Audio: Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly

Narrated by: LuLu Lam

Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 09-03-19

Language: English

Publisher: HarperAudio

When it comes to fantasy then MG works so well, they are always nicer, not angsty, and it is always the ordinary ones that save the day.

Lalani is an ordinary girl, not braver, not faster or anything else. She loves her mum, she loves stories and her friends.

She lives on an island and all those on the island dream of another island that is better than theirs. So they send ships so find it, but no ships ever come back.

The author draws from Filipino mythology, and that is a real treat. The book does have a Moana feel as the whole young girl goes on a trip to save an island, but there it ends.

I liked Lalani, I liked that she was nothing more, she was just a normal girl that wants to save her mother. She is as brave as we al can be if we just try.

It is quite the adventure she has, and all in all this was a book that I enjoyed. 

Narration

She did a great job with voices and the feel of the place.

The audio was great listening at.

When Lalani Sarita’s mother falls ill with an incurable disease, Lalani embarks on a dangerous journey across the sea in the hope of safeguarding her own future. Inspired by Filipino folklore, this engrossing fantasy is for listeners who loved Grace Lin’s Where the Mountain Meets the Moon and Disney’s Moana. 

Life is difficult on the island of Sanlagita. To the west looms a vengeful mountain, one that threatens to collapse and bury the village at any moment. To the north, a dangerous fog swallows sailors who dare to venture out, looking for a more hospitable land. And what does the future hold for young girls? Chores and more chores.

When Lalani Sarita’s mother falls gravely ill, 12-year-old Lalani faces an impossible task - she must leave Sanlagita and find the riches of the legendary Mount Isa, which towers on an island to the north. But generations of men and boys have died on the same quest - how can an ordinary girl survive the epic tests of the archipelago? And how will she manage without Veyda, her best friend? 

Joint Discussion: A night divided by Jennifer A Nielsen

Hello all! Carole and I will be discussing "A Night Divided" by Jennifer A. Nielsen.I am in red and C in purple. 

Author: Jennifer A. Nielsen

Narrator: Kate Simses

Title: A Night Divided

Genre: Historical Fiction, MG, & YA

Pages: Audiobook

Published: August 25th 2015

Where I Got It: Audiosync

With the rise of the Berlin Wall, twelve-year-old Gerta finds her family suddenly divided. She, her mother, and her brother Fritz live on the eastern side, controlled by the Soviets. Her father and middle brother, who had gone west in search of work, cannot return home. Gerta knows it is dangerous to watch the wall, to think forbidden thoughts of freedom, yet she can't help herself. She sees the East German soldiers with their guns trained on their own citizens; she, her family, her neighbors and friends are prisoners in their own city.

But one day, while on her way to school, Gerta spots her father on a viewing platform on the western side, pantomiming a peculiar dance. Then, when she receives a mysterious drawing, Gerta puts two and two together and concludes that her father wants Gerta and Fritz to tunnel beneath the wall, out of East Berlin. However, if they are caught, the consequences will be deadly. No one can be trusted. Will Gerta and her family find their way to freedom?

Our audiosync book! Which reminds me that I have to Dl this week's free ones!

I can’t remember what this week’s freebie is! I’ll have to look after this ;)

They sounded good! And now onwards! So this one was MG, and yes I did like it. But I did feel that it could have had a bigger impact as YA. A deeper, scarier one. Or maybe I just want people to suffer 0_0

I can agree with that. If it had been a YA or even a fiction it would’ve been sadder and been able to show more of the darkness of their situation. It did fine as an MG and it was light (comparatively). I liked it a lot though. But I doooo wish it was a touch darker.

Exactly. Now it was hopeful and I knew nothing bad would happen, well, well yea you know. Anyway, it was lighter than it should have been considering what they were doing. I really want to read a novel set in East Berlin now with a little more despair, death and madness. Just to really feel what it was like. Now I did not get that feeling of how they really felt.

It was a good intro to East Berlin. I’ll admit that I haven’t really watched or read any fiction about it. Just generic history books and etc. I would like to read a more adult story about it now! GIVE ME DESPAIR AND SADNESS! MWUAHAHAHA *coughs* sorry. ;)

That woman she came across and later saw where she lived. That woman must have had one hell of a story! I would read her story. Ohh maybe with a man on the other side, so we can have some longing too.

Yesss I am more curious about that lady. Who was she? What has she done? Where was she off to? So many questions! Now - there was one really sad moment near the end there. I was SO mad, but I think the author did it on purpose to not make the journey just as perfect as it seemed it was going to be. But whyyyyy?! I feel so bad.

The more I think of it I feel it was a evil shall be punished thing. I can’t say more to spoil things for others but you know what I mean. Evil = punished. But it wasn’t that black and white! This was the world of grey. Evil was not evil. And I wanted happy.

Maybe it was a redemption thing too? IDK. But I just felt really bad. And yes...I do feel this book really did show that nothing isn’t black and white. It is a world of grey. Some are evil. Some are good. However, not all evil is truly evil. Some are good but have some bad and darkness. This is a really good book for the kiddies in school. Lots of lessons for sure.

Lots of grey. And I totally know about the grey around here that she talks about her. New buildings built after wwII were so freaking grey! Blergh. What a horrible world to live in. The propaganda and no way to get a better life if you have been put down as a potential enemy. And I have not even thought about families torn asunder cos of that wall. Really sad. Stupid Soviets,

Yessss stupid Soviets. That wall was horrible. Glad it got torn down. Can you imagine being locked in???? I would lose it! I would for sure try to escape. Would you?

I would sure want to! The question is, would I have the courage? But it would be so horrible feeling fenced in, looking at that wall. Having people spying on you. Doing the right things, saying the right things. My soul would wither and die.

Yesss. The courage would be hard to get, but I know myself...I would die staying there because I would be too dumb and say the wrong thing to the wrong person. I tend to ramble and dig myself a hole. Hahaha. So might as well die trying to escape instead of my own stupidity.

And maybe not wait until the actual wall was up. I would have hoped I would have gone for it before that.

I would like to think my family and I would be gone WAY before the wall goes up. But you never know? One always has hopes things will stay the same or get better.

Talking about East Berlin. The only movies I have watched are those spy ones. They really should make more about the actual humans instead. Or we should find that great book then ;) But yes the great escape. Who wants to live in a world of grey. I really liked this heroine, she had more courage than me for sure.

Yess I really liked her too even though she was so young! She was brave and smart. She was for sure her father’s child. Thanks to her she gave her family hope! I am curious to see her father’s and brother’s POV on the other side of the wall. That would be a fun novella or short story or something.

Your wife and two kids stuck on the other side. Poor dad, what must he have felt? Their pov would have been interesting.

I can’t imagine what he must have felt. Probably a lot of guilt. I know I would’ve!

So much guilt. Like why did he not try harder. Why did he go then when he got trapped on the wrong (right) side. I did google later on how many people actually got away. In the weirdest ways too.

I thought this idea was nuts! But I am honestly not surprised. Desperate people do desperate things to get somewhere just for the chance at a better life! Can’t fault them that! I would’ve tried anything myself.

I read about nuttier, lol. But all in all, it was a good book, an interesting book. A horrible city filled with scary people. But done in a way not to make it too dark. So kids should read it and see what it was all about.

Yes, this is a pretty good book. I would for sure encourage kiddies who are learning about history or just about mankind to read this or listen to it like we did! OOOO! Which! How did you like the narrator before we wrap it up? I liked her. She had a good kid voice. I think she had a good change for different characters and telling the story and making it come alive.

Ha, yes I totally forgot about the narrator! But she was great, I liked her kid voice too. Some just sounds too old, but she did a good job, and with everyone else too. I did feel she made the book better for me. To read, eh, maybe it would have been too grey and not a lot happening. But when listening it is a whole other business. Also the last 20 min were intense! I had to listen to the end, I could not stop.

Yes she did really help with the book. I think it would’ve been a touch boring if we read it until near the end. It was a slow-burn for sure, but I think we needed that build-up for the crazy intense ending there! So good! I was on the edge of my seat!

That is a Listen then. And not read recommendation ;) I also want to add that everyone should check out Audiobook sync http://www.audiobooksync.com/ To get 2 free audio books every week! The bad thing is, you have to remember to grab them ;)

Yessss, don’t be like me and be forgetful. LOLL

Also, next week’s sound good. A love story in Saudi Arabia, might end really badly, we should read it.

I am curious about that one….maybe I’ll download it :D

I will try and remind you ;)

Hehehe yes! Please do! Well. The end? I think it was overall a good listen and a good pick! We needed this one!

The end

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.

Audio: Cake Pop Crush - Suzanne Nelson

Narrated by: Elise Arsenault

Series: Wish Series [Nelson], Book 1

Length: 4 hrs and 50 mins

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 04-09-19

Language: English

Publisher: Tantor Audio

MG fiction

To review

My Thoughts

Sometimes a Middle grade book is good, because they are just so short. Not to mention sweet and this one had that we can conquer everything.

Alicia's dad runs a bakery and she works there, and she really loves baking. Loves it! Her specialty is cake pops. Did I know what they are? Nope. Have I seen one? Nope. DO I want to taste one? Yes. Alicia is nice baking loving girl who has her besties.

But then a chainstore opens and the bakery struggles and the new boy at school is the son of the CEO. Instant enemy, but also this mail feel without any mail involved. They obviously like each other, but she thinks he is the enemy, and he is really clueless. That was bit hard to get, no one is that clueless.

A bit of crushing, a lot of baking, lot of friendship and some drama. And most of all, the good guy wins. But that is why it was good. We need feel good, everything is going to work out books too.

Narrator

I did like everything she did with voices and storytelling, and if I had to complain it would have been that she did not sound MG. But then I am not saying I would like someone actually younger, more like a younger voice. But it really did not matter cos she was great at what she did

Sometimes friends, school, and boys can be a recipe for disaster!  

Alicia Ramirez has always loved baking. Her family owns Say It with Flour, the small bakery in town. And Ali's specialties are cake pops: delicious confections on a stick. But Ali's sweet life turns sour when a sleek coffee shop opens across the street, giving her bakery a run for its money. Worst of all, the owner's son, Dane McGuire, likes to bake, too. He's the new kid in Ali's school...and happens to be annoyingly cute.  

When Dane and Ali engage in a bake-off to prove who is the cake-pop master, it's Ali's chance to save Say It with Flour. But will she be able to rise to occasion...and ignore what her heart might be telling her?

Audio: Storm Glass - Jeff Wheeler

Audible Audio, 12 pages

Published June 19th 2018 by Brilliance Audio

Series: Harbinger #1

Fantasy MG YA

Freebie

My Thoughts:

I should have written this two days ago!

Ok, cool world. There are mysteries and as Cettie does not know them yet neither do we. Like how do the floating islands keep on floating? What makes skyships fly? It is a more industrialized fantasy world in a way. But not that much since "magic" rules.

There seems to be ghosts and other things...what I do not know yet

And the rich live in the sky while the downtrodden live below in filth.

Cettie is rescued. Though all I was thinking was omg she is leaving those kids down there! Those kids who surely saw her as their like mum and she was the only one who fed them! But hey, the strong survive, the weak die. Of course omg girl, please tell the nice man what a b%tch his housekeeper is. Sheesh!

Still nice kid.

I thought it would be mostly her story since she was saved and got to see the fancy part of this world, but we also get a princess' pov. She might have everything but that does not mean love, friends and fun. Still roof and food girl, roof and food.

I guess this is YA, but since they are 12 it feels more MG. Since nothing bad happens either so it feels more nice you know.

A nice story. And yes audible freebie for the win!

Narration Kate Rudd

A good voice that fit the story and she did the characters well. Esp that wicked housekeeper

Blurb

Theirs is a world of opposites. The privileged live in sky manors held aloft by a secretive magic known only as the Mysteries. Below, the earthbound poor are forced into factory work to maintain the engine of commerce. Only the wealthy can afford to learn the Mysteries, and they use their knowledge to further lock their hold on society.

Cettie Pratt is a waif doomed to the world below, until an admiral attempts to adopt her. But in her new home in the clouds, not everyone treats her as one of the family.

Sera Fitzempress is a princess born into power. She yearns to meet the orphan girl she has heard so much about, but her father deems the girl unworthy of his daughter’s curiosity.

Neither girl feels that she belongs. Each seeks to break free of imposed rules. Now, as Cettie dreams of living above and as Sera is drawn to the world below, they will follow the paths of their own choosing.

But both girls will be needed for the coming storm that threatens to overturn both their worlds.

Audio: The Unteachables - Gordon Korman

Narrated by: Sarah Beth Goer, Oliver Wyman, Josh Hurley, Tristan Morris, Chris Gebauer, Sean Welsh Brown, Pete Larkin, Fred Berman, Jennifer Nittoso

Length: 6 hrs

Unabridged Audiobook

Release date: 01-08-19

Publisher: HarperAudio 

MG Fiction

My Thoughts:

Oh I did not realise this was MG before reading the synopsis. I thought it was YA since they were 13. But hey it works for everyone!

This is THE class. The one everyone avoids and where the school puts the kids they do not know wht to do with, and forgets them.

Mr Kermit just wants to retire. The school really messed him up. A scandal destroyed his life and the school blamed him. And he had nothing do do with it. So now he hates teaching. Ok yes 27 years of not caring is hard to forgive, but I really liked him in the end. He is an amazing teacher that was forgotten about too.

And then there there kids. Parker who can not read, and has a driver's license. Eeek.

Kiara who wandered into the class and never left. And who is not even in this school.

Aldo who is always angry.

Barndoor who was the star of the school and then he broke his leg and forgotten about.

All with great personalities, and different problems. That all can be solved if someone just cares for two seconds.

There are also more. Rahim who falls asleep all the time. Elaine who everyone fears. And Matteo who is the biggest nerd and therefore the school finds him weird.

They will raise hell and at the end I wanted them to succeed. This is the class from hell and I cheered them on.

Really uplifting when I think about it! Yes it made me happy. It was fun, short and good.

Narrators

Ok so obvi there are  LOT. But it works well, every big person gets her or his POV. Lots of narrators for that. But they ll have their own chapters so no one has a special own voice

Story:

A hilarious new middle grade novel from beloved and bestselling author Gordan Korman about what happens when the worst class of kids in school is paired with the worst teacher--perfect for fans of Ms. Bixby's Last Day.

The Unteachables are a notorious class of misfits, delinquents, and academic train wrecks. Like Aldo, with anger management issues; Parker, who can't read; Kiana, who doesn't even belong in the class--or any class; and Elaine (rhymes with pain). The Unteachables have been removed from the student body and isolated in room 117.

Their teacher is Mr. Zachary Kermit, the most burned-out teacher in all of Greenwich. He was once a rising star, but his career was shattered by a cheating scandal that still haunts him. After years of phoning it in, he is finally one year away from early retirement. But the superintendent has his own plans to torpedo that idea--and it involves assigning Mr. Kermit to the Unteachables.

The Unteachables never thought they'd find a teacher who had a worse attitude than they did. And Mr. Kermit never thought he would actually care about teaching again. Over the course of a school year, though, room 117 will experience mayhem, destruction--and maybe even a shot at redemption.

Audio: Freakling - Lana Krumwiede

In twelve-year-old Taemon’s city, everyone has a power called psi — the ability to move and manipulate objects with their minds. When Taemon loses his psi in a traumatic accident, he must hide his lack of power by any means possible. But a humiliating incident at a sports tournament exposes his disability, and Taemon is exiled to the powerless colony. The "dud farm" is not what Taemon expected, though: people are kind and open, and they actually seem to enjoy using their hands to work and play and even comfort their children. Taemon adjusts to his new life quickly, making friends and finding unconditional acceptance. But gradually he discovers that for all its openness, there are mysteries at the colony, too — dangerous secrets that would give unchecked power to psi wielders if discovered. When Taemon unwittingly leaks one of these secrets, will he have the courage to repair the damage — even if it means returning to the city and facing the very people who exiled him? 

Audio CD, Unabridged, 7 pages

Published October 9th 2012 by Candlewick on Brilliance Audio (first published July 1st 2012)

Psi Chronicles #1

Fantasy Middle Grade

My thoughts:

'Another MG one, but I was really surprised when I read that this one was MG. There was violence, death, threats of violence and even a hint of a threat of sexual violence (or am i to assume that the person just wanted to kill the other person for fun which is still horrific). I get that the main character is 13 so I guess that makes it more MG then, but, since it is labelled as MG some really young readers could read it. But maybe kids these days are more used to things. Still, I would say this one is more for younger YA readers. Cos no, there is not that much violence. YA has more, but I still feel like it was a bit to dark for MG. I mean an 8 year old could read this and they just kill a kid like that and torture people so...maybe I am the only one that feels like this. It was just such a change from the other MG I just listened to.

Speech over. 11 up absolutely. Not under that. But older YA would find it too simple so yes it lies there in the shadow land of upper MG, lowerYA

Is this a fantasy world? Is it our world? No idea. I do like when things are clearer cos I always wonder. Is it dystopia? Sci-fi? Interesting mix at least. A world where a group of fanatics (yes I will call them that) left and made a mountain (why no one come over the sea and takes a look I have no idea), and then they live there using psi powers they got. Which to me seems to exhausting. They can do NOTHING by hand. Not eat, not going to the toilet I assume. NO lifting. Nothing. I wonder how they make babies, I guess they can touch then...or? Cos the kid keeps saying that no one touch each other. You do not want to know what I am thinking now. Touch is a sense. Why take away that completely?

Anyway, this kid Taemon loses his powers and is sent away. I liked him, though he really should just have killed his psycho brother. That does make it MG, he was so damn nice.

There is an evil guy who is evil and Taemon will obvi save the world.

Interesting world and a nice story, even if, I mean come on people, touch is a sense!

Narrator Nick Podehl

I liked his voice and omg the voice for Tae's sociopath of a  brother, yes he sounded evil!

Alcatraz and the Evil Librarians - Brandon Sanderson

On his thirteenth birthday, foster child Alcatraz Smedry gets a bag of sand in the mail-his only inheritance from his father and mother. He soon learns that this is no ordinary bag of sand. It is quickly stolen by the cult of evil Librarians who are taking over the world by spreading misinformation and suppressing truth. Alcatraz must stop them, using the only weapon he has: an incredible talent for breaking things.

My thoughts:

I actually did not like this one as much as I had wanted to. It is Sanderson, and he does write well, but I think it was the story and the tone. It was too MG for me. But for the MG/YA crowd out there, go for it.

Oh and the story was so weird...

Alcatraz...how to even explain this without spoiling it all?! Librarians are bad, I mean really bad, and they rule the world.There are other places where they do not rule and those people try to fight them off. And Alcatraz finds out that he is from one of those places. Off he sets on an adventure with his crazy grandpa and friends. He has no idea what is going on. They all sound insane.

There are evil librarians after them. Secrets, and more.

Conclusion:
So it was good, but I was not the audience for this and could not always like it. But I can appreciate the craziness. 

Hardcover, 320 pages
Published February 16th 2016 by Starscape (first published October 1st 2007)
Alcatraz #1
MG/YA/Fantasy
Library