading each page, wondering if I was going to be right about how the characters are connected, did the rite of passage work. Was it more in his head or was it more real than I thought. I don't want to give anything away from this book, because it touched my heart. I think this is a book all should read and hopefully open their minds. I enjoyed this book and I feel a connection with the characters like no other book I have read lately. Five pots of gold out of Five.

About the Book

Title: Monsterland

Author: Michael Okon

Genre: YA

Welcome to Monsterland—the scariest place on Earth.

The last couple years of high school have not been fun for Wyatt Baldwin. His parents divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An on-going debate with his best friends Howard Drucker and Melvin over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn’t stand a chance.

But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can rock out with vampires at Vampire Village, be chased by actual werewolves on the Werewolf River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.

With real werewolves, vampires and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?

Author Bio

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English, and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling is his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Links

Website

Twitter

Facebook

Amazon (Kindle)

REVIEW: 

I saw this book thinking, who would come up with a Monsterland theme park, then I though duh everyone! So yeah I was very much interested in this book. I have to say at first look it is a bit short, but that might just be me because I couldn't put this book down and I wanted more! A single mom  of two teenage boys remarries a tiny town sheriff, the boys are constantly fighting. One boy gets a chance to meet his hero, who turns out to be way more involved in things than he realizes, including in his own life. At the very end, with the werewolves, ( I won't give it away but...) I was happy that the boy changed, I hope he is in an upcoming book for this series. Maybe that is my wishful thinking, please be another book Michael! 

I loved the characters, they reminded me of my boys who are only 8 & 2 (Which by the way my youngest son's name is Wyatt) they fight and yet love/protect each other. The sheriff reminds me of my own step dad, who was my daddy. Long story short, Michael your characters are so life like, I enjoyed every minute of reading. Wow--- at the turn of events with the boys' dad by the way! Did not see that coming.

I would recommend this book to my friends and family- Four Pots of Gold out of Five Pots

 

About the Book

Title: The Power Club

Author: Greg Gildersleeve

Genre: MG Fantasy / Adventure

“Some create darkness . . . or teleport . . . or fly.

Damon creates darkness. Since he possesses a power, he must live in “the district” along with other powered teens. It’s a comfy living: a strip mall, two schools, and his non-powered family lives with him. However, powered teens must abide by certain rules. When Damon tries to retrieve his stolen bike, he learns the police will arrest any kid who uses a power in public unless the kid belongs to a special club.

When one such club forms in his neighborhood, he tries out . . . and is rejected. Darkness just can’t compete with teleportation, super-speed and growing to giant-size. So Damon works hard to develop his power and learns he can do things he never dreamed of, such as create multiple layers of darkness.

When he singlehandedly drives off three powered bullies, he discovers the limitations of his power. He also earns membership in the Power Club. But joining the club is just the beginning. After the club spontaneously stops a riot of “ords” (ordinary people who fear powered teens) at the strip mall, Damon expects to be hailed as a hero. Instead, he and the others receive strict warnings from the government not to put themselves and others in danger. But a kid in Damon’s class, Calvin, has it in for Damon. Calvin can open rifts, which send people into other dimensions–sometimes permanently. When Calvin sends Damon to a sweltering world with orange sand and two suns, it is up to the Power Club to bring him back.

Damon must trust his new friends in the Power Club to bring him back.”

Author Bio

Greg Gildersleeve grew up in the northwestern corner of Missouri, where comic books and science fiction caught his eye at a young age. In addition to writing, Greg teaches English Composition, Technical Writing, and American Literature at an online university, and won the 2013 Publication Award at Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS. He earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Missouri Western State University and a master’s in English from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. His work has appeared in Show & Tell, Teenagers from the Future, The Teaching Professor, Faculty Focus, and the Grantham Blog. He lives in the KC area, where he hangs around too many coffee shops, listens to classic and modern rock, and daydreams a lot.

Links

Amazon

Metamorphosis Literary Agency

REVIEW

Power Club- This book is short but so great for middle grade readers! I love the characters they are so believable, I can imagine my son and his friends being the same way. I do worry that maybe this story was too short, but I hope with it being this wonderful that many more will be coming soon. I enjoyed the powers that the characters had, and I hope to see more. Even my son enjoyed this book (he hates long stories so this was perfect for his short attention span)!