Monthly Archives: June 2020

book review, fantasy, Fiction

THE BURIED WORLD – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe Buried World
AuthorJeff Wheeler
Publisher47North (June 23, 2020)
FormatKindle, Audiobook, Paperback
Pages335
LanguageEnglish
AudienceBroad Appeal for Fantasy Readers
ASIN B07WNTX91Y

AUTHOR

This is the second book in The Grave Kingdom series. To read my review on the first book, The Killing Fog and to learn more about the author click here.

SYNOPSIS

This book continues Bingmei’s quest for survival. With the help of her friends, she continues a mission to evade the evil she unwittingly released in the first book. She has many adventures, experiences great loss and witnesses more unspeakable horrors.

This second installment in the series continues the battle between good and evil, but evil gets a counterpart. Now Bingmei and her followers not only have to evade one ancient evil entity, but two! Not just the entities themselves but the monsters they unleash from the “Grave Kingdom.” With their combined power they can control not only the living world, but the dimension of the dead as well.

Bingmei knows she is the only chance for the world to be rid of these evil entities and so do they. They will stop at nothing to kill her and continue their reign of terror for a thousand years to come. They will devour anyone who attempts to help Bingmei in their bid to capture or kill her. Bingmei must protect not only herself, but her friends. However, slowly she realizes it may not be possible to do both. She agonizes between protecting her friends and fulfilling her duty.

As they flee across the countryside, Bingmei and her little band of warriors and friends face off against an overwhelming foe. Battling not only their enemies but nature itself. From seemingly endless armies to magical beasts, they fight for survival and freedom.

Will she fulfill her duty? Will she protect her friends? Will she even survive? I guess we will find out in the next installment. What a cliffhanger!

CONCLUSION

The Buried World follows up on Jeff Wheeler’s The Killing Fog. This installment does not have as many epic battles as the first, but it has much more suspense. There are epic battles with magical creatures and objects; but there are many more moments where the suspense was too great to put the book down. I had to keep reading to see if Bingmei would escape, save a friend, or invoke some magic that would save the world.

Exceptionally written, Jeff has brought the characters to life and the environment into vivid detail. Each character has been constructed in such detail that the reader can not only see them in their mind, but envision them as actual living beings. He does a fantastic job of describing the environment. From the detailed palaces to the: monsters, the magic, the animals, the plains, or even the water; the reader feels as if they are there alongside Bingmei and her friends on this saga.  

I genuinely enjoyed this second book in The Grave Kingdom series and I cannot wait for the next one to be released on 22 September, 2020: The Immortal Worlds.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

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book review, Non-Fiction, Organized Crime, True Crime

MS-13 – Review

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleMS-13: The Making of America’s Most Notorious Gang
AuthorSteven Dudley
PublisherHanover Square Press; Original edition
(September 8, 2020)
FormatKindle, Audiobook, Hardback, Audio CD
Page326
GenreBiographies of Murder & Mayhem, Organized Crime
True Accounts, Biographies of Organized Crime
LanguageEnglish
ASIN #B07NGPTZMM

AUTHOR

Steven Dudley is the co-director of InSight, based in Washington D.C. It is joint initiative of American University and the Fundación Ideas para la Paz in Colombia, South America. InSight is aimed at monitoring, analyzing and investigating organized crime in the Americas.

SYNOPSIS

Dudley’s investigative chronology of the South American gang known as The Mara Salvatrucha, or by their other monica MS-13. Mara means “gang” and Salvatrucha stands for Salvador. The number thirteen is for the M; the thirteenth letter of the alphabet. Although some claim that it is because “13” was included to honor the Mexican Mafia (the most influential prison gang in all of CA) which sought to broker peace between the gangs MS-13 and 18th for economic reasons. MS-13’s members are reported to exist in 33 States. A grand achievement considering their inauspicious beginnings in Los Angeles. It is claimed that their current numbers are in excess of three-quarters of a million members. Know primarily for their extreme violence and their primacy within the correctional institutions of the US; their origins were according to Dudley to be far less sinister. Dudley’s account of the tomato gangs (so called because they would throw tomatoes at each other) quickly descended into extortion, drug dealing and murder. Any reluctance to abandon their ’honor’ quickly evaporated as the promise of enormous wealth from drug sales supplanted it. 

I have to admit to harboring conflicting feelings about the book. I felt very enthusiastic to receive a copy for review and couldn’t wait to begin reading it. Immediately I began questioning my wisdom. At first it appeared that the author was acting an apologist for the criminal activities of the central characters, Norman, and Alex Sanchez. Then later when Dudley seemed to repeated express sympathy for the victim-hood of the characters.   

As the book progressed the tone changed and the author seemed to become more skeptical and less sympathetic as the murders, gang rapes, and violent assaults increased. 

Dudley did manifest through his writing style the sense of unity and camaraderie shared by the informal social party group that MS-13 seemed to be. The gang was as much a social club than it was an organization like the Cosa Nostra. 

I found the narratives constant transition between the United States and El Salvador left one feeling disorientated and confused. This combined with a plethora of minor players many of whom are known only by aliases only added to the scale of the confusion. There is a lack of structure and because of this there is an inability to keep track of characters, let alone empathize with them at any level. Ultimately, the breadth and scale were too board for easy navigation. 

CONCLUSION

MS-13 is extensively researched, but lacks punch; which is ironic in a work so filled with violence. It felt overly verbose, too subjective, overly long and biased at times. I found myself checking my watch while I read it, never a good sign in any situation. Despite this, I believe that if you are interested in knowing more about South American gang culture in the United States it is worth your time. 

When the end came, it was something of a disappointment, almost as an afterthought. Perhaps if the extensive El Salvadorian context had been a little less lengthy there may have been more room for an appropriate conclusion. 

Rating: 3 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Stephen Dudley, NetGalley and Hanover Square Press for affording me the opportunity to review MS-13: The Making of America’s Most Notorious Gang.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY THIS AUTHOR

BE THE BUFFALO, BY STEPHEN DUDLEY IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE TO READ FOR FOR FREE ON KindleUnlimited

Author’s Spotlight, book review

AUTHOR’S SPOTLIGHT

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JOE HILL

Litercurious Book Review

MEET THE AUTHOR: JOE HILL

AUTHOR BIO

Joe Hill is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Heart-Shaped Box, The Fireman, and Full Throttle. He won the Eisner Award for Best Writer for his long-running comic book series, Locke & Key, co-created with artist Gabriel Rodriguez. Much of his work has been adapted for movies and television. His second novel, Horns, was translated to film in 2014 and starred Daniel Radcliffe. His third novel, NOS4A2, is now a hit series on AMC, starring Zachary Quinto. The first season of Locke & Key was released on Netflix in early 2020 and became an overnight smash. His story, “In The Tall Grass,” co-written with Stephen King, was made into a feature for Netflix, and became a mind-bending cult horror sensation. Most recently, Hill has returned to graphic novels — his latest comics include Basketful of Heads and Plunge for D.C., and Dying is Easy for IDW.

MY FAVORITE WORK BY THIS AUTHOR

My favorite work so far by Joe Hill is far and away NOS4A2. It has everything readers of truly great horror demand. The characters are deeply conflicted, and some are heroic without trying. The story is skillfully crafted and expertly written as one would expect from the progeny of the monarch of contemporary horror Stephen King. I love to curl up late at night and listen to an audiobook by Hill. The only draw back is the fight that inevitably ensues between my total absorption in the story and my need to sleep. If you haven’t been introduced to Joe Hill’s work yet, the time is now. Don’t miss the opportunity to read for free, not just one of Hill’s novels but four including: Heart-shaped Box, 20th Century Ghosts, Horns, and NOS4A2. See information and link at the bottom of the page.

CURRENT PUBLICATIONS BY THIS AUTHOR

NEW YORK TIMES BEST SELLER &

#1 BEST SELLER on Amazon

Heart shaped box: A novel

Judas Coyne is a collector of the macabre: a cookbook for cannibals . . . a used hangman’s noose . . . a snuff film. An aging death-metal rock god, his taste for the unnatural is as widely known to his legions of fans as the notorious excesses of his youth. But nothing he possesses is as unlikely or as dreadful as his latest discovery, an item for sale on the Internet, a thing so terribly strange, Jude can’t help but reach for his wallet.

I will “sell” my stepfather’s ghost to the highest bidder. . . .

For a thousand dollars, Jude will become the proud owner of a dead man’s suit, said to be haunted by a restless spirit. He isn’t afraid. He has spent a lifetime coping with ghosts—of an abusive father, of the lovers he callously abandoned, of the bandmates he betrayed. What’s one more?

RECENT PUBLICATIONS BY THIS AUTHOR

READ FOR FREE NOW – 26 JUNE, 2020 ON KindleUnlimited

PREVIOUS POSTS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED

I Just read the Author’s Spotlight on litercurious about the New York Times Best Seller, Joe Hill author of Heart shaped box. I loved the Free-to-Read recommendation & link.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks go out to Amazon for their assistance in providing source data for this page. Their services are second to none and their prices are among the lowest in the industry. KindleUnlimited is the copyright of amazon company

All Particulars are sourced from amazon.com .

book review, fantasy, Fiction

CHILDREN’S LITERATURE – FREE TO READ ON KINDLEUNLIMITED JUNE 2020

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Litercurious Book Review

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Why not visit our Read For Free link to see all the wonderful children’s books. Simply click on the image above to see all the goodies this month on KindleUnlimited.

book review, Fiction, Horror

N – Review

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleN (Taken From Just After Sunset Collection, 2008)
AuthorStephen King
PublisherSimon & Schuster Audio
FormatAudiobook
Time12 hours 17 minutes
AudienceFiction, Horror Anthologies, Short Stories
LanguageEnglish
ASIN #B001L4EF46

AUTHOR

Stephen King; need I say more.

SYNOPSIS

This is another novella by the eponymous Stephen King. This tale is taken from King’s 2008 Just After Sunset Collection. Whilst the narrative has the feel a Lovecraftian novel, it’s claimed that it’s actually inspired by Arthur Machen’s work. 

The story is set in the familiar Kingeascian surreal world of Castle Rock, Maine. The story focuses primarily upon two key characters, Johnny Bonsaint and N. Johnny is a Psychiatrist and his client N is a 48 years old divorcee with children and a partner in a large accounting firm.

The account opens with a letter from Johnny’s sister Shelia Bonsaint Laclaire who discovered a manuscript in her brothers affects following his suicide. The case file holds a warning penned on it, to burn it. She foolishly ignores the instructions. Disturbed by the contents of the file, she enlists the assistance of Charlie, a distant family friend and associate from her youth. She asks him to read it and she gives him permission to burn the document should he feel it necessary. With the stage now set, the case file is revealed and what it contains is nothing short of nightmare fuel.

What follows is the account contained within the case file of a series of consultations by Doctor Bonsaint with his client N. The doctor initially concludes a simple case of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and a mild case of insomnia causing sleep deprivation. The doctor also senses something else, but he isn’t sure of the cause.   

Over the next few sessions, N reveals that he has repeatedly visited a location he calls Ackerman’s Field. In the first instance to photograph the beautiful location. It’s revealed that the standing stones have influenced him and exasperated his OCD symptoms. Thus, propelling him into an uncontrolled counting behavior, the outward manifestation of his anxiety disorder.

What follows could be considered a dive into the esoteric and abstract concepts of a Cosmic Monster verse. If this were not bad enough, what follows is far worse. King masterfully leads the reader little-by-little, teasing, tantalizing, and building the tension piece-meal until you are as engaged as the characters.

CONCLUSION

N is the best King Novella you never heard of. I love it that Castle Rock is back in the mix again. N is an ideal read for anyone in a hurry or on the commute. It is intriguing, compelling, and dark. N is a slow burner that captures your attention and then slowly reels you into the horror universe. Yet, another winner from the stable of Stephen King.

The 112 pages shouldn’t take you much more than two hours and twenty minutes to read. The audiobook is about two hours and seventeen minutes. If you haven’t heard the audiobook version, it is made PHENOMENAL through the spoken talents of Denis O’Hare et. al.  

Rating: 4 out of 5.

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BY

STEPHEN KING

book review, fantasy, Fiction

THE KILLING FOG – Review

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe Killing Fog
AuthorJeff Wheeler
Publisher47North (March 1, 2020)
FormatKindle, Audiobook, Paperback
Pages404
LanguageEnglish
AudienceBroad Appeal for Fantasy Readers
ASIN B07RJQPB63

AUTHOR

Jeff Wheeler is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He majored in History at the San Jose State University. He worked at Intel while attending college but retired early to write full time.

With some of his best friends, they founded the electronic magazine Deep Magic. It is a magazine where new and aspiring authors can get their fantasy and science fiction stories published.

He started his writing career self-published with Amazon’s Createspace and the Kindle Direct Program. His works caught the eye of Publisher 47North and 2013 he became one of their authors.

SYNOPSIS

Bingmei was orphaned at a very young age. Luckily, she was taken in by a kind and noble woman who just happened to be the leader of an ensign. Under Kunmia Suun’s tutelage, Bingmei continues to expand her martial arts skills. While on assignment for the local King, Bingmei unwittingly awakens a terrible ancient entity who is unleashed on the world and only she can stop it.

The story takes place in the future after all history is forgotten. No one really knows who the Ancients where, why they built the “Great Wall,” or why they disappeared. All that is known is that they left great cities and magical artifacts behind. Unfortunately, when the artifacts are used, they summon the “Killing Fog.” The fog kills everything it touches, but does not destroy anything leaving the bodies as if they were in a deep sleep.

Bingmei has a naturally ability to use magic and is an exceptional fighter. She must use all her wit, skill, and abilities to stay ahead of the ancient entity determined to capture and kill her. With the help of her friends and colleges, she embarks on a mission of survival.

CONCLUSION

The Killing Fog is a very well written book. The author established the plot and characters from the start. The imagery is exceptional and the detail exquisite. The use of China’s history intertwined with the fantasy of the future adds to the mysticism of this tale.

Jeff Wheeler obviously did a lot of research for this series. The detail in his descriptions of people, places and things are brilliant. The reader has no problem imagining the places or the people in vivid imagery. He has created a fantasy world that readers will enjoy for many years.

I genuinely enjoyed this first book in The Grave Kingdom series and I cannot wait for the next one to be released on 23 June, 2020: The Buried World.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

book review, Non-Fiction, Social Policy

INSANE – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleInsane: America’s Criminal Treatment of
Mental Illness 
AuthorAlisa Roth
PublisherBasic Books; 1 edition (April 3, 2018)
FormatKindle, Paperback, Hardback, Audiobook
Page287
LanguageEnglish
ASIN / ISBN B074M6FZXQ / 9780465094196

AUTHOR

Alisa Roth, a long-time radio and print journalist, has reported on refugees and asylum seekers in the Middle East, Europe and the United States. Her work has appeared on Marketplace, NPR, The World, as well as in The New York Times, The New York Review of Books and Gastronomica. If you would like to see a C-SPAN interview with the author, you can see it here.

SYNOPSIS

Roth’s expose’ reveals the confluence of factors that combined to create a living nightmare for those suffering from mental illness in the United States of America. She posits that the current system is fundamentally failing. She carefully and sensitively examines the personal experiences of sufferers who as a direct, or indirect result of their illness became involved with law enforcement, and how law enforcement responded. That said, having mental illness should never be a death sentence as is reported on at least one occasion by Roth in Insane.

Roth visits a number of jails and prisons in an attempt to clarify the situation on the ground, and what she discovers reads like something out of a Dickensian novel.

Rather than lambasting those on the front lines. Alisa Roth acknowledges those prison guards and police officers who, with virtually no training, are forced to deal with mental health issues. She documents how ill equipped the penal institutions and personnel are in dealing with the veritable tidal wave of clients who are psychologically disturbed. She examines the effects of underfunding as it relates to the welfare, care and medical treatment of those incarcerated in correctional institutions.

CONCLUSION

Although the subject matter is dire at times Roth has created a well paced, critical analysis of an often ignored emergency in our society. She does so with respect and dignity for those on both sides of the agenda. Rather than decrying the system, she acknowledges the painful decisions made on a daily basis by the people forced to work and live within that system.

Some years ago, the closure of mental hospitals or insane asylums was heralded as a positive move to empower the sick and free them into society. Sadly, society did not care enough to ensure that there were sufficient resources to adequately support those with psychological illnesses in the community. Many fell through the cracks, and some ended up homeless, confused, lost and desperate. They inevitably ending up within Criminal Justice System.

Insane is a powerful work, well researched by an exceptional journalist and writer. Written with a compassion and sensitivity that is difficult to describe. Insane is one of those books that you just have to read for yourself to fully appreciate the depth and nature of the subject. Clearly written, masterfully researched, and exceptional in every way. I can’t wait to read Alisa Roth’s next offering.

Insane:America’s Criminal Treatment of Mental Illness by Alisa Roth is by far, the best debut offering I have read this year. I would not be surprised to find it on the Pulitzer nomination list.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Alisa Roth, NetGalley and Basic Books for affording me the opportunity to review Insane: America’s Criminal Treatment of Mental Illness.

READERS WHO LIKE INSANE ALSO ENJOYED THESE AUTHORS

RON POWERS is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and New York Times bestselling author. He is the co-author of Flags of our Fathers and True Compass-both #1 New York Times Hardcover Nonfiction bestsellers. His biography of Mark Twain-Mark Twain: A Life-was also a New York Times bestseller. He lives with his wife Honoree Fleming, Ph.D., in Castleton, Vermont.

Dj Jaffe
DJ Jaffe is Executive Director of the independent, non-partisan Mental Illness Policy Org., and author of Insane Consequences: How the Mental Health Industry Fails the Mentally Ill. For over 30 years, he has been advocating to reduce homelessness, arrest, incarceration and needless hospitalization of the most severely mentally ill, a group he believes has been ignored by CMHS, SAMHSA, many mental health advocates and systems, and offloaded to criminal justice.

book review, Non-Fiction

BANANA & BONE: The Feed Me Series – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitlesBanana: Feed the hungry animals &
Bone: Feed the hungry pets
Author Banana: Carly Madden
Bone: Carly Madden & Laurie Stansfield
PublisherQuarto Publishing – Words & Pictures
FormatBoard Books
PageEach book has 6
LanguageEnglish
ISBN #Banana: 9780711251915
Bone: 9780711251892

AUTHOR

Carly Madden has worked in publishing for over 14 years and is Senior Editor at QED. She lives in Essex, Great Britain with her family.

SYNOPSIS

Before the Internet, a pop-up book was the thing closest you could get to an interactive read. What a pleasure to see then that the old technology is still holding strong in the cyber age.

Banana & Bone are both board books of the pop up variety. Each book has six pages of attractive and captivating full color illustrations of animals.

In Banana the characters include: a monkey, a crocodile, a bird and a giraffe. In Bone the main character is a dog and he is accompanied by a black cat, a sleepy rabbit and a hungry parrot. Banana and Bone are both children’s non-fiction activity books containing short sentences and pictures throughout.    

Banana and Bone are the product of Quarto Publishing. In my opinion Quarto is synonymous for quality in children’s literature. Their publications are always beautifully illustrated, age appropriate and vibrantly eye catching. They know what children want, and they produce magnificent works every time. I was overjoyed to receive both publications as Advanced Review Copies (ARC’s) in return for my considered opinion.

My first impression of the books was positive. They both brought a smile to my face. The large bold image of monkey on the front page of Banana and the goofy tan colored dog with black ears on Bone almost made me laugh. I can only imagine the sheer excitement and yearning of a small child when they see one for the very first time. This made for a great first impression. I assure you your child will have the same reaction at seeing these gorgeous little offerings. The books are brief at only six pages but they’re filled with large exceptionally drawn, vividly colored and immersive illustrations.

Please note the guidance on the rear of the books suggests that the work is not appropriate for children under 3 years old.    

CONCLUSION

Both publications have the visage’ of eye catching bright, light and vivid animal illustrations that any young child would enjoy. It is not hard to imagine Mom, Dad or Grandparents reading Banana or Bone to a child; captivating, entertaining and educating them. 

I am unable to attest to the esthetic mechanics of the books as I only have a digital copy for review. The description suggests that there will be food shapes and the child is encouraged to place the image of the food into the mouth of the relevant animal.

The books concept is a solid one based on the familiar sensation for any child; that is one of being hungry and of wanting to sate their appetite. The child is encouraged to feed the animals fostering him/her to learn empathy, love, and understanding of the world beyond themselves. This combined with the fun of feeding the illustrated animals acts as a character-building exercise as much as it reinforces happiness, contentment and nurturing.  

I have no doubt that Banana or Bone would quickly become a firm favorite of any young child. 

Vibrant, exciting, and interactive; what is not to like?

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Carly Madden, NetGalley and Quarto Publishing for affording me the opportunity to review Banana and Bone from the Feed the hungry animals Series.

LITERCURIOUS CHILD FRIENDLY JOKE

Q. Why are babies good at basketball?

A. They dribble.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY THIS AUTHOR

Hi there, our records show you are a frequent visitor to Litercurious and I wanted to say a personal thank you for your patronage. Thank you for liking and sharing our posts. Please feel free to reblog any or all of the reviews. I look forward to your valuable input again in the near future.

book review, Non-Fiction

The DOZIER SCHOOL FOR BOYS – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe Dozier School for Boys: Forensics, Survivors,
and a Painful Past
AuthorElizabeth A. Murray
PublisherTwenty-First Century Books TM (September 3, 2019)
FormatKindle, Audiobook, Library Binding, Audio CD
Pages120
LanguageEnglish
ASIN #B07TZKV7RP

AUTHOR

Elizabeth Murray was born in Cincinnati and has lived in the area her entire life. She is a Professor of Biology at Mount St. Joseph University, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1986 (when it was the College of Mount St. Joseph). She earned a Master’s degree in Anthropology in 1988, specializing in biological/physical anthropology, before going on for a PhD in Human Biology received in 1993, both from the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Murray has been a practicing forensic anthropologist since the late 1980s, earned Diplomate status from the American Board of Forensic Anthropology in 1999, and is now one of approximately 100 anthropologists certified by that organization. She enjoys teaching human gross anatomy and forensic science, and is case manager for approximately 30 incidents involving unknown persons through the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). Much of her professional writing is for grades 7-12, since reading books in her own youth is what inspired her to become a scientist and gave her a love of history and mysteries.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

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SYNOPSIS

The Dozier School for Boys, by Dr. Elizabeth A. Murray Ph.D., is a dispassionate and analytical examination of the disturbing events that transpired at the reform school during its 111 years (1900-2011 and beyond) of operation. Perhaps we should begin with the context relating to the institution. Prior to the establishment of the Dozier School for Boys, it was common place for children, found guilty of some crime would be housed alongside adult men in penal institutions under the same harsh regimes. It was not unheard of that the juvenile inmate were victimized by the sections of the adult male prison population. There was little prospect of rehabilitation for the children as they lacked basic education, or of the opportunity to learn a trade. The school was created to reduce the negative outcomes of housing children with predators, and with a view to reduce the recidivist rates to reduce public expenditure.

Sadly, as Dr. Murray explains the initial high expectations quickly fell short. What began as an inspirational attempt at improving outcomes and reducing crime descended into Institutionalized, systematic abuse. Every horror occurred at the correctional institution from sexual exploitation, physical abuse, forced labor, and starvation of the inmates.

CONCLUSION

The Dozier School for Boys is a concise and scholarly work. It made for disturbing reading at times and because of that I would feel uncomfortable recommending it for the age range indicated. There was some repetition and read as condescending at times. Dr. Murray’s writing style may suggest to some that she lacks empathy for her subject. I however suggest that she is being dispassionate by design, avoiding the natural reaction to make subjective assessments about the horrific events and abuses of the children. Eloquently written, supported by graphic eyewitness accounts; provide a view on the Reform School experiment that failed all of its goals.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.

ACKNOLWEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank Elizabeth A. Murray, NetGalley and Twenty-First Century Books for affording me the opportunity to review The Dozier School for Boys: Forensics, Survivors, and a Painful Past.

OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY THIS AUTHOR

fantasy, Fiction

THE LOST WONDERLAND DIARIES – REVIEW

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Litercurious Book Review

TitleThe Lost Wonderland Diaries
Author/IllustratorJ. Scott Savage
PublisherShadow Mountain (Sep 8, 2020)
FormatKindle, Audiobook, Hardcover
Pages384
Language:English
ISBN 10/131629727865 / 978-1629727868

AUTHOR

J. Scott Savage is a noted author and presenter. He was a teacher and developed Common Core-aligned projects for elementary school writing curricula. He routinely presents at schools across the country inspiring the youth of today to embrace their creativity. He has been nominated for several awards. You can learn more about him on his website here.

WHO IS THE TARGET AUDIENCE?

This book is intended for children 8-11 years old or grade level 4-6. I will testify that people of all ages will enjoy this story, as I am much older than 11 and I enjoyed this very much.

SYNOPSIS

The Lost Wonderland Diaries is a wonderful story about a young girl and her friend in Wonderland. Celia is the main character and she is dyslexic. She befriends a young boy named Tyrus who happens to be a book worm. Together they accidently get sucked into Wonderland. Their guide in Wonderland is a charming new character named Sylvan. She is a young rabbit, barely out of bunnyhood, and tasked with finding “Alice” to save Wonderland. Together they have many adventures.

Celia is the daughter of a librarian, which for her is a nightmare because of her difficulty reading. Due to her dyslexia, Celia has put more effort into learning mathematics. Tyrus is a bit of a book nerd with a giant imagination. Celia and Tyrus must combine her knowledge of math with his imagination and knowledge of books to solve puzzles and riddles while making their way through Wonderland and avoiding its hazards.

Something terrible is happening in Wonderland when they arrive. The characters are being turned into monsters! Celia, Tyrus and Sylvan must navigate a variety of hazards, puzzles and monsters not only to get home but to stop whatever is happening in Wonderland. With the help of some of the original cast of characters and a few new ones, they work their way through wonderland discovering not only what is happening, but they discover themselves in the process!

CONCLUSION

The Lost Wonderland Diaries is a magical book! J. Scott Savage does a superb job of bringing his characters to life. The story line is exceptional, intriguing, and educating. I love books that can entertain as well as teach, and this book does it all.

The little puzzles that the main characters have to solve are wonderfully crafted and educational. J. Scott Savage does a great job of introducing his readers to the problems associated with dyslexia and the difficulties coping with the disability.

I whole heartily recommend this book for anyone of all ages.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank J. Scott Savage, NetGalley and Shadow Mountain for affording me the opportunity to review The Lost Wonderland Diaries.

LITERCURIOUS CHILD FRIENDLY JOKE

Q. Why did the rabbit try to eat a diamond?

A. Because someone told him it was 2 carats.

OTHER WORKS BY THIS AUTHOR