Category: Fantasy - Blazer Tales

Blazer Tales

There are 4 ways to use this blog: 1) Scroll through to see a variety of books; 2) Click on the 3 lines at the top left to get a drop down menu of books broken down by grade levels; 3) Go to the search box and for title, genre, or subject; and 4) Go to Categories and search by subject matter.

***These reading levels are just a guide to help if needed. Please, please, please do not let any of these numbers deter you from reading whatever you want!!!***

Professional Reader

10 Book Reviews

Evangeline of the Bayou by Jan Eldredge

11/21/2018

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 5.7

Would you like to be in the business of chasing monsters and spirits? Evangeline is from a long line of haunt huntresses and fighting these demons is in her blood... or so she thinks. Whenever she tries to go off on her own things don't always go as planned and she seems to make things worse. Plus, every haunt huntress gets a familiar, some type of animal that is fiercely loyal, and Evangeline still has not found hers yet. She is beginning to doubt that she even has haunt huntress powers. Then her Gran accepts a job in the big city of New Orleans to help a family whose wife/mom is very sick. It is not long before they realized that Mrs. Midsomer has been bitten by a rougarou, a human that turns into a werewolf-type beast. At the next full moon Mrs. Midsomer will turn into a rougarou and if she makes her first kill, then she can never turn back. But if Gran can kill the alpha rougarou before all of that happens, then she will be released. This task seems impossible when Gran falls, breaks her leg, and is taken into surgery right before the moon is full. Gran's last words before she is knocked out is for Evangeline to run away back to the bayou. This is Evangeline's plan when she realizes that she is not a haunt huntress, but that is not what happens. Does Evangeline really not have any haunt huntress powers? Will Mrs. Midsomer turn into a rougarou and make her first kill? Is there anything that Evangeline do to save Mrs. Midsomer and her son, Julian? Read this high-paced, action-packed, slightly funny about family, friends, and finding yourself.

A Boy Called Christmas by Matt Haig

10/6/2018

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 4.8

How do you think you would feel if you father had to go on a trip and you were left with nasty, ugly, abusive aunt? This is what has happened to Nicholas. Nicholas's dad is a woodcutter, Nicholas's mom died when he was when he was younger, and they are extremely poor. Nicholas's most prize possession is a doll made out of a turnip. When Nicholas's dad find out about an expedition that will pay lots of money, he jumps on the chance. While he is gone Nicholas's aunt has come to stay with him. She immediately kicks him out of the house and makes him sleep outside in the cold. After months have gone by, Nicholas decides to run away to search of his father. He is heading north in the middle of winter with very little food or clothing. When all seems lost, he befriends a stray reindeer who helps him with his search. With him freezing and starving to death, he all but gives up and decides to just die, but an elderly elf finds him, saves his life, and infuses him with a little bit of elf magic. Nicholas find Elfhelm, the land of elves, but is met with some very angry elves and put into prison. The head elf, Father Vodol, hates humans and anything that is happy so he has made the normally cheerful elves reject happiness and outsiders. Nicholas soon finds out that his father has been there and kidnapped a young elf names Kip. Nicholas escapes and is determined to find little Kip and return him home. With Blitzen's help, Nicholas does find his father's hunting party and little Kip. Can Nicholas save little Kip from the hunter's cage? Will Nicholas's father give up all of that money just to save an elf? Will Nicholas have to go back to his horrible aunt? Read this intriguing book about a boy named Christmas because he was born on Christmas Day

This book is such an unusual book about how Father Christmas became Father Christmas. I loved the twist and turns, the offbeat humor, love and compassion despite unbearable circumstances, and reaching ones dreams. This is an incredible book no matter the season!

The Land of Neverendings by Kate Saunders

9/2/2018

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 6.1

How would you react if your toys started to come to life? Would you think it is fun or would it freak you out? Emily has experienced this and it started off fun but turned bad really quick. Emily's sister and best friend, Holly, had a disability, had a seizure one night, and died. When Holly was buried she had her favorite blue bear, Bluey, with her. Three months after her sister's death Emily has been going through a lot of changes. Her best friend has started being very distant and hanging around with some mean girls, Emily has been cast as the lead role in the school play, and her toys have started coming to life. When the toys tell her tales of the land in which they live, Emily knows these are the same stories that her and Holly made up. Then she finds out that Bluey is there and even possibly, Holly. Emily will do whatever it takes to go to Smockeroon to find her. However, things are beginning to go terribly wrong in Smockeroon and it is starting to spill into the real world. Can Emily and her friends make things right before everything goes wrong? Will Emily get to see Holly again? Read this incredible story of friendship, love, and incredible imagination.

I just loved this story! Emily has gone through so much heartache in her young life. When the toys come to life she actually gets hope that keeps her going when her friend lets her down. Through this process Emily finds new friends and she also finds herself. Don't miss this book!!

Nightbooks by J.A. White

8/17/2018

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 6.4

How cool would it be to live in an apartment that had a magical library that had thousands and thousands of books? Dream come true, right? Wrong! Not this apartment and not this library! Alex sneaks out one night to destroy a book of his writings that he loves so much, but on the way he gets tricked to go into an apartment in his building, the apartment of a witch named Natacha. There is one other child there, Yasmin, who tells him there is no escape from the enchanted apartment and his only hope of survival is to tell Natacha scary stories. He still has his own horror stories that he has written, but they are too painful to read. Natacha sets him up in her magical library and he is given a pencil and paper to write more stories. Alex gets sidetracked by looking at all of the books. When he comes across a warning from a previous child who was there, Alex now has hope of escape. Can Alex and Yasmin find more messages to help break them out of the apartment? Or will Alex run out of stories and out of time before Natacha does away with him? Read this incredibly scary story about scary stories and friendship!

I absolutely loved this story! The kids in my library are always looking for more and more scary stories. I can't wait to put this one in their hands. Who wouldn't love a book about witches, magical cats, scary stories, and friends! Don't miss this one!!

Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty

7/7/2018

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 5.9

Imagine that you have to live your live secretly living in the basement of a massively beautiful mansion. Now imagine that you are a twelve-year-old girl whose main job is to be the Biltmore Estate's CRC, or Chief Rat Catcher. Sound like a job you want? Yeah, me neither, but it is the perfect job for Serafina. She lives in the basement of the historical Biltmore Estates with her Pa, hidden away from everyone. No one except her Pa knows that she exists. Her Pa's main job is to work on all the machinery that keeps Biltmore Estates running. Serafina is not like other humans - she see in the darkness, she can move around without making a sound, and because her body and bones are different she can hid in the smallest of spaces. Serafina uses this to her advantage when she is catching rats, she just didn't know that she would have to use it to catch a murder. Someone is taking the children of Biltmore Estates and when the men of Biltmore and the police can't come close to solving the mystery, it is up to Serafina to catch the rat. Serafina, who has never spoken to anyone but her Pa, is forced to befriend the Estate's owner's nephew, Braeden. Together they try to fight this magical demon wearing a black cloak. Can Serafina and Braeden solve the mystery of where the children of Biltmore have gone? Can they bring them back safely? Can they even survive the attacks from the Man in the Black Cloak? Read this fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat mystery to find out.

Serafina and the Black Cloak is a yearly read aloud to my 6th grade book club. When it is time to stop they always moan and groan because they want more. This book brings history alive to students in a mysterious and scary way. Don't miss this first book in Robert Beatty's Serafina trilogy.

Also, don't miss out on the Serafina and the Black Cloak PowerPoint that you can purchase through my TpT store. This PowerPoint has 120 slides and asks students comprehensive and thought questions chapter by chapter. It also has pictures of the different rooms described in the book. The students will learn so much about the Biltmore Estates. Click here to go directly to my TpT store or scroll down to access it. If you read this book as a read aloud, this PowerPoint is a must!!

Serafina and the Black Cloak PowerPoint

$10.00

Do you want a fantastic read aloud? This is the book for you!! Serafina and the Black Cloak is a high action, high suspense (maybe a little scary) book. I read this book every year to my 6th graders and they never want me to stop. This book is addictive! Don't miss this one! It is in PowerPoint form. The questions go along with each chapter and the slides have animation so that the answers are not revealed until you click. There are also pictures that go along with the book to show students what various parts of the Biltmore Estate look like. This way they can have a visual as they read the book. The font is Apple Chancery size 28. If you computer does not have this font you may need to adjust the font and size to go along with your software. The background is at transparency 80%. For the preview it looks like there is no transparency. When you download this product if the background is not light enough to read the words you need to lower the transparency.

Serafina and the Black Cloak PowerPoint

The Door to the Lost by Jaleigh Johnson

6/5/2018

Interest Level: 5-8

Imagine that you live in a place where you have to hide all of the time because you are being hunted? How would it feel to have to sneak around and hide all of the time? This is exactly Rook and Drift's life. They live in a place called Talhaven where magic used to abound. Then one day without any warning there was a great explosion in the doorway between Vora and Talhaven that causes the magic to die, or what magic is left is dangerous. Everyone who is left in Talhaven that has magic is now being sought after to be put in prison, or even worse, some just disappear. Drift and Rook are best friends. Drift can cause great winds with her magic and Rook can create magical doors to travel anywhere. Rook is always trying to create a door back home to Vora so that they can live in peace. One day when Rook has created a door a red fox jumps through and threatens everything they have ever known. Is the red fox an enemy come to harm them, or is the red fox the answer they have been looking for? Will Rook ever make the door to get them back home, or will Rook find out that home may be something different all together? Read this fast-paced, action packed, edge of your seat adventure to find out.

This type of fantasy book is not usually my type of book but I received it from a publisher to review, so I did. Boy was I wrong! This book grabbed me from the beginning and wouldn't let go until I finished it. It was absolutely fantastic and Jaleigh Johnson now has a new fan! Do not miss this book!!

Winterhouse by Ben Guterson

3/24/2018

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 6.4

@kidlitexchange #partner Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

Imagine that your parents have passed away and you have to live with an aunt and uncle that do not want you, you are poor and you have no friends. That is the life of Elizabeth Somers. So when she comes home from school for Christmas break and there is a note on the door, a bag of clothes, a bus ticket and $3, she is not quite sure what to think. Someone gave her aunt and uncle money to go on a trip and send her to hotel for three weeks. Elizabeth imagines the hotel to be a dump but when she arrives she finds the complete opposite. Winterhouse is an extravagantly luxurious hotel with meals served three times a day, they make their own famous candy, and they have a three-story library. Elizabeth even makes a friend her age, Freddy, who comes to Winterhouse every Christmas break while his parents go on vacation.
Elizabeth is in paradise, but not all is as it seems. The creepy man and woman who stared at her throughout the whole bus trip is staying at Winterhouse for the holiday season. They even bring in a coffin-sized box that they claim has books in it. Then when Elizabeth finds a mysterious book, strange things begin happening. There is a peculiar portrait in the gallery that has code that needs to be deciphered, the book has letters that appear each day (and only Elizabeth can see them), creepy stories of the Falls family, and maybe even a ghost. Can Elizabeth decipher the mysterious code and save Winterhouse, or will evil overtake the majestic hotel?

This book was absolutely incredible. From the very beginning it grabs hold of you and won't let go. It has just the right amount mystery to keep you turning page after page to see what happens next. This is a must read!! I am anxiously awaiting for book 2.

Winterhouse Book Trailer

Grump The (Fairly) True Tale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves by Liesl Shurtliff

2/6/2018

Interest Level: 3-6

Did you think that fractured fairy tales were only for picture books? Well then think again! Liesl Shurtliff has spun an incredible story around a classic fairy tale. From the day Borlen (nicknamed Grump) was born he was never like the other dwarves. Because of unusual circumstances, he was born near the surface instead of deep within the earth. Borlen has never fit in the other dwarves and he actually gets sick when he has to go to work deep in the mines. His dream is to one day go to the surface and see what is above the dirt, but this is forbidden. Then one day Borlen got his chance to go to the surface and his life would never be the same again. He becomes "friends" with the evil queen and his life is wonderful until she tricks him and everything goes down from there. Will Grump do what is right and help save Snow White or is he bound by the queen to carry out her vengeance? This is a must read for anyone who is a Disney fan, a fairy tale fan, or just anyone who loves a great book!

Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly

2/6/2018

Interest Level: 3-6; Reading Level: 5.8

@kidlitexchange #partner Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.

Imagine that you were born with special powers and you could weave the shadows into anything you wanted. Pretty cool, right? Well not so much for Emmeline. She has had this power since she was born but because bad things seem to happen around her, everyone thinks she is weird and scared of her. Her only friend is her shadow named Dar. Dar is always there for her and is her best friend. When Emmeline's family has a noble family come to their house to stay, they say that they can take her away and rid her of her powers. Emmeline's parents are all for this but Dar will not have this. Dar tells Emmeline that if she will help turn her human then she will change the noble's mind. When things go terribly wrong and the nobleman falls into a coma, Emmeline and Dar have to run away and escape. Emmeline has never been outside the borders of her house. When Emmeline comes across a boy that seems to have powers similar to her will he befriend her or will he turn her into the guards that are chasing her? Will Emmeline be able to turn Dar into a human and have a true best friend? Read this truly creepy book about what friendship is, what friendship isn't , and how Emmeline finds out the truth between the two.

I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. My older elementary students and middle school students are always looking for different scary, creepy books. It seems like I can never keep this section stocked in my library. Thanks goodness for Shadow Weaver because I now have a new series to add to this collection. I know that this book, plus book 2 (when it comes out) will not stay on the shelves. This is a must read for the person looking for this genre to read!

Thornhill by Pam Smy

12/9/2017

Interest Level: 5-8; Reading Level: 3.3

Imagine that you are completely alone with no friends and no family and you live in an orphanage. Now imagine having a bully in this orphanage that torments you day and night. Now imagine that you are a girl who has lost her mother, had to move into a new place, and your dad works 24/7 so you are all alone with no friends. Imagine your view from your bedroom is an old abandoned orphanage, yet you see a girl in the window every night. Thornhill is a parallel story of two girls, one from 1982 and one from 2016. Mary's story is told through her diary from 1982. Ella's story is told in pictures from 2016. This is a very creepy and mysterious story that would be a scary read for any elementary or middle school reader.

Thornhill is a story that I just could not put down. It is part fiction and part graphic novel. There are a few cuss words that I wish were not in there, but other than that this is a must read for the reader who loves scary/suspense/mystery.

Thanks to the @kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.