Down Unders: The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party

Normally NaomiRuth does the Down Under posts, but I had to review Shannon and Dean Hale's The Princess in Black and the Perfect Princess Party, which is a great chapter book, so she gave me permission to post my own Down Under review here.

Book Details:

• Written by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale
• Illustrated by LeUyen Pham
• Published by Candlewick Press
• This book is listed by the publisher for ages 5-8, but younger kids will enjoy it being read to them and older kids will enjoy the rollicking adventures, too.

Summary:

• It's Princess Magnolia's birthday and princesses from all over are coming to help her celebrate. But just when she's ready to open her presents the alarm sounds and she has to sneak away to become the Princess in Black to save her kingdom from monsters. Can Princess Magnolia keep her identity a secret, scare away the monsters, and still manage to enjoy her party?

Important Things to Know:

• This is the second book in the Princess in Black series and it just came out a couple of weeks ago!
• The first book, The Princess in Black came out in October of 2014 and is now also available in paperback.
• The third book, The Princess in Black and the Hungry Bunny Horde comes out in February of 2016, which is really not that far away, when you think about it.
• You can check out the Princess in Black website for more information including a Q&A with the authors an activity kit and even book club questions!
• You can find Shannon Hale on her website or tweeting wonderful things on her Twitter.
• You can find Dean Hale on his Twitter as well.
• You can find LeUyen Pham (and how to pronounce her name) on her website.

Why I Enjoyed This Book:

• Anyone who's followed this blog knows that I am a very big Shannon Hale fan. And I loved the story behind her reasons for writing this series.
• I love that Princess Magnolia is both a pink-loving, fancy-dress-and-glass-slipper-wearing princess and a masked avenger who can kick monsters all the way back to their own home and out of her kingdom. I like that it doesn't have to be an either/or. She doesn't have to be all rough and tough or all glitter and fluff. She can be both. I think that is such a great message. So often when girls in books are fighters, they lose their femininity and I appreciate that Magnolia can be both tough and dainty.
• The pure silliness of the story will have kids of all ages giggling over the lengths Magnolia has to go to hide her secret identity.
• I love that the princesses who come to Magnolia's party represent such a diverse group, not only ethnically, but also in other physical features as well.
• I love Princess Sneezewort and I really hope she features more fully in future books.

You Can Find This Book At:

• Barnes & Noble
• Books-a-Million
• Chapters
• Or an Indie Bookstore near you!

I received this advance reader copy via BookExpo America

10 Things I Loved About The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale

I am a huge Shannon Hale fan. I love every one of her books that I've read. I've had this one sitting on my shelf forever and just now finally got around to reading it and, boy am I glad I finally did.

Becky is, well, a housewife. She's married to a man she adores, has three kids and another one on the way. She bakes and cooks and is involved with her church. She also just managed to sell a screenplay and who should happen to interrupt the meeting with her agent but Felix Callahan, Becky's long-time Hollywood crush. They share some banter, then find they're staying at the same hotel so they share a cab and dinner. Then Becky heads home, happy to have a story to share with her family. Until Felix shows up again. And their friendship starts to grow. Becky's husband, Mike, isn't sure what to think and Felix's wife, Celeste, just seems to be amused. Can Becky and Felix just be friends? And what happens when both of their worlds turn upside down? Can their friendship survive?

Read on to see 10 Things I loved about The Actor and the Housewife by Shannon Hale.

1. The Premise: Okay, so it's far-fetched. But there are a lot of people who have dreamed about meeting a favorite actor or actress. Then to find out you truly enjoy each other's company? And even end up being best friends? What fun to explore that idea.
2. Becky's Commitment to her Family: From looking at other reviews I know a lot of people didn't feel that Becky's actions matched her protestations that her family is important. And I think Shannon Hale intentionally walks a line here looking at the idea of an emotional affair (rather than a physical one). I personally felt that Becky continually chose her husband and her children over her relationship with Felix. When Mike gets uncomfortable, she ends the friendship, and it isn't until he becomes okay with it that she picks it up again. At every turn she's considering how it will impact her husband and her kids. She thinks and considers whether she's crossing any lines and always tries to choose what is right for all of them, though she also realizes that she is a person and it's okay for her to have interests (writing and friends) that are not centered in her family.
3. The Theme: Basically, Shannon Hale explores the question: can men and women be friends in a purely platonic sense? Hale seems to think so. But it's not an easy conclusion to come to. Both Becky and Felix as well as the people in their lives grapple with how and if it can work. I get so frustrated with a culture where a guy and a girl can't be friends without people assuming they're dating or having an affair or involved. Yes, it's tricky, and Hale doesn't make it simple. But is there really any reason a male and a female can't be friends without being more?
4. The Banter: Oh the banter. Less than five pages in and I had already literally laughed out loud. Seriously, if I ever meet a man I can banter with like Felix I will never want to let him go - we will become friends or I will marry him. Becky and Felix play off each other in the most hilarious way. They honestly reminded me of the way my family talks at family dinners.
5. Becky's Kids: They're kind of sidebars to the story, but each one is real and, if not fully drawn, at least filled out enough for us to care about them.
6. The Struggles: Not only do Becky and Felix have to deal with the challenges of being friends with someone of the opposite sex when you're married, but both characters have to deal with life - both small and large challenges. And a lot of the book is about them being there for each other during really hard times and stepping in or out as the occasion needs.
7. The Time: Though this may lend at times to a bit too much telling rather than showing, I liked the fact that the book followed them through years and years. They go through times of stepping back from each other's lives because things are too crazy or busy. They go through periods where they grow closer together. It's a journey and Hale doesn't rush it.
8. Becky's Faith: This was another thing I noticed in the reviews - some people (both religious and non-religious) were turned off by this aspect. I heartily applauded it. As a person of faith myself I hate that religion is in many ways a taboo topic (unless the author is mocking it or showing how dangerous or creepy or horrible it is). Unless it's explicitly a "religious novel" so often it feels like religion dare not be spoken of. Which, to my mind is stupid, because belief, faith, religion is a huge part of many people's lives. Regular ordinary people. So there were some terms that didn't quite make sense. You don't have to understand Becky's beliefs to understand they are a part of her and that they impact her behavior. And I appreciate that Hale didn't erase this aspect of her life.
9. The Emotions: I laughed out loud over and over. I cried. Actually, if I'm going to be honest, I sobbed. Like ridiculously.
10. The Ending: I was dreading where the book was going from the beginning. Actually terrified and not sure if I even wanted to keep reading (but I couldn't stop), but I need not have feared. Hale brought it to a conclusion that satisfied me. I won't say more because spoilers, but I was happy with it.

Happy reading!

10 Things I Loved About Ever After High by Shannon Hale

I am a giant Shannon Hale fan. I have never been disappointed when reading any of her books and, having had the chance to meet her in person at Book Expo American, she is also amazingly sweet. So when I saw these books with her name attached I had to read them as soon as possible. And once again I wasn't disappointed.

So far the first two books are out: The Storybook of Legends and The Unfairest of Them All, but there is another one due out later this summer (August, if my sources are correct...)

You should totally check out Shannon's website where you can learn a little bit more about the series and about how she ended up writing these books. It's a story complete with secret code words and everything! Or you can check out the Ever After High website where you can learn more about the world, play games, take quizzes, and find out about other cool stuff related to the series!

But for now I give you my Top 10 Things I loved about the first 2 books! (completely spoiler free! I promise!)

1. The premise: Basically fairy tale characters have children who are destined to relive the stories in order to keep the tales alive. Apple White, the daughter of Snow White, and Raven Queen, the daughter of Evil Queen, are both attending Ever After High to learn everything they need to know about their destinies. And they're roommates. And Raven's tired of everyone wanting her to be evil. Shouldn't she be able to choose her own destiny? Tell me you're not intrigued already.
2. Fairy tales! I am a sucker for all things fairy tales as our regular readers will know by now. And Hale is a master at reinventing them. She does it again - although the traditional stories are a bit more traditional than many of her personal novels, Hale plays with the stories in a delightful way.
3. The puns: Oh the puns and the word play! So ridiculous and just on the edge of being too cutesy, but never crossing over. I loved every minute of it. For example, as she is packing for school, Raven Queen is listening to Tailor Quick's new album. They eat in the Castleteria and take Chemythstry and exclaim "Hexcellent!" And it all just adds to the delightful-ness of the story.
4. Madeleine Hatter: Raven and Apple may be the main characters, but Maddie will steal your heart. (And I appreciated that there is an explanation as to why the Mad Hatter and his daughter are in fairy tale land). She is quirky and just wonderlandiful! And her conversations with the Narrator are hilarious.
5. The Narrator: Shannon makes the narrator a character and I love it. It's not overdone, but it's a great little quirky addition to the story.
6. Chapter Titles: I have a tendency to get wrapped up in the story and miss out on chapter titles, but with these I force myself to pay attention because the titles are usually changed or crossed out and written over or, at the very least, make me giggle.
7. The Antagonists: I like the fact that there is both an external antagonist (actually many of them and not all ones you might initially expect) and internal antagonists with the characters sometimes becoming their own worst enemies. There are moral dilemmas, confusion, and a lot of soul searching as each character tries to deal with the things that come up. Yet...
8. Age appropriateness: ... it's all done with the audience in mind. One of the biggest pet peeves I have with another book series that is tied to doll merchandising (which I will not name here) is that the books are written for an older audience than the dolls will most likely be appealing to. This means that parents and grandparents looking for books for their younger children or grandchildren often feel uncomfortable buying them. Mattel and Little, Brown have worked hard to make the merchandise and books aimed toward the same group. The title may include the word "High" as in high school, but there is nothing in the books that would keep even younger primary school kids from enjoying them. I think they would make fun read-alouds as well! So I have no qualms about putting these books in the hands of a grandmother. And I have a new recommendation for people frustrated or confused concerning the other series.
9. Fun AND deep: I mean this in the best way. As I noted in #7 above, there are some pretty deep philosophical dilemmas that arise, including an easy to follow discussion of the differences between fate and free will. There's also discussion of consequences, loyalty, friendship, determination, family issues - all tied up in a fun, romping story that never ever gets anywhere close to pedantic or moralistic.
10. Fun: Did I mention these are fun? They are so much fun. They make me happy. I want to read them again. I want to read more! I am so happy I picked them up and I hope you'll give them a read too, whether you're reading them with a child in your life or just for the child in your heart.

On the Way to BEA

Today kicks off the first day of BookExpo America with the Blogger's conference. Jenn N has promised to take a lot of notes for those of us that weren't able to go.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday NaomiRuth and I (Rebecca T) will be joining Jenn in the trek to the city and I am so excited to get to go all three days this year!

I've had the chance to go several times before (one of the benefits of living fairly close to New York City) and it's always a blast!

Here's a couple of the authors I am particularly looking forward to this year:

Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) - Let's just say that I am minorly obsessed with everything he has ever written and I may even have saved the cardboard display topper from the The End display we got in at Borders when that book came out. I got to meet him two years ago and it was the total highlight of the day for me. Jenn, Claire, and Naomi teased me about the ridiculous grin that was plastered on my face for the entire afternoon.

Shannon Messenger - I met this lovely lady through her blog and I'm so excited about her debut novel and the chance to meet a bloggy friend in person!

Lois Lowry - Oh. My. Werd. I am so excited words escape me.

Shannon Hale - I love her YA books so so much and I got to meet her a couple of years ago at BEA and we chatted with the people at her publisher's booth (Bloomsbury) for like half an hour because they were the coolest people ever.

Maureen Johnson - I read 13 Little Blue Envelopes during my trip to Italy last year and completely fell in love with this author.

Wendy Delsol - I got her book Stork  a few years ago and loved it. She's super sweet and I know her on Twitter and getting to meet her in person is amazing!

Any of you going to be at BEA? We'd love to meet you!

Also, stay tuned because we'll be picking up some books to share with all of y'all too!