Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Joe Consiglio
Illustrator: Joe Simko
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4067-3
Pages: 48
Price: $16.99

Author’s website
Schiffer Books
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Can you imagine an ice cream truck driver who wouldn’t stop? Well, the world’s most evil, sinister, and wicked ice cream truck driver pulled into Big Billy’s neighborhood, played the ice cream truck music, and then sped away! After several nights of this torment, longing for ice cream but not able to get any, the kids decide they need a plan.

But while the children have their thoughts on how to handle this situation, Big Billy has a different idea. And since Big Billy gets to the true heart of the matter, he’s able to reach the ice cream truck driver in a way no one else can.

Bright and colorful illustrations, hyperbole, and a great twist make Big Billy and the Ice Cream Truck That Wouldn’t Stop a fun read for kids. Add a side dish of ice cream, and it’s an instant hit. I highly recommend it.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

teen

Yell Out / Do You

October 15, 2012 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Stephanie Perry Moore & Derrick Moore
Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing
Genre: Teen
ISBN: 978-1-61651-886-8
Pages: 309
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
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Sweet Ella Blount always tries to please. When her sister and fellow cheer teammates need help in school and ask her to cheat, she’s torn. And what will she do about the football player she’s developed an interest in, once she discovers he’s squatting at the high school? Life has certainly gotten much more complicated!

Leo Steele’s mom has moved away with her new boyfriend, leaving him suddenly homeless. The local gang intends to do him serious harm, if they can catch him alone. But Leo is captivated by the angel who keeps leaving food at the school for him, showing that someone really cares.

In this flip book, the reader is shown two sides to the same story. Told from both Ella’s and Leo’s perspective, it shares how both are feeling and reacting to the events around them. But in this book, I felt there was little that happened outside Ella’s viewpoint to make Leo’s story not feel repetitive. Set in a predominantly African-American community outside of Atlanta, this story offers real-life drama for urban teens.

The Lockwood Lions series pulls no punches. These are kids the reader can relate to, and the situations are not sugar-coated. But overall, this series send a positive message of getting a good education, avoiding trouble, and striving to do the right thing.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

tween

Bonehead

October 12, 2012October 12, 2012 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Normandy D. Piccolo
Publisher: Normandy’s Bright Ideas
Genre: Urban youth fiction
ISBN: 978-0-578-10096-8
Pages: 253
Price: $7.99

Author’s website
Buy it here

The year is 1974. Trey Johnston and his friends are growing up in the Po’k n’ Beans Project outside of Washington, D.C. Trey’s Momma works hard to keep food on the table and rent paid for their slum apartment, but Trey wants more out of life. Trey, called Bonehead because Momma makes bone soup for nearly every meal, visits the House of Fossils Museum on a field trip. He then decides he will make himself and Momma rich by finding the very first dinosaur bone in the Beans Project.

Although this dig begins to consume his waking hours, Trey has an active social life with the residents of the Beans. As children of the 1970’s, they watch the classic TV shows, like “Good Times.” They discuss iconic sports heroes of the day, like Mohammed Ali. And they play games like “Rock ’em, Sock ’em Robots” although their Beans version is a bit different. The lingo is groovy, and the kids are true urban African American pre-teens.

Trey grows up surrounded by poverty and “lazy-bone” (as Momma would call them) residents in the Beans. But despite his circumstances, he rises above them by choosing to do something special. Although unsuccessful, he makes his Momma proud. Material possessions may make life easier, but Trey learns that love and friendship matter more than anything else.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

fantasy

The Ruins of Noe

October 11, 2012 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Danika Dinsmore
Publisher: Hydra House
Genre: Fantasy
ISBN: 978-0-9848301-2-1
Pages: 266
Price: $12.95

Author’s website
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In this sequel to Brigitta of the White Forest, Brigitta must once again travel back to the land of the Ancients. Terrible trouble faces the faeries of the White Forest, and the prophecy states that Brigitta must be the one who restores the balance.

Traveling with the High Priestess, Ondelle, she finds herself caught up in a war between two faerie populations. As outsiders, they are viewed with hostility, which puts their lives in jeopardy. Brigitta must rely on her instincts to determine who she can trust and how to extract herself from her dire predicament.

I loved the first book in this series, but found that the ending to this story left me unsatisfied. Too many questions remained to be answered, and there is no sense of closure. Brigitta and Ondelle, along with the other beings they encounter, are magical, and the fantasy captures the imagination. One truly feels transported to another realm in reading this story. I hope the answers will come in the third volume of this series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

classics, graphic novel, holiday

Graphic Classics Vol. 23: Halloween Classics

October 10, 2012January 15, 2013 Bergers Book Reviews

Publisher: Eureka Productions
ISBN: 978-0-9825630-5-2
Pages: 144
Price: $17.95

Graphic Classics
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In celebration of this timeless holiday, Graphic Classics has produced a compilation of the best in scary fiction. Stories include:

Hallowe’en in a Suburb by H.P. Lovecraft, Illustrated by Jeffrey Johannes
Halloween by Mort Castle, Illustreated by Kevin Atkinson
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, Illustrated by Shepherd Hendrix
A Curious Dream by Mark Twain, Illustrated by Nick Miller
Lot No. 249 by Arthur Conan Doyle, Illustrated by Simon Gane
Cool Air by H.P. Lovecraft, Illustrated by Craig Wilson
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari by Hans Janowitz & Carl Mayer, Illustrated by Matt Howarth

A unique feature of this collection is a background skit placed between the stories, pulling from Halloween lore and tradition. This newest Graphic Classics book is a treasure-trove of great literature, illustrated in ways that make these gems come alive. I love this series!

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Sing at School

October 5, 2012 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Jack O’Leary
Illustrator: Steve Simpson
Publisher:Sing Into Life
Genre: Children
ISBN: 978-0-9871510-1-8
Pages: 12 (includes CD)
Price: $9.99

Sing Into Life website
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How may kids get excited about being at school? For those with special needs, it may be even harder to face the day. The Sing Into Life series was developed to reach these children in a new way.

Sing At School is a simple book detailing the steps involved in going about the school day. An accompanying CD introduces the main character, a sock puppet named Bo Jingles. Then the text is sung and also read aloud. The concluding tracks summarize the steps involved in the day, and say goodbye to the listener.

This series of musical social stories was designed in consultation with children, parents, therapists and teachers to respond to specific needs. Music makes everything more fun, and a reluctant child may find himself reminded of the music while happily following the eight steps at school. Responding to ordinary challenges can be difficult, so having the right social skills is important for a child’s self-esteem and self-confidence. I highly recommend this unique series.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

children

Rupert’s Tales: The Wheel of the Year Activity Book

October 4, 2012 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Kyrja
Illustrator: Tonia Bennington Osborn
Publisher: Schiffer Books
Genre: Children / Wicca
ISBN: 978-0-7643-4020-8
Pages: 40
Price: $9.99

Author’s website
Schiffer Books
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Rupert’s Tales books explain the Wheel of the Year for children. Each of the two books covers four major holidays in the Wiccan calendar. In addition to the main books, this activity book was created for kids to learn more about these important holidays.

Blank coloring pages have accompanying text describing the holidays. A crossword puzzle, maze and circle-a-word puzzle are also included. Answers are provided for those who struggle to complete them. All of the activities are meant to teach children while they play.

If you’ve purchased Rupert’s Tales books for your children, you’ll most likely want to add this activity book to your collection. This book won’t stand alone, since the activities pull from information learned from the other books. This is a nice series introducing Pagan religion to children.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

romance

The Unfinished Garden

October 3, 2012 Bergers Book Reviews

Author: Barbara Claypole White
Publisher: Harlequin
Genre: Romance
ISBN: 978-0-7783-1412-7
Pages: 384
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
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James Nealy suffers from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. One if the things he fears the most is dirt, so he decides he will create a garden and face his demons head-on. When he tries to hire Tilly Silverberg to work with him, she refuses. What James doesn’t realize is that Tilly is still trying to survive widowhood, striving to maintain her balance in a world turned upside down.

A family emergency returns Tilly to her childhood home in England, where she discovers her former sweetheart is now single. James follows her there, trying to coax her into creating his garden. Along with Tilly’s romantic problems, her best friend who always shared everything with her now starts harboring secrets. When life seems more complicated than she bargained for, a health scare and the potential upheaval her mother plans sends Tilly into a downward spiral that only James understands. As they both cope with their own emotional issues, they find themselves growing closer.

The Unfinished Garden is a powerful story of friendship and courage in the midst of frightening circumstances. As these two damaged souls spend time together, healing occurs. The reader won’t find any gratuitous sex scenes in this book. Instead we see a natural relationship growing from a shared bond that only deepens as the story progresses. I highly recommend this wonderful love story.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

music

Shakuhachi Meditation Music

October 1, 2012 Bergers Book Reviews

Artist: Stan Richardson
Label: Sounds True
ISBN: 1-56455-420-1
Running Time: 141:50 (2 CD set)
Price: $13.90

Artist’s website
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The shakuhachi is a Japanese flute that is difficult to play. Because of the intense concentration and focus needed, it is often used in meditation. Shakuhachi Meditation Music is a collection of ancient tunes used in Zen temples.

Using flute and bells, this soulful music relaxes the listener into a quiet meditative state. It can be used in formal meditation practice or simply to unwind and relax at the end of a long, hard day. While listening, one can feel tension melting away. I highly recommend this soothing meditation music.

Reviewer: Alice Berger

sports, teen

Always Upbeat / All That

September 28, 2012 Bergers Book Reviews

Authors: Stephanie Perry Moore & Derrick Moore
Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing
Genre: Teen
ISBN: 978-1-61651-884-4
Pages: 314
Price: $14.95

Author’s website
Buy it at Amazon

Charli Black is on top of the world. She’s only a junior in high school, and she’s just been named cheer captain. She’s dating Blake Strong, the quarterback and captain of the football team. Life seems almost perfect. But suddenly things change, and she no longer knows where she stands – with her cheer team and also with Blake.

Blake Strong loves football, but he also loves his family. And when devastating news about his mom nearly crushes him, he turns to Charli to lean on. But Charli is too busy with her girls to have any time for him. Is it time to end things with Charli, and move on to someone who seems to care?

In Always Upbeat / All That, the reader is given both sides of the same story. After reading Charli’s thoughts, we then get a glimpse of Blake’s perspective, which helps us better understand his actions. Set in a predominantly African-American community outside of Atlanta, this story offers real-life drama for urban teens.

Reviewer: Alice Berger