Trollhunters (Trollhunters #1) by Guillermo del Toro, Daniel Kraus

Release Date: June 30, 2015
Publisher: Hot Key Books
Series: Trollhunters series, Book 1
Author Website:  http://danielkraus.com/, http://deltorofilms.com/

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The innocence of childhood was ripped away from the town of San Bernardino, California as more children disappeared during the lazy, summer days of the 1960s. Jack and Jim Sturges spent Jack's birthday playing their favorite games up to the moment that Jack vanished and Jim's world shifted forever. That moment defined life for the Sturges family.

Now decades later, Jim Sturges Jr dealt with the paranoia and aftermath of his uncle's disappearance with the nonchalance his teenage years allowed. When a series of weird events raised questions about the history of his family, Jim Jr found a group of people who had some answers. But these weren't the ones he thought he'd get. Can Jim Jr set things right within the time given?  Or will everything be changed forever?


Review:
NetGalley sent me an email alert to let me know that this book was available for reading and reviewing. I was excited for a couple reasons. First, I love being part of the start of a new series for many genres. The excitement about a new world and the uncertainty of how the story played out were always at the top of my list with books in a new series. Second, I didn't know that Guillermo del Toro and co-authors wrote different series of books. I know that I'm behind in that knowledge, but I made up for it slightly by diving into the realm of San Bernardino and the Sturges family.

From the very beginning of the book, the authors made it clear there were at least two types of beings sharing one world. Of course, they weren't sharing very well since one species constantly snatched and ate the other! The human world was largely ignorant of the Trolls. This ignorance lasted until an abundance of child abductions forced the town to become hyper-vigilant. Yet, even with all the curfews and layers of security, Jack Sturges disappeared while playing with his younger brother, Jim. Thus began Jim Sturges' lifelong ambition to seek out the other world in the shadows, find the monsters who tore his family apart, and destroy them. His son, Jim Jr., wasn't keen on carrying on his father's work until the day he saw the trolls himself for the first time.

Because the book fell into the children/YA categories, I kept in mind that many of the over-the-top descriptions and outrageous characters would capture the younger reader's attention.  They would be able to identify with Jim Jr. and the other teen characters due to the authors' use of modern technology and situations that kids find themselves - dealing with bullies, school, and worrying over parents or girl/boyfriends. Now, a couple of characters were exaggerated a little too much for me to like them, but I felt they'd be a good draw for the young readers. The trolls weren't the cute, little ones we've all seen in cartoons or the old dolls from the 1990s. These were mean, nasty and gross creatures who wanted nothing more than to chomp a good kid or two for dinner!

I thought the book's pace was steady and revealed a decent amount of information as action propelled the story forward. Not a lot of scenes were filled with gross descriptions, but I loved how the authors really created the world of the trolls by exploring what their homes might have looked like and how the trolls family dynamics would be. Overall, the story entertained me, pulling me from the real world and into one where the imagination can run rampant. If you love reading books that push your creativity or enjoy something otherworldly with a hint of ickiness, then you really should try this book! Kids should too!

Trollhunters (Trollhunters #1) by Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus is currently available for purchase at several online retailers and bookstores. The book can be bought in hardcover, paperback, audio-book and digital (Kindle) formats. Below is a link to the book's page at Amazon.
Trollhunters (Trollhunters #1) by Guillermo del Toro, Daniel Kraus

Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager

Release Date: April 1, 2010
Publisher: Vanita Books
Illustrators: Kristin Blackwood, Mike Blanc

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
Bonyo Bonyo was born into a small village in the land of Kenya. As poor as his family was, Bonyo still had a happy childhood with the other children in the village. When tragedy strikes his family, Bonyo was determined to go to school in order to become a doctor. He wanted to help others.

He began on the road toward his goal only to discover that his parents weren't able to pay for his education. With the kindness of strangers and a courage from deep within, Bonyo makes the dangerous trek miles away to attend school in a neighboring village. But is it enough to achieve his dream of becoming a doctor? Will he be able to help those in his village and beyond?

Review:
Because I'm a sucker for true stories, I requested this book from NetGalley. I was able to read through it very quickly as it's a fairly short book. The book was geared toward children, specifically those eight years-old and younger. That didn't stop me from enjoying the inspirational message of the Bonyo's story. I would encourage sharing the message of hard work and determination with everyone and especially children.

Since the book presented the life of Bonyo to the reader, it was told from his point of view. His childhood and family life were spoken of as well the catalyst for his desire to become a doctor. I felt sad that Bonyo had to go through so much in order to go to school. The truth of how little they had hit me and I realized just how lucky many children in thriving First World countries were. As the story progressed, the underlying messages of perseverance and determination shown through the passages.

The story was told in such a way that children would be able to understand and yet kept true to the essence of the overall story. Both good and bad days were shown as well how Bonyo decided to handle the situations. I thought the illustrations were beautifully drawn and on point with the story. Each turn of the page revealed another fantastic illustration to emphasize the point the author was trying to convey. So many colors, bright and dark, could easily capture the child's attention and allow the words to sink into their minds.

Overall, the story's message is one of hope, determination and the courage to chase after one's dreams. I think everyone needs a reminder of that now and again - especially adults. Though book is geared toward children, I honestly enjoyed its simplicity and the message that hard work pays off in the end. If you're looking for a wonderful teaching tool that is a fabulous story as well, I would recommend you add this book to your child's collection or even to your own collection. 

Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager is available at many retaliers including Amazon. You can purchase a copy in hardcover, paperback or Kindle forms. Clicking the link below will take you to the book's Amazon page.
Bonyo Bonyo: The True Story of a Brave Boy from Kenya by Vanita Oelschlager

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars.

Synopsis:
The enduring children's tale of Dorothy and her little dog who were swept away from their home in Kansas and placed within a magical realm. After the house lands on the Wicked Witch of the East, Dorothy is informed that her only way of getting home resides in the hands of the Great Wizard of Oz who is ruling over the people of the Emerald City. She and Toto set off on their journey to the city of green and meet three companions along the way who help her in times of trouble. Throughout her walk to the Emerald City and her secondary journey home, Dorothy is faced with the many challenges, twists and turns.

Review:
Okay, I admit it. I loved this story as a child and as an adult, the story is still one of my all-time favorites to read. Every now and again, I pick up the book and remind myself of the way things used to be in times now long past. The writing style is easy, descriptive and engaging enough to keep a child's attention and yet delight an adult at the same time. While the film a beloved classic, the original story has a lot more action and adventure within its covers that entices the child (and adult) to use their imagination. The dialogue is written in such a way that the child can understand without much explanation. This book is a must-read on many nighttime story lists.

Rereading this classic brought back many memories from my childhood. My grandmother used to have me curl up in her lap with my head on her shoulder as she would read to me. It's more than likely the very reason why I am so attached to words, stories, and books! This is just the first in a series of books about Oz so there are many more adventures to be enjoyed. If you are looking for a great addition to your child's bedtime reading list, consider this for ages 6 and up.

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum can be found in hardback, paperback, audiobook and Kindle forms in many major retailers both online and off. It can be purchased from Amazon.com at the link below.
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum