A Tale Dark & Grimm is an odd collection of stories that follows Hansel and Gretel through various (fairytale) adventures. Adam Gidwitz adds these humorous little sidenotes in bold. He continually warns the reader to send the youngsters to bed and "hurry up and get a babysitter" because the stories get quite gruesome the further into the book you read.
    10/10! Umm...you parents out there:  definitely read this before giving it to your child!!! (it won't take long)

L8r Alligator,
Carissa Bookworm
 
 

    Hey faithful viewers (or first timers)...so sorry I haven't posted in a bit. It has been a very busy week.
    Riddle of the Prairie Bride by Kathryn Reiss is one of the books in the History Mysteries series from American Girl.  This book literally took me 30 mins. to read and 5 more to review. So, a nice, fast read.
    Ida Kate is excited, and for the first time since her mother died, so is her Pa. A wonderful lady named Caroline Fairchild has come to marry Pa, though they have only exchanged letters. When  Caroline answered the ad for a bride (yeah, I guess that was common back then), Ida Kate and her father were overjoyed. But when Caroline come with her infant son, Hanky, something seems off. First, little things, little mistakes tip Ida Kate off. Soon the puzzle pieces click together forming a frightening picture. Is it the right picture though? And can Ida Kate break the news to her father before the wedding without breaking his heart?

    Ha, Ha!!! Very interesting conclusion! 9/10 'cuz there was a couple of editing mistakes, and all ages.
~Carissa Bookworm

P.S. Now that I think about it, I should be Carissa Bookwyrm. Ahh...too late too change, though. :(

    Sugar has it tough. A school bully is just the beginning. Her dad is a drunk, gambling idiot and her mom...well, her mom is her mom.Mr. Leeland, as Sugar and her mom (Reba) call Sugar's dad, has racked up a bunch of debts and hasn't paid them. Reba, Sugar, and Sugar's new dog, Shush, are forced out of their home and into the homeless shelter. Shush, whom Sugar decides will be helper dog, helps bring cheer to the gloomy people at the shelter. Reba's friend, (an ex homeless), has heard about a good job in Chicago. So the family packs up and heads to Chicago. Alas, there is no job anymore! Reba snaps and is taken to the hospital. Sugar's new social worker puts her in an uncomfortable foster home, Sugar begs for a better place, and suprisingly, the next day she is taken to a foster home with kind people, good music, great friends, and yummy choclate chip pancakes!
    Almost Home by Joan Baueris a fantastic book! It really made me look differently at the world and see how lucky I am.
9/10, 10+
Carissa Bookworm

Saba is always in the shadow of her golden twin brother, Lugh. He's perfect with his good looks, optimistic attitude, and easy laugh. But, Saba doesn't mind. Suddenly, 5 men on horses, including their only neighbor for miles, take Lugh. Saba fights fiercly but they kill Pa and just shove Saba to the ground. She vows to go after her beloved twin. First, though, Saba must take her little sister Emmi (whom Saba hates, but Lugh loves) to their deceased mother's best friend's house. Stubborn Emmi follows Saba. "He's my brother too!" she argues. So Saba and Emmi begin a dangerous and always twisting journey to free their brother.
    8/10, and ages 10 and up because of some VERY heated kisses.
    It really bothered me that this book didn't have "quotation" marks. The editor in me kept itching to place quotation marks around the dialouge! But, hey, good book nevertheless.
~Carissa Bookworm 

    Rownie is one of Graba's "grandchildren." An orphan, all he has is his elder brother, Rowan, from whom his name is derived from, and, now, even Rowan is gone. Rownie's adventure begins when he goes to see an illegal play put on by goblins, for acting is banned. Rownie is chosen to be an one time actor, as a sort of audience participation. He loves it, and better still, the goblins can help him find Rowan! He decides to join the Goblin troupe, but Graba is using her powerful witchcraft to  retrieve him. Plus, Rownie has to figure out how to save the city! But, no pressure. I mean, its not as if thousand of lifes are resting on your shoulders!
    9/10, All ages. 
    Side note--Goblin Secrets by Alexander is the first fantasy book to win the NBA in 100 yrs!! Woah! :^()
                                                                Hugs!
                                                                Carissa Bookworm