Cell A Novel

Cell A Novel by Stephen King (contains affiliate link)

"From international bestseller Stephen King, a high-concept, ingenious and terrifying story about the mayhem unleashed when a pulse from a mysterious source transforms all cell phone users into homicidal maniacs. There's a reason cell rhymes with hell. On October 1, God is in His heaven, the stock market stands at 10,140, most of the planes are on time, and Clayton Riddell, an artist from Maine, is almost bouncing up Boylston Street in Boston. He's just landed a comic book deal that might finally enable him to support his family by making art instead of teaching it. He's already picked up a small (but expensive!) present for his long-suffering wife, and he knows just what he'll get for his boy Johnny. Why not a little treat for himself? Clay's feeling good about the future. That changes in a hurry. The cause of the devastation is a phenomenon that will come to be known as The Pulse, and the delivery method is a cell phone. Everyone's cell phone. Clay and the few desperate survivors who join him suddenly find themselves in the pitch-black night of civilization's darkest age, surrounded by chaos, carnage, and a human horde that has been reduced to its basest nature...and then begins to evolve. There's really no escaping this nightmare. But for Clay, an arrow points home to Maine, and as he and his fellow refugees make their harrowing journey north they begin to see crude signs confirming their direction. A promise, perhaps. Or a threat... There are 193 million cell phones in the United States alone. Who doesn't have one? Stephen King's utterly gripping, gory, and fascinating novel doesn't just ask the question "Can you hear me now?" It answers it with a vengeance." (from amazon.com's product listing) 




This title is now for sale in our Amazon.com used book store.

Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader

Star Wars: The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader by Ryder Windham (Includes affiliate link)

"The Rise and Fall of Darth Vader--now in paperback!

The full story of Anakin Skywalker, from his birth in slavery to his death as the powerful Darth Vader ... told for the first time in its entirety by NYT bestselling Star Wars author Ryder Windham. Spanning all six Star Wars movie and including the pieces of the story that fill in the gaps, this novel will be a must-have for any Star Wars fan." (from amazon.com's product listing)




Hubby and daughter read this. Stays very true to the movies, and explains those things that lead to a deep understanding of one of Sci Fi's most notorious villains.

Star Wars: The Wrath of Darth Maul

Star Wars: The Wrath of Darth Maul by Ryder Windham (includes affiliate link)

"The most anticipated Star Wars biography yet!

One of the most feared villains of all time.

One of the most iconic characters of the Star Wars saga.

One incredible story.

Features new, never-before-told secrets about Darth Maul!" (from amazon.com product listing and book cover)

Both hubby and daughter have read this book. They both gave positive reviews, saying that it stayed true to the movies, and was fascinating reading for the Star Wars aficionado and enthusiast.

Skeletons; A Level 2 Reader

Skeletons; A Level 2 Reader by Lily Wood (includes affiliate link)

"It's easy to bone up on Skeletons with the relaunch of thIs Scholastic Science Reader--now with a new cover, photographs, and interior design.

With brand new covers, updated photographs, and new interior designs, this series brings simple and fun information to beginning readers. In Skeletons, readers will learn what bones are made of, and just how many there are in the body. They'll find out what each bone is called and why we just can't live without them!" (from Amazon.com's product listing)



We purchased this book for my daughter several years ago when she was going through an anatomy phase back in 1st and 2nd grade. Book is a 1-2nd grade level, with a Lexile(R) level of 670L. Short paragraphs, tons of awesome photos to engage your curious learner.

Song of the Sparrow

Song of the Sparrow by Lisa Ann Sandell (Includes Affiliate links)

"The year is 490 AD.  Fiery 16-year-old Elaine of Ascolat,  the daughter of one of King Arthur's supporters,  lives with her father on Arthur's base camp,  the sole girl in a militaristic world of men. Elaine's only girl companion is the mysterious Morgan, Arthur's older sister, but Elaine cannot tell Morgan her deepest secret: She is in love with Lancelot, Arthur's second-in-command. However, when yet another girl -- the lovely Gwynivere-- joins their world, Elaine is confronted with startling emotions of jealousy and rivalry. But can her love for Lancelot survive the birth of an empire? (From amazon.com's product listing)





 I read this book myself a few years ago, and fell in love with the long-poem form of it. The author did an amazing job of recreating King Arthor's court and imagining subtle side currents to the main story that most of us have come to know so well. Well written and engaging. I would rate this a high middle-school level, and let my 11 year old read it recently as she was exploring epic poetry style writing, and she loved it.

NaNoWriMo 2016 is here!

Ever dream of writing a novel? Do you have ideas and characters running around in your head, and you'd love to actually put them into a book?

National Novel Writing Month is here! Well, prep time is here. NaNoWriMo is actually the entire month of November, but if writing a novel is on your bucket list, do it this year!

Come join me (You can hook up with me as a writing buddy on the NaNo website, find me as JennBradshaw) on NaNoWriMo for peptalks, cheering and progress reports as the month goes along. You can also find me in Second Life, where I've partnered with another author buddy for virtual write-ins with the group "NaNoWriMo Obsession". Come check us out if you happen to be in-world.

For more inspiration and progress updates as I warm up and get ready for NaNo, you can check out my other blog on creativity at Sage Wolfsong Creations. See ya then!

Mcgraw Hill Science : Macmillan/Mcgraw-hill Edition

Mcgraw Hill Science : Macmillan/Mcgraw-hill Edition (contains affiliate link)

Unit 1 - Living Things Unit 2 - Lift it, Push it, Pull It Unit 3 - Matter and Energy Unit 4 - The Sun and Its Family Unit 5 - Rocks and Resources Unit 6 - Where Living Things Live Unit 7 - Human Body: Keeping Healthy This is a wonderful science book. (from Amazon.com product listing)

Lots of colorful illustrations and activities. Textbook for 2nd-3rd grade science.

McGraw Hill Science: Grade 2

McGraw Hill Science: Grade 2 (contains affiliate links)

2nd or 3rd grade Science textbook

Large type and lots of colorful illustrations and activities for 2nd and 3rd grade level students.

Horizons (with Audio CD) (Available Titles CengageNOW)

Horizons (with Audio CD) (Available Titles CengageNOW) {affiliate link enclosed)

"HORIZONS is a complete elementary French program that makes learning French easier through its step-by-step skill-building methodology, flexible and accessible approach to grammar and new vocabulary, and creative yet sophisticated coverage of Francophone culture. Through varied interactive activities and clear grammar explanations, the text helps you communicate effectively in French while culturally connecting you to the Francophone world. HORIZONS features a clear, easy-to-follow structure that carefully guides you, Competence by Competence, through your first year of elementary French." (from Amazon.com product listing)

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace by Terry Brooks
(Affiliate link enclosed)



"In barren desert lands and seedy spaceports...in vast underwater cities and in the blackest depths of space...unfolds a tale of good and evil, of myth and magic, of innocence and power. At last, the saga that captured the imagination of millions turns back in time to reveal its cloaked origins-the start of a legend-the story of Star Wars. Based on the screenplay by George Lucas, this novel by master storyteller Terry Brooks probes the depths of one of the greatest tales of our time, providing rich detail and insight into the minds and motives of the characters - and shedding bold new light on Lucas's brilliant creation."

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, an evil legacy long believed dead is stirring. Even the Jedi are caught by surprise, their attentions focused on the political unrest between the Trade Federation and the Republic. Now the dark side of the Force threatens to overwhelm the light, and only an ancient Jedi prophecy stands between hope and doom for the entire galaxy.

"On the desert world of Tatooine, far from the concerns of the Republic, a slave boy works by day and dreams by night - of being a Jedi Knight and one day traveling the stars to worlds he's only heard of in stories...of finding a way to win freedom from enslavement for himself and his beloved mother. His only hope lies in his extra-ordinary instincts and his strange gift for understanding the "rightness" of things, talents that allow him to be one of the best Podracers on the planet.

"In another part of the galaxy, the Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice, young Obi-Wan Kenobi, are charged with the protection of Amidala, the young Queen of Naboo, as she seeks to end the siege of her planet by Trade Federation warships. It is this quest that brings Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and the Queen's beautiful young hand-maiden to the sand-swept streets of Tatooine and the shop where the slave boy Anakin Skywalker toils and dreams. And it is this unexpected meeting that marks the beginning of the drama that will become legend..." (from inside dust jacket)

Cover-Up; Mystery at the Super Bowl

Cover-Up; Mystery at the Super Bowl by John Feinstein (Affiliate link included)

"We're a little more than forty-eight hours from kickoff and not even close to having enough proof to write this story. As of this moment, the bad guys win, the cheaters get to play, and Meeker gets away with his cover-up..." (from back jacket)

"The Super Bowl. America's biggest sports spectacle. More than ninety-five million fans will be watching. 

"But Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson know that what they'll be watching is a lie. They know that the entire offensive line of the California Dreams have failed their doping tests and shouldn't be allowed to play. They know that the Dreams' owner is trying to cover up the test results until after the game. They know that they are sitting on the biggest sports scandal of the decade.

"What they don't know - yet - is how to prove it. 

These two fourteen-year-old reporters have broken big stories before. In fact, their past successes have made them a little bit famous. But nothing prepares you for the sheer size of the Super Bowl. The players are huge. The hype is overwhelming. The ego are gigantic. And the money? Astronomical. So a Super Bowl scandal is by far the biggest story Steve and Susan Carol have tried to tackle -- with the biggest opponents lining up to take them down." (from inside dust jacket)

Roughly a 5th/6th grade reading level.

the Lemonade War

The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies (Affiliate Link Included)

"For a full hour, he poured lemonade. The world is a thirsty place, he thought as he nearly emptied his fourth pitcher of the day. And I am the Lemonade King.

Fourth-grader Evan Treski is people-smart. He’s good at talking with people, even grownups. His younger sister, Jessie, on the other hand, is math-smart, but not especially good with people. So when the siblings’ lemonade stand war begins, there really is no telling who will win—or even if their fight will ever end. Brimming with savvy marketing tips for making money at any business, definitions of business terms, charts, diagrams, and even math problems, this fresh, funny, emotionally charged novel subtly explores how arguments can escalate beyond anyone’s intent.

Awards: 2009 Rhode Island Children's Book Award, 2007 New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing, North Carolina Children’s Book Award 2011, 2011 Nutmeg Award (Connecticut)

Check out www.lemonadewar.com for more information on The Lemonade War Series, including sequels The Lemonade Crime, The Bell Bandit, and The Candy Smash." (from Amazon.com product listing)

This was a 2nd grade reading project that our daughter did. Especially fun for kids with siblings or friends that have a competitive spirit. Roughly a 2nd to 3rd grade reading level. Large text with a few illustrations.

Ready Freddy! Save the Earth!

Ready Freddy! #25 Save the Earth! by Abby Klein, Illustrated by John McKinley (contains affiliate link)

"Everyone's favorite first grader is back -- and ready to go green!

Freddy's first-grade class is learning all about Earth Day, and all about the little things that even kids can do to help the planet. If Freddy can complete all ten points on the Earth Day Challenge list, he gets to join Team Green!

Just in time for Earth Day and filled with fun activities that readers can easily try at home, Save the Earth! is perfect for Ready Freddy fans who want to go green!" (from Amazon.com listings)

Our daughter picked this one up at a used book sale, and enjoyed it for several months. Large type and fun information and activities to do for Earth Day. I would rate this one at about a 2nd-3rd grade reading level.

I am Walt Disney

I am #11: I am Walt Disney by Grace Norwich (contains affiliate link)

"I am the creator of Mickey Mouse. I am Walt Disney.

As a child, I had a wild imagination and a great curiosity. As I grew up, I used those qualities to become a cartoonist. Eventually, I turned these drawings into films and began my own animation business. One of my characters, Mickey Mouse, became so popular that movie theaters sold out and I won an Academy Award. After pursuing a career as a film producer, director, screenwriter, voice actor, entrepreneur and entertainer, I added developer to my resume when I created Disneyland amusement park. I became tremendously successful and beloved by children of all ages because of my belief that even the impossible is possible. I am Walt Disney.

To this day, Walt Disney's characters remain some of the most recognizable images in the world. With books, TV shows, films, and amusement parks devoted to his creations, the Walt Disney name lives on. Learn all about this remarkable man's fascinating life in Scholastic's biography series, I AM." (from Amazon.com listing)

Our daughter used this book in 2nd grade for her research while doing a biography on Walt Disney. She is an advanced reader, though, and the book is listed as a 5th grade reading level, appealing to 3rd and 4th graders. The print is fairly large and there are tons of illustrations.

Kneeknock Rise

Kneeknock Rise by Natalie Babbitt

"From the moment young Egan arrives in Instep for the annual fair, he is entranced by the fable surrounding the misty peak of Kneeknock Rise: On stormy nights when the rain drives harsh and cold, an undiscovered creature raises its voice and moans. Nobody knows what it is―nobody has ever dared to try to find out and come back again. Before long, Egan is climbing the Rise to find an answer to the mystery.
Kneeknock Rise is a 1971 Newbery Honor Book." (From Amazon's Product listings)

"Here's a wonderfully fluent fable about man's need to have something to believe in... The fable is simple and it's meaning precise enough: Science cannot or will not explain all. The strength of this tale is in Natalie Babbitt's clean, modern, very confident telling. For children, especially, this is fine writing."  -School Library Journal, starred review

Unicorn School First Class Friends

Unicorn School First Class Friends by Linda Chapman

"Willow can't wait to start Unicorn School and learn how to fly and cast charms. With her new friends, Sapphire, Troy and Storm, life at school turns out to be full of fun. But when an older unicorn plays a mean trick, Storm finds himself in trouble. Willow will do anything to help him. Isn't that what friends are for?" (from the back cover)



Our daughter really enjoyed this whole series, and for now, this is the only book in the series that we could locate on her shelf that she was willing to part with. It's written at about a high 1st to middle 2nd grade reading level, and is a non-threatening starter book for those just starting to tackle chapter books.

Peak - A Novel

Peak - A Novel by Roland Smith

The only thing you’ll find on the summit of Mount Everest is a divine view. The things that really matter lie far below. – Peak Marcello

After fourteen-year-old Peak Marcello is arrested for scaling a New York City skyscraper, he's left with two choices: wither away in Juvenile Detention or go live with his long-lost father, who runs a climbing company in Thailand. But Peak quickly learns that his father's renewed interest in him has strings attached. Big strings. As owner of Peak Expeditions, he wants his son to be the youngest person to reach the Everest summit--and his motives are selfish at best. Even so, for a climbing addict like Peak, tackling Everest is the challenge of a lifetime. But it's also one that could cost him his life.

Roland Smith has created an action-packed adventure about friendship, sacrifice, family, and the drive to take on Everest, despite the incredible risk. The story of Peak’s dangerous ascent—told in his own words—is suspenseful, immediate, and impossible to put down. (from Amazon's product description)

We picked up this book for our daughter a couple of years ago, and she only read part of the book. Apparently the scene where the main character got his face stuck to the rock he was climbing turned her off, so perhaps if your 4th/5th grader is put off by such things this isn't a great choice. On the other hand, if your student loves adventure books that have some deeper lessons, this would probably be a great read!

Marty McGuire

Marty McGuire by Kate Messner and Brian Floca

A fun, accessible chapter-book debut from an exciting new talent--simultaneous hardcover-paperback launch!

Marty McGuire would rather spend recess catching frogs in the pond than playing dress-up with the other girls in third grade. So when her teacher casts Marty as the princess in the class play, Marty's absolutely, positively sure that there's been a huge mistake. But after a special lesson in the art of improvisation, Marty comes up with her OWN plan to IMPROVE the play: Why use stuffed-animal frog onstage when a live one would be so much better? In the end, Marty's one-of-a-kind performance makes for an unforgettable show. Maybe Marty CAN live happily ever after, after all! (from Amazon's product information)




We picked this book up for our daughter when she was in third grade, and she breezed through it. Several times. And a few more times. Now that she's 11, she claims that it wasn't that great a book, but I'd go with a different story. The books she loves get read over and over again, so I'm thinking that she probably enjoyed this book immensely.

Crazy About Gardening: Humorous Reflections on the Sweet Seductions of a Garden

Crazy About Gardening: Humorous Reflections on the Sweet Seductions of a Garden by Des Kennedy with forward by Ann Lovejoy

"An accomplished gardener and award-winning writer, Kennedy leads readers on a bold, original and humorous romp down the paths of North America's contemporary gardens." (From Amazon.com's listing information)

Main Street #4 Best Friends

Main Street #4 Best Friends  by Ann M. Martin

"Friendship is forever in the fourth book of Ann M. Martin's heartwarming new series, Main Street

Spring has arrived in Camden Falls, and with it have come many joys and challenges. As Flora and Ruby near the first anniversary of their arrival in town, Flora prepares for a visit from her old best friend. She's excited . . . but her new best friend, Olivia, isn't. Olivia's afraid she won't measure up, and that Flora will regret ever coming to Camden Falls. It's a very big reunion set for a very big day -- Camden Falls's 350th birthday celebration. Does one best friend truly have to be the best . . . or can they find a way to get along?" (From Amazon.com marketplace)

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Divergent by Veronica Roth; Book one of the Divergent Series

"This first book in Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy is the novel that inspired the major motion picture starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Kate Winslet. This dystopian series set in a futuristic Chicago has captured the hearts of millions of teen and adult readers.

Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games and Maze Runner series, Divergent and its sequels, Insurgent and Allegiant—plus Four: A Divergent Collection, four stories told from the perspective of the character Tobias—are the gripping story of a dystopian world transformed by courage, self-sacrifice, and love. Fans of the Divergent movie will find the book packed with just as much emotional depth and exhilarating action as the film, all told in beautiful, rich language.

The paperback edition includes bonus materials created by Veronica Roth, including her essays on Utopian worlds and how she named the factions, writing tips, a Q&A, a Divergent playlist, faction manifestos, and an excerpt from Insurgent. 

One choice can transform you. Beatrice Prior's society is divided into five factions—Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Beatrice must choose between staying with her Abnegation family and transferring factions. Her choice will shock her community and herself. But the newly christened Tris also has a secret, one she's determined to keep hidden, because in this world, what makes you different makes you dangerous.

Supports the Common Core State Standards" (As described on Amazon's listing)

The Ornaments of Life

The Ornaments of Life Coevolution and Conservation in the Tropics by Theodore H. Fleming and W. John Kress

"The average kilometer of tropical rainforest is teeming with life; it contains thousands of species of plants and animals. As The Ornaments of Life reveals, many of the most colorful and eye-catching rainforest inhabitants—toucans, monkeys, leaf-nosed bats, and hummingbirds to name a few—are an important component of the infrastructure that supports life in the forest. These fruit-and-nectar eating birds and mammals pollinate the flowers and disperse the seeds of hundreds of tropical plants, and unlike temperate communities, much of this greenery relies exclusively on animals for reproduction.

            Synthesizing recent research by ecologists and evolutionary biologists, Theodore H. Fleming and W. John Kress demonstrate the tremendous functional and evolutionary importance of these tropical pollinators and frugivores. They shed light on how these mutually symbiotic relationships evolved and lay out the current conservation status of these essential species. In order to illustrate the striking beauty of these “ornaments” of the rainforest, the authors have included a series of breathtaking color plates and full-color graphs and diagrams." (from publisher description on Amazon)

Now for sale on Amazon. Click the link below for purchase options: