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FastFlight 540
FastFlight 540, is an adventure-filled young adult fantasy novel by M. M. Mesldorf. Right from the get-go, readers are plunged into action as the protagonist, Anslie, makes quick work of stealing her friend’s identity to escape the seemingly horrible orphanage where she lives. While she thinks she has gotten away from the oppressive walls of Whippoorwill Children’s Home, she has instead traded one prison for another with Nocturnan Home. Soon, a being will come bursting into Anslie’s life. And that being is none other than Xander Benjamin Bump.
The chapters are written in a straightforward manner, and they flow smoothly together. When Anslie dreams, readers read the chapters from her perspective thoroughly, while the rest of the book is generally told in the third person. The shifts between are seamless, making it easy to follow along. There isn’t a break in the action in this novel; there is always something happening, someone coming, someone going, and adventure at every turn. It makes for a bit of a dizzying ride. Anslie carries on with the false identity she stole from the real Tucker Sullivan, and we watch her meager beginnings grow and blossom into something more.
In the beginning, Anslie is alone. She has nothing and is nothing. We see this in her solitude in the attic, her pitiful friendship with her own shadow, and her brief but lonely interactions with Mrs. Simpler. However, what begins as a painful existence begins to shift and reshape as her interactions with others accelerate. First Xander, then Hobbs, and soon all manner of companion joins Anslie on her quest to play the Garden Game against the Nighthawks. Throughout the book, I wasn’t sure if these other children were real: I was confident they were manifestations of her extreme loneliness and solitude.
If you are looking for a fun book that is difficult to put down, you must pick up a copy of FastFlight 540 by M. M. Mesldorf. It’s a whirlwind in all the right ways as it takes you for a ride through Anslie’s youth with Xander to the happily ever after. But is it truly the end? The final words of the last chapter leave room for a potential sequel, but we’ll have to wait like patient children to see what comes next.
Pages: 284 | ASIN : B0B7LLG2GP
Elysia
Elysia: The World In Children’s Dreams is a children’s book written by Malcolm Chester. It features 11-year-old Courtney, who has a troubled home life. In addition, she is a young girl just starting puberty and experiencing all the emotions that go along with this stage of life. Elysia is an escape for Courtney. It is a dream-like fantasy world that allows her to forget her problems at home. However, problems soon plague Elysia as the crystal that supplies the world’s magic is stolen by an evil king in this world. Courtney’s primary goal is to find and return the crystal and restore the magic and balance to Elysia.
Chester does a great job at creating a relatable character in Courtney. She is a caring girl while also dealing with issues children might be dealing with. For example, her father was sent to prison. Unfortunately, these issues are rarely brought up in books made for children. Hence, it is essential to shine a light on these types of relationships. Children need to have an outlet and understand that although their situation might not be typical, they are not the only ones going through it.
Chester creates a world that is so imaginative and charming readers will want to exsperance the magic of Elysia themselves. This lets the reader understand why Courtney doesn’t want to leave. The world of Elysia is symbolic and an excellent allegory for growing up. By saving Elysia, Courtney learns it’s important to be proactive when trying to fix a problem bigger than herself. She learns that she is brave and strong enough to resolve any issue in front of her. This is a lesson she can take to her real life and issues that will arise from puberty and growing up.
Elysia: The World in Children’s Dreams is a children’s and middle-grade fantasy novel. This story can be read by anyone looking to find inspiration. It’s a great story that teaches change doesn’t have to be scary, a lesson many of us could use today.
Pages: 320 | ASIN : B0792XS13D
Kindness Has the Power to Change Lives
Marty and Lenny follows a friendly monkey who decides to befriend the school bully in hopes of helping him change. When you set out to write this book, was it your intention to write a story filled with kindness and morality?
Yes, it was definitely my intention. My aim was to create an entertaining children’s book designed to teach and inspire children to be kind to others, even when at first it may seem difficult.
I was inspired by research on the positive effects of oxytocin (the love hormone) on the mind and body. Showing and receiving kindness are ways we can boost oxytocin levels. Every act of kindness counts and repeated acts of kindness, have the power to change lives and make the world a better place.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art creation process like?
For the artwork in Marty and Lenny, I contracted Stefanie, an amazing, talented illustrator through Tellwell Publishing. I had a clear vision of the style of artwork I wanted based on the many picture books I had enjoyed reading in the past. I asked for bright, colourful and dynamic illustrations which effectively portrayed the emotions experienced by the characters in the story. I then created a storyboard and detailed descriptions for each illustration. Based on these descriptions, the illustrator created draft sketches for each illustration and then submitted them to me for review and feedback. Adjustments were made based on feedback and then colour was added to complete the illustrations. When I saw the finished products, I was thrilled and excited to see the story coming to life!
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
The power of kindness and the importance of good manners, were two of the main educational aspects I wanted to include in this book. My desire was to teach children that sometimes, the people who find it challenging to show kindness, can be the ones who need it the most. Everyone longs to belong and feel valued.
In addition to this, the story is a narrative poem designed for young readers. I chose this form of storytelling because poetry motivates children to read and builds early literacy skills. It helps children learn about rhyme, rhythm and sound. I was also intentional about the vocabulary I included in the story to help young children build their vocabulary.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am in the process of writing some draft manuscripts, which all have a special message for young readers. However, there is no current set release date for these yet.
Author Links: GoodReads | Facebook | Instagram | Website
Marty is a sweet, helpful monkey with lovely manners. Lenny is the complete opposite! He is a mean and selfish lion with bad manners and disgusting habits. After a memorable encounter with Lenny, Marty decides that things need to change. Join Marty as he makes a brave choice that changes EVERYTHING!
Krystal Winkle and the Peacemaker of Kigali
From the moment Krystal Winkle was born, she has been destined for greatness and tasked with what seems to be an impossible mission. She was born the most powerful of all the Cristallies. When she was a newborn infant, she was given instructions to keep her incredible powers a secret for the safety of herself and everyone around her. At the same time her proud grandmother whispered this word of warning to her on the day of her birth, a search was beginning for Krystal–a search that would begin and end with one goal in mind: to find young Krystal before she realizes exactly how powerful she truly is.
Krystal Winkle and the Peacemaker of Kigali, by Carolyn Roth-White, is the first in a series of books for middle-school readers featuring Krystal Winkle as the protagonist with a life’s mission to save Kunga the gorilla who is known as the Peacemaker of Kigali. This amazingly well-developed tale is led by an intriguing cast of characters. It is a non-stop thrill ride with seamless transitions between beautifully described settings and a much-appreciated switch between points of view throughout the book’s storyline.
I have to say that, of all the techniques employed by Roth-White, the use of varying points of view is the most impactful to the story’s success. When readers are treated to the view of events from Krystal’s perspective, the story instantly becomes more meaningful and more captivating. I found myself instantly drawn into Krystal’s dilemma, and the entire plot took on new meaning for me. I could feel the intensity with which Krystal was fighting and the incredible desperation she felt to fulfill her mission.
Roth-White includes many unique features with regard to both characters and plot. It isn’t often I find that one of my favorite aspects of a story is unrelated to the main character. In the case of this, the first book in the author’s series about Krystal, I was immediately drawn to the idea of Stilts. I won’t spoil the storyline for readers, but I will say that Stilts is an excellent addition to Krystal’s story and serves as both an interesting and quick way to further the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed Stilts’s contribution to events.
I am giving Krystal Winkle and the Peacemaker of Kigali, by Carolyn Roth-White, a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. This young adult novel has all the makings of a masterpiece and a new favorite among young readers seeking alternatives to Harry Potter. With the promise of more installments to come, I highly recommend that middle-school readers add Roth-White’s fantasy tale to their must-read list.
Pages: 308 | ISBN-13: 978-0578591391
The Awkward Dinosaurs
Have you ever wondered about lesser-known dinosaurs? Do you ever wonder if there are some strange ones that you might not have ever heard of or imagined your own new and exciting ones? The Awkward Dinosaurs by Kellen Roggenbuck is a humorous and delightful picture book that children and adults will be able to laugh and giggle at. Each page introduces a previously unheard-of dinosaur with an awkward personality or physical trait. One thing these dinosaurs do not lack is self-confidence. They are all happy with who they are and how they look.
Author and illustrator Kellen Roggenbuck has created a picture book that will capture the interests of babies just learning to look at pictures to adults that want good clean humor. I genuinely laughed as I read through this children’s book. Shyladon is probably my favorite dinosaur in this collection. I love how just because he isn’t a fan of large crowds, he is fine and not ashamed of this. Children will have no trouble finding a dinosaur in this book that they can relate to and appreciate.
The awkward dinosaurs teach young children that being different is okay and something to be proud of. If you are different and stand out from a group of friends, that is not bad; everyone is unique, even if they think it is awkward at first, like glowing in the dark or being plaid.
The Awkward Dinosaurs is a magical picture book that would make a wonderful gift for young children just getting interested in books as the bright colors, and entertaining illustrations will keep them engaged. It would also be a great addition to a kindergarten or preschool classroom to help teach and celebrate diversity.
Pages: 28 | ISBN: 0578799103
Never Give Up
A family of penguins has left their icy home to take their son to a university in England called Ox-fjord. Junior Nerdy-Birdy Pingo-Bongo dreams of becoming a famous ice cream maker. On the way there, their aircraft malfunctions, and they are forced to land in a desert. Here they are distraught and have no idea how to get their plane fixed. Rather than give up all hope, Junior convinces his parents to make their dreams come true there in the desert and bring the ice cream they love to the people there.
Never Give Up by Anna Maledon and illustrated by Wenny Stefanie is an inspiring and creative story with many lessons packed in. Children will learn from this picture book about using their imagination, problem-solving, immigration, entrepreneurship, and different climate and weather conditions. The author uses humor to help teach many of these lessons and show children how even when things look impossible, you should never give up on your goals.
The artwork in this beautifully written picture book brings the characters to life, their personalities jump off the pages, and you feel all the emotions they do as you read through this story. The expression on Junior’s face as he goes through the different stages of the story helps young readers understand the complex emotions he is experiencing. This is a great way to teach emotional empathy and social skills.
Never Give Up would make an amazing gift for a classroom teacher or for someone getting ready to graduate as a reminder to never give up on their dreams. Of course, there will always be setbacks, but learning to adapt and see through the problem is what makes a person successful.
Pages: 47 | ASIN : B0B5FJ2D1R
Literary Titan Gold Book Award September 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Gold Award Recipients
INFINITY: Book of Matthew II by Catalina DuBois
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
Literary Titan Silver Book Award September 2022
The Literary Titan Book Awards are awarded to books that have astounded and amazed us with unique writing styles, vivid worlds, complex characters, and original ideas. These books deserve extraordinary praise and we are proud to acknowledge the hard work, dedication, and writing talent of these brilliant authors.
Silver Award Recipients
Visit the Literary Titan Book Awards page to see award information.
LITERARY TITAN 