Reviews written by Angela Blount

This third and final book in Scott Sigler’s The Generations Trilogy picks up roughly a year after the second book left off, with Em Savage still the leader of the original “Birthday Children” who fled to the planet they were engineered for—with the “Grownups” who intended to overwrite their minds...

A quality, adventurous pick—ideal for reluctant young readers. This story abounds with mystery and action, along with the positive themes of research, responsibility, and teamwork. While this is actually #4 in the Eerie Elementary series, the book can adequately stand alone. Although, one continually gets the...

Hours of step-by-step projects--endless sculpting and light-up possibilities. This electrical sculpture kit contains four colors of conducting clay (purple, green, orange, and black), a pack of white insulating clay, 20 LED lights in five colors (red, white, yellow, blue, and green), and 53 paper punch-out pieces for embellishment....

“I ask no more than to live a hundred years longer, that I may have more time to dwell the longer on your memory.” This is my second experience with Jules Verne and one of his renowned Victorian era travelogues (my first being Around The World in...

More fun than barrel of sea-monkeys! With six air-dry colors, a carving tool, 49 insert pieces, and an Idea Book with 10 detailed step-by-step instruction options on differing critter assembly, this Klutz product introduces kids to the basics of sculpting vibrantly adorable sea creatures. The clay included...

Suit up, sci-fi fans—this isn’t your standard fare alien invasion plot. Several generations after being overtaken by a vastly different and technologically superior alien race called the zhree, humanity is divided on their perception of the occupation. Those who’ve strived for a peaceful and mutually beneficent...

Intricately illustrated and concise in explanations, this primer is a gorgeous and interactive addition to any D&D fan's collection. The book is narrated by the bard-like figure known as Volothamp Geddarm (or just Volo), who serves as your cavalier guide to becoming a "true Dungeonologist." The tone...

“Death may beget life, but oppression can beget nothing other than itself.” Slow to start, but intricately woven and stunning in its conclusion. So far my favorite work by Dickens--on par with my love for A Christmas Carol (although they are hardly...

A smart, solidly written work of Middle Grade sci-fi. The book is aptly named; the vast majority of it taking place on a future Mars colony during the last day of its existence--just before it is due to be abandoned by humanity. The bulk of the...

What begins as an altruistic desire for child labor turns into an a life-altering venture into parenting for an aging brother/sister duo. Set on Prince Edward Island somewhere in the very late 1800's or very early 1900's, the story is told in a third-person omniscient point...

A memorable Middle Grade urban fantasy featuring a hidden subterranean world of "faerie" people, a female "cop" with a lot to prove to her own technologically advanced-yet-misogynistic people, a deadly and dedicated bodyguard, and one 12-year-old Irish prodigy with deviant aspirations for securing his family fortunes. ...

A beautifully illustrated sci-fi fantasy (heavy on the fantasy), seemingly aimed at the younger side of the Middle Grade audience. The story is told in past-tense third-person limited from the perspective of "Lucky," a young boy who lives alone with his mother on a human...

An eye-catching activity book that teaches the nuances of font topography—for the young aspiring graphic artist in your home. There are just 4 chalk colors included in the kit (orange, yellow, pink, and blue.) I personally think green and purple would have made nice additions to...

3.5 Stars A compelling concept with a lot of heart behind it. The book presents as a sort of counterpart to one of the author's other works, Heroes For My Son. Heroes For My Daughter is made up of 57 two-page spreads...

True-to-life heroes--real people who've accomplished attainable yet noteworthy things. This book holds a timeless and intriguing premise. (Particularly in a youth market so thoroughly saturated with fictitious super heroes.) While the title led me to expect said heroes would be derived from the male sex, sixteen women...