My Book Reviews

Category: Poetry

  • Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton

    Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton

    Flipping Forward Twisting Backward

    Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton

    Release: August 2, 2022
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Peachtree
    Source: Rockstar Book Tours
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

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    A high-energy novel in verse starring a fifth grader who is almost as devoted to competitive gymnastics as she is to hiding her poor reading skills. What happens when Claire’s secret starts unraveling?

    Claire is by far the best gymnast on her team, and she’s well on her way to qualifying for the state championships. The gym is where Claire shines. But at school, she’s known as a troublemaker. She seems to spend more time in the office than in class—which is fine with her since it enables her to hide the fact that she can’t read. She has never been able to make sense of the wobbling jumble of letters on a page. No one except her BFF knows.

    But when a sympathetic principal wonders if Claire is acting out because she’s dyslexic, her mother balks. She’s afraid Claire will be labeled “stupid” and refuses testing. Claire has always assumed she’s dumb; she never imagined her reading problem could have a solution. Is she strong enough to take on both her reading challenges and her mother’s denial? Is it worth jeopardizing her spot in qualifiers?

    Told in clear and poignant verse and featuring black and white illustrations, Claire’s struggle with something that seems to come easily to everyone else will resonate with readers and have them cheering her on.

    About the Author:

    Alma Fullerton couldn’t read until she was in the fourth grade. Today she works with students who have learning disabilities. She is the author of several middle-grade and young adult novels that garnered acclaim and awards in her native Canada. Alma is also the author/illustrator of several picture books. She is on faculty with the Highlights Foundation for teaching novel in verse writing and is an RA for SCBWI’s Canada East region. 

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Goodreads | Amazon

    Flipping Forward Twisting Backward  Review:

    “Flipping Forward Twisting Backward” is a beautiful middle-grade novel because it focuses on how children suffer from learning disabilities, and I enjoyed how the author portrayed it.

    What I liked about the story is how realistic the author portrayed Claire and her family. Claire is adorable, and you can see how smart and energetic she is at everything, except when it comes to reading. I could understand her frustration and be rooting for her to get her needed help.

    The author also wrote about Claire’s family well, and it was interesting to see how each member reacted to Claire’s situation. As much as I got frustrated with Claire’s mother for not listening to her, I could understand why she acted that way. I liked the family dynamics, where Claire feels she cannot turn to her mother or father but has support from her sister Bethany. Bethany and Claire shared an incredible bond and were one of the highlights. The author also adds excellent references to famous people who also suffered from the same disabilities while growing up but went on to do great things. The story portrays not to get discouraged just because you perform differently from others.

    Similarly, I also liked the gymnastics element of the tale and how the author discourages bullying. The author also writes the story in a poetic manner, which makes the story stand out and fun to read. Sarah Mensinga also drew the illustrations beautifully, and I loved Claire’s expressions with her family and gymnastics performance.

    Overall, “Flipping Forward Twisting Backward” is a well-written middle-grade contemporary novel worth checking out.

    Giveaway:

    1 winner will receive a finished copy of FLIPPING FORWARD TWISTING BACKWARD, US Only.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Flipping Forward Twisting Backward

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Flipping Forward Twisting Backward by Alma Fullerton Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post, and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    Book Tour Schedule

    Week One:
    hodophile_z-IG Review-7-25-2022
    #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog-Excerpt-7-25-2022
    The Paperback Princess-Review/IG Post-7-26-2022
    Kait Plus Books-Excerpt/IG Post-7-26-2022
    One More Exclamation -Review/IG Post-7-27-2022
    Two Chicks on Books-Excerpt-7-27-2022
    Rajiv’s Reviews-Review/IG Post-7-28-2022
    BookHounds YA -Excerpt/IG Post-7-28-2022
    @just_another_mother_with_books-IG Review-7-29-2022
    @jaimerockstarbooktours-IG Post-7-29-2022

    Week Two:
    Strange Brew Reviews-Excerpt-8-1-2022
    Yabookscentral-Excerpt-8-1-2022
    GryffindorBookishNerd -Review/IG Post-8-2-2022
    celiamcmahonreads on insta-Review/IG Post-8-2-2022
    Little Red Reads-Review/IG Post-8-3-2022
    @enjoyingbooksagain-Review/IG Post-8-3-2022
    Two Points of Interest-Review/IG Post-8-4-2022
    Nerdophiles-Review/-8-4-2022
    A Backwards Story -Review/IG Post-8-5-2022
    The Momma Spot-Review/IG Post-8-5-2022

  • Creature Cat Tales by M.G. Rorai

    Creature Cat Tales

    Creature Cat Tales by M.G. Rorai

    Release: September 18, 2021
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Independent
    Source: Pumpup your Book Tours
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle

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    Life lessons for kids—as told by creature cats!

    This whimsical collection of quotes and poetry conveys vital life lessons for kids in easy-to-understand, bite-sized chunks. Your child will love the colorful, interesting cat-like creatures as they read.

    Join Blake the Bat-Cat, Milo the Mummy-Cat, Cameron the Chimera-Cat, and their friends as they face fears, encourage critical thinking, and foster positive growth while tackling many topics and issues.

    Will Mary the Water-Cat be brave enough to help others? Can Larry the Leprechaun-Cat learn the importance of self-worth? These peculiar feline creatures will keep you on your toes with engagement and entertainment, packed full of important knowledge for a brighter future.

    Come join the creature cats as they make learning fun—a purrfect addition to any life lesson collection.

    About the Author:

    She enjoys hanging with her cats and annoying her husband. She currently writes in multiple genres; Rorai is her light and breezy pen name. For more dark and brooding works she writes under M.G. Spear.

    M.G. Rorai  has published multiple books so far and have more in the works. Her passion for writing has been reignited and as she  writes each story she is excited to go through the publishing process and share them with readers. She is not a newbie writer, but an author getting back into the game. Her plan is to pursue her writing and see where it takes her.

    Website | Facebook | Instagram | Amazon

    Creature Cat Tales Review:

    Click to view on Instagram

    “Creature Cat Tales” is a cute selection of short stories about cats overcoming their challenges and was a delightful book to read.

    This book is perfect for kids who want to boost their self-confidence and learn about good morals and values. I loved the way the author narrated the story through poetry with lovely rhymes. Kids could sing this as a song while they are reading to keep themselves entertained.

    Moreover, the author is creative with the variety of cats we see in the book. We have Bat-cat, Franken-cats, Spider-cats, Mercat, medusa-cat, to name a few. Each character in a chapter goes through a problem that they find out how to solve and shine! Some stories are about helping others even if they are not friendly to you, overcoming your fears, learning to say no, and trying your best to succeed at something. Each story shines with positivity and optimism, which would motivate even adults as they read this to their children. My personal favorites were Blake, Mary, Manny, and Marley.

    Also, the book features adorable illustrations in each chapter that would hold the young reader’s attention. I loved how some of the images brought the characters to life and felt it added a nice touch to the book. The only recommendation for the book is if the author included a table of contents provided, so we know which page to quickly go-to for a story, rather than searching for it. I received a complimentary PDF copy as part of the tour, and I did not find it in the version I read.

    Overall, “Creature Cat Tales” is a fun collection of short stories that I highly recommend you get for your children.

    Book Tour Schedule

    Creature Cat Tales

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Creature Cat Tales by M.G. Rorai Blog Tour hosted by Pumpup your Book Tours.

    Monday, November 1
    ⭐PUYB Virtual Book Club⭐Pump Up Your Book Virtual Book Tour Kick Off⭐Creature Cat Tales by M.G. Rorai 
    Tuesday, November 2
    CREATURE CAT TALES – Book Review – Sefina Hawke’s Books
    Wednesday, November 3
    Book Review: Creature Cat Tales by M.G. Rorai – Bound 4 Escape
    Monday, November 8
    Book Review at Word Magic
    Tuesday, November 9
    Book Review at Rajiv’s Reviews
    Wednesday, November 10
    Book Review at Books for Books
    Book Review at I’m All About Books
    Monday, November 15
    Book Review at What the Cat Read
    Wednesday, November 17
    Book Review at Lisa’s Reading
    Monday, November 22
    Book Review at Jazzy Book Reviews
    Tuesday, November 23
    Book Review at The Children’s and Teens’ Book Connection
    Friday, November 26
    Book Review at Over the Rainbow Book Reviews

  • The Lost Language by Claudia Mills

    The Lost Language by Claudia Mills

    The Lost Language

    The Lost Language by Claudia Mills

    Release: October 12, 2021
    Format: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook
    Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books
    Source: Rockstar Book Tours
    Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

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    The quest to save the words of a dying language – and to find the words to save what may be a dying friendship – lies at the heart of this exquisite verse novel.

    Sixth grader Betsy is the one who informs her best friend, Lizard, that thousands of the world’s languages are currently threatened by extinction; Betsy’s mother is a linguistics professor working frantically to study dying languages before they are lost forever. But it is Lizard who, gripped by the magnitude of this loss, challenges Betsy, What if, instead of WRITING about dying languages, like your mom, you and I SAVED one instead?

    As the girls embark on their quest to learn as much as possible of the near-extinct language of Guernésiais (spoken on the Isle of Guernsey, off the coast of France), their friendship faces unexpected strains. With Lizard increasingly obsessed with the language project, Betsy begins to seek greater independence from her controlling and charismatic friend, as well as from her controlling and charismatic mother. Then tragedy threatens Betsy’s life beyond what any words can express, and Lizard does something unthinkable.

    Maybe lost friendships, like lost languages, can never be completely saved.

    About the Author:

    Claudia Mills has written many children’s books, including 7 x 9 = Trouble!, the Franklin School Friends series, The A9er-School Superstar series, and Zero Tolerance. She recently received the Kerlan Award for her contribution to children’s literature.

    She was a professor of philosophy for more than two decades at the University of Colorado and is now a faculty member in the graduate programs in children’s literature at Hollins University. Dr. Mills lives in Boulder, Colorado.

     

    Website | Twitter | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

    The Lost Language Review:

    Click to view on Instagram

    What a unique, creative, heartfelt novel this book was! “The Lost Language” made me ponder our language and heritage.

    Being a non-native English speaker, I realized how each generation slightly loses the linguistic skills that their earlier generations were proficient at because many educated people prefer to speak English instead. Even the fluency of many languages (including English) doesn’t have the same classical tone they once did, as we include a lot of slang in our dialogues. But I digress. I appreciate this story for making me think about these subjects.

    I loved the two main characters. Betsy and Lizard share the kind of friendship that I love to read about in stories. Betsy and Lizard are contrasting personalities but blend so nicely. I also liked how their company puts it to test when Zoey enters the picture. The story gets quite severe in the second half as Betsy juggles problems with her mom and her friendship with Lizard. I thought the author executed the theme beautifully, and I could not put the book down!

    Moreover, I felt like even as an adult, I learned so much in the tale. I’m going to sound ignorant admitting this, but I had never heard of places like Guernsey till I read this book. The author includes a lot of interesting trivia in the dialogues between the two characters that are simply fascinating.

    Lastly, I have to give kudos to the author for writing the entire book in a beautiful, poetic, lyrical form. I never noticed the time fly by as I read the tale and got lost with the characters. Overall, “The Lost Language” is a middle-grade book I feel proud of having read. After reading this book, I also want to learn Guernesiais.

    Giveaway Details:

    3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE LOST LANGUAGE, US Only.

    <a Rafflecopter giveaway

    The Lost Language

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Lost Language by Claudia Mills Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    Book Tour Schedule

    Week One:
    Rockstar Book Tours-Kickoff Post-10-18-2021
    Kait Plus Books-Excerpt-10-18-2021
    Jazzy Book Reviews-Excerpt-10-19-2021
    Two Chicks on Books-Excerpt-10-19-2021
    I’m Shelfish-Excerpt-10-20-2021
    Jaime’s World-Excerpt-10-20-2021
    Nonbinary Knight Reads and Reviews-Review-10-21-2021
    BookHounds Ya -Excerpt-10-21-2021
    The Reading Wordsmith-Review-10-22-2021
    @curlygrannylovestoread-Review-10-22-2021

    Week Two:
    Not In Jersey-Review-10-25-2021
    Little Red Reads-Review-10-25-2021
    The Bookwyrm’s Den-Review-10-26-2021
    #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog-Review-10-26-2021
    Feed Your Fiction Addiction-Review-10-27-2021
    Rajiv’s Reviews-Review-10-27-2021
    Two Points of Interest-Review-10-28-2021
    Lifestyle of Me-Review-10-28-2021
    Books and Zebras -Review-10-29-2021
    The Momma Spot-Review-10-29-2021

  • Medusa’s Children by Keith Antar Mason

    Medusa’s Children by Keith Antar Mason

    Medusa's Children

    Medusa’s Children by Keith Antar Mason

    Release: October 2020
    Format: Ebook
    Publisher: Wild Pressed Books
    Source: Love Books Tours
    Find it at Goodreads,  Wildpressedbooks.

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    In general, from performing in the alleys of LA, Keith Antar Mason recounts his experience of getting on stage at the ICA in London with The Hittite Empire Performance Art Collective, an all-Black Intergenerational Men’s Cultural Elite.

    Significantly, the most thought-provoking part of this poem is: “See slavery ain’t ended in America. It’s just getting better dressed.”
    Above all, The narrative of the London trip and snippets of the author’s experiences back in LA is effortlessly interwoven with visceral and evocative images from Black History. Just as an illustration  as memorized in his genes: 
    We are the nightstick.
    Billyclubbed
    Strangeways
    Strangefruits
    Survivors
    Every summer is a Red Summer.
    Medusa’s Children is a one voice rant, a prose memoir, a wish poem.
    This is a memory written in
    Ashes and Fog
    Our Life on Mars
    Stone cold word killers
    Spitting Knowledge and Truth
    Mother Medusa
    Make us
    Subliminal Seducers

    About the Author:

    Markedly, Keith Antar Mason is Artistic Director of The Hittite Empire Performance Art Collective, an all-Black Intergenerational Men’s Cultural Elite. He is the author of For Black Boys Who Had Considered Homicide When The Streets Were Too Much (Plume, 1986) and New Wine & Black Men’s Feet (Red Hen Press, 2009)

    He has also performed with The Hittite Empire all over the United States and has taught and performed at Harvard University, Stanford University, UCLA, and USC.

    Moreover, His work has been performed at The Black Theatre Festivals at Winston, Salem. Atlanta, LIFT, ICA London, and on Broadway at Alice Tully Hall, The Lincoln Centre.

    Keith Antar Mason also conducts writing workshops in State Penitentiaries in California, Washington DC, and Nevada

    Significantly, His New choreopoem, In The House of a Young Pharaoh, is being developed for Medium Production in LA in 2021.

    And I know
    I can see in your eyes
    How you form words in your mouth
    The rainy days
    The hot, humid summer nights
    Something Black
    Has
    Got
    To
    Die

    Twitter | GoodReads 

    Medusa’s Children Review:

    I have not read much poetry, but “Medusa’s Children” is a beautiful and poignant read that makes you think.

    Click to view on Instagram

    Firstly, the author prominently highlights vital issues like slavery and racism, which I feel is essential to spread awareness, especially in today’s environment. Although we have come a long way, we need to sit down like Mason and ponder on what we can do to change and eliminate these issues. Also, the author does not shy from setting a lifelike tone to the plot. Besides, the story is difficult to digest at times.  Similarly, even the writing is very raw, and some terms and situations are were very explicit. However, this makes the tale feel realistic and one that connects with the reader.

    Moreover, I enjoyed how the author suddenly shifts between the settings of London and LA. Similarly, the author transfixed me in the way he talks about Black History. Although the story is relatively short, the imagery of the characters and the locations are vivid and detailed. The contrast between the two environments reveals how we vary in cultures and how humanity is flawed in many ways due to his upbringing and mindset. Similarly, the author talks about life in various venues like Hollywood, touring, and stories of slavery.

    From reading the memoir, you can see how much emotion the author put into the poem. Each chapter feels like you learn a new aspect of the author and how his experiences changed him. Overall, I felt “Medusa’s Children” is an eye-opener and a poem that everyone should read to experience its impact.

    Tour Schedule

    Medusa's Children

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the Medusas Children by Keith Antar Mason Blog Tour hosted by Love Books Tours.

    Bunny’s Pause – 9th November
    Rozier Reads and Wine – 9th November
    Neville Louise – 9th November
    petridish1995 – 10th Nov
    Karen and her Books – 10th Nov
    Rhianyddmorris– 10th Nov
    Creaty_rich – 11th Nov
    Rajiv’s Reviews – 11th Nov-
    Reading Through the Lookinglass – 12th Nov-
    Celeste C. Cruz – 12th Nov
    Kel’s book reviews  – 13th Nov
    The Magic Of Wor(l)ds – 13th Nov
    Bertyboy123 – 14th Nov
    All and any books (both blog and Instagram) – 14th Nov
    On My Bookshelf – 14th Nov

  • The Coconut Girl by Sunita Thind

    The Coconut Girl by Sunita Thind

    The Coconut Girl

    The Coconut Girl by Sunita Thind

    Release: October 28, 2020
    Format: Paperback
    Publisher: Wild Pressed Books
    Source: Love Books Tours
    Find it at Amazon, Kindle, B&N.

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    The Coconut Girl is a collection of poems written from the Indian, female perspective with an insight into Punjabi culture. We are also offered insight into the poet’s brain’s hallucinogenic state during cancer treatment and her life experience in multi-cultural Britain. The protagonist in the poems is both deeply vulnerable and strongly independent. Overall, her strength of character shines through. The Coconut Girl features poetry of deep imagery, not least in some of the poems exploring the experience of the female body post-operatively, such as in My Womb Is A Park Of Carnage.

    About the Author:

    SUNITA THIND is a Bedford born Derby-based published female, Asian British BAME poet, and writer. Her debut collection of multicultural poetry (Black Pear Press, 2020) focused on living between two cultures, British and Punjabi. Sunita is a workshop facilitator, speaker, and performance poet. She has had poetry and short stories published in various literary magazines, e-zines, and journals.

    She has dabbled in many things, including being a model, primary and secondary school teacher, and trained as a make-up artist. Being an Ovarian Cancer survivor, she is grateful to have survived it. She is a campaigner and fundraiser for related charities.

    She also loves to sing and take singing lessons and is married and has a beautiful, male platinum white Samoyed called Ghost.

    Twitter | Instagram | Amazon

    The Coconut Girl Review:

    I don’t read much poetry, but “The Coconut Girl” intrigued me because of its theme.

    Click to view on Instagram

    Firstly, I liked the concept of the book. Being an Indian, I could see a lot of issues that Indian women face, described poignantly. It’s no surprise that the Indian Society is very conservative and expects people to be a certain way. Unfortunately, there is a lot of pressure to appear ‘fair-skinned,’ stick to arranged marriages and lead a particular lifestyle to uphold the family values. The author did a lovely job of adding many such details, particularly of the Punjabi culture.

    Moreover, the author narrates the tale in a personal, raw manner. The girl goes through a lot, from the racial slurs, prejudice from Society to experiencing cancer. There are many emotions in this story as the character lashes out at the trauma she has to face. Furthermore, some of the passages are a bit queasy and difficult to read. The author does not shy away from talking about cancer’s horrors and how it affects the protagonist. Another impressive aspect is how the author makes the passages sound crass and gross, yet beautiful and haunting at the same time.

    However, while I enjoyed the story, I feel it would be challenging to resonate with a broader audience only because of the native words. There are a lot of Indian terms that non-Indians might not comprehend. Perhaps a glossary of sorts would have added more value to the book.

    Apart from that, this was a fascinating book, and I enjoyed the author’s beautiful narration style. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

    Book Tour Schedule:

    The Coconut Girl

    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on The Coconut Girl by Sunita Thind Blog Tour hosted by Love Books Tours. Check out my post, and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    Cen sational reads – 16th Nov-Review
    Ceri’s Little Blog – 16th Nov-Review
    The Book Reader – 16th Nov-Review
    Mandy W87 – 17th Nov-Review
    The Faerie Review – 17th Nov-Review Digital
    Books Galore – 17th Nov – Review
    Mummy Life and Books – 18th Nov-Review
    Phoebe’s Randoms – 18th Nov-Review Digital
    While my Babies Sleep – 18th Nov-Review
    The Pages of MrsD – 19th Nov-Review
    Karen and her Books – 19th Nov-Review
    Duck Face Kim – 19th Nov-Review
    Rajiv’s Reviews – 20th Nov-Review
    Daisy Says – 20th Nov-Review
    Shivs Stories – 21st Nov-Review
    Celeste C. Cruz – 21st Nov-Review Digital
    Bookshortie – 22nd Nov-Review
    Jane Hunt Writer – 22nd Nov-Review

  • May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

    May B. by Caroline Starr Rose

    May

    May B. by Caroline Starr Rose
    Release: January 10th 2012
    Format: Kindle
    Publisher: Schwartz & Wade
    Source: Amazon

    May



     

    May B. Synopsis:

    I’ve known it since last night:
    It’s been too long to expect them to return.
    Something’s happened.

    May is helping out on a neighbor’s Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it’s hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May’s memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she’s determined to find her way home again.

    Caroline Starr Rose’s fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.

     

    Review:

    I am a fan of the Little House in the Prairie series and I felt that this was a similar story, with a more dark and eerie atmosphere. I enjoyed the lyrical stances which narrated the story. May B. is a wonderful protagonist. Her teacher and peers think she is dumb because she is dyslexic and has trouble reading. However, she relies on her gut instincts of survival and perseveres to stay alive and against all odds. The story is gripping and I kept wondering what May would do next during her turmoil. Even though each chapter is small, we can clearly see all the emotions that May goes through while she thinks of survival tactics.

    I enjoyed Caroline Starr Rose’s style of writing. She seamlessly creates a suspenseful atmosphere through short verses on how May is feeling. There are times when I felt claustrophobic when May studies the remaining rations in the sod to stay healthy. However, there were also times where I felt that the book got a bit repetitive as nothing happened for a few chapters.

    This is one of those books where I had a profound sense of appreciation after completing it. We have advanced so much in the last few decades in terms of our way of living. I feel like if I was ever in May’s shoes, I don’t think I would have the survival instincts and go through what she did. It really made me appreciate so many things that we just take for granted and not thankful enough for.

    Overall, I feel that ‘May B’ is one of those books that intended for younger readers, but that will appeal to adults even more for its underlying themes of dyslexia and isolation. I enjoyed reading this one!