SPOOKtacular reads this Halloween with Candlewick Press!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today is THE day. Halloween is upon us and after all the hubba baloo is said and done, you'll be so wound up from all that sugar that you'll need something enjoyable to help you pass the time before bed! Candlewick Press has got you covered with a wide selection of titles for the tall to the small and this Halloween night, I'm highlighting three! Prepare to be scared, but only as much as you allow, as we take you from the friendliest of hauntings to those that thirst for blood...

Gustavo, the Shy Ghost

by

Flavia Z. Drago

9781536211146

This was the most ADORABLE ghost story I've read in quite a long time!  Little Gustavo just wants to make friends and catch the eye of the invisible girl, but he's oh so shy...something a lot of folks can relate to!  In the spirit of the moment, he invites everyone to a concert of his own making with his violin skills on display...but will anyone show?  Oh the suspense!  Trust me though, it turns out all right in the end.  It's a great seasonal story that also reminds us that putting ourselves out there and revealing our true selves is the only way to REALLY be!  Also...those gorgeous illustrations and wonderful colors carry from the cover throughout the book.

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Ghostology

A True Revelation of Spirits, Ghouls, and Hauntings

by 

Dugald A. Steer and Lucinda Curtle

illustrated by 

Anne Yvonne Gilbert, Garry Walton and Doug Sirois

9781536209150

This was quite the manual on how to become a ghost detective of sorts!  It has all the how-to knowledge on detecting a haunting, sorting out the fakes, hotspots around the world, and the different types of spirits you might encounter.  Oh, yeah...and it comes with its very own ghostly guide to help you along the way with side notes written in the margin and...umm, yeah...beware the red jewel embedded on the front.  In the right light and with the right words, you may just get a bit more than you bargained for!

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The Rise of Zombert

Zombert series, Book 1

by

Kara LaReau

Illustrated by

Ryan Andrews

9781536201062

Last, but not least, it's good old ZOMBERT!

Okay, so he's only SO good, and he's only SO old, more old than good, but he TRIES and that's a lot more than you can say for most zombies....am I right?!

I actually read this one pre-Halloween season, so if you'd like to catch my review, check out my Blogapalooza post...or if Zombert has already worked his spell on you, snag a copy for a bit of creepy reading to round out your Halloween night!

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Special thanks to Raquel with Candlewick Press for the copies for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on these titles and more, visit the Candlewick Press website or stop by your local brick and mortar bookstore!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

RHCB presents... A SMALL ZOMBIE PROBLEM by K.G. Campbell!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining Random House Children's Books for a stop along their current tour featuring a NEW addition to the Middle Grade Fantasy genre with your FAVORITE paranormal creature...ZOMBIES!  That's right.  The undead are rising again, but well...okay, so it's only one technically, but it IS most mysterious, unexpected, and in no way, shape, or form something they wanted to happen.  Problem though...how do you put the zombie back in the box once it's "escaped"...and what if it doesn't really WANT to go back to its satin lined nap-dom?  Ready or not, fair readers...today's book of choice is...

A Small Zombie Problem

Zombie Problems, Book 1

by

K.G. Campbell

9780553539554

Knopf Books for Young Readers

About the book...

August DuPont has spent his whole life inside a dilapidated house with his aunt Hydrangea. His lonely existence ends abruptly with the arrival of an invitation to meet an aunt–and cousins–he didn’t even know existed. When Aunt Orchid suggests that August attend school with his cousins, it’s a dream come true. But August has scarcely begun to celebrate his reversal of fortune when he is confronted by a small problem on his way home. So begins an adventure filled with a wild child, a zombie, a fabled white alligator, and an unimaginable family secret.

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At first, I wasn't sure what to make of this one.  I mean, it screams ZOMBIES, but in all actuality, they were initially no where to be seen!  First, we meet young August...a pale lad with honey colored eyes and a peculiar affliction of sorts that makes him a literal magnet for BUTTERFLIES.  Yes, you read that right...butterflies...which doesn't sound bad, until you factor in the fact that his guardian, Aunt Hydrangea, is deathly afraid of butterflies (and pretty much the outside world at this point), so yeah....let's just say that hermits get out more than these two.  Thank goodness most things can be brought to you now a days, making their staid life more bearable...until finally it isn't...at least for August.

Times change, people grow up, and with that comes curiosity, and wanderlust...a need to break free and see the world, or at least the inside of a classroom, along with the chance to make friends.  Was that too much to ask?  It depends who you ask...and when the chance arrives for all this and more to become reality versus dream thanks to a relation he didn't know he had (thanks Aunt Hydrangea....or not), August won't be fenced in any longer.  Off on an adventure to better times and greater living, he's so caught up in his rapture he can't quite see the forest for the trees...but he's about to see the graves for their inhabitants, or rather ONE of their FORMER inhabitants...though just how they came to be UN-dead is beyond him.  Can August survive his first bout in the outside world or will his new undead tag-along be the monkey wrench that rips that chance away?

When push comes to shove, August has a heart of gold.  He knows what's right and what's wrong.  Despite the fact that ANYONE would be tempted to do things they didn't really feel comfortable with given the right situation, I can honestly say I was rather proud of him...even if it took him longer than I'd have liked.  He and Aunt Hydrangea learn so much, as do the other half of the newly revealed relatives...among those lessons, our difference are to be celebrated not hidden, friends should like us for who we are not who they want us to be, the evil twin theory is TOTALLY right, and never underestimate the primal force that is a young girl zombie who feels you're threatening her friend. 

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About the author...

Keith G. Campbell was born in Kenya, but raised and educated in Scotland. He graduated with a master’s degree in Art History from the University of Edinburgh. After trying on several careers, Keith eventually returned to his early passion of writing and illustrating stories. He is the author-illustrator of several picture books, and the winner of two Ezra Jack Keats Awards. A Small Zombie Problem is his first work for older readers. Keith lives in Malibu, California.

SITE  |  TWITTER

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Special thanks to Joey at Random House Children's Books for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as the copy for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or the publisher, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now via Knopf Books for Young Readers, so be on the lookout for it on a bookstore shelf or virtual retailer of your choosing.  Be sure to check out the rest of the tour making its way through the blogosphere for more bookish fun!  Be sure to stop back tomorrow for more fun from the beyond as we tackle paranormal favorite number two....g..gh...GHOSTS!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

My Book Tour presents...an INTERVIEW with MONSTERLAND Author Michael Okon!

Hi there!

Welcome back to Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Today, we're joining a My Book Tour promotion already in progress starring the forthcoming release from author Michael Okon.  It's a spooky, creepy, monster filled read aimed at the Young Adult genre fanset (and older) that's a perfect fit for our current season of reading...not that you need an excuse to read a story brimming with vampires, zombies, werewolves, and....GASP....humans!

(~AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!~)

I had the pleasure of reading it in a prior version, so today I'm skipping the review (though you can read THAT one here) to bring you a spotlight AND something more.  First, the spotlight!  Keep your hands and arms inside the car, unless you want them to be someone else's snack...

Monsterland

by

Michael Okon

ASIN: B0751F3B3S

Worldfire Press

About the book...

Welcome to Monsterland—the scariest place on Earth.

Wyatt Baldwin's senior year is not going well. His parents divorce, then his dad mysteriously dies. He’s not exactly comfortable with his new stepfather, Carter White, either. An ongoing debate with his best friends Melvin and Howard Drucker over which monster is superior has gotten stale. He’d much rather spend his days with beautiful and popular Jade. However, she’s dating the brash high-school quarterback Nolan, and Wyatt thinks he doesn’t stand a chance. 

But everything changes when Wyatt and his friends are invited to attend the grand opening of Monsterland, a groundbreaking theme park where guests can interact with vampires in Vampire Village, be chased by werewolves on the River Run, and walk among the dead in Zombieville.

With real werewolves, vampires and zombies as the main attractions, what could possibly go wrong?

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Sounds good, right?

Well, it totally was...hence why when the opportunity came to shine a spotlight on this title once again, I couldn't pass it up.  So, now we're on to that aforementioned "something more"...which actually works out to be an AUTHOR INTERVIEW!  No worries, we kept it short, sweet-ish, and bursting with MONSTER goodness.

Ready?  Set?

Please welcome author Michael Okon!

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INTERVIEW:  Author Michael Okon

I read Monsterland and likened it to a paranormal version of Jurassic Park. (Nice job!) Truth time... If you had to choose one area to live in within Monsterland, where would it be and why?

Thank you! Werewolf River Run all day!  I modeled the entire River Run after my favorite rides – Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain and Jurassic Park River Adventure. Those are my happy places.

Let's flip that coin now... which would you avoid at all costs and why?

Zombieville. There’s just something creepy about living on a perfect suburban street in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.

Which character do you most identify with in your novel?

Truly, all three boys (Wyatt, Melvin, and Howard Drucker) are different reflections of me. However, Wyatt is certainly the teen I can easily identify with. Facing your fears and maturity were two things I needed to learn when I was younger.

Top three paranormal creatures and why you love/loathe them. Ready... Go!

1. The Glob: It’s a relentless blob, and cannot be stopped by bullets or fire. See Monsterland 2
2. Mummies: They are stronger than werewolves. See Monsterland 2
3. Ghosts: Can violate your inner soul. Again, see Monsterland 2
   

Describe Monsterland in TEN WORDS or less...

Werewolves versus vampires versus zombies in a monster theme park.

Michael Okon is a bestselling author and screenwriter. His newly revised book, Monsterland, is scheduled for release on October 15. Michael invites readers to connect with him on his website.  

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About the author...

Michael Okon is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

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Special thanks to Susan at My Book Tour for the chance to bring this tour to you as well as to author Michael Okon for the great interview.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, THIS TOUR, or those on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is set to release October 13, 2017 (as of this post), so pre-order your copy today or mark your calendar!  Don't miss the other GREAT STOPS on this tour for more bookish fun, all of which can be found on the main tour page along with a nifty GIVEAWAY!

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!

Let Freedom Ring: Humanity's Hope by Pembroke Sinclair

Hi there!

Welcome back to another day here at Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers.

Well, things sure do look different around here and while I'll be missing my "chef" for certain, I think it's safe to say I've cleaned things up enough to take the disclosure of "under construction" off the top of my site, don't you?  Anywho...today is INDEPENDENCE DAY!  The day we celebrate (US side, at least) our freedom with cookouts, family time, and firework displays that light up the night sky.  I, myself, had to work today...*le sigh*...but I can still here them "bursting in air" above us outside, so I hope that you and yours are celebrating it up tonight. 

Here, we're all about the books and today's late day post is a YA Paranormal release that, well...hasn't quite hit the virtual shelves at the moment, but it's coming, just like that zombie apocalypse everyone keeps talking about (just kidding...but maybe not when we're talking about THIS book).  Ready or not, prepare to utilize your flight or fight reflex as we take on today's ebook of choice...

Humanity's Hope

by

Pembroke Sinclair

About the book...

Caleb, a 17-year-old boy, survived the zombie uprising, but he didn’t come out of the ordeal unscathed. He’s been scarred—both mentally and physically. The rest of humanity is trying to rebuild, to make the world normal again. Caleb is trying to return to a normal life also, but after all he’s seen, after the loss of his family and friends, the transition is difficult. The darkness that led him down a path of self-doubt and self-harm keeps trying to creep back into his mind.

Things only become worse when he discovers he’s immune to whatever makes a zombie a zombie. Fighting zombies was predictable. He knew what to expect. Fighting humans is volatile. They are malicious and treacherous. They won’t stop to get what they want, and Caleb has to figure out exactly what that is.

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My first impression...curious, VERY curious.

I'm not a zombie fan, by any means, and the more I say that the more I look back and see that I've actually read a decent amount of zombie fiction at this point, but nevertheless, I stand by my "not a fan" claim....HOWEVER the approach in this one is rather interesting.  It takes us to a world not so far removed from our own that we wouldn't recognize it, and places us smack dab in the middle of life after a zombie apocalypse that was started by mankind.

*GASP*  shock  *WHOA*

That's right.  What started as something with good intentions quickly got away from those "in control" and blossomed into the monster that it is today.  Go figure.  Flash forward a bit and those in adulthood are few, while the workforce is filled in with the children that survived...and are still trying to.  What's that?  You thought it was all over?  Think again.  They're still trying to figure out how to eradicate the disease and possibly turn the zombies back into humans...albeit living and breathing ones, I'm not quite sure.  Anyway, our main man Caleb survived a whole host of gruesomeness and still lives with the storms it created within him, but the reasons behind his survival were chalked up to luck and skill...until now.  It seems there is more to him than meets the eye, but don't worry...he's still on someone's menu as he attempts to survive long enough to secure his own future as well as quite possibly the fate of the world.

All in all, it was a good read.  The writing was smooth, the story line was without holes, and it left you wanting more in the best way possible.  Now I will say that the whole BZ's and RBZ's thing is a little humorous (name wise at least if you know what it stands for) but while definitely a stretch of the imagination, they still stand squarely on their own two grossly sized feet.  Well done and bookmarks up to author Pembroke Sinclair!  If you're a YA Paranormal fan, love conspiracy theories (come true!), or simply have a hankering for zombie culture, this should be on your summer reading list!

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About the author...

Pembroke Sinclair is a literary jack of all trades, playing her hand at multiple genres. She has written an eclectic mix of fiction ranging from horror to sci-fi and even some westerns. Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming--the home of 56 nationalities--it is no wonder Pembroke ended up so creatively diverse. Her fascination with the notions of good and evil, demons and angels, and how the lines blur have inspired her writing. Pembroke lives in Laramie, Wyoming, with her husband, two spirited boys, a black lab named Ryder, and a rescue kitty named Alia, who happens to be the sweetest, most adorable kitty in the world! She cannot say no to dessert, orange soda, or cinnamon. She loves rats and tatts and rock and roll and wants to be an alien queen when she grows up.

BLOG  |  FACEBOOK  |  TWITTER




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Special thank to Pam at Aurora Publicity for the ebook for review.  (THANKS!)  For more information on this title, the author, or those titles on the horizon, feel free to click through the links provided above.  This title is available now, so seek thee out a copy at your favorite online or virtual retailer.

Until next time, remember...if it looks good, READ IT!