Today we hear from Bookbabbler Sarah, and review our ‘author in residence’s new book, Jessie Hearts NYC, out this month. We’re also offering 5 Bookbabblers a chance to win a copy for themselves – read on….!

Jessie Hearts NYC by Keris Stainton 

Jessie’s just arrived in New York, hoping to forget about her awful ex.New Yorker Finn is in love with his best friend’s girlfriend.They might be perfect together, but in a city of eight million people, will they find each other?

Jessie hearts NYC is Keris Stainton’s second novel, following on from her 2010 debut with ‘Della says OMG!’.

I don’t usually judge books by their cover, but you cannot help but be impressed by the fabulous gold cover on Jessie hearts NYC which instantly grabbed my attention.

The novel follows Jessie and her best friend Emma who go to New York to visit Jessie’s mother during the summer holidays. Hoping to get over her ex-boyfriend Jessie does not expect to find romance in the big apple. Finn is from New York and is in love with his best friend’s girlfriend and under a lot of pressure from his parents. Jessie and Finn seem to meet, but not become acquainted for much of the book. I felt that fate was a really big part of the story and it works well with the way that the story is told in two voices, alternating between Jessie and Finn.

One strong element in the story was also the relationship between Jessie and her estranged mother Natalie. Jessie seems closer to her father and almost wary of her mother. It is interesting to see the relationship develop and change throughout the story.

I enjoyed this book so much and thought that it was particularly evident that Keris Stainton loves New York and has meticulously researched her book. Just reading this made me want to go to the city again and the author provides us with lists of places to visit. I also loved the fact that lots of links were made between films and locations in New York, it is a fun element that makes the reader feel that they’re really in the city.

Gripping and exciting, Jessie Hearts NYC is a perfect summer read!

Thanks, Sarah! So if you fancy getting your hands on this ‘perfect summer read’, comment on this post, ‘like’ it on Facebook or retweet it, and we’ll pick out 5 winners (UK only) on Sunday at 7pm – good luck all!

Today we hear from Bookbabbler Liz…

Tempest Rising – Tracy Deebs

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kona, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water’s temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean’s future hangs in the balance. (from Goodreads)

Tempest Rising was a surprisingly deeper (and this is where my ocean related puns end) read than I thought it’d be. Having never read a book about mermaids before, I don’t really know what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t something quite as dark and as profound as Tempest Rising turned out to be. Our main character, Tempest, was a sixteen year old girl faced with making a life altering decision on her seventeenth birthday – should she remain human and stay with her father and brothers, or should she embrace the mermaid within her and join her mother in the ocean? I really liked Tempest; she remained adamant that she would never abandon her family the way her mother did, but she struggled to resist the pull of the sea and the way it made her feel when she was swimming or surfing in the waves. Her conflicting desires were eating away at her, and you couldn’t help feel sorry for her, wishing there was some way she could have both. Tempest was also very likeable, I found; for one thing, she was absolutely hilarious, and was never short of a witty comeback, and another thing was that she just seemed like a very real and believable teenager. She always knew when she was being stupid or acting unfairly, but couldn’t control her emotions enough to stop – and this was something I liked about her, because it meant she was acknowledging she wasn’t perfect and that she did have a lot to learn.

Kona, the strange and sexy surfer with a lot of secrets, was another reason I enjoyed Tempest Rising so much. I liked Tempest’s boyfriend Mark well enough – he was very sweet and considerate – but Kona was on a whole other level. He was not only handsome and funny and cheeky, but he had a connection with Tempest that no human could ever understand; once they got to know each other better, it was obvious that Kona cared deeply about Tempest, and I thought the things he did for her were really sweet and showed how much he wanted to be with her. He also held to key to unlocking Tempest’s past, and if Tempest wanted to know more about her mermaid side, Kona was the only person she could go to (something that frustrated Tempest, but which made me laugh a lot, especially whenever Kona had that knowing look on his face that Tempest seemed find so annoying). Kona claimed that Tempest was vital in restoring peace to the ocean realm (though this is never fully explained), and though he teased her a lot about being a clueless mermaid, it was obvious he respected her and admired her. I also loved the way Kona and Tempest acted when they were together; they could be funny, they could be sweet, they could be angry and they could be scared, but whatever emotions they were both feeling, they were always there for each other. I love how their relationship grew, and I think I enjoyed every single scene they were in.

Exploring the world under the sea was probably one of my favourite parts of the novel. It was so great to read about the ocean palace, and all the marine life – and I really liked finding out more about the people who lived there and how things were done in their world compared to on land. I wish we could have seen more, though, as most of the time spent underwater was pretty chaotic for Tempest and Kona. I also wish that we could have found out a little bit more about Tempest’s mother, as we never completely got to understand why she left Tempest and her family all those years ago. However, I did like seeing the way Tempest interacted with her father and brothers – she really loved them and it was easy to see why it’d be so difficult for her to ever leave them.

I’m not sure how I feel about the ending of Tempest Rising – I liked it, but I felt like maybe it was cut short – some more explaining could have been done to wrap up any questions that remained. I wouldn’t object to a sequel, but overall, I’m very happy with the way things stand now and I think that it was the just the right ending for Tempest.

In conclusion, Tempest Rising was a book I thought I’d like but ended up enjoying much more than I anticipated, and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a very funny, but slightly more serious summer read.

Thanks, Liz, and thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending us a copy.

Today we have books for little ones, reviewed by Wendy…

Banana Monster and Ella’s Bath – Peter Bently

These books are part of the Wild Tales A Read-aloud story. The formula of these is described as original stories specially written for preschoolers with fantastic wildlife photos and bold illustrations.

Banana Monster is about a chimp called Charlie and his brother Chester. Charlie tries to scare his little brother by telling him about monsters but ends up scaring himself and thinking that the different sounds he hears is a monster. It ends up with Charlie finding out that the sounds he heard were not a monster but his brother eating his entire banana store.

Ella’s bath is about Ella on a hot day and the different ways she tries to keep cool, such as in the water, a mud bath and a branch as a fan.

These stories are short and simple and ideal for preschool children though my daughter who is 5 also liked them as she could read them herself. They are illustrated with a mixture of cute animal photos and drawings.

At the end of both books are notes for parents and teachers which give ideas for discussing the story and other activities based around it. I used some of these ideas with my children and it was lovely hearing my 4 year old describe the stories for himself and the different interpretation he put on events.

Thanks, Wendy, and thanks to QED Publishing for sending us copies.

Today we hear from Luke…

Dark Woods by Steve Voake

After meeting on holiday in Montana, Cal and Eden decide to explore the mountains beyond their campground.

But deep in the woods, someone is watching them. Jefferson Boyd, a lone outcast, believes he has discovered a way of turning dreams into reality.

Now all he needs is someone to experiment on……

We follow the story of Cal a troubled teen who has spent all his life in-between care and a variety of foster parents. He is currently on vacation with his latest foster parents who although trying their best are finding difficult to be accepted and trusted by Cal. A camping trip in Montana leads to him befriending an older girl Eden and together they go for an early morning walk with disastrous consequences. They meet Jefferson Boyd who gets them to assist in searching for his missing dog. But Jefferson is not what he seems and they quickly find themselves involved in his dream reality experiments with frightening consequences. All their childhood fears that manifest in their dreams and nightmares become reality, and we follow them as they attempt to banish them for good.

I loved this book. The story quickly develops and the two main characters are likeable and believable. Cal has had a troubled childhood and never been able to form close relationships or trust any adult and throughout the book we see his trust grow and him develop feelings for those involved in his life. I liked the idea of the monsters from our nightmares becoming real, and I even felt sorry for the deluded Boyd whose only reason for conducting the experiments were to be reunited with his beloved dog.

Overall, an excellent book that once I started reading I couldn’t put down.

Thanks, Luke, and thanks to Faber and Faber for sending us a copy. It’s here for you to buy now…

Today we hear from Bookbabbler Liz…

The Scorpio Races - Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line.

Some riders live.

Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen. (from Goodreads)

The Scorpio Races was a beautifully written book which drew me in with its rich descriptions and fascinating premise. I had never heard of water horses, or capaill uisce, before, but the way Maggie Stiefvater described them made me very curious – they were beautiful, with great strength and speed, but were also dangerous, terrible, man-eating beasts – to ride one would mean to risk your life. At first I couldn’t understand why anyone would participate in the Scorpio Races; people died every year riding the water horses, and there were so many risks involved it just didn’t seem worth it at all. I could appreciate why many people decided to leave the island of Thisby; if a water horse attacked, the chances of survival were very slim. But as the book went on, I began to understand more about the horses, and the island, and it became clearer why the Scorpio Races were regarded as such a huge event, and why the water horses were so revered.

The book is told in alternating POVs (Puck and Sean), and although I felt it started off a bit slow, I was soon sucked into the carefully and wonderfully weaved story. Puck was a very interesting character; she had lived on the island all her life, and had always loved it, the same way she loved riding her (normal, not water) horse, Dove. She was determined and brave – she feared the water horses, as they killed her parents, but despite her fear, she was determined to do what she had to do, even if it meant risking her life. Competing in the races wasn’t something she wanted to do, it was something she had to, and despite being the first girl ever to do so, despite the attempts of others to stop her, she signed up with confidence that she would not die and she would get through it. I think this showed not only her bravery, but her devotion to the island and to her brothers, and as the story progressed, I started to understand her reasons for loving the island as much as she did, and I knew why she would never leave.

Sean was also an extremely intriguing character. One of kind, it seemed he was the only person in the whole of Thisby with some control over the water horses. They were impossible to tame, and were never to be trusted, but Sean appeared to have a unique ability to calm them and instruct them, and so it was no surprise he was reining champion of the races. I found it strange at first that Sean loved the horses (especially Corr) so much, when they had killed his father. But as we found out more about him, the things he had been through, and the way he understood water horses, it became clearer as to why he did. Corr was the most fascinating water horse for me, because even though he was just as dangerous as the other capaill uisce, he was the one who was with Sean the most, and their bond was unlike any other horse and rider.

I really, really loved the way the relationship between Sean and Puck developed. It started off completely different to how it ended up, and I just can’t even explain how much I liked their interaction, and their conversations, and their practice sessions, and just being together. The way both of them started to realise everything was changing was great to read about, and there were some truly funny comments from people such as George Holly regarding their growing friendship.

Other characters I loved were Finn, Puck’s brother, because he was so sweet and kind, and worried about his sister but also acknowledged he couldn’t stop her, and also George Holly, because although he was an outsider, he seemed to impact a lot of people around him, and he was funny on top of that. I also quite liked the three sisters, even though they were only minor characters, because they were wise and funny and seemed to know somehow how everything would turn out.

The only issued I had was that I felt the way Puck and Sean spoke was very un-teen like; they spoke like adults and used very sophisticated words and grammatical structure, which I felt didn’t really reflect their age. However, they could just be written off as being wise beyond their years, which is understandable, as you have to be mature in order to survive in Thisby.

In conclusion, The Scorpio Races was a spellbinding read, set in a world of both terror and beauty, which left my mind galloping for most of the night after I’d finished reading it. This being the first book I’ve read by the author, I will definitely be checking out Steifvater’s previous works, and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to be taken on a journey where the sea is alive and perilous, where the sand of the beach is red with blood and where racing horses is the most dangerous of sports.

Thanks, Liz, and thanks to Scholastic for sending us a copy. It’s out in October, and can be pre-ordered here now..

Today we have a review for little ones, by Wendy

My First … Visit to the Dentist – Eve Marleau 

These books are part of My First series. The idea of the My First series is to introduce children to commonplace situations is a light hearted and informative way. Others in the series include Visit to the hospital and Baby Brother.

The story is based around Arun and his visit to the dentist and what happens on that visit such as sitting in the waiting room, having your teeth checked in the special chair and how to clean your teeth. It is a simple tale but a useful tool for parents to explain to children about visiting the dentist and my children enjoyed cleaning their teeth in the way illustrated in the book.

At the end of the book is a glossary of new words that are in the story relating to dentists such as cavity and gums. The words contained in the glossary are in bold in the story. My 5 year old liked the glossary and learning the meaning of the words.

Thanks, Wendy, and thanks to QED Publishing for sending us a copy to review.

David by Mary Hoffman is now available in paperback. To celebrate, Bloomsbury have given us 5 copies to giveaway! Retweet this post or leave a comment to enter. Open to UK and Ireland only. Close 29th February at 5pm.

Read our review of David here…

David by Mary Hoffman 

Michelangelo’s statue of David is renowned all over the world. Thousands flock to Florence to admire the artistry behind this Renaissance masterpiece, and to admire the beauty of the human form captured in the marble. But the identity of the model for this statue that has been so revered for over five hundred years has been lost …In this epic story Mary Hoffman uses her persuasive narrative skills to imagine the story of Gabriele, an eighteen-year-old who, by becoming Michelangelo’s model, finds himself drawn into a world of spies, politicking, sabotage and murder. Set against the backdrop of Florence, this is a rich, colourful and thrilling tale.

Mary Hoffman’s David is a spectacular novel that will take you on a thrilling journey through Renaissance Florence.

The book is centered around the handsome Gabriele, an 18 year old from rural Tuscany who makes his way into Florence to find work and to meet his ‘milk brother’ Michaelangelo and who goes on to become the model for the famous David statue. Overwhelmed by his surroundings, he is targeted by robbers and has all of his money stolen. However, a rich Florentine widow witnesses Gabriele’s plight and invites him to see her. Here, his life starts on a path that will alter it forever.

Gabriele’s looks soon become a well discussed subject in Florence and he is soon employed as a model for wealthy patrons. We also learn about Gabriele’s romantic alliances and a lot of the novel talks about whether he will return to his fiancée, Rosalia.

Mary Hoffman teaches the reader about the struggles between political and religious factions in Florence at the time and we soon learn that Gabriele himself has become the pawn in a dangerous political game.

I loved this book, as someone interested in Italy and Florence in particular, it opened my eyes to history that I knew little about. I also enjoyed the way that Mary Hoffman has brought the world renowned figures of people like Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci to life.

This is a fantastic read and I would recommend it to anyone interested in historical fiction and fiction alike, there is a spectacular ending that I was not expecting at all. I am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Thanks, Sarah, and thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for sending us a copy. It’s out now in paperback and here for you to buy now..

Today we have a review for little ones, by Wendy…

Daisy Dinosaur Gets Lost – Steve Smallman and Daniel Howarth

This picture book is about a dinosaur called Daisy and her brother Rex. Rex has to take his sister out to play at the swamp even though he thinks she is too little to come. Daisy is told by her Mum to do what Rex tells her. Rex is teased by his friends and embarrassed by having to play with Daisy. He starts telling Daisy what to do sit over there, stand on one leg and she does it! But when he tells her to get lost and she does he regrets being mean to his sister.

This is a great tale which my children loved, especially as they love dinosaurs and they could also relate to it as they sometimes annoy each other! The illustrations are bold and bright with cuddly looking little dinosaurs. I would also recommend it as an early reading book as it is simply written.

At the end of the book are notes for parents and teachers which give ideas for discussing the story and other activities based around it. We had a good discussion about brothers and sisters and how even though we loved them, sometimes we didn’t want to play with them!

Thanks, Wendy, and thanks to QED Publishing for sending us a copy to review. It’s here for you to buy now..

Keris Stainton’s new book, Jessie Hearts NYC, is out to buy this month, so she’s sharing with us her favourite NYC books…

Top 5 Children’s Books set in New York

Eloise by Kay Thompson

Eloise lives with her nanny at The Plaza Hotel in New York. The daughter of rich parents, she is left daily to her own devices. She knows everything about The Plaza and everyone in it. Henry James would want to study her, and Queen Victoria would recognise her as an equal.

I thought I’d start with a classic. Eloise lives in The Plaza Hotel. She spends a lot of time running around the hotel, causing trouble. She has a pug named Weenie and a turtle named Skipperdee. She is awesome, obviously.

Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

This funny story tells how Trixie and Knuffel Bunny’s trip to the laundromat with Dad goes terribly wrong when Trixie realizes some bunny’s been left behind…! Her attempts to alert Dad all the way home are unsuccessful, until Mum points out that Knuffel Bunny is missing and the family hotfoot it back to the laundromat. Fortunately, KB is safe, if a little wet…

I adore Mo Willems books and fortunately so do my children. Knuffle Bunny – about a toddler who leave her favourite toy at the laundrette – was the first we ever read and I must admit I was attracted to it by its gorgeous illustrations. The illustrations are on photographs of Park Slope, Brooklyn (where Willems lives) and Trixie, the toddler, is based on Willems’ own daughter.

From the Mixed up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler by E L Konigsburg

Claudia and Jamie run away from home and wind up living at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. There they are privy to the introduction of a new statue and immediately are suspicious of its authenticity. 1968 Newbery Medal; Library of Congress Children’s Book of the Year; ALA Notable Children’s Book.

11-year-old Claudia and her younger brother Jamie run away to New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Eloise made me want to live in a hotel and this book made me want to live in a museum.

A Walk in New York by Salvatore Rubbino

A boy, his father and their dog wander in midtown Manhattan, taking in some of New York’s most famous landmarks and well-known streets, meeting New Yorkers and discovering how the iconic city looks, sounds, smells, tastes and feels…

A friend bought this for me for my 40th birthday and it probably is more suitable for me than for either of my young sons. There’s no story as such, it’s just a boy and his dad exploring New York with accompanying facts and figures (like ‘More hot dogs are eaten in New York than anywhere else in the USA’) and gorgeous retro illustrations.

The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden

After Chester, a cricket, arrives in the Times Square subway station, he takes up residence in a newsstand. Between escapades in New York City, Chester and four new friends manage to bring success to the almost bankrupt newsstand.

Another classic that I was obsessed with as a child. It made me yearn to go to New York… and live in an abandoned drain pipe in the Times Square subway station. I was a weird kid.

Thanks, Keris. To find out more about Keris, check out her website here, and you can buy these reads, along with Keris’ new book, Jessie Hearts NYC, here..

Today we hear from Bookbabbler Luke..

Envy by Gregg Olsen

One minute Katelyn’s a depressed teen with a loser life. The next, she’s lying on a stainless steel slab, eyes glassy, skin frosted over, and very, very dead. Was it suicide? Murder? Who’s to blame? Twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan stumble upon the dark truth. Inspired by a ripped-from-the –headlines cyber bullying crime, Envy is the gritty first volume in Empty Coffin, a new bone-chilling series that takes you to the edge- and pushes you right over.

This book begins with the death of a teenage girl Katelyn Berkley whose lifeless body is found in the bath apparently electrocuted by an espresso machine. Katelyn was a troubled teen who self harmed and had recently fallen out with her best friend Starla Larsen. It appears to everyone concerned that this was suicide. However two of her school friend’s twins Hayley and Taylor Ryan are not convinced. They possess an ability to see past events and become suspicious about the events leading to Katelyn’s death.

The story follows them as they investigate with the help of their friend Beth and Hayley’s boyfriend Colton.

This story was enthralling and I had no idea of what the outcome would be. The characters are very believable and great care has been taken to develop the characters and make them credible. The storyline is very plausible and topical as it looks at cyber bullying and its impact on the life of Katelyn.

The story develops the characters of Hayley and Taylor and gives an insight into their abilities and how they’ve developed over the years. As this is the first book in the Empty Coffin series, I’m sure we will see more of the twin’s abilities in crime solving in future books.

Overall an excellent book which kept me guessing until the very end. Looking forward to the next instalment.

Thanks, Luke – it’s here for to order now..