Author: Bergers Book Reviews

Author and book reviewer.
children, nature

Letters of the West

Bergers Book Reviews

Letters of the West
Author: Michelle E. Walch
Illustrator: John Maddin
Publisher: Craigmore Creations
Genre: Children / Nature
ISBN: 978-1-940052-10-6
Pages: 32
Price: $17.99

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A is for Alpenglow, F is for Foxglove, X is for Xeriscape…” This unique alphabet book features the many plants, animals, and other curious features of the west. Each letter is presented on its own page along with an accompanying whimsical drawing in bold scratchboard art.

Letters of the West is not your typical alphabet book. Some of these entries will be familiar, but many will be surprising, and kids will enjoy learning about nature as they learn their ABCs.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

Mrs. Ravenbach’s Way

Bergers Book Reviews

Mrs. Ravenbach's Way
Author: William M. Akers
Publisher: Regan Arts
Genre: Middle-grade
ISBN: 978-194139358-1
Pages: 240
Price: $18.99

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Mrs. Ravenbach teaches 4th grade at the KcKegway School for Clever and Gifted Children and she’s keen on receiving her fifth Golden Apple Award this year. But her newest pupil, Tobias Wilcox, is making this extremely difficult. In fact, his rebellious nature has her convinced that he will follow the path of one of her former students, Fast Eddie LeJeune, who she believes has been spending time in the penitentiary.

As the school year progresses, Mrs. Ravenbach is determined to fully control Tobias, eliminating any of the independent thinking he so fiercely clings to. Reading his private journal and bribing his best friend for information are considered necessary evils in order to accomplish her mission. But Tobias is onto her, and he has a plan to expose her evil teaching methods.

While Mrs. Ravenbach’s Way appears to be a subversive middle-grade novel, it reads more like an adult novel. Tobias plays only a small part in this classroom drama, and what little we do see of his thoughts is confined to his journal entries. We have only a few subtle hints that he is planning his revenge. Especially clever and gifted kids will find this story amusing, but I don’t know if the average middle-grade reader will be able to see past the adult main character to follow the plot to its satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

The Girl in the Well Is Me

Bergers Book Reviews

The Girl in the Well Is Me
Author: Karen Rivers
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Genre: Middle-grade
ISBN: 978-1-61620-569-0
Pages: 224
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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Kammie should have never gotten involved with Mandy, Kandy and Sandy. But when you’re new in town and trying to fit in, you sometimes take risks. Like when you sing the Star Spangled Banner on a dare and suddenly find yourself stuck inside a well.

Being trapped in one place, unable to move, and left completely alone, allows Kammie to dwell on those incidents from her past that brought her to this unusual predicament. Fear, lack of oxygen, and an overactive imagination play tricks on her, and she begins to suffer hallucinations. After a while, it looks like she may not make it out alive. Will someone ever come to rescue her?

Kammie is not your typical middle-grade girl. Family issues have forced her mother to make some drastic decisions, and Kammie’s life is anything but wonderful. But as she faces the real possibility of dying, she suddenly discovers she very much wants to live. The Girl in the Well Is Me will keep middle-graders wondering what new revelation will come next, and if Kammie will ever make it out of the well alive. I highly recommend it.

CAUTION: Not recommended for those who suffer from claustrophobia.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

animals, children

Pet Shop Heroes

Bergers Book Reviews

Pet Shop Heroes
Author: Stanford Crow
Illustrator: Christian Paniagua
Publisher: Bliss Group Books
Genre: Children / Animals
ISBN: 978-1-940021-11-9
Pages: 60
Price: $4.99

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Sly, the snake, has been working on a magic potion. When a mosquito flies through the smoke, he begins to transfer super powers to all those he bites. After being bitten, Sly realizes he has the power to take over the city and heads straight for mayor’s office.

Meanwhile, the mosquito also bites four animals living at the pet shop. Kitty the cat, Grace the guinea pig, Petruchio the puppy, and Carmine the chameleon all race to the mayor’s office to try to save the city. Each has a unique new super power that will help them defeat Sly.

Pet Shop Heroes blends action, science, and humor into a fun story kids will enjoy. Move over Superman – the Pet Shop Heroes are ready to save the world!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

inspiration

Dream

Bergers Book Reviews

Dream
Author: Marcia Wieder
Publisher: Next Century Publishing
Genre: Inspiration
ISBN: 978-1681020624
Pages: 232
Price: $21.95

Dream University
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Most of us think about our dreams, but how many actually achieve them? What if we had a blueprint for getting what we really want out of life? Would we jump at the opportunity to have our dreams come true? In Dream, Marcia Wieder explains the process we can use to make them happen.

At first glance, the formula is simple: Clarify – Believe – Act. But so much is hidden behind those concepts, and these are the very things that hold us back. Do you really know what your dream is? What are the limiting beliefs that tell you that it’s not possible for you to have it? And what are the action steps you can begin to take today? These and many more questions are explored, as Marcia Wieder guides us through the dream manifestation process.

More than just helping to set goals, Dream inspires the reader to believe in herself and to live life to the fullest. If you have a dream and you’re not sure how you can make it happen, this is the book for you.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, farming

Big Tractors With Casey & Friends

Bergers Book Reviews

Big Tractors With Casey & Friends
Author: Holly Dufek
Illustrator: Paul E. Nunn
Publisher: Octane Press
Genre: Children / Farming
ISBN: 978-1937747534
Pages: 32
Price: $14.99

Octane Press
Case IH farm equipment
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Happy Skies Farm is a big farm, and it needs big equipment to manage its work. But Casey has two good friends – Big Red the Magnum and Sammy Steiger – who help her get the job done. Along with Tillus the worm, Casey shows us how Big Red and Sammy help her with her work.

In order to understand how powerful these two big tractors are, Casey first explores the concept of horsepower, showing us the evolution of tractors since they first appeared in 1920. Weight balancing and power output are demonstrated, and wheel size and shape are discussed, as Casey explains how a tractor is designed so it won’t sink into loose soil or flatten the soil too much. Finally, we see the inside of the tractor from the operating console to the interior mechanical workings. A glossary of terms concludes the narrative.

Big tractors are a necessity on large farms, and knowing as much as possible about the equipment they’re operating will be helpful to farm kids. But even those who live in the city or suburbs will be fascinated by this large and useful equipment. Big Tractors With Casey & Friends is a great read for anyone interested in learning how big farm equipment works.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

A Hippo in Our Yard

Bergers Book Reviews

A Hippo in Our Yard
Author & Illustrator: Liza Donnelly
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3564-7
Pages: 32
Price: $16.95

Author’s website
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Sally insists there is a hippo in the yard, but her mother doesn’t believe her. After feeding it some lettuce, she notices a hungry tiger in the tree. While her family continues to ignore her, Sally is soon feeding the tiger, as well as some zebras and koalas. An emergency phone call confirms Sally’s words. The zoo animals have escaped!

Any child who is frustrated at the lack of attention he’s getting from his parents will be pleased when Sally is finally proved right. A Hippo in Our Yard will have kids giggling as they read it over and over again.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fiction, literary

The Madwoman Upstairs

Bergers Book Reviews

The Madwoman Upstairs
Author: Catherine Lowell
Publisher: Touchstone
Genre: Literary fiction
ISBN: 978-1-5011-2421-1
Pages: 352
Price: $25.99

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Samantha Whipple is the last remaining descendant of the Brontë family. Although the media believes she is heir to a fortune in lost memorabilia, she knows anything of value probably perished along with her father in the fire that took his life. So when one of his marked-up Brontë books shows up at her dorm room, she wonders how it could have survived – and how it got there.

As Samantha debates literature with her professor, the two verbally spar over the Brontës in particular. A self-proclaimed Brontë expert publishes a book purporting to contain the missing (aka “stolen”) items that he thinks exist, and Samantha is furious. But the biggest problem Samantha has to deal with is the sudden realization that she never really knew her father at all.

The Madwoman Upstairs captivated my interest from the very first page, producing endless speculation on the unusual literary mystery it presents. The characters are real and so very human, quirky in their own unique ways. This debut novel is a winner, and I look forward to seeing more from this talented new author.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children, dogs

The Trouble With Cavapoos

Bergers Book Reviews

The Trouble With Cavapoos
Author: Stella Dutton
Illustrator: Franfou
Publisher: Quimby & Sneet
ISBN: 978-0-9790832-4-2
Pages: 32
Price: $19.99

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If you’ve ever owned a Cavapoo, you might have discovered they are full of mischief. The Trouble With Cavapoos details their crazy behavior, showing them romping through the mud, chasing cats, and howling through the night. But although they are difficult to live with, the narrator clearly adores her pooches.

The Trouble With Cavapoos is written in rhyming verse, which occasionally stumbles over awkward phrases. The illustrations are clever and funny, highlighting the zany problems this poor owner finds herself in with her treasured pets. Kids will giggle over these funny scenarios.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

cartoon, children, humor

Noodlehead Nightmares

Bergers Book Reviews

Noodlehead Nightmares
Authors: Tedd Arnold, Martha Hamilton, Mitch Weiss
Illustrator: Tedd Arnold
Publisher: Holiday House
Genre: Children / Humor
ISBN: 978-0-8234-3566-1
Pages: 48
Price: $15.95

Tedd Arnold’s website
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Mac and Mac are noodleheads, so they have nothing in their heads. They love pie but hate making their beds. When their mom bribes them with a freshly baked pie, they comply, but only until they’re duped out of their prize. So, in an effort to avoid their dreaded chore, they come up with schemes to sleep elsewhere, leading to uncomfortable nights of slumber.

Noodlehead Nightmares is a silly spoof that will inspire lots of giggles. Written in a comic book style, this book is fun and easy to read, even for the most reluctant reader. I hope we get to see more of these noodleheads.

Reviewer: Alice Berger