Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Who's Behind the Roses?

Mia and her best friend are in charge of selling chocolate roses for the sale at school. The grade that sells the most chocolate roses gets to win a special “lock in” as a reward. When Mia’s older sister was in middle school she won, and Mia wants to win too. Mia knows that only a handful of kids in her grade will actually receive roses, as the popular kids usually get them all. It doesn’t seem fair! Mia thinks it would be a nice idea if more people had their faces light up when the roses get delivered, so she takes things into her own hands. In secret, she creates messages for 25 roses (which she buys) and signs them from “an admirer”. What she expects is smiles and happiness, which she definitely sees when people unexpectedly get a rose. Since the roses she sent aren’t signed, everyone is trying to figure out the mystery, making guesses at who likes them. Mia hadn’t anticipated all the boy girl drama the roses would cause, especially for her and her best friends. Meanwhile someone's leaving roses for Mia, and the messages are making her worried. Who is leaving roses for Mia? Will the drama between the boys and the girls end? Will everyone find out what Mia did? Will Mia and her friends win the lock in? One thing is for sure, matchmaking isn’t as easy as it looks!


25 Roses by Stephanie Faris is the first book I've read by this author. I think this is a book that will appeal to girls in grades four and up. Girls who are starting to have crushes on boys will be able to understand the drama going on at Mia’s school. I like that Mia is kind and spends a lot of the book trying to make others smile. I love the idea of brightening up other people’s days with a chocolate rose, and the fact that Mia is nice enough to want more kids to receive roses. I know from experience that sometimes people misunderstand our reasons for doing things, so I worried for Mia at different points in the book. The middle school scene seemed very realistic to me, and I think kids will be able to connect with Mia and relate to the situation at her school. 

Has anyone else read 25 Roses? Or have you read another book by Stephanie Faris? We’d love to hear your thoughts.

Happy Reading!
~L


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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Answer to Monday's Riddle! A Rose is a Rose...

Excellent guessing Riddlers! This week we'll be stopping to smell the roses. Lizzy's review will be captivating, and Friday we'll be chatting with Stephanie Faris, so be sure to check back! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

My seed carries a magic key, and when I bloom, you'll surly see. Gracefully, I'll open up, and the scent of heaven fills your cup. I've many faces, both big and small, and they silently sing love's known call. I'm a delicate symbol living in time; I tend to follow prose and rhyme. I may be left as a clue, given to one, but passed by two. Sometimes I shower those with fame, letting them know they've won the game. But I can be sharp if held without care, I've daggers hidden almost everywhere. You may see me waiting in a bunch, perhaps I'll appear while you're having lunch. I could be scattered along the way, marking a path to brighten your day. I've colors galore, though one stands out, and that's why the Queen's likely to shout. If cut for you, I'll spin your head, just ask the cards why I'm red.


What am I? Answer: Roses! 


Make time to riddle and rhyme!
62 original riddles and illustrations 

Available in all e-book formats
Download for only .99¢ on Smashwords





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Monday, November 3, 2014

Monday's Riddle: Blooming Magic...


Hello Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? A lovely gift to receive, but tricky to keep. ; ) ~ F

My seed carries a magic key, and when I bloom, you'll surly see. Gracefully, I'll open up, and the scent of heaven fills your cup. I've many faces, both big and small, and they silently sing love's known call. I'm a delicate symbol living in time; I tend to follow prose and rhyme. I may be left as a clue, given to one, but passed by two. Sometimes I shower those with fame, letting them know they've won the game. But I can be sharp if held without care, I've daggers hidden almost everywhere. You may see me waiting in a bunch, perhaps I'll appear while you're having lunch. I could be scattered along the way, marking a path to brighten your day. I've colors galore, though one stands out, and that's why the Queen's likely to shout. If cut for you, I'll spin your head, just ask the cards why I'm red.

What am I?

I gave you a clue!
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Friday, October 31, 2014

Monster Madness!

The Great Pumpkin is here! 
Linus was right, and the extra publicity did the trick. Here to host the Monster Madness Blog hop is none other than The Great Pumpkin!

"Well me lovelies, I hear yeh wish ta court some monsters. Being the season of scare, I'm cookin' up a twist, servin' yeh the inside scoop. Grab yer wits and come on a trip inta me neighborhood. La ti da!"

"E'res a real house of cards. Let's ask ol' Frankenstein 'is thoughts 'bout bein' eh monster. 'Es bit of a eh dud, but 'es got moxy.


Yeh'll always find 'em tendin' to 'is precious roses, waiting on 'is lost love. Eh! Frankie! How'd yeh feel 'bout being eh monster on 'alloween?"




"Oh. Hello, Great Pumpkin. Nice to see you. Would you like a rose? They're real pretty, just like you."




"Frankie, ya know I'm not inta ya. Keep yer roses. What's the dish on bein' monstrous on 'alloween, eh?"


"I don't really like to scare people, so I guess it's better on Halloween, what with everyone expecting monsters. At least people don't scream when they see me. It's still lonely, though. I once had this girl I really loved, but she hated me. We were arranged to be married, and I thought it was a good match. She was like a pretty flower, albeit somewhat wilted, but that was just because she didn't feel loved. She looked like a rose to me, but when I gave her one, she just ate it and left. I don't know. No one seems to care."

"Right! Well then, er- thanks for sharin' all that, Frankie. I 'eard she wasn't right in the 'ead anyway. La ti da. Movin' on, then.

Next house's over 'ere. Now, this joker's one of me pals. Ferry Blackwell's a real horror to be 'round, but he's always game. Eh! Ferry! Tell us all 'bout yer 'alloween scare."



"Lookie here! A seedy, orange leer! What a pleasure, my gutty dear. I'll tell you a story that's sure to scare.




See that blue house on the hill? Picture warm bread cooling on the sill. The smell was like a stomach punch, sought by men wanting lunch. I know how tempting it can be! For, I crave Toe Finger bread with tea!



But it didn't end well, as you can guess. Hungry men can make such a mess. Now you'll hear howling cries and see them screaming from ghostly eyes. Look inside, and you'll know what I mean. The walls remember the ghoulish scene.
You can read about The Hillbrow House here. But it's haunted, so remember beware! Mwahaha..."



"Thanks fer illuminatin' us, me friend. We'll steer clear 'round 'at place, for sure. Last stop's over at the gypsy's pad, an' she's always got somethin' up 'er sleeve. Eh! Eldrich! Tell these 'ere people what's happenin' on 'alloween?"
"Pumpkin! It's you! Be careful totting around my things, or I'll curse you! Oh, hello dearies. So nice to see you, and you're just in time for the Faerie Market. You'll need a banana and your imagination, but lovelies like you should have no problem getting around all those naughty pixies. Click here to be whisked away, and keep the magic, my rosy-cheeked cherubs."



"So's the end. You've seen what's it like 'ere in the monsters' hood. Now, git out and git some candy. La ti da!"

Thanks to Kelly Hashway and Vicki Leigh for hosting the Monster Madness Blog Hop. Kelly and Vicki have released monster books this year (The Monster Within and Catch Me When I Fall),  and thought it would be fun to have a blog hop dedicated to the monsters we all love so much. Stop by their corner of the book block for a Halloween fright and enter to win some terror-iffic prizes!


Tell us about your favorite monster! We'd love to hear your thoughts. :) 
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