Mundie Moms

Monday, March 5, 2012

Mundane Monday #126

artwork from here

"Ha. You can't even reach me." She kicked out a leg and spun lazily in midair.

Jace's eye glinted. "Want to bet?"

Clay knew that expression. "No," she said quickly. "Whatever you're going to do-"

But he'd already one it. When Jace moved fast, his individual movements were almost invisible. She saw his hand go to his belt, and then something flashed in the air. She heard the sound of parting fabric as the cord about her heard was sheared through. Released, she fell freely, too surprised to scream- directly into Jace's arms. The force knocked him backward, and they sprawled together onto one of the padded floor mats, Clary on top of him. He grinned up at her.

"Now," he said, "That was much better. You didn't scream at all."

- City of Fallen Angels, page 37

Middle Grade Must Haves

Welcome to this week's edition of Must Have Middle Grade Reads, a weekly feature here on Mundie Moms where I spotlight last week's middle grade books I reviewed on Mundie Kids. This week's Must Have Middle Grade reads are:


By: Ellen Potter
Published by: Feiwel and Friends
Released on: February 28th, 2012
Ages: 9 & up
5 stars: I LOVED It!
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Hiding is Roo Fanshaw's special skill. Living in a frighteningly unstable family, she often needs to disappear at a moment's notice. When her parents are murdered, it's her special hiding place under the trailer that saves her life.

As it turns out, Roo, much to her surprise, has a wealthy if eccentric uncle, who has agreed to take her into his home on Cough Rock Island. Once a tuberculosis sanitarium for children of the rich, the strange house is teeming with ghost stories and secrets. Roo doesn't believe in ghosts or fairy stories, but what are those eerie noises she keeps hearing? And who is that strange wild boy who lives on the river? People are lying to her, and Roo becomes determined to find the truth.

Despite the best efforts of her uncle's assistants, Roo discovers the house's hidden room--a garden with a tragic secret.

Inspired by The Secret Garden, this tale full of unusual characters and mysterious secrets is a story that only Ellen Potter could write. -quoted from Goodreads

I love classic tellings and wow, Ellen Potter has done a beautiful job at retelling, and recreating her own version The Secret Garden with her newest release, The Humming Room. This magical story has a similar feel to this beloved classic, and yet if offers a new generation a whole new story of love, friendship and courage. This is truly an enchanting story that left me feeling completely satisfied and wanting so much more from it all at the same time.

You can read the rest of my review here.



By: Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver
Published by: Scholastic
Released on: January 1st, 2012
Ages: 8 & up
4 stars: I Really Enjoyed It
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Series: Bk #1 in the Ghost Buddy Series

A hilarious new series from Henry Winkler & Lin Oliver, authors of the bestselling HANK ZIPZER books!

Billy Broccoli is new to the neighborhood, and wants cool friends and a spot on the baseball team more than anything. But the one thing he never wanted is his own personal ghost. So imagine his surprise when he ends up sharing a room with Hoover Porterhouse, a funny ghost with a whole lot of attitude.

When an obnoxious school bully sets out to demolish Billy, the Hoove comes up with a plan for revenge. It’s all in the Hoove’s Rule Number Forty-Two: Stay cool. And like it or not, Billy and the Hoove have to stick together if Billy ever wants to get in style, get even, and conquer the school-quoted from Goodreads

Eleven year old Billy Broccoli not only had to move to a new house with his mom and new stepdad, he has to start a new school, make new friends and deal with new bully who also happens to be his next door neighbor. Luckily for Billy, his new room comes with it's own teenage ghost who's been stuck there for over one hundred years. Sounds cool right? Who wouldn't want to have a young friendly ghost for a friend. This ghost is named, "The Hoove", and he's out to help Billy over come mean bullies and find the confidence he needs to make this year the best yet.

You can read the rest of my review here.



By: Charise Mericle Harper
Published: Disney Hyperion
Released on: October 4th, 2011
Ages: 8 & up
3 stars: It's A Good Read
Purchase from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

It's hard to believe, but Fashion Kitty is in danger, who is the villian?
Is it a jealous kitty?
Is it a boy kitty?
Is it an inventor kitty?
Is it a kitty full of trouble?
Yes Yes Yes And Yes
Sometimes even a superhero needs a helping paw.
Lucky for Fashion Kitty, she's not the only hero in town.
-quoted from Goodreads

Fashion Kitty to the rescue! When the school t-shirt fashion show idea brings out an "evil mastermind" set on stopping Fashion Kitty, will she be able to foil his plan before it's too late or get caught in his string filled trap?

This is the first book I've read in the Fashion Kitty series, and I can see why this series is so popular. Fashion Kitty is hard not to love. In this particular story Fashion Kitty aka Kiki Kittie has to foil the plan on grouchy kitty, Leon Lambaster III, who's out to capture Fashion super hero, Fashion Kitty. Luckily Kiki is a well grounded, smart cat who doesn't fall for Leon's tricks and with the help of her real friends is able to stop Leon before it's too late.

You can read the rest of my review here.

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I'm celebrating Middle Grade March Madness on Mundie Kids! Through out the entire month of March I'll be featuring a variety of MG reads via reviews, interviews and giveaways.


Middle Grade Monday:
Don't miss my Marvelous Middle Grade Monday meme on Mundie Kids, a weekly meme hosted by author Shannon Messenger's. You can check out this week's Mundie Kids feature here

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