Month: February 2015

tween

Louis Beside Himself

Bergers Book Reviews

Louis Beside Himself
Author: Anna Fienberg
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Genre: Middle grade fiction
ISBN: 978-1-74237-994-4
Pages: 246
Price: $8.99

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Louis loves words more than anything. Unfortunately, his dad thinks he should put down his thesaurus and start building up his body. So when a burglar breaks into his home one evening, and he isn’t able to use any of the wrestling moves he’s supposed to know, he feels like an utter failure.

Things go from bad to worse. His two best friends suddenly find what makes them happiest and pursue their new interests with joy, leaving Louis to ponder his miserable fate alone. Words – and his voice – have let him down, and he doesn’t know what to do. But when he realizes he needs to act quickly to help a new friend, and it will involve speaking up in her defense, he turns to his words once again.

Louis Beside Himself is a quirky and fun coming of age novel. Kids will relate to Louis worrying about meeting his father’s expectations and feeling inadequate when facing difficult situations. And when Louis finally manages to do something very, very right, the reader will cheer for his efforts. I highly recommend this uplifting and enjoyable book.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

The Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch!

Bergers Book Reviews

The Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch
Author: Amy Purser Carter
Illustrator: Sarah E. Markham
Publisher: Outskirts Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4327-3781-8
Pages: 24
Price: $15.95

Author’s website
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One witch just can’t seem to be as wicked as she knows she should be. So on Halloween night, you won’t find her out causing mayhem. Instead, she stays home and bakes cookies for the children.

The Not So Wicked, Wicked Witch! paints a nice picture of a good witch who doesn’t do any evil deeds. But that’s as far as this book goes. There is no actual story. I would have preferred to see some kind of plot, in order for this book to hold children’s attention.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Muzzled

Bergers Book Reviews

Muzzled
Author: Eileen Brady
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-4642-0184-4
Pages: 250
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
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Kate Turner, D.V.M., is out making house calls when she arrives at the home of the Langthornes. Expecting to check on one of their champion Cavalier King Charles spaniels, she is shocked to find the couple seated in their chairs, apparently shot while enjoying their tea.

Although the initial determination is murder-suicide, several pieces of the puzzle don’t seem to fit. Dr. Kate is unpleasantly reminded on several occasions that as a newcomer to town and the one who found the bodies, she’s being considered a suspect. And as she tries to clear her name, she learns that almost everyone had a reason to hate the Langthornes.

Muzzled is the first in the new Kate Turner, D.V.M. mystery series. Animal lovers will be amused by the antics of pet owners and their companions, and cozy mystery fans will appreciate this well-crafted whodunit. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to seeing more of this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Elephantastic!

Bergers Book Reviews

Elephantastic!
Author: Michael Engler
Illustrator: Joëlle Tourlonias
Publisher: Peter Pauper Press
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-1-4413-0841-2
Pages: 32
Price: $16.99

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Andrew is busy working on a treasure map when his mother asks him to bring a package upstairs to his neighbor. But instead, he opens it, thinking it’s for him. Inside is a stuffed elephant named Timbo, who instantly becomes his friend. They travel all over the world together, seeing interesting new things and having great adventures. But soon the fun ends, when Andrew’s mother tells him the elephant belongs to Louise.

With great sadness, he gives his new best friend to the girl upstairs. But he is in for a big surprise when she comes to visit him only a little while later. Timbo misses him, and she suggests that maybe the three of them can travel together from now on.

Elepahantastic! is full of fun and adventure. Using only his imagination, Andrew can talk to Timbo and travel to foreign places. And when Louise joins them, the joy is multiplied.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

mystery

Panthers Play for Keeps (Pru Marlowe Pet Mystery #4)

Bergers Book Reviews

Panthers Play for Keeps
Author: Clea Simon
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
Genre: Mystery
ISBN: 978-1-5905-8870-3
Pages: 250
Price: $24.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Pru Marlowe has an unique gift – the ability to communicate with animals. But animals don’t communicate the way humans do, in complete sentences and thoughts. Instead they convey feelings and impressions, which are often confusing and misunderstood.

While training a service dog, Pru discovers a woman’s body in the woods. The dog conveys a mixture of feelings that Pru is at a loss to interpret. But when the police decide the woman had been mauled by a big cat – and none had been seen in the area for over a century – Pru is puzzled. In speaking to the animals, the police, and the people involved with the woman, the story becomes even more disturbing. If a big cat really was responsible, how did it get there? And where was it now?

Panthers Play for Keeps is the fourth book in the Pru Marlowe mystery series. Unlike some other animal mysteries, Pru’s conversations are believable and add an interesting dimension to the story. I really enjoyed this book, and look forward to more in this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger