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Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2059 KP) rated Riley Mack Stirs Up More Trouble in Books
Mar 9, 2018
What do a city wide talent show and a closed off swimmer hole have in common? More than you might think in this delightful middle grade caper. The plot was always moving forward, and I loved how everything came together in the end. The characters could have used a bit more development, but that's the adult in me talking. Kids will love it.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-riley-mack-stirs-up-more.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/08/book-review-riley-mack-stirs-up-more.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Erika (17788 KP) rated Star Wars: A Test of Courage (The High Republic) in Books
Mar 30, 2021 (Updated Mar 30, 2021)
Sadly this was the first High Republic book I chose to read. A) This author was probably the reason the entire project was pushed back B) The author is repulsive, and C) I am never reading anything else by her, and I wish she wasn't working on this project at all.
The characters were boring. This was a bog-standard middle grade novel that I could have written myself.
It was actually so unremarkable, that I barely remember anything about it. That says enough.
The characters were boring. This was a bog-standard middle grade novel that I could have written myself.
It was actually so unremarkable, that I barely remember anything about it. That says enough.
When their friend's father is robbed of a rare comic book, Nick and Tesla use their new self-built robots to try to find the thief.
Kids will enjoy this one. The characters are better than the first and in keeping with a middle grade novel. The plot is strong and actually threw a twist in there that surprised me.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Amazon's Vine Program.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/11/book-review-nick-and-teslas-robot-army.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Kids will enjoy this one. The characters are better than the first and in keeping with a middle grade novel. The plot is strong and actually threw a twist in there that surprised me.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Amazon's Vine Program.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/11/book-review-nick-and-teslas-robot-army.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2059 KP) rated The Villain Virus (NERDS, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Flinch takes center stage in this fourth book in a middle grade series. Part James Bond spoof part adventure, it's another fun ride as everyone on earth starts trying to take it over. And the team survive a new school and figure out why everyone is turning evil and how to stop it? I've loved all of these books so far and can't wait for next year's entry already.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-villain-virus-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-villain-virus-by-michael.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Cumberland (1142 KP) rated Forever in Books
Mar 30, 2019
Didn't Match Up
This book is about first love, and having a physical relationship for the first time. Normally I enjoy cute love stories, but this was a little flat. The topic and themes were solidly YA, but the writing style is more middle grade. This made the characters come across as younger than what they were. I think if the book had focused more on the emotional aspects of their relationship it would have been better. Unfortunately it was mostly about their sex life. The one up side is that the book did put a lot of emphasis on safe sex.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2059 KP) rated Spy School at Sea in Books
Sep 13, 2021 (Updated Sep 13, 2021)
Cruising for Danger
Ben Ripley is off on another mission. The CIA has reason to believe that Murray Hill is boarding the cruise ship Emperor of the Seas, so Ben, Erica Hale, her parents, and Ben’s friend Mike, are all joining the ship for a cruise through the Panama Canal to find Murray and stop him. The ship turns out to be much bigger than they envisioned. Will they find him in time? Can they figure out his plan and stop him? And will Ben and Mike be able to keep the secret they are hiding from the Hales?
This is book nine in a delightful middle grade mystery series, and fans of the series will be thrilled with this entry. Those new to the series will find some minor spoilers for the previous book, but everything they need to know is explained here. The plot is fast moving with multiple action scenes that had me turning pages as fast as I could. There is some depth to the characters, and that continues to be explored here without slowing the action down. Meanwhile, the laughs are plentiful, and I was glad I wasn’t reading this book in public. I’m a decade or three beyond the target middle grade audience, but I don’t care. These books are wonderfully fun for all ages.
This is book nine in a delightful middle grade mystery series, and fans of the series will be thrilled with this entry. Those new to the series will find some minor spoilers for the previous book, but everything they need to know is explained here. The plot is fast moving with multiple action scenes that had me turning pages as fast as I could. There is some depth to the characters, and that continues to be explored here without slowing the action down. Meanwhile, the laughs are plentiful, and I was glad I wasn’t reading this book in public. I’m a decade or three beyond the target middle grade audience, but I don’t care. These books are wonderfully fun for all ages.
After getting a phone message from their mother warning that a spy is after them, Nick and Tesla find their uncle's house full of suspects. Who is the spy?
Another fun book filled with a great mystery, good characters, and a few laughs. The target middle grade audience will love it and enjoy building their own spy camera, code wheel, and more after they've found out who the spy is.
NOTE: I received this book via Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-nick-and-teslas-secret.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Another fun book filled with a great mystery, good characters, and a few laughs. The target middle grade audience will love it and enjoy building their own spy camera, code wheel, and more after they've found out who the spy is.
NOTE: I received this book via Amazon Vine in exchange for my honest review.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/05/book-review-nick-and-teslas-secret.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2059 KP) rated Deadweather and Sunrise (The Chronicles of Egg, #1) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Egbert "Egg" Masterson leaves the family island unexpectedly, he never expects to find himself on his own and fighting to stay alive. Can he evade those who are after him long enough to find out why they want him dead?
This is an inventive middle grade series. It's not our world but not fantasy either, and I had no problem jumping into that world. There's lots of action for guys with Egg always on the run from killers and pirates. Definitely planning on reading the next one myself soon.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-review-deadweather-and-sunrise-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
This is an inventive middle grade series. It's not our world but not fantasy either, and I had no problem jumping into that world. There's lots of action for guys with Egg always on the run from killers and pirates. Definitely planning on reading the next one myself soon.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/09/book-review-deadweather-and-sunrise-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2059 KP) rated Blue Sea Burning (The Chronicles of Egg #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
The final book in this middle grade trilogy finds Egg struggling to find a way to bring down his arch nemesis, greedy slave trader Roger Pembroke. With pirates, sea battles, and romantic complications, he'll have his hands full trying to do it.
The series goes out with the same fast action and wonderful characters I've been enjoying the entire way through. The humor scattered throughout helps as well. All three books are highly recommended for kids and adults. Just be sure to read them in order.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/04/book-review-blue-sea-burning-by-geoff.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
The series goes out with the same fast action and wonderful characters I've been enjoying the entire way through. The humor scattered throughout helps as well. All three books are highly recommended for kids and adults. Just be sure to read them in order.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/04/book-review-blue-sea-burning-by-geoff.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2059 KP) rated Poached (FunJungle #2) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
When Kazoo, the koala on loan to FunJungle, is stolen, Teddy finds himself the only suspect anyone is willing to consider. Can he stay out of jail long enough to prove his innocence?
I've been waiting a long time for a follow up to the first in this series, and I wasn't disappointed. The characters are still great, the mystery is complex, and there are some funny and scary moments. The book's target Middle Grade audience will love it just as much as I did.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/04/book-review-poached-by-stuart-gibbs.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
I've been waiting a long time for a follow up to the first in this series, and I wasn't disappointed. The characters are still great, the mystery is complex, and there are some funny and scary moments. The book's target Middle Grade audience will love it just as much as I did.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/04/book-review-poached-by-stuart-gibbs.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.