WILLA AND THE WHALE by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

WILLA AND THE WHALE by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. What a great way to show how different people deal with different emotions. Grief is an interesting animal and sometimes it does takes animals to help people through it. In Willa's case, it was Meg, a blue whale. I loved the relationship that Willa had with Meg. I love how Meg was able to help Willa through her grief and issues everyone seems to have at school. And I love how Meg really steps up and solves a whale sized problem with the help of loved ones around her. I would recommend this book to any and everyone, especially those who could use a different view point in how to deal with and how those around them may be dealing with different emotions.

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After losing her mom, Willa is grieving and having a hard time living with her dad and his new family on an island off the coast of Washington State. Her dad tries to cheer her up by taking her whale watching, something Willa's mom used to do.

While all the passengers are on one side of the boat, Willa encounters a humpback whale on the opposite side. Willa feels so lonely that she starts to talk to the whale—and the whale talks back!

The whale, named Meg, quickly becomes a trusted friend and confidante Willa can speak to whenever she's by the ocean.

Meg offers sound advice Willa needs about dealing with a nemesis at school and trying to figure out why her friend Marc is keeping secrets about his family life.

Before the story ends, it will take all of Willa's courage and connections to tackle a problem that's as big as a blue whale!

SQUINT by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

SQUINT by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. This was an incredible story. It had me captivated till the end. The timid relationship between Flint and McKell is amazing to see develop. How they both help to push one another in their own struggles, and help build and support one another is a powerful lesson that we could all use more of in our lives. I would recommend this book to any and everyone. Absolutely amazing.

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The hero of my comic book can shoot lasers from his eyes when he squints. But it might not be enough to save the Empress. What he'll need most of all is a friend named Diamond Girl.

Flint loved to draw. In fact, he's furiously trying to finish his comic book so he can be the youngest winner of the "Find a Comic Star" contest. He's also rushing to finish because he has an eye disease that could eventually make him blind.

At school, Flint meets McKell. She's new and doesn't seem to have trouble making friends. She does have a problem with how some of her new friends treat this boy they call "Squint." He seems nice and really talented. He also seems like the kind of person who wouldn't laugh at you. That's important, because McKell has hidden talents of her own but is worried about what will happen is she shares them.

Squint is the inspiring story of two new friends dealing with their own challenges who learn to trust each other, believe in themselves, and begin to truly see what matters most.

MUSTACHES FOR MADDIE by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown

MUSTACHES FOR MADDIE by Chad Morris and Shelly Brown. Wow. This book is amazing. It touches on things that are personal for the authors yet shares a very strong message on how to help kids deal with scary things. The humor had me laughing throughout and getting teary at the same time. Life has lots of scary things, though not everyone deals with a brain tumor, most kids deal with bullying of some type. There are many powerful lessons throughout. This is a must read to anyone who has children, associates with children, has influence with children, really everyone. I highly suggest this book for everyone of all ages. It is a great read for book clubs and to read with little ones. I cannot say enough good about this book. Please check it out.

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Twelve-year-old Maddie has a quirky sense of humor and loves making her classmates laugh by slapping on fake mustaches every chance she gets. Being funny gets her noticed by class queen Cassie, and things are looking up when Maddie is cast as Juliet in the school play. Maybe Juliet could wear a mustache?

When Maddie starts tripping when she walks and her hand starts curling up at her side, her mom takes her to the doctor, who confirms Maddie has a brain tumor. In an instant, her world is turned upside down.

Maddie doesn't want anyone else to know. Especially Cassie, whose jealousy has turned to bullying. What about Maddie's chance to play Juliet opposite the cutest boy in the sixth grade? What if the doctors can't get the ugly tumor monster out of her brain?

As Maddie's surgery approaches, she wonders if her illness is giving her super powers because her imagination is bigger than ever, her courage is stronger than ever, and her compassion is about to be felt by more people than she ever imagined.

IMPOSSIBLE RACE by @ChadCMorris — #bookreview #books #amreading #review

IMPOSSIBLE RACE by Chad Morris. This was a fantastic ending to a wonderful series. It is a race that is worth running, and I couldn't stop turning the pages. I honestly didn't expect what happened at the end. I couldn't see how the kids were going to come out on top, but they did and the ending was very fitting. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great adventure. Be sure to check out the first two books in the Cragbridge Hall series: THE INVENTOR'S SECRET and THE AVATAR BATTLE.

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In the final book of the Cragbridge Hall trilogy, Abby, Derick, and their friends must utilize their skills in time travel and technology to survive roving bands of dinosaurs, race through space, build robots, and fight virtual dragons.

It’s known as the Race—an annual tournament where teams of students compete in the hopes of winning an unbelievable prize. But before this year’s competition, Derick and Abby receive a terrifying message from the future: Charles Muns’s plan to control history is going to succeed. It will cost countless people their lives and change the destiny of the world. And there is nothing anyone can do to stop them.

Despite the danger, the twins gather their friends and enter the Race, ready to compete against the best of the best in order to claim what might turn out to be a key of ultimate power.

Can they compete the Race in time and stop Muns? Or has the future already been written?

A page-turning, time-travel adventure that teaches powerful lessons about choice and consequence, believing you can do hard things, and valuing our history.

*A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

CRAGBRIDE HALL: THE AVATAR BATTLE by Chad Morris—Book Review & other cool stuff

CRAGBRIDGE HALL: THE AVATAR BATTLE by Chad Morris. This book is the second in the series. I've been curious about book one for awhile and when the opportunity came up for the second one I decided to give it try. I'm glad I did. This is a very creative storyline that I have thoroughly enjoyed, enough so that I'll go back to the first book and read this one again. I love the characters. I love the school setting, all the tid-bits of history, the gadgets and challenges. It's just a fun escape to another world. I would highly recommend this to anyone who loves great adventures and fantasy. Be sure to check out the awesome interview/book trailer at the end. :) You'll love it! It makes me even more excited for the books.

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The adventure continues when Abby and Derick begin their second semester at Cragbridge Hall, the most prestigious secondary school in the world. The year is 2074, and Abby and Derick are busy designing their own virtual worlds and learning to control new robot animal avatars, but when their Grandpa Cragbridge admits them into the Council of the Keys—a secret group of people who have keys to travel back in time—strange things begin to happen. One by one, members of the council are found unconscious and unable to wake, their keys stolen. Now Abby, Derick, mand their friends must scramble to figure out who is behind the attacks before they become the next victims, which would give their enemy the power to change the past—and forever alter the present and future.

*Publisher provided a review copy, cover, & book blurb taken from deseretbook.com. This did not influence my review.