August 2, 2012

The Kindling - A Book Review


When you were a kid, what did you get for Christmas? As a teenager, what did you get for your birthday? Toys? Money? ... Underwear?

If it was underwear, please oh please don't tell me what designs or colors they were because that would be awwwwwkwaaaard.... I would never be able to look at you the same way again.

Just sayin'.

Anyhow, while you were frolicking around in your newest set of undie-wondies Christmas morning, I was unwrapping my newest book.

My parents are hard-core readers. No... you don't understand. I practically grew up in a library. Book cases literally lined every inch of wall space in our huge family room, books stood proudly on book cases in the living room, and spilled from my parents shelved headboard in their bedroom. While for us kids, in our own bedrooms our shelves were crammed full of our personal collections and favorites. Each room held vastly different books based on taste and preference.

Here's just a teeny tiny peek at what I mean.


Oh and uh, don't mind what the people are doing in the pictures, those are stories for other days.


So I suppose my special talent for stating the obvious shines forth yet again when I say that, I've read a lot of books in my time, in just about every genre available, both fiction and non. When we first got married, my husband looked at me like I had arrived from another planet at the point where I started unpacking box after box of books.

Still, I've only ever done one book review here on my blog and it was for my bloggy buddy Braden Bell. In that review (which you should totally read HERE) I had stealthily confessed to reading an unpublished book of his.

Well, what do ya know. It's a published masterpiece now! So when he asked if I'd be willing to do another review for him, of this very book, I refuse to publicly admit that I may or may not have squealed then leaped happily from my chair.

After all, I'm a very dignified person! Pish... obviously....

Perhaps you're wondering why I'm so willing to review his books when it's not something I normally do.

Well, besides wanting to help out a friend, I'm secretly hoping that when he is rich and famous I will get written into his will and inherit some of his millions.

Okay, not really...

Okay maybe it's a little true.


All thirteen-year-old Connor Dell wants to do is pass pre-algebra, play lacrosse, and possibly kiss Melanie Stephens. He didn’t mean to set anyone’s gym shorts on fire or make school lunches explode. But now that the strange powers inside him have been ignited, Connor’s normal teenage life is about to go up in flames!
***
Homework? Of course. Crushes? Sure. But who knew seventh grade included superpowers?





I believe in owning books, lots of them. But only good ones; books I would re-read and that my children can love and enjoy, that will inspire knowledge and imagination.

So when I own this series (when, not if) they will sit proudly next to my other fictional favorites like, Fablehaven and the Percy Jackson series. Although this book is geared towards middle-school aged children, I think anyone who likes a good, well-written read will enjoy this book.

I laughed, I winced (yes, winced), I felt nervous, I felt excited. I enjoyed the main characters as much as you can like 13-year olds without wanting to strangle them too. This book will highly appeal to that age group and includes great and poignant lessons on good and evil, and choice and accountability. Is it the greatest book ever written? No. Is it a good book worth reading? Yes.

Funny yet intense, real yet magical, Braden once again brings his writing talent to life in this epic take on Light VS Dark. Nothing helps you sleep at night like knowing the fate of the world rests in the hands of a few hormonal teenagers...

Okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic, but admit it, it sounded good.

Would I recommend this book? Definitely. 

I plan on reading it to my almost eight year old who happen to read a bit of it over my shoulder and wanted to know what was going on. She said it sounded... "cool".

To find out more about the book, read more reviews or sample chapters, visit Braden's site for "The Kindling". You can also follow his fun updates on his Facebook Page!

Disclosure: I was sent a PDF version of the book to read in order to write this review. That's it. No printed copy, no cash, not even chocolate. So you know these thoughts are mine and were not bribed from me with the promise of a candy bar.

Once again, this disclosure was written for Braden's lawyer brother, Ryan... just in case he happens to read this. I wouldn't want him to feel all left out thinking I had forgotten.

10 super cool people speak:

Braden Bell said...

Ok, first of all, I LOVE those bookshelves. Second of all, that was a very generous review. Thank you. I laughed out loud at: "Nothing helps you sleep at night like knowing the fate of the world rests in the hands of a few hormonal teenagers..."

Thanks so much!

Serene is my name, not my life! said...

It was my pleasure! Loved the book!

Me said...

Good to know!

Amy said...

Sounds like a good read! Definitely something I'll have to recommend to my 9 year old niece who is EATING up books right now. This is totally up her alley.

P.S.
Um... would you like another unpublished book to read? Just for fun? You can download it to your kindle. If you want. No pressure. No review needed. At least, not a public one. :)

Stacie said...

SO this may be tacky, but this comment goes to the changes you have made to your blog. I love the new pictures. So fun. Thanks for sharing a bit of your life with us readers. Your blog just makes my day. And I do want to read this book. It sounds like something my 11 year old will enjoy.

Mama Smith said...

Oh...those pictures...MEMORIES!!!!!!

Stacie said...

So I know I already left a comment, but I just jumped over to Amazon and read the first 2 chapters of the book, and now I have to, have to get it. I'm also going to recommend it to some of the teens in my neighborhood that love to read.

Susan Anderson said...

Sounds like one for my grandson!

=)

Lara said...

Serene, you are a girl after my own heart! I LOVE books as well. I wish I had walls lined with built in bookshelves to hold my collection of books. But alas, most of them are still stuffed into packing boxes in my basement. Someday . . .

P.S. - You need to start coming to book club! :)

Larsen said...

Lara's right, you should go to book club.

And I'm so glad you finished it and liked it and I'm excited for Braden. Okay, jealous and envious, are more appropriate words, but let's just got with excited, so people don't think I'm plotting against him. Shall we?

Get feeling better.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...