Margo's Musings: Will Stone and Stick Stay Together?

We're still getting curbside pickup from our local library, and we feel so lucky. Our librarians chose awesome books for us to check out. 

Stick and Stone was written by Beth Ferry and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. Just looking at the cover we knew it was going to be a good book. Stick and Stone is so cute! What a team.

Stick and Stone are both alone and then they become friends. When pine cone is being prickly and mean to Stone, Stick stands up for him and helps make the situation better.  

Don’t we all like to have friends who have our back? 

When a storm hits, things get rough for Stick and Stone, and they're separated. Readers won’t be disappointed when they find out how the two are reunited. Adorable! 

It’s a book that can be read quickly and enjoyed by people of all ages. You'll turn the last page and feel your heart swell with happiness. 

Stick and Stone is a book that tells its story with a simplicity that tugs at your heart. The illustrations are super fun and appealing.The book's message is about friendship. It’s nice to have buddies that stick up for you. 

Margo and I loved seeing the character’s facial expressions, and we enjoyed their adventures. During the storm Margo was saying, “Oh, no! Oh, no! Be careful!” Even though the storm causes problems, things end well, because in a tight spot, friends help us out. This book was a winner for us. Now Margo has been playing with sticks and stones in the yard, making up her own stories. We look forward to reading more books by this author and illustrator.  

Has anyone else read Stick and Stone? Or have you read another book written by Beth Ferry or illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld? We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~F

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: Stick To It...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! Next week we're going to stick to the story. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties in. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Part of the whole; consisting of the same. I'm useful, harmful, interesting—depending on your game. If you need a fire, I'll oxidize the air. Looking for protection? I'll swing at those who dare. Perhaps you're feeling fancy, and like natural decor, I can be artsy when placed rightly more.  

What am I? Answer: Stick!

Fairday's Riddle: Branching Out...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? I like to find a good, artsy one and use it to decorate. ~ F

Part of the whole; consisting of the same. I'm useful, harmful, interesting—depending on your game. If you need a fire, I'll oxidize the air. Looking for protection? I'll swing at those who dare. Perhaps you're feeling fancy, and like natural decor, I can be artsy when placed rightly more.  

What am I? Stop by Friday for the answer.

I gave you a clue!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley

Five mysterious invitations go out to an eclectic group of people asking them to join a special event at the Barclay Hotel. When JJ sees his mom’s invitation he knows it’s his chance to get into the old hotel to do some ghost hunting. He has a lot of cool equipment and he’s been excited to try it out. Since his mother owes him one- it’s time to cash in. Penny is visiting her grandfather, a retired detective, and is intrigued by the old hotel. Her grandfather wants to get away and be pampered, so Penny convinces him that this is his chance. Once the invitees and the “stragglers” (the two extra kids) are at the hotel, the butler, Mr. Clark, announces that they are all there because one of them is the murderer of Mr. Barkley. And here begins the whodunit! It’s a murder mystery with some interesting suspects. Was it the CEO? The actress? The librarian or cowboy? It seems possible it could be any of them, except JJ knows his mom didn’t do it. Penny and JJ meet up with Emma, a child who lives at the hotel, and the three of them are on the case. JJ wants to clear his mom’s name and Emma and Penny want to help catch the killer. Can the three sleuths solve the case? Will the murderer strike again? Is everyone who they say they are? And are there really any ghosts at the Barclay Hotel? Will JJ get to do any ghost hunting? You’ll have to read along and spot the clues as they are unveiled. 

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is not the first book that I’ve read by Fleur Bradley. I also read her Double Vision series, and we were lucky enough to interview her twice on our blog back then. Midnight at the Barclay Hotel reminded me of a modern day The Westing Game, but easier to understand. My teacher read The Westing Game to our class last year and most kids thought it was too confusing. There were way too many characters and it was hard to keep track of everything. My teacher was disappointed, but I’m going to recommend this one to her because I think it’s a whodunit book that other kids will love too! JJ, Penny, and Emma have a fast friendship, but it seems to make sense and is believable. They all have their own strengths and interests, which makes them intriguing. All of them are kids I would be friends with (and they'd all be perfect members of my own detective squad, The DMS).  I thought the ghost hunting was a cool aspect of the book, and I loved all the tools JJ has. I also liked trying to narrow down who had committed the murder. I highly recommend this to kids in third grade and up who like mysteries, the game of Clue, or any other book in which you try to solve a crime. It’s a murder mystery without being scary or gory. This book was a lot of fun and it had a great ending!

Has anyone else read Midnight at the Barclay Hotel? Or have you read another book by Fleur Bradley? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~ L

 For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.

We'll be on a blog break until September. Happy Reading! Enjoy the rest of the summer. 🌞

Answer to Fairday's Riddle: At the Stroke Of...

Excellent guessing, Riddlers! We're staying up past midnight next week. Tune in Monday to find out how the answer ties into Lizzy's middle grade book review. See you all around the book block. ~ F

Time to sleep; time to play—two hands strike this twice a day. Picnic lunch or ghostly ball? Depends upon which one you call. Day and night are in the middle; the start and end to this riddle. 

What am I referring to? Answer: Midnight!

Fairday's Riddles: Volume 1

62 Riddles and Illustrations

Fairday's Riddle: The Hour of Power...

 

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? It's a magical time, if you can catch it. 😴 ~ F

Time to sleep; time to play—two hands strike this twice a day. Picnic lunch or ghostly ball? Depends upon which one you call. Day and night are in the middle; the start and end to this riddle. 

What am I referring to? Stop by Sunday for the answer.

I gave you a clue!

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday # MMGM Book Review: Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling

Aven Green has gone to school with the same kids her whole life. It’s been a long time since she’s had to answer people’s questions about her lack of arms. Back when she started kindergarten she had to answer all kinds of crazy questions from other kids about not having arms. She got tired of answering questions, and started making up wild tales. The other kids loved her sense of humor and great imagination. Plus, Aven is a star on the soccer field, even if she thinks not having arms actually gives her an advantage. But, when her parents tell her they are going to be running an old rundown western village called Stagecoach Pass in Arizona, Aven is concerned. She will be moving across the country and going to middle school with all new kids. She knows there will be lots of questions.  Starting her new school brings a lot of changes. For the first time, Aven is afraid to eat in front of other kids, who she knows will watch her to see how she does it. Hiding out in the library leads her to meet Connor, a boy with Toruette’s who barks frequently and feels uncomfortable in front of others. Connor and Aven have an instant connection. He’s impressed with Aven’s attitude and can’t resist her smart and sassy sense of humor. When her days are tough she visits a tall cactus on a hill near her house and thinks about how the cactus doesn’t care about the events in her life, and this helps her feel better. One day she finds a necklace buried in the sand and it turns out there are other secrets hidden at Stagecoach Pass and Aven and her family are in for some big surprises. Will her family be able to make Stagecoach Pass a success? Will Connor and Aven get the courage they need to face their fears? Will Aven ever feel like she fits in at her new school? Are there any more friends in store for Aven? You will have to read this amazing story to find out.  

I've had The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusty Bowling on my TBR list for a while. I don’t remember exactly where I heard about it, but I am so glad I did! What a book! I really enjoyed Aven and her go-getter attitude. She really brings out the best in other people. Her parents were amazing, and I loved hearing the story of her adoption and how they felt about raising her to be so independent. The friendships in the story were awesome and very believable. I really learned a lot about Tourette’s, Arizona, and what it would be like owning a tourist attraction. The portrayal of middle school is so realistic. It’s definitely not an easy time in most people’s lives, and Aven had more challenges with her move and needing to get to know all new kids. I highly recommend this book to anyone in fifth grade and up (Aven is in middle school). This was one of my favorite books of 2020, and Aven is a character that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. I found out there is a sequel about Aven in high school, and I look forward to being able to read that book when it comes in at my local library.

Has anyone else read The Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus? Or have you read another book by Dusty Bowling? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!

~ L

For other MMGM posts, please visit Greg Pattridge's blog.