Search Results for: mysterious benedict society

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Adventure

August 25, 2008 by Carrie

I recently read The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (you can read my review of the first book here) and LOVED it! Almost immediately I sought out the sequel to the book. It did not disappoint in the least.

In the second book, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Adventure, we are sent on yet another adventure with the four childhood members of the Mysterious Benedict Society. We are given new sets of riddles and clues to solve the latest and greatest problem and rescue the world from danger it does not know exists.

I don’t want to spoil this book in any way so I won’t go into too much detail as to the story line. To bring you up to speed, if you have not yet heard of these books, four “remarkable children” are brought together to avert disaster. Through a secret plot, the adversary in these books wishes to (pretty much) take control of the world. Through the bravery and dedication of these young children, and their faithfulness to the unpleasant task at hand, danger is staved off to be faced another day.

This is a fantastic original tale that reminds me of no other. It is earmarked for children ages 9-12 but it has adult appeal as well. Another reason I love these books is that they are admirably clean for a “tween” book. Although the book appears to be written as having taken place in our modern age, there are no pop culture references that would date this tale. It’s a timeless read that I imagine is on it’s way to becoming a classic. It is a moral story and, if you use it well, should produce an excellent opportunity to share your own life and beliefs with your offspring. (In so much as they ever discuss life with their authority figures.) It is worth their time and yours, no doubt.

I normally am not a fan of fad reading. If reading about The Mysterious Benedict Society (a New York Times bestseller) makes me a fad reader then so be it! I rather like to be on the front end of this craze instead of being found running to catch up. Care to join me? I’m on pins and needles hoping for a third installment. Please, please, please, Mr. Stewart — give us more!

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict {Review}

April 30, 2012 by Jennifer

If you are like me, you finished Trenton Lee Stewart’s 3rd Mysterious Benedict Society novel The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma and wondered what would happen next. My daughter, who had urged me to read all the books after she fell in love with them, thought that the 3rd book seemed like an ending. It did wrap up, but I hoped that there would be more adventures from Reynie, Sticky, Kate and Constance. If not something else about these beloved characters, I trusted that he’d write something new, and I would like it just as much.

With The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, we are actually treated to the best of both. It is somewhat familiar, taking us back to the mysterious Benedict’s childhood. We meet 9-year-old Nicholas as he’s being moved to yet another orphanage. He is extraordinary, mysterious, sharp, and precocious. He’s also a bit lonely. The mean guys at the orphanage — the Spiders — are determined to show him up, but he and another outcast, John, team up to avoid their pranks. They also meet a girl from town, Violet, who is deaf (so of course, the brilliant Nicholas learns sign language overnight by speed reading a book on it).

There is indeed a mystery to be solved: Mr. Collum, the not-so-nice director of the orphanage, is convinced that Mr. Rothschild has hidden a fortune somewhere within the manor (which he converted to an orphanage in his estate in honor of his wife). Nicholas, John and Violet are determined to find it for themselves as a way to save themselves from their own sorry state.

I enjoyed getting to know this group of new characters, couched in the somewhat familiar MBS clothes of Mr. Benedict’s past (he still has a nose like a turnip and is plagued by narcolepsy). This book is just as good as the others — clever and intriguing, if not quite as humorous. I am hoping that more volumes in this series will tell us what happens to Nicholas next.

You can still enter to win a copy of this novel if you click through and leave a comment the giveaway post. The giveaway closes Tuesday night, so be quick!

Leaving a comment here won’t help you win, but I’d love to know if this series is new to you or if you are excited to hear about a 4th book from Trenton Lee Stewart.

Giveaway: The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, a Trenton Lee Stewart MBS prequel

April 12, 2012 by Jennifer

When I read the last pages of The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner’s Dilemma, the third book in the Mysterious Benedict Society series, it felt like the end. It felt like it, but it wasn’t definitive, and I hoped that there would be further adventures for Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance, these characters who I had come to love. Or maybe even better, Trenton Lee Stewart was hard at work creating even more lovable characters. I periodically googled and searched amazon and continued to come up with nothing new.

Then last month I got an email from Little Brown Kids asking me if I wanted a review copy of the newest Mysterious Benedict Society novel. My searching had petered out, and so I didn’t even know about it, but my face filled with a grin I quickly responded with an enthusiastic “yes, please” as I requested the new prequel.

Author Appearances

If you are a fan of the Mysterious Benedict Society, you can see the author Trenton Lee Stewart at several locations through the month of April including Milwaukee (tonight!), Portland, Seattle, New York, Houston (and I hope to be there!), Los Angeles and San Francisco. Find out the dates and all information at the Mysterious Benedict Society’s webpage.

Whether you are a fan or not (if you aren’t, you most definitely should be), you can enter to win this newest book, The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict. I have THREE copies to give away (U.S. only).

If you aren’t sure what this book might hold, or even the tone of the other books, check out this short trailer:

We haven’t read it, because I just received it yesterday, but stay tuned for mine (and Amanda’s) thoughts on this latest installment (here’s my review). Prequels are interesting. Sometimes you really need the background of the other books even though they come after in a chronological sense, because of the story progression, but other times you can read them before. It seems as if this one could be that way, but either way, this series is one that I highly recommend.

I can’t wait to begin sharing them with Kyle (who is almost 8). Perhaps soon, like perhaps this summer.

Don’t miss a thing: Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed or video reviews on YouTube. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter or on Facebook.

~~Leave a comment now to win one of 3 hardcover copies. We’ll announce the winner on May 2.~~ This giveaway is closed.

The Secret Keepers

September 23, 2016 by Jennifer

Publisher’s description: When Reuben discovers an extraordinary antique watch, he soon learns it has a secret power and his life takes an intriguing turn. At first he is thrilled with his new treasure, but as one secret leads to another, Reuben finds himself torn between his innately honest nature and the lure to be a hero.

Now he is on a dangerous adventure–full of curious characters, treacherous traps, and hairsbreadth escapes–as he races to solve the mystery before it is too late. Even with fearless Penny, mighty Jack, and the wise Mrs. Genevieve on his side, can Reuben outwit and outmaneuver the sly villain called The Smoke and his devious defenders the Directions and save the city from a terrible fate?

I LOVED Trenton Lee Stewart’s former series, Mysterious Benedict Society, as did my tween daughter who progressed to a teen as they were released throughout the years. I have been eagerly awaiting his next project. High expectations are hard. I wanted to feel all the feels that I did with MBS, and eventually I did, but I didn’t connect with this one until probably 100 pages into it (which is only 20%, because it’s so long). Part of the problem is that whole first part is just Reuben, and while I enjoyed getting to know him, it just was a bit drawn-out.

That said, once he started the next phase of his adventure, I was in hook, line, and sinker. The interactions that he had with the new characters he met were great, and their caper — to save the world, or at least New Umbra — was exciting and suspenseful.

I thought I had read that this was part of “The Secret Keepers” series, and if so, I’d definitely pick up the next book with the established characters. If not, it stands alone well, especially if you have a dedicated bookworm that can get through a lot of words. My 12-year-old son gave up, but there are parts of this book that will stick with me. As expected, the characters are warm and delightful if you take the time to get to know them. It was beautifully written, if a bit wordy and long to get started, but I’ll definitely give the next one a go.

Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head

October 15, 2015 by Jennifer

I am a huge fan of quirky, smart middle grade fiction. I figured that Curiosity House: The Shrunken Head would fit the bill, and it did!

I am assuming that Curiosity House will be a series, with this The Shrunken Head, as the first installation. It sets up well the quirky museum/freak show that Mr. Dumfrey runs. The museum is in financial trouble, so when they get a new item, a shrunken head, he is glad it creates a lot of buzz , but unfortunately a lot of mishaps, resulting in injury and even death, surrounds it as well. The deaths are totally age-appropriate and not too scary (age 10 and up, I’d say).

Mr. Dumfrey’s 4 kids of extraordinary abilities Pippa, Max, Sam and Thomas –who excel at mind-reading, knife throwing, strength, and shape-shifting — bond together to try to get to the bottom of things and ultimately save the only home they’ve ever known. Kids will relate to them feeling like misfits, as most kids do at some time or another.

I am reserving my highest recommendation, because I gave it to my 11 year old to read. I was pretty sure he’d like it, but he put it aside. That said, as I read it, I told him I really thought he’d like it, and he should try again, and he seemed open to the idea.

Lauren Oliver is a popular YA author, but I know she’s written middle grade fiction as well, and she’s right in her element here, along with H.C. Chester (who is somewhat mysterious himself as his author pic shows).

I think that fans of Mysterious Benedict Society, perhaps Lemony Snicket, will enjoy this (or if your child enjoyed this book, have him or her try those). It also reminds me in tone of another recent release, The Keepers, the Box and the Dragonfly.

Our Picks for Kids’ Book Gifts

December 11, 2012 by 5 Minutes for Books

Books make great gifts! They are totally accessible, easy to get at the last minute, whether online or in stores, and they are gifts we feel good about giving. I’m convinced that there is a book for every child on your list. If they “hate” reading, audiobooks make great gifts (check out mine and Nancy’s children’s audiobook giveaway post). We’ve also recommended specific books below that might entice them, as well as picks for those booklovers on your list.

Check out our picks below, and if you’ve discovered a new series, or have a go-to book gift for young readers (we’re focusing on preschool to 5th grade in this post), please leave a comment and share it!

NANCY

My 4th grader is somewhat of a reluctant reader, but when he finds a book or series he loves, he won’t put it down. So when the new Wimpy Kid book, The Third Wheel came in, I wasn’t surprised to find him immediately engrossed. He finished it the same day we got it, reading through dinner (a habit not normally encouraged in our house, as it’s family time) and instead of watching Monday Night Football. In the 7th book in the series, Greg has to find a date for the Valentine’s Day dance. I haven’t read the books after the first one but they’re extremely popular in his 4th grade class and highly recommended.

Parents of preschoolers may be familiar with Ladybug Girl, and while my kindergartner likes the books featuring Lulu, it’s the ones with her friend Sam that are a big hit with both of my boys. The Amazing Adventures of Bumblebee Boy follows Sam as he wants to play alone, while his little brother Owen tries his hardest to play too (the boys’ favorite part is when Owen asks to be “soup hero” too). Older and younger siblings will identify with each of the characters and it also reinforces using your imagination.

Finally, I can’t recommend books in a gift guide without including Mo Willems, and while he has new Pigeon and Elephant & Piggie books out this year (see Dawn’s section below), it’s Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs that I want to highlight. This hilarious twist on the classic story will have kids and adults rolling with laughter.

JENNIFER

I can’t stop recommending Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms and Horten’s Incredible Illusions, both linked to my reviews. This set of books would be great for any strong reader ready for more complex chapter books, no matter the age. Readers who have enjoyed Mysterious Benedict Society will enjoy this lesser-known new series, though I think Horten also works well for younger readers who like imaginative and adventurous stories who aren’t ready for the length or complexity of those stories.

That said, an special gift edition of The Mysterious Benedict Society Complete Collection would be greatly appreciated by the hardcore bookworm on your list, especially if he or she hasn’t yet discovered this series, or has just started it.

The One and Only Ivan is a good pick for animal lovers and more bookish types looking for a sweet, quieter story.

DAWN

I have to reinforce what Nancy first mentioned, because it’s become a tradition in our family that at least one Mo Willems book can be found wrapped under our tree each year. Willems’ latest Elephant & Piggie offering Let’s Go for a Drive delivers all the enthusiasm and hilarity young readers (and their parents and teachers!) have come to expect. Gerald’s propensity for extreme emotion is on display here, and as usual, Piggie is always ready to support her friend and his grand ideas. These fun books are big hits when read to the preschool set, and early independent readers love reading them on their own, too.

Two other picture books that I’ve reviewed this fall are on my list of gift recommendations. The Reader is simply delightful and there’s no better time to enjoy this tale of a boy sharing a treasured book with his canine companion after a walk in the snow than this winter. For some giggles and truly beautiful collage illustrations, be sure to check out Nighttime Ninja, as well.

And though it’s a year old already, I can’t help but put in a big recommendation for the middle grade novel Breadcrumbs, which my son and I absolutely adored last winter. A highly imaginative book that brings elements of fairy tales into a contemporary story, it also successfully created a story that appeals to both boys and girls, instead of falling into a stereotypical gender-specific niche. Take a look back at my review for more details and to find out why I called it a “Five Star Read.”

ELIZABETH:

Although it’s more of a Halloween book, my kids and I adored the Madeline parody Frankenstein. It’s really well done, perfectly riffing off the original. Since we were all big Madeline fans when the kids were younger, we all still liked it even though my twins are now 15. Every detail is pitch perfect, from the illustrations to the rhythm and rhyme of the story itself, to the “CaldeNOT” award on the cover.

A middle-grade reader that Ilsa and I both enjoyed was Iron-Hearted Violet. We both loved this story of an ugly princess and a timid dragon, which really is about the power of words to harm and heal, and how what we believe really does matter. It’s the sort of book that will spark great discussions, while at the same time just being a really good story. Highly recommended.

I also recommend Mira’s Diary: Lost in Paris. It is a whirlwind adventure of time travel, art, mystery and history, filled with pencil sketches of famous people, art, and places. But more than that, it’s the story of the Dreyfus affair. However, it’s very age-appropriate and not a heavy book, and I loved that an important historical event could be introduced to middle readers in such an engaging story.

Check out other books we’ve reviewed for more gift ideas

Mother-Daughter Bookclub series for tweens and young teens
Charlie Joe Jackson, for more reluctant readers or anyone who loves humor
Puff the Magic Dragon, now in board book form for babies and toddlers
We’ve used the Gift Ideas tag frequently this month, so feel free to browse it.

The Time-Traveling Fashionista at the Palace of Marie Antoinette

October 12, 2012 by Carrie

Apparently, The Time-Traveling Fashionista at the Palace of Marie Antoinette is the second in a series of books by Bianca Turetsky, the first being The Time-Traveling Fashionista On Board the Titanic. I was not aware of this when I accepted this title for review or I might not have accepted it at all. (I hate reading books out of order.) Gratefully, although the first book is referenced, this second book can stand alone if necessary.

As I mentioned last week, I’m not a big fan of modern novels because you never know what you are going to find in them. Middle Grade adventures I’m more at ease with, but even still, this particular title was a stretch as it seemed very teenage-esque. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was going to like it but I felt like taking a gamble and I can truthfully say that I’m glad I did so. Although I did not enjoy this book in its entirety, I found the whole idea quite interesting.

The Time-Traveling Fashionista is twelve-year-old Louise Lambert. Louise has a fashion style all her own – or at least, one that sets her apart from her friends. She favors vintage wear and loves haunting second-hand shops and thrift stores looking for good deals on aged fashion. Every so often she receives an invitation from two mysterious ladies, Marla and Glenda, to attend a private “Traveling Fashionista Vintage Sale.” Curious things happen whenever Louise attends these sales – things she cannot quite explain. When she steps into various vintage gowns they seem to transport her back to bygone days when the dresses were at the height of fashion. In the case of this book, Louise tries on a blue dress which magically whisks her away to the time of Marie Antoinette. Or, is Louise merely dreaming?

To a certain extent the entire book revolves around fashion. Author Bianca Turetsky clearly is a fan of designer clothes herself. She name drops various designers and quotes from them throughout the book. There are “twenty-five full-color fashion illustrations throughout” the book, to illustrate the dresses and “looks” which Turetsky is describing for her readers. Being very much a non-fashionista, I can’t say that I really “clicked” with that aspect of the book. Nor did I really get into the teenage society of parties and references to Kim Kardashian. I’ll confess to you right now that I skimmed past conversations between Louise and her friends about cute boys. (Turetsky actually does use the word “cute” and also keeps the boys and girls at a comfortable distance from one another.) I read only as much of their girl-ish conversations as I had to to confirm that there was nothing physical happening between the boys and the girls. (I have serious eye-rolling issues with the idea of teenage relationships.) Louise almost gets her first kiss, but misses the opportunity. Other than that, nothing remotely “interesting” happens between the sexes and we’re left only knowing that Louise is capable to having crushes. Predictable. Normal. I’ll just ignore that (as I don’t think it added to or subtracted from the story).

What I loved about The Time-Traveling Fashionista at the Palace of Marie Antoinette was that Turetsky tied in so much history. She painted the landscape for the reader of life pre-revolution in France. She introduces us to Marie Antoinette in a primitive way, yes, but in a way that makes the reader curious to learn more. She talks of Antoinette’s family history, her age, hints at dissatisfaction in her mate (but isn’t explicit by any means), and, of course, talks about the clothes. (She also managed to squeeze in the, “Let them eat cake” line.) Marie Antoinette is a character of intrigue and mystery who is a great curiosity. Her life is unfathomable to, well, pretty much all of us. I’ve long wanted to learn more about her, but haven’t taken the time. (I love history. Currently I’m ensconced in World War II – my favorite time period – and I haven’t gone back so far as to learn much about Atonoinette. But now I have an even greater desire to do so!) If Turetsky can draw tween girls into a fun and magical “We Were There” type of story and teach them some history while doing so then I’d be happy. (So few people seem to care about history these days.) Personally, I don’t really go for the clothes aspect but it is an aspect of history that had its influence and it is one that a great many young girls do care about. I’m left confessing that Turketsky came up with a clever idea.

In summary: this one wasn’t exactly and entirely my cup of tea but I still found parts of it which I very much enjoyed! (I might even go so far as to say that I would like this fairly well as a movie.)

Thanks to the Hachette Book Group for sending a copy of this one my way in exchange for my honest opinion.

Carrie loves being pleasantly surprised by books. Her best book surprise to date is still The Mysterious Benedict Society and you can hear her harp about that fairly frequently over at Reading to Know.

Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms, a 5-Star Read

July 18, 2012 by Jennifer

Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms: Magic, Mystery, & a Very Strange Adventure by Lissa Evans is a perfect example to me of what middle grade fiction is all about. It’s funny, adventurous, and doesn’t “talk down” to young readers. I was pretty sure I’d be adding it to our 5 Star Reads when I was only about 20 pages in.

Stuart Horten has to move away from the town he has lived in his entire life when his mom gets a new job. His dad can do his crossword puzzle writing job anywhere, so the family decides to move to Beeton, England, which happens to be where Stuart’s father grew up. He’s not happy about it at all, and everyone knows that the beginning of summer is the worst time for a 10-year-old to move, because it’s hard to get to know people.

The triplets next door — April, May, and June — are more nosy nuisances than friend material, but they don’t give up in trying to find out everything about Stuart, so they can publish it in their homemade local newspaper.

Stuart finds a mysterious clue in a family artifact of his father’s. The clue was left to his father from his famous magician uncle (who mysteriously disappeared one day), but his father never found it, because he must not have been the “right kind of boy.”

I have to go away, and I may not be able to get back. If I don’t return, then my workshop and all it contains is yours if you can find it — and if you can find it, then you’re the right sort of boy to have it.

I loved Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms most of all for the people: a brave, imperfect hero, a determined young girl, a greedy villain, a sweet old woman, quirky parents. The story is fun, but the characters made the story sing.

The book stands well on it’s own (no cliffhanger ending), but because I loved the first book so much, I am thrilled to know there is a second book coming out in September: Horten’s Incredible Illusions: Magic, Mystery & Another Very Strange Adventure (you can preorder now on amazon or Barnes and Noble). I happen to have an advanced copy in my hands, so look for a review at the end of August!

And I’m happy to be able to offer a giveaway copy of Horten’s Miraculous Mechanisms to one of you. Just leave a comment if you know a 3rd – 6th grader who’d enjoy this book (or if you yourself are charmed by this type of story). We’ll announce the winner in our giveaway column on August 1. The giveaway is closed.

The winner of Rules of Civility is #36 Ed Nemmers.

This book reminds me of other delightful 5 Star Reads

(OR if you like them, you’ll like this one too)

The Mysterious Benedict Society books (though this one is a bit shorter, so not as intimidating for some readers)
The Kneebone Boy.

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On Reading: A Month of Nonfiction

May 2, 2010 by Jennifer

Over the last few months, I had a lot of nonfiction piling up. I needed to finish these review copies. I wanted to finish them. So, I decided to set aside April as a month of nonfiction to see how that would affect my reading. Would I be able to finish them? I had quite a list, and have actually given myself the liberty of finishing them by the end of the Spring Reading Thing. But I stipulated that I would read only nonfiction (save for whatever fiction I read to the kids).

This year, I’ve tried to track how many books and how many pages I’ve read each month, so it would be easy to compare. I knew I was still reading a lot (and read a lot of memoir, which does satisfy my need for a story to some degree).

The stats:

January — 2548 pages read
February — 1939 pages read
March — 2844 pages read
April — 2910 pages read

The conclusions:

Because of the self-imposed challenge, I read more in April because I was trying to clear the books off my pile. I also read two books that I wasn’t very fond of, but I kept reading them, even though that’s not usually my practice these days, because I didn’t want to not read a book for the challenge. It seemed an easy way out. I think that another reason I read more, is that I read some humor/essay type books, which tend to make for easy reading.

I also read more in March, because I was trying to clear off some extra fiction titles that I had on my nightstand because I didn’t want to carry them over to May.

I liked doing it. I might do it again, or something similar. I’m thinking of doing an “all ebook” month in the summer. I’m not sure about that, but I’m thinking about it. I think that it did make me appreciate the nonfiction offerings more and having a goal made me read a little more than I would normally.

It also helped me manage my review copies a bit better. Knowing back in March that I was undertaking this project, I was much more selective about what I accepted for review. However, when I told a publishing contact that I was doing it, she sent me two MORE books (that ended up being two of my favorite reads of the month).

I still love memoir, and I’ll still probably read as much memoir as fiction, but I love fiction for a reason. Although a memoir can be funny, warm, touching and riveting, it lacks the arc of a fiction, and when I’m away too long, I do miss it.

I’m actually surprised at how many I finished. I would have thought that I might have read less, but I didn’t.

The books(all linked to my reviews):

This is Not the Story You Think it Is — memoir, loved it
Hear No Evil — memoir/humor
Book of Awesome — humor/essay, it WAS awesome. Giveaway still open
Toxic Friends — hard nonfiction, not hard like difficult, but hard like solid nonfiction fact, unlike softer genres like humor or memoir.
Never Tell Our Business to Strangers — memoir, wouldn’t have finished it if it weren’t for the challenge
Confessions of a Rebel Debutante — memoir, funny with a Southern accent
Making Toast — memoir, almost finished, review to come

I gave myself through the first weekend in April to finish some books I was reading, so in addition the nonfiction above I did finish 2 YA fiction books. I also allowed myself to read to/with my kids, so I finished the 3rd Mysterious Benedict Society book, and read another full novel aloud with Amanda (review and giveaway to come for Wendy Mass’ Finally!), so that added over 700 pages to my page count, that was really fiction, not nonfiction.

That said, I still read more pages of nonfiction in April than I read in total in February.

Jennifer Donovan can’t believe that looking back on her adult life, there have been times that she wasn’t reading. She’s immensely enjoyed the last 4 years or so since she’s recaptured her love of reading. She blogs at Snapshot about other things in her life (and books too).

On Reading: Read to Me

April 4, 2010 by Jennifer

Amanda and I have been reading the Mysterious Benedict Series** aloud. She had read the first two before (and yes Carrie, she loved them), but wanted me to read them. Since we try to have a read-aloud going most of the time, she suggested this one. The book is 500 pages, so I balked — for a long while. But then we started, and it was delightful. Because she had read it before, she didn’t mind our typically slow read-aloud pace of no more than 50 pages a week. I’m happy to say that we progressed through the second one rather quickly, and we are almost halfway through the third after only two weeks.

In addition to reading on her own, and having me read to her, she likes audiobooks, and frequently they are books she’s read before. And I get that.

Especially if it’s a great production, the audiobook is an entirely different experience. That’s one reason I enjoy audiobooks — the dramatic tension created as the story plays out — but there are other reasons, the same reason that kids, even tweens like my daughter Amanda, like being read to:

Storytime evokes love — love that someone is willing to entertain you, even if it’s a voice coming from the earbuds into my head. I know without a doubt that me reading aloud to Amanda shows her that I still care about being involved in her life. It shows her that I am willing to put my time aside to share a book with her. For me to be able to enjoy a book without the complete focus that reading a book takes is a gift.
Unlike reading a book with your eyes, if you are enjoying an audibook you can multi-task. I listen to audiobooks in the car while driving, but most often while I’m at home, doing housework or preparing meals. Amanda loves to multi-task by either having me read to her or her listening to an audiobook while she cleans her room, eats breakfast (a big read aloud time for us), unloads the dishwasher, or even does her homework (!?!).

If Nancy and I (I’ve written about audiobooks before) haven’t convinced you that you should give audiobooks a try, perhaps winning a free one will.

My Macmillan audio rep contacted me offering to give away a copy of the Fireworks over Toccoa audiobook when she saw that we were hosting the bookclub. I think that this would be a lovely story to be told — to listen to and absorb in that way. Click the link to listen to an excerpt, and leave a comment if you’d like to win a copy (U.S. addresses only). We’ll announce the winner on April 14.

**Carrie is giving away the entire set of 3 Mysterious Benedict Society novels at Reading to Know, so if you don’t own them you must check it out.

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Jennifer Donovan loves getting lost in a good book, whether she’s reading aloud to her kids, holding a book in hand, or listening to a professional recording. She blogs at Snapshot.

The Year in Review(s)

December 31, 2009 by 5 Minutes for Books

CARRIE

It’s been an interesting year of life for me, and my reading time has sort of fluctuated a great deal. However, there have been a lot memorable reading moments scattered throughout the year. It’s hard to narrow down just one or two reads that really stood out from the rest but if I had to mention two books that I just really appreciated spending time with in 2009 it would be Choosing Gratitude and, (I doubt you’ll find this surprising) the third book in the Mysterious Benedict Society (click on the titles to read my reviews). I hear of people camping out in and around bookstores waiting for new releases and I have to admit I find that kind of silly. However, if I had the opportunity to camp out over The Mysterious Benedict Society, I would have. Both of these books provided their own unique experience and are ones that I would recommend to absolutely anyone without hesitation.

Personally, I’m grateful to be afforded the opportunity to read as much as I do. I’m looking forward to seeing what falls into my lap in 2010 and I look back at 2009 with fond memories.

DAWN

While I’ve had a love affair with books since before I can even remember, my adult reading habits weren’t very consistent in recent years, perhaps having something to do with the craziness of the life of a mama. But 2009 brought an opportunity for me in the form of 5 Minutes for Books, and when I became a staff reviewer in January, my reading addiction was fulfilled in greater measures than ever before. While I’ve been pleased to review all sorts of books here, from picture books to young adult fiction to nonfiction selections, my own personal favorite genre remains contemporary fiction. I tend to be drawn the strongest to characters to whom I can relate, and I was awed by the realism that I found in Katherine Center’s Everyone is Beautiful. Oh yes, I laughed and I cried, and then I laughed some more. Though a completely different reading experience, Audrey Niffenegger’s Her Fearful Symmetry has also stuck with me this year, as a book that I had been very much anticipating and one that drew me in from page one. (My gushing reviews are linked here.) Most of all, I’m just happy to be immersing myself in the worlds I find between the book covers, whether they be completely familiar or beyond my own imagination. May 2010 bring us all more books that bring us joy, make us think and prompt us to ask people, “Have you read this yet?”

MELISSA

2009 saw me challenge myself to read some genres I hadn’t delved into before. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (reviewed here AND here) was not only delightful, it piqued my interest in the WWII era. I’ve read several other fiction and non-fiction books about this time in our world’s history, and learned much in the process. I also entered the world of gothic fiction with The Thirteenth Tale (reviewed here). Both genres were foreign to me, and I’d never even considered reading something in them. I’m so glad I did!

My life is undergoing some major changes in 2010. I’m not yet sure how much my reading will be affected, but I’ll still pop in at 5 Minutes for Books on occasion to share the good reads I find.

LISA

As I clicked through the archives in preparation for writing this end of year retrospective, I was surprised by how many really good books I read this past year, some of which were my own reviews in addition to a couple of titles I read (and loved) because of my colleagues’ reviews, most notably The Help reviewed by Jennifer and The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society reviewed by Melissa. Stand outs from my own pile of fiction reviews would definitely include The Book Thief, So Brave, Young and Handsome and the thriller The Knight. I thoroughly enjoyed the classics Rebecca and The Count of Monte Cristo and look forward to reading more classic literature in 2010 as part of our new and improved Classics Bookclub! In the non fiction department memoir is fast becoming a new favorite genre mainly due to titles like Finding An Unseen God and Clara’s War that stayed with me long after the last page was turned. As I look back on a year of great reads, I am glad to be a part of this site and for the opportunity to read and discuss books I love with friends who love books.

JENNIFER

I have to echo the thoughts of the other contributors here. What a great year in books. I have to say that looking back over the year, what stands out most in my mind the excellent children’s lit that I read. But the books I would mention from that category are listed on our 5 Star Reads list. I wanted to highlight some memorable books that didn’t quite make that list in this post — but please, click over and review the 5 Star Reads, specifically the ones in the 9 – 12 and tween categories.

Reading new authors and tackling new subjects is always a pleasant reading challenge. In spite of thinking that I wouldn’t like her novels, I truly enjoyed the audiobook of Home by Marilynne Robinson. A few non-fiction books have really stuck with me months after reading them: Outcasts United, Free-Range Kids, and You’d Be So Pretty If. I’m looking forward to more delightful discoveries in 2010.

LAUREN

Although 2009 was wonderful for me in many ways, it was also a difficult year because I was sick for a good portion of it. On so many nights, I was just too tired to read, and if I am too tired to read, something is wrong with me! When I look back, I am disappointed that I wasn’t able to read more, but I still read some wonderful books; and as always, I am so thankful to be able to share my love of reading with all of you!

I prefer fiction, but when I review my 2009 reading list, nonfiction titles stand above the rest. Those of you who know me understand that I am a Disney fanatic. Carrie’s review of How To Be Like Walt piqued my interest, and I found this book about Walt Disney to be both fascinating and inspiring. Five Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter is a book that I reviewed, and it is one that I highly recommend to any Christian parent. I will be returning to this book many times in the coming years! My most recent nonfiction read, Nurture Shock, is another memorable read from 2009. I have changed some of my parenting ways because of this book, and I encourage any one who interacts with children to read it!

Of all the fiction books I read this year, Rooftops of Tehran stands out to me more than any other. Jennifer recommended this book, and I was glad that I read it, even it some parts were outside my normal comfort zone. The story was beautiful, and I appreciated that I learned more about an unfamiliar culture. If you haven’t read it, I hope you will add it to your list for 2010!

I am so excited to start this new year. I feel like my old self, and I can’t wait to dig into some new stories. I look forward to reading the reviews from the contributors here and the comments from of all you. I know that 2010 is going to be a great year for books!

What are the books from 2009 that you still remember? Have you been convinced to add any of these to your list for 2010?

5 Star Reads

If we post a review of a book here at 5 Minutes for Books, it means that we think that someone out there would like it. It may not have been our favorite book, but it was worth our time to read and review, and we hope someone likes it. We wanted to distinguish our “must reads,” and so we’ve given them the special 5 Star Reads designation.

The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
After You by Julie Buxbaum
Everyone is Beautiful by Katherine Center
The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas
So Brave, Young and Handsome by Leif Enger
Hannah’s Dream by Diane Hammond
The Rook by Steven James
Stealing with Style by Emyl Jenkins
Small Wars by Sadie Jones
The Hour I First Believed by Wally Lamb
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Her Fearful Symmetry by Audrey Niffenegger
Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Godmother by Carolyn Turgeon
The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar
The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak

Memoir and Biography:

The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan
My Prison, My Home by Haleh Esfandiari
Boy Alone by Karl Taro Greenfeld
Clara’s War by Clara Kramer
Coop by Michael Perry
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin
Scratch Beginnings by Adam Shepherd
How to Be Like Walt by Pat Williams
Dough by Mort Zachter

Nonfiction:

Nurture Shock by Po Bronson and Ashley Merriman
On the Go Devotional: Contentment by Lydia Brownback
The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment by Tim Challies
Finding An Unseen God by Alicia Britt Chole
5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter by Vicki Courtney
Stubborn Twig, by Lauren Kessler
The Uncommon Woman: Making an Ordinary Life Extraordinary by Susie Larson
Free-Range Kids by Lenore Skenazy
The Grand Weaver, by Ravi Zacharias

Children’s Books — ages 0 – 3, 3 – 6, 6 – 9:

My Name Is Not Isabella by Jennifer Fosberry
The Scrambled States of America by Laurie Keller
Tiana’s Cookbook: Recipes for Kids edited by Cindy Littlefield
Eye Like and Incredible Books by Play Bac Publishing
Little Hoot and Little Pea, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed by Mo Willems
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon

Children’s Books — ages 9 – 12:

Savvy by Ingrid Law
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey, by Trenton Lee Stewart

Books for Tweens and Teens:

The Hunger Games & Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Much Ado About Anne by Heather Vogel Frederick
Meet the Austins by Madeleine L’Engle
Map of the Known World by Lisa Ann Sandell
The Strictest School in the World series by Howard Whitehouse
The Chosen One by Carol Lynch Williams

The Book Tree

January 14, 2009 by Carrie

The Book Tree: A Christian Reference for Children’s Literature is exactly what it says it is – a book reference guide. Although the preface is addressed to Christians, I really do think this book would serve Christian and non-Christian alike quite well. Published by Canon Press, the authors of this book have “done the leg work” in compiling a list of some of the best children’s literature of all times. There are hundreds of titles included in this book, with short descriptions for each work. The books are separated in appropriate age categories beginning with Preschool Literature and taking you all the way through high school. All of the titles are nicely organized in the back both by title and then again by author for easy access.

What this book attempts to do is to provide a handy reference for parents, teachers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. to be able to offer good reading material to the children in their charge. This book is friendly enough and easy enough to use that children themselves should be able to open this book and grab a suggestion for a good book to read.

The reason it is subtitled “A Christian Reference for Children’s Literature” is because the authors and compilers of this work are Christians and they’ve taken the time to eliminate books from their “Master List” that involve language, sexual references, etc. Basically they’ve removed things which might be considered objectionable by the conservative reader (Christian OR non). However, anyone and everyone has different standards and areas in literature that they are perfectly willing (and enthusiastic about!) quibbling over. Assume that the books recommended within the covers of this one are generally clean and unobjectionable.

In the preface to the book they take the time to talk about the benefits of reading good literature. They quote C.S. Lewis as saying, “a children’s story which is only enjoyed by children is a bad children’s story.” His point was that good literature is good for all. McCallum and Scott also argue the point that abridged stories aren’t really beneficial to children and that instead of “dumbing down” literature we should raise our children up to classic standards. I do happen to agree with them with the caveat being that I also happen to think that illustrated works and some manipulatives can be helpful in better understanding works of the past.

Yet this is not just a book that focuses on classics. It is updated through today’s literature and, as our editor at 5 Minutes for Books will be delighted to know, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? also makes the cut. (The second edition of the this book didn’t catch The Mysterious Benedict Society but I’ll be lobbying for that in the Third Edition.)

On the whole I find this book to be a marvelous resource full of good ideas and good stories to introduce children to. It’s a tool worth investing in and I think you’ll be delighted with it.

The publisher of this book, Canon Press, has graciously offered to giveaway one copy to one of our readers. You must be a U.S. Resident to win. If you would like to be entered in the contest, please leave a comment below. Good luck! We’ll announce the winner on Wednesday January 21.

The winner of last week’s giveaway, a subscription to Happy Times from Concordia publishing is #20 Stacy.

Carrie comes by her book obsession honestly, having descended from a long line of bibliophiles. She blogs about books regularly at Reading to Know.

5 Minutes for Books Recommends. . . .

December 11, 2008 by Jennifer

Christmas is almost here. In my mind, nothing beats a book for a hard-to-shop for individual on your list, because whether or not they like to read, you can often find a book that appeals to a certain interest. And for me, that means I get to go shopping in a bookstore, or browse amazon, which is honestly where I most like to shop. So if I’m fighting the crowds to finish up last-minute shopping, then I might as well be surrounded by my beloved books, right?

We’ve featured Scholastic Books in the past here and at the 5 Minutes for Mom column (can you say “Harry Potter”?). Although I’m usually a softcover gal, my daughter and I would love to start collecting Harry Hardcovers because of the wear and tear that they are getting. They’ve sent me a 20% off code to share with all of you. Just order from their online store between now and December 31 and use the code SSMOMMY at checkout. (They appear to have some great toys and games in addition to books).

Here are some recommendations from our team:

Children’s Books (independent readers):

The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Carrie originally reviewed this book on her personal blog, Reading to Know. Carrie reviewed the sequel, The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey right here on 5 Minutes for Books. She recommends both (quite highly).

For a fun adventure read for your 10-14 year old, Carrie recommends Leepike Ridge, by N.D. Wilson. You can read her review of Leepike Ridge by clicking here.

If you are looking for a good classic, Lauren recommends From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. She reviewed this Newberry Award winner HERE.

Lauren also recommends the My Father’s Dragon Trilogy. The books in this series have short chapters making them especially appealing to those making the transition to chapter books (the books also make great read-alouds).

Lauren’s all-time favorite chapter books are the Ramona books. Lauren still treasures her original copy of Ramona the Pest, and looks forward to sharing it with her own daughter soon.

Perhaps you know some children who would be less-than-thrilled by a book under the tree. Jennifer recommends that you try to entice them with an audiobook version. Amanda loves listening to CDs while she’s cleaning her room. They are also great for the whole family to listen to on car trips and ipod-equipped tweens can save them to their itunes account. Jennifer reviewed some great children’s audiobooks HERE.

Children’s books (for younger children):

Lauren’s favorite picture book as a child was Where the Wild Things Are. You can read her review of that HERE.

For a newer children’s book, Lauren recommends the If You Give… series by Laura Numeroff. Currently, Lauren’s daughter loves If You Take a Mouse to School.

For children who enjoy a bit of humor, Lauren’s son recommends Diary of a Worm. The author of this book, Doreen Cronin, is also the author of other “Diary” books as well as the popular Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type.

Jennifer’s new favorite book for young preschoolers on up to early elementary school is Bill Martin Jr.’s fun new anthology, the Big Book of Poetry (reviewed HERE).

Also by Martin, Jennifer’s favorite go-to books for toddlers are the “Brown Bear” series, reviewed HERE. Packaged with the audiobook recording (reviewed HERE), it would be a fantastic gift.

Fiction for adults:

Carrie recommends Summer of Light by W. Dale Cramer for a good fiction read that walks the fine line between inspirational fiction and reality. She reviewed this one on her own blog, Reading to Know.

If you’re a mystery/suspense lover, Melissa recommends Angela Hunt. Her two favorites are The Debt: The Story of a Past Redeemed
and The Pearl.

Although Lauren doesn’t often buy fiction for herself (she uses the library), she does think that classics make great gifts. A Jane Austen Set would be treasured by many!

Among Lisa’s favorite novels read this year, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier ranks as one of her favorites. And for those who enjoy heart pounding suspense, the Patrick Bowers series by Steven James are fantastic! Lisa reviewed the second novel in the series, The Rook, HERE. Stephen Lawhead’s novels Hood and Scarlet, a re-telling of the legend of Robin Hood, are excellent. Lisa reviewed Scarlet at her blog here.

Inspirational:

Jennifer thinks that the ESV Study Bible would be a great gift for any student of the Bible on your list. Read her full review on her blog HERE.

For inspirational and compelling reading, Carrie also recommends The Grand Weaver by Ravi Zacharias. She reviewed this book earlier for 5 Minutes for Books.

Both intensely practical and highly relevant, Tim Challies’ The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment would make a great gift for anyone seeking to live wisely. Lisa reviewed this title here.

Lisa also recommends Lydia Brownback’s On the Go Devotional: Contentment as a great gift. In fact, she would love to have the other titles in Lydia’s On the Go series for herself! Check out Lisa’s review here.

Melissa recommends Be Last by Jeremy Kingsley, which she reviewed here. She also discussed part of the impact the book has had on her life in this post on her blog, Breath of Life.

For the cook or crafter:
Jennifer thinks that cookbooks are great gifts — for the foodie or as an aide to someone who likes to do the bare minimum in the kitchen. The Trader Joe cookbook, recently reviewed HERE would make a fantastic and generous gift with a gift card and packaged up in a Trader Joe’s reusable grocery bag.

You can browse all the other cookbooks and craft-books in our “Home” category.

To Start the New Year off Right:

If you’re looking to change your life this year, Melissa recommends Living Simply: Choosing Less in a World of More. I can’t say enough about this book. Joanne Heim is honest, practical, and genuine. This is another book that changed my life.

The ESV Study Bible impressed Jennifer. You can read her review HERE.

Men’s interest:
For the sports “athlete, fan and wanna be,” (girl or guy for that matter), Lisa recommends Game Day for the Glory of God by Stephen Altrogge. You can see my full review here, but Altrogge’s book offers timely advice for enjoying sports all the while keeping the main thing, the main thing.

Non fiction:
For the history buffs on your list, or maybe for those who love a good story (that really happened) and good writing, Lisa recommends David McCollough’s 1776, an interesting and compelling look at the beginnings of our nation.

See more in all of the categories by searching the drop down category in the box on the right sidebar. I’ve even labeled a category Gift Ideas.

What books are YOU giving this Christmas?

Kids’ Picks — August

August 17, 2010 by Jennifer

My kids have enjoyed reading this summer. My daughter (almost 12) has read a handful of books in the last week alone. She’s a machine (oh, how I wish I could stay in bed 2 hours after I awaken and read every morning).

Kyle (6) is finally sitting and reading chapters. I am over the moon!!

I’ll be sharing some books that they enjoyed over at my personal blog, but I wanted to give you a hearty invitation to share on your own blogs or in the comments what books your children have enjoyed over the last month (or over the summer if you’ve been remiss in posting).

Visit our Join In page to find out all the details about all of our Tuesday community events, from Kids’ Picks to What’s on Your Nightstand, to a Children’s Classics challenge. Join Us!

Check out our current giveaways. Subscribe to our feed. Follow us @5M4B on Twitter.

Tell us the age of the child who is doing the picking when you link up. Make sure the permalink goes directly to the post, not the front page of your blog.

Kids’ Picks Participants

1. Life With My Boys (7 and 3.5)
2. Jennifer, Snapshot (6 and 12)
3. A Library is a Hospital for the Mind (Read-Aloud or young readers)
4. Heather J @ Age 30 …A Lifetime of Books (8 yr old boy)
5. Katrina @ Callapidder Days (4)

6. Bluestocking
7. Amy @ Hope Is the Word (girls, ages 6 & 4)
8. Reading to Know
9. Nancy @ Life With My Boys (7 and 3.5)
10. Jen E @ mommablogsalot (4 yr old boy)

11. Bluestocking correct
12. Janelle@ Brimful Curiosities (5 & 2)
13. Dawn @ my thoughts exactly (2, 4, 10!)
14. Lauren@BaseballsandBows