Bug in a Book

Divine Clementine

April 19, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Hayley S. Kirk Random House 978 1 86471 899 7 2012 By Cassandra Griffin ‘I blow her a kiss. She catches it and puts it in her pocket for later like she always does. And then it happens. Why doesn’t she look? Why doesn’t the bus brake? Why is my body frozen? Clementine Footner is 16 years old when she witnesses her Aunt Stella’s tragic death. Piece by piece her entire world falls apart. Stella was not only her […]

Categories: Young Adult • Tags: Grief Loss and Bereavement, Health, Mental health, Random House, Reviewer - Cassandra Griffin

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Rapture – A Fallen Novel

April 19, 2013 by Bug in a Book

by Lauren Kate Random House Published June 2012 ISBN: 9780385618120 Reviewer – Kelli Ryder Luce and Daniel have been living in a curse that keeps playing out for them over and over. Is there a way to finally break it so they can be happy in love together? Rapture is the conclusion to the Fallen series and is a brilliant windup to the saga. Luce will discover the secrets of her past and her importance in changing the grand scheme […]

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult • Tags: Fallen, Lauren Kate, Random House, Reviewer - Kelli Ryder

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Mortal Combat – Time’s running out.

April 19, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Author; Martin Chatterton Publisher; Random House Australia. ISBN; 978174225216 Market; Primary age children Mortimer Devere for those who haven’t read the first book is over 10,000 years old but he is just a kid, he lives on a creepy Island and this time Mort and his crew travel in time landing in the middle of a war! Of all the places to land Mort could think of better ones and so the fun begins. Fighting Vikings and to his surprise […]

Categories: Children's Books • Tags: action, history, humour, Martin Chatterton, random house australia, series, travel in time

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The Enormouse Pearl Heist

April 10, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Geronimo Stilton series bk 51 Geronimo Stilton Scholastic ISBN: 9780545341035 RRP: $12.99 Age: 7+ Key Words: Adventure, Reading Schemes Published: 1st Oct 2012 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Geronimo goes on a trip with beautiful Petunia, his nephew Ben and Aunt Sweetfur. Petunia is hoping Geronimo will get some time to relax and she sends him scuba diving. Geronimo isn’t very happy with this idea, even less so when he believes he has seen a huge blue fish. It turns out that Geronimo […]

Categories: Junior Novel • Tags: 7+ years, Adventure, Animal Stories, crime, Reading Schemes, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Scholastic, series

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Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

April 10, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Stephan Pastis Walker Books ISBN: 9781406339819 RRP: $26.99 Age: 8+ Key Words: Detective Story, Humour Published: 28th Feb 2013 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Timmy Failure is a private detective, with a polar bear called Total who is his business partner, this of course does not make for a very good business name ‘Total Failure’. Timmy has several cases on the go at once; missing candy, who TP’d someones house and what happened to the Failuremobile? There is also of course his greatest rival […]

Categories: Middle Grade • Tags: 8+ years, Detective Stories, humour, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Stephan Pastis, Walker Books

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Dyson’s Drop-The Maximus Black Files (Book #2)

March 18, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Paul Collins Ford Street Publishing ISBN: 978 1 921665 66 0 RRP: $19.95 Date of Publication: August 2012 Reviewed by Cassandra Griffin “The youth was dying. Worse, he was dying without confessing his sins against Maximus Black. ‘Just tell me what I want to know,’ said Black to the terrified, panting youth strapped to the table, ‘and all this will end. No more pain. I promise.’” Double Agent Maximus Black is back with all his alter egos, and […]

Categories: Science Fiction, Young Adult • Tags: double agent, Ford Street Publishing, future, other worlds, Paul Collins, Reviewer - Cassandra Griffin, Secret Agents, spy

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Mary MacKillop – Australia’s First Saint.

March 18, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Gabian Marin Angela Grzegrzolka National Library of Australia ISBN: 9781921928192 RRP: $14.95 Publication Date: 1/10/2012 Reviewer: Cassandra Griffin Aussie Heroes presents the story of Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint, from her birth in 1842 until her death in 1909. Her life was touched from a young age, not that Mary truly understood why. All she wanted to do was look after and provide for her growing family, especially while her Father indulged in flights and fights of fantasy. Like many […]

Categories: Children's Books, Children's Non Fiction, Junior Novel • Tags: Angela Grzegrzolka, Australia, Education Resource, Gabian Marin, history, Mary MacKillop, National Library of Australia, Reviewer - Cassandra Griffin, School resource

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Falling to Ash

March 18, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Karen Mahoney Random House Australia ISBN: 9781742754932 RRP: $18.95 Publication Date: 3/9/2012 Reviewer: Cassandra Griffin While expecting a typical “this generation” vampire story, Falling to ash is a refreshing surprise. It places a twist on the undead genre, with wit, drama and bucket loads of intense mystery. We follow Moth, as she narrates her own story of being introduced to her Boston vampire family by her powerful Maker Theo. She has to give up her living family, but how […]

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult • Tags: adult themes, choices, consequences, drama, fitting in, Karen Mahoney, murder, mystery, Random House, Reviewer - Cassandra Griffin, Vampire, wit

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Me and Him: A Guide to Recovery

March 15, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Karen Tyrrell Me and Him: A Guide to Recovery is the second instalment from Karen Tyrrell regarding her journey through mental illness and back again. If you are unfamiliar with Karen’s first book please pop over to our review of Me and Her: A Memoir of Madness. It is in this book that the very important connection is made between recovery and support people. Karen reveals secrets her husband shared that changed everything she thought she knew about her recovery […]

Categories: Adult, Author Blog Tour, Autobiography, Guide Book, Memoir, Non-Fiction • Tags: Competition, Guide Book, Karen Tyrrell, Mental health, Support

Topsy-Turvy World

February 26, 2013 by Bug in a Book

How Australian Animals Puzzled Early Explorers Kirsty Murray National Library Publications RRP: $29.95 (Hard cover with dust jacket) Publication Date: 1 October 2012 ISBN: 9780642277497 Age: 8+ Reviewer: Cassandra Griffin Every single aspect was back to front in Australia for early European explorers. The weather was hot when it was meant to be cold. Animals were like nothing they had ever laid eyes on before! Whereas the Europeans were the strangest thing the Aboriginals had ever seen. “Extraordinary, intriguing, eccentric, peculiar, curious and […]

Categories: Children's Books, Children's Non Fiction, Historical, Picture Books • Tags: 8+ years, Australia, Australian animals, Explorers, history, Kirsty Murray, National Library of Australia, Non-Fiction, Reviewer - Cassandra Griffin

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Apollo The Powerful Owl

February 26, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Gordon Winch Stephen Pym New Frontier Publishing RRP: $24.95 (Hard Cover) Publication Date: October 2012 ISBN: 9781921928284 Age: 4 – 6 Years Reviewer: Cassandra Griffin Apollo The powerful owl is a delightful children’s book. Apollo no longer wishes to eat meat, so he journeys to find out what other animals eat and to try some new food. Apollo learns that a new diet makes him ill and not very strong. Will Wilfred the Wise Old Owl give Apollo the right advice? Apollo […]

Categories: Children's Books, Picture Books • Tags: 4 - 6 years, animals, Diet, Food, Gordon Winch, New Frontier, Owl, Reviewer - Cassandra Griffin, Stephen Pym

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Not Bog Standard (and other peculiar stories)

February 26, 2013 by Bug in a Book

by Mark Pardoe (Omnibus books) Scholastic ISBN 978-1-86291-863-4 RRP: $15.99 Age: 10+ Published: March 2012 Review by Rachel Mason Not Bog Standard is a compilation of short stories, each one involving something crazy or gruesome or downright weird!! Tales of strange creatures, freaky animals and mind-boggling gadgets – There is always something to make you squirm! Each story is told in the words of a young teen (a different one each time) , and is written in a way that […]

Categories: Children's Books, Middle Grade, Short Stories • Tags: 10+ years, animals, crazy, creatures, gadgets, gruesome, Omnibus for Scholastic, Reviewer - Rachel Mason, short stories, weird

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My Fantastic Father – Little Mates Series

February 22, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Susannah McFarlane Lachlan Creagh Scholastic Australia ISBN: 9781742832234 RRP: $14.99 Publication Date: August 2012 Ages: 4+ Years Reviewer: Angela Hall The Little Mates Series is a great learning tool for our junior readers as they make learning fun! Can you get your tongue around the twisters? This book is a tribute to all the fantastic fathers out there who make our lives a joy. My Fantastic Father mixes ‘f’ words into the story flawlessly and there are even more ‘f’ […]

Categories: Children's Books, Picture Books, Special Topic Books (For Children) • Tags: early learning, Fathers, Lachlan Creagh, letters, Reviewer - Angela Hall, Scholastic Australia, Susannah McFarlane

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Superworm

February 22, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Julia Donaldson Axel Scheffler Scholastic UK ISBN:9781407132044 RRP: $24.99 (Hardcover) Publication Date: November 2012 Ages: 3+ Years Reviewer: Angela Hall Another fun and fabulous book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, who really have become big names in children’s books. You know it is a guaranteed hit with these names on the cover. Superworm has more uses than you could imagine! Everything from a lasso to a skipping rope. Is there nothing he can’t do? But be careful because the naughty […]

Categories: Children's Books, Picture Books • Tags: 3+ Years, Axel Scheffler, garden, insects, Julia Donaldson, Reviewer - Angela Hall, Scholastic, wizard, worm

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The False Prince

February 19, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Jennifer A. Nielsen Scholastic ISBN: 9781407133058 RRP: $16.99 Age: 10+ Genre: Fantasy Key Words: Action, Fantasy, Adventure, Conspiracy Published: 1st Dec 2012 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Sage is an orphan, one who causes trouble and takes risks. He is one of four boys who get kidnapped. Four boys who look remarkably similar. There is something devious, even dangerous, going on, failure will result in death. The boys embark on an intense round of training, the end result of it being that […]

Categories: Middle Grade • Tags: 10+ years, action, Adventure, fantasy, Jennifer Nielsen, Middle Grade Fiction, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell

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Shatterproof

February 19, 2013 by kyliecalwell

39 Clues Cahills vs Vespers bk 4 Roland Smith Scholastic US ISBN : 9780545298421 RRP : $17.99 Age : 8-12 years Key Words : Action, Crime, Adventure, Family 39 Clues Published : 04 Sept 2012 Reviewer : Kylie Calwell Amy, Dan, Atticus and Jake are still jet-setting around the world at the beck and call of Vesper one. This time he is sending them after one of the worlds biggest diamonds – the Golden Jubilee. Jonah and Hamilton are pursuing their own […]

Categories: Middle Grade, Miscellaneous • Tags: 39 Clues, 8 - 12 years, action, Adventure, crime, family, Middle Grade, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Roland Smith, Scholastic Inc

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Divide and Conquer

February 19, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Infinity Ring series book 2 Carrie Ryan Scholastic US ISBN: 9780545386975 RRP: $14.99 Age: 8+ Key Words: Action, History Published: 06 Nov 2012 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Dak, Sera and Riq find themselves in medieval Paris as thousands of Vikings are preparing to attack. The Parisians are fighting back but won’t be able to hold out forever. The three time travellers need to figure out what they are supposed to change, they think it is one thing, but what happens if they are […]

Categories: Children's Recommended Read, Middle Grade • Tags: action, Carrie Ryan, history, Infinity Ring, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Scholastic Inc, Vikings

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Days of Blood & Starlight

February 11, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Daughter of Smoke and Bone Sequel Laini Taylor Hodder & Stoughton ISBN: 9781444722680 RRP: $19.99 Age: 14+ Key Words: Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal Published: 08 Nov 2012 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Karou is alone in so many ways. She is apart from her friends, she can never be with the man she believed she loved and she is trapped by those who seem to hate her but need her. She has taken over Brimstone’s mantle, she is the Resurrectionist. The Chimera need her for […]

Categories: Children's Recommended Read, Fantasy, Romance, Young Adult • Tags: Angels, Chimera, fantasy, Hodder & Stoughton, Laini Taylor, paranormal, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, romance, War

Malice

February 11, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Conspiracy 365 series 2 book 1 Gabrielle Lord Scholastic Australia ISBN: 978174283828 RRP: $14.99 Age: Young Adult Key Words : Mystery, Adventure Published: 1st Oct 2012 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Cal, Winter, Ryan and Boges are looking forward to life being a bit more normal. Their enemies are gone; locked up or just plan vanished. Cal has plans for flight school and Winter can’t shake the feeling that things aren’t right. In fact she in convinced someone is watching her. When […]

Categories: Young Adult • Tags: Adventure, Conspiracy 365, Gabrielle Lord, mystery, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Scholastic Australia, series

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Trust No One

February 11, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Cahills vs Vespers book 5 Linda Sue Park Scholastic US ISBN: 9780545298438 RRP: $17.99 Age: 8+ Key Words : Action, Crime, Family, History Published: 6th Dec 2012 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell The blows have been coming hard at Dan and Amy, there have been loses and now there is betrayal. Someone close to them turns on them and it shakes Amy to her very core. Then there are the threats not only to the hostages but deliberate attacks aimed at against […]

Categories: Middle Grade • Tags: 39 Clues, action, crime, family, history, Linda Sue Park, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Scholastic, series

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Looking back – Old Favourites (as suggested by you).

January 10, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Subscribe to Monthly Updates Now! One simple email with all the latest reviews, easy. We recently asked you to look back to your own childhood for a special book or two that has stayed with you as a treasured memory. The following books have been suggested on Facebook and Twitter. Bug in a Book - I remember reading ‘Looking for Alibrandi’ and ‘So much to telll you’ from my school days. Bug in a Book – Yes, it’s called ‘Cougar’ I […]

Categories: News • Tags: Childhood Favourites, Your Choice

There is Going to be a Bug in a Book Baby!

January 8, 2013 by Bug in a Book

Hello friends and fabulous followers! We hope you all had a delightful Christmas and an awesome New Year. In store for us this year we are excited to be welcoming a new buggy baby. (This will probably effectively explain my 4 months of sickness and absence). As you may be aware we have a 4 year old bug already who we are doing our best to prepare for the new arrival. We have been reading ‘Share‘ and ‘There’s Going to be a Baby.’ […]

Categories: A Multi-Review Post, News • Tags: Baby is coming, Pregnancy, Siblings, Suggestions

Top Picks for Christmas

December 19, 2012 by Bug in a Book

Here at Bug in a Book (.org) we are feeling the festive vibes. We have our reindeer antlers on and our mugs full of eggnog. Maybe best we lay off that just a bit. But at any rate we have been putting together a selection of Christmas books for you to feast your festive eyes on. Up First our Favourite! PS: Who Stole Santa’s Mail? Dimity Powell “Filled with feisty characters, seat-of-your-pants drama and loads of Christmas cracker jokes, Dimity […]

Categories: A Multi-Review Post, News • Tags: Christmas

The Casual Vacancy

December 19, 2012 by kyliecalwell

JK Rowling Little Brown ISBN: 9781408704202 RRP: $39.99 Genre: General Fiction Key Words: Politics, Secrets Published: 27th October 2012 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Barry Fairbrother collapses and dies leaving a vacancy on the local council. This tragic event has far reaching effects that no-one could have guessed at as surprising people come out of the woodwork to try and take his place. There is more going on than a simply council election though with the town clearly divided into two sides over […]

Categories: Adult • Tags: Adult, General Fiction, JK Rowling, Politics, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell

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← Older posts

Bug in a Book

Celebrating Literacy for Everyone

Divine Clementine

Rapture – A Fallen Novel

Mortal Combat – Time’s running out.

The Enormouse Pearl Heist

Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made

Dyson’s Drop-The Maximus Black Files (Book #2)

Mary MacKillop – Australia’s First Saint.

Falling to Ash

Me and Him: A Guide to Recovery

Topsy-Turvy World

Apollo The Powerful Owl

Not Bog Standard (and other peculiar stories)

My Fantastic Father – Little Mates Series

Superworm

The False Prince

Shatterproof

Divide and Conquer

Days of Blood & Starlight

Malice

Trust No One

Looking back – Old Favourites (as suggested by you).

There is Going to be a Bug in a Book Baby!

Top Picks for Christmas

The Casual Vacancy

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