Recommended | Bug in a Book

Machine Wars

May 27, 2014 by kyliecalwell

Michael Pryor Random House ISBN: 9780857982766 RRP: 10+ Age: $17.99 Key Words: Artificial Intelligence, Computers, Science Fiction Published: 1st April 2014 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Bram was late home from music practice, these things happen but this time something is very wrong when he gets home. This is a moment he has been training for. For some reason a paranoid, super intelligence is out to get him. His mum always said she hoped this would never happen but she made sure he […]

Categories: Middle Grade • Tags: Artificial Intelligence., Computers, Michael Pryor, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, science fiction

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Cross My Heart & Hope to Spy

March 25, 2014 by kyliecalwell

Ally Carter Hyperion Books Gallagher Girls bk 2 ISBN: 9781423100065 RRP: $17.99 Age: 12+ Key Words: Espionage, Romance Published: 1st Dec 2008 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell The Josh disaster of last semester has left Cammie just wanting to have a quiet semester, after all using her spy skills to get her first boyfriend then being forced to give him up was quite enough. She even promises her mother to stay out of trouble. That is way easier said than done when […]

Categories: Young Adult • Tags: Ally Carter, Espionage, friendship, Gallagher Girls, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, School Stories

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I’d Tell You I Love You but Then I’d Have to Kill You

March 18, 2014 by kyliecalwell

Ally Carter Hyperion Press Gallagher Girls bk 1 ISBN: 9781423100041 RRP: $19.99 Age: 12+ Key Words: Spy Story, Romance Published: 1st Apr 2007 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Cammie Morgan attends the exclusive Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women, a school that is not exactly what it appears to be. To the outside it looks like a snobby school for rich brats but behind the walls are classes on chemical warfare, covert operations, code cracking and advanced martial arts. Gallagher Academy is a […]

Categories: Young Adult • Tags: Ally Carter, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, romance, School Stories, Spy Stories

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Little Red Riding Hood

December 17, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Alison Jay Koala Books ISBN: 9781742760711 RRP: $14.99 Age: 3+ Key Words: Fairy Tales Published: 1 Dec 2013 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Little Red lives in Fairytale Village, and you know how the rest of the story goes. There is a bad wolf, a grandmother and a woodcutter. What is really awesome about this picture book is Alison Jay’s illustrations, they are amazingly detailed and very distinctive (the cracked ceramic looking finish). Fairytales are fun to share and little children will enjoy […]

Categories: Picture Books • Tags: Alison Jay, Fairy Tales, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell

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House of Hades

December 12, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Rick Riordan Heroes of Olympus bk 4 Puffin ISBN: 9780141339191 RRP: $19.99 Age: 12+ Key Words: Action, Mythology Published: 8th Oct 2013 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Percy and Annabeth are trapped in Tartarus, their only hope is to journey across the land of the dead to the Doors of Death. This will perhaps be the most testing and brutal of all trails they have gone through. To make matters worse monsters are regenerating at an increased rate and none of them like […]

Categories: Mythology, Young Adult • Tags: action, Heroes of Olympus, Mythology, Percy Jackson, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Rick Riordan

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Melting Stones

December 8, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Tamora Pierce Scholastic ISBN: 9780545052658 RRP: $17.99 Age: 11+ Key Words: Magic, Nature Published: 1st Aug 2012 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Evvy has been an apprentice stone mage for four years now. She really doesn’t want to be on another journey with her mentor, Rosethorn but she finds herself accompanying her and Dedicate Myrrhtide, a water mage, to the Battle Islands. Something is causing the plants and animals to die and it is up to Rosethorn and Myrrhtide to find out what, […]

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult • Tags: Adventure, Evvy, fantasy, magic, nature, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Tamora Pierce

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Magic Steps

December 2, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Tamora Pierce Scholastic Circle Opens bk 1 ISBN: 9780590396059 RRP: $15.99 Age: 11+ Key Words: Fantasy, Adventure, Crime, Magic Published: 1st April 2001 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Sandry can weave magic like it is thread, a unique and awe inspiring skill. For now she has left the Winding Circle and her teacher Lark to look after her uncle, Duke Vedris of Emelan, who has been really ill. Things do not stay as calm as Sandry would like when a mysterious murder is […]

Categories: Fantasy, Young Adult • Tags: Circle Opens, crime, fantasy, magic, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Tamora Pierce

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Princess Betony and the Rule of Wishing

November 8, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Pamela Freeman & Tamsin Ainslie Walker Books The Princess Betony Series ISBN: 9781921720253 RRP: $17.95 Age: 7+ Key Words: Princess, Friendship Published: 1st Oct 2013 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Princess Betony is thrilled that she finally might have a friend. Rosie’s niece Clover Pink has come to stay next door for a while and Betony is really looking forward to finding out what a real friend is. It’s not as simple as all that when you are a Princess and your friend […]

Categories: Junior Novel • Tags: Adventure, friendship, Pamela Freeman, Princesses, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Tamsin Ainslie

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Verity Sparks – Lost and Found

November 2, 2013 by kyliecalwell

Susan Green Walker Books Verity Sparks bk 2 ISBN: 9781921977886 RRP: $16.95 Age: 10+ Key Words: Historical, Mystery Published: 1st May 2013 Reviewer: Kylie Calwell Verity Sparks is in Melbourne with the father she found and some very good friends, the problem is Verity has lost her gift. The tingle in her fingers has gone and she can no longer find things. This is fine with her father who is determined she will become a proper lady. Verity however isn’t all […]

Categories: Middle Grade • Tags: crime, Historical, mystery, Recommended, Reviewer - Kylie Calwell, Susan Green, Verity Sparks

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Bug in a Book

Celebrating Literacy for Everyone

Tag: Recommended

Machine Wars

Cross My Heart & Hope to Spy

I’d Tell You I Love You but Then I’d Have to Kill You

Little Red Riding Hood

House of Hades

Melting Stones

Magic Steps

Princess Betony and the Rule of Wishing

Verity Sparks – Lost and Found