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By Hook Or By Book

Monthly Archives: December 2014

The Zodiac Legacy: Covergence ( Zodiac #1 ) ~ by Stan Lee, Stuart Moore, & Andie Tong ( illustrations ) – 4.0 Stars

27 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 9 Comments

Tags

Chinese Zodiac, Graphic Novels, Multiculturalism, Superheroes

9781423180852_p0_v2_s300x Publishing date: January 27, 2015. This review is for an ebook arc provided to me by Disney Press and NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Teenager Steven Lee is on a school field trip in China. Steven himself is Chinese-American, and while on a tour of a museum it seems as though he knows more than the obviously distracted tour guide. After hearing some mysterious screaming Steven decides to embrace his inner superhero and follow her as she enters a hidden door and descends a long staircase into a strange basement. He is shocked to see a man being hit by multiple beams of light, which it turns out, are actually giving him the powers of all the signs of the Chinese Zodiac: Dragon, Goat, Horse, Dog, Ox, Monkey, Rooster, Rabbit, Pig, Rat, Snake, and Tiger. This would be the evil Maxwell who isn’t exactly planning on using his newfound powers for world peace. No, he’s planning on keeping the strongest power, that of the Dragon, for himself and passing on the other powers to people who will do his bidding. Something unexpected happens though and Steven winds up with the power of the Tiger and now it’s up to him, Jasmine the “tour guide”, and Carlos a technical wizard to stop his nefarious plot. Unfortunately, while Maxwell is attempting to capture Steven and Jasmine ( who also has the power of the Dragon ), there is an explosion and the rest of the Zodiac powers are released into the atmosphere. Once there, certain people around the world unwittingly pull the powers into themselves. If Steven, Jasmine, and Carlos are to have any hope in defeating Maxwell, they have to track these people down and convince them to join their team.

This graphically illustrated novel is vintage Stan Lee with it’s classic over-the-top villains and earnest heros determined to stop them. It’s amazing when you realize the man is 91 years old! What I really liked about this first book is all the different cultures represented. While the base of the story is the Chinese Zodiac, you’ve got heroes from other countries such as France, Ireland, and South Africa. The graphics are absolutely gorgeous! Here’s just one example: 320px-Zodiac_steven

Even on my Kindle you can see every exquisite detail. While they come out rather small at first, if you double click on them the images enlarge to what I assume will be the full size in the print editions. While Steven is obviously the focus of the story, each of the other characters are well written and given their own voice. The action is fast paced and makes it difficult to put the book down. The powers are fascinating and build upon talents people already have. I did find a couple of them confusing however. For example: South African Duane has the power of the Pig, which is basically control over everything that’s electronic. Huh? And there’s Dog, a villain, who actually grows sharp teeth, hair, claws, etc. when he’s accessing his power. He’s the only one who really does this, although Monkey also attains attributes of his namesake. But then isn’t part of reading a novel or comic like this suspending disbelief? Even at over 400 pages I can see The Zodiac Legacy being hugely popular with middle-schoolers, YAs, and adult fans of Stan Lee. 

Hmm. Does anyone else have this problem?

27 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Book Addiction

i-always-buy-another-book-when-i-still-have-ten-to-read

Favorite Christmas Movies

24 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 25 Comments

Tags

Christmas, Movies

Since I’ve been baking quite a bit the last few days I’ve fallen a bit behind in my reading, so I thought I’d share my top 5 Christmas movies.

5. 0883929003518_p0_v3_s300x Why? Gizmo! Oh, and the Gremlins singing “Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! It’s Off to Work We Go!” while watching Snow White.

4. 0883929221776_p0_v2_s300x Why? “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”.

3. 0024543013624_p0_v2_s300x Why? Natalie Wood teaching Kris how to chew gum and blow bubbles.

2. 0089859882029_p0_v2_s300x Why? While I love quite a few versions of this classic, this 1951 British production with Alastair Sim perfectly captured Ebenezer Scrooge. Bah, Humbug!

1. 0017153206432_p0_v2_s300x Why? Too many reasons to list!

Also: Charlie Brown’s Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Santa Clause Is Comin’ To Town, Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus, The Little Drummer Boy, The Santa Clause, The Santa Clause 2, Prancer, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, (the original animated version), and Elf.

Well, it’s back to the kitchen for me. More eating, er, baking to do! 

dovechristmascards

                                     Happy Holidays Everyone!!!!!

No One Says It Better Than Dr. Seuss!

22 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Meaning of Christmas

Book-quotes-about-Christmas-Dr-Seuss

Skycastle the Demon and Me: Book 1 in the Skycastle series ~ by Andy Mulberry – 5.0 Stars

19 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Castles, Demons, Fantasy, Juvenile Fiction

2940046413908_p0_v1_s300x-1

Jack Harper is miserable. He and his parents live in the rundown Greencastle. It’s in such bad shape that Jack’s taken to using an umbrella indoors because of the leaky roof. His parents are determinedly trying to make a go of it, but people aren’t exactly clamoring for tours. One day Jack spies a piece of paper sticking out of a mousetrap. Intriguingly it says:

Demons (Free Delivery)

Phone: +555-1-800-GET-A-DEMON

Until Stock Lasts

Before you can say “This is the worst idea in the history of bad ideas!” Jack has himself a demon with an attitude in the form of one Brinklovin Crowley the Third. He plans on using Brink to attract tourists who like haunted castles, but you know what they say about best laid plans…

I absolutely loved this book! Jack is a twelve year old kid with a great sense of humor, and Brink? Well he’s just awesome! I mean how can you not fall in love with a demon who loves to read? And I don’t know if this was intentional, but Andy giving him the last name of my favorite demon on Supernatural just clinched it for me. The verbal sparring between Jack and Brink is absolutely hysterical and had my husband wondering why I kept bursting into giggles. The only issue I have (if you can call it that), is the cover. The demon depicted doesn’t match what Brink really looks like. If I’m nitpicking, it’s just because I love Brink so much. Andy is generously offering this book for free right now on Amazon. I tried to provide a link but as usual my Kindle isn’t cooperating. I highly, highly recommend this not just for kids ages 10-12, but for adults who fancy a quick funny read. And if you like this, Andy’s already written the second book:

2940046430424_p0_v1_s300x

The Demonic Incident in Chinatown. She also has a wonderful blog: “something fishy smells here…” at http://andymulberry.com/blog

(Not Quite) All Quiet on the Western Front . . .

19 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Christmas Truce, Inspirational Stories, World War II

Mike over at Eye-Dancers has written this beautiful post which is truly inspirational and captures the true meaning of the season.

Eye-Dancers

As someone who has pursued his flights of fancy in written form since childhood, there are times when I’m asked why I write the things I do.  What motivates me to write a certain short story or a novel featuring four seventh-graders who cross through the void to a parallel world?  It’s a fair question, of course.  After all, what inspires any of us to do the things we do, to create the things we create?

index

There are multiple answers, layered answers.  Interests, passions, points of view . . . each of us pursues those things that matter to us, those things we feel a need to share with others.

But there is also a simpler answer, something that delves deeper, moves beyond the subjects and themes, similes and metaphors.

deepspacesomethingmore

There is something more . . .

***************

Consider an event that took place one hundred years ago–on…

View original post 1,052 more words

A Reminder That You’re Never Too Young For Books!

19 Friday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Babies, Books, Love of Reading

Future-booklover

Quotable Quote For The Day

18 Thursday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 8 Comments

Tags

Heaven, Inspirational quotes, Libraries

I-have-always-imagined-that-Paradise-will-be-a-kind-of-library

Denslow’s Night Before Christmas ~ Clement C. Moore, W.W. Denslow, Grace Duffie Boylan (Foreword) – 5.0 Stars

14 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Christmas, Ebooks, Picture Books

9780486783338_p0_v3_s300x This review is for an ebook provided to me by NetGalley and Dover in exchange for an honest review.

After reading A Christmas Horror Story, I thought I’d revisit something a little more traditional. Denslow’s Night Before Christmas is exquisitely illustrated by the artist who also was behind the artwork in The Wizard of Oz books. This book was originally published in 1902 but Dover’ s re-release retains all of the beautiful palette and whimsy of the original. It also has a foreword by the iconic American writer Grace Duffie Boylan which reminds you of the fascinating history behind the story. This is actually the first time I’ve read a picture book on my Kindle, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The traditionalist in me still prefers an actual book, but I can see how families could enjoy this in an ebook format. I think this is a valuable addition to any Christmas collection.

Book Lovers Way To Decorate For The Holidays!

13 Saturday Dec 2014

Posted by By Hook Or By Book: Book Reviews, News, & Other Stuff in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Books, Holiday Decorations

Menorah-Above-Left-300x273

~ via Thatcher Wine Juniper Books

book-christmas-tree-242x300  ~ via JCULibraryNews

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a bookworm detailing all her bookish thoughts

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the confessions of a random blogger

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Reviews for children's and adult books.

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Here’s where I’ll gush about my favorite books , shows, and other projects!

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all things bookish!!

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Fantasy and sci-fi reviews by a Malaysian book wyrm

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As decided by me, your favorite raccoon host

Reader Jones

a book blog

The Traveling Bookworm

novels around the world

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Falling in Love One Book at a Time…

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