Category: iRead tour

In David Travels to the Past, David wants to learn more about the past and painting, his teacher finds a way for him to do so!

About David Travels to the Past

David is a young and restless apprentice painter who wants to know everything about painting. His intelligent teacher, the Master Messina, invents a way of transporting David through time to prehistory. They go there looking for the origins of art, but once they are there nothing will be as they thought.

In a second adventure they travel towards the unknown art of Mesopotamia. This time they won’t go alone. The sympathetic and intelligent Angela will travel to the past with them bringing her particular point of view.

My Thoughts

I love art and art history. I can spend hours pouring over books and at the museum taking in the art, its history and the culture of the people who came before us. David Travels to the Past is an excellent comic style book for older children to early teens (I even enjoyed it) as David learns first hand about art history.

David is your typical pre-teen (we don’t really know his age but he reminds me of a pre-teen/teen through his actions and words. He is frustrated with some of his work and his teacher decides to take him back in time to experience first hand the art and culture of the people. In the first part of this book, he learns about cave paintings, hunting and the rituals of their people. In the second part of the book, he travels to Mesopotamia and experiences a whole new set of art, a lion hunt and a new travel companion in the form of his teacher’s niece. Because of the nature of comic strips, they had to pack in a wealth of information in a smaller space but they did an incredible job of it! Not only were we able to learn about art history but we also got to experience David’s struggles and excitement of experiencing this very new world. There are two words that are in the book (hell and damn) which I feel would be okay for an older child especially in the context they are used (‘damn deer’) but I wanted to let you know in case this was something that made you uncomfortable. The book also addresses death in a beautiful way in the pre-historic ages as this was a very real part of their lives. This book is a great addition to your older child’s library that will inspire them to learn more about these important times in our history both in their art and culture.

You can purchase a copy of this book in the US through Amazon, Kindle, Barnes & Noble. In the UK through Amazon and Kindle. In Australia, through Fishpond, Booktopia and Kindle.

Rating: 4.5/5

About the Author and Illustrator

María José is a teacher. She won international illustrations awards.Gonzalo has a degree in art history. He works in museums and as a tourist guide.

You can connect with them on website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

The Giveaway

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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

In The Perfect Tear, Eleanor, a timid orphan, has no clue to her real purpose, but she also has no desire to become a subservient old maid, like the miserable nuns she is forced to with.

About The Perfect Tear

Eleanor, a timid orphan, has no clue to her real purpose, but she also has no desire to become a subservient old maid, like the miserable nuns she is forced to with. Eleanor believes Edward, whom she loves, will save her from being forced to take vows. She knows Mother Superior has no intention of letting her leave–her songs are the only thing keeping the grey mist at bay. Her devastation is complete when she discovers Edward is a prince and heir to the throne, but it is the impetus she needs to leave the safety of the abbey and go in search of her long lost father.

She doesn’t get far before discovering her true destiny. With only her instincts to protect her, she must match wits with a powerful being intent on the destruction of her world. If she does not find The Perfect Tear and release its healing power into the land, she will become an accomplice in the destruction of all she loves.

My Thoughts

An imaginative, unique story that leaves you wanting to know more, especially at the end! The Perfect Tear is magical with Eleanor and her connection to Tsera and the Earth, at the heart of our story.

Eleanor was orphaned at a young age but her childhood was very special. She is a special child who carries with her very unique abilities that are in tune to Mother Earth. She doesn’t understand her true purpose but she knows that her heart desires more than just being with the nuns. She is adventurous, fun and kind – just the type of friend anyone could ask for. She meets Edward, the prince and heir to the throne, but doesn’t realize who he is. They forge a strong bond of love and hope. She begins a quest that she understands in her heart but in her mind finds it difficult to comprehend as she has to save the world from destruction. This quest finds her forging new bonds, losing connections and fighting for everything she loves.

While this is going on in the human world, there is an intricate battle being played behind the scenes by Tsera, one of the ancients who designed the humans. This part was a bit harder to follow, especially in the beginning as we were given a lot of information to sort through and understand in order to fully appreciate the novel. But once you understand the history here, the novel makes so much more sense.

This was a unique tale full of surprise, hope and love. I loved every moment of The Perfect Tear and this would be a great book for both young adults through to adults.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

Rating: 5/5

About the Author

Connie Lansberg is a singer/songwriter, scriptwriter and now author with the publication of her first book The Perfect Tear. Connie studied script writing at AFTR and has had songs placed in major Australian TV series. She has just complete an album of songs connected to the book and will be performing these live at her weekly jazz gig in Melbourne.

Connect with her on Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook  ~ Pinterest  ~  Instagram

Book Trailer

The Giveaway

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Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Absolute obedience, servitude, neutrality.  This is what ruled Bartholomew in The Breedling & The City In The Garden.

About The Breedling & The City In the Garden

These were the laws that once governed Bartholomew, an immortal soulcatcher, until one ill-fated night when he was forced to make a choice: rebel against his masters or reveal an ancient, dangerous secret.

He chose defiance.

Imprisoned for centuries as punishment for his decision, Bartholomew wastes away—until he creates an opportunity to escape. By a stroke of chance, Bartholomew finds himself in the human world and soon learns that breaking his bonds does not come without a price. Cut off from the grace that once ruled him, he must discover a new magic in 1930s Chicago.

Armed with only a cryptic message to give him direction, Bartholomew desperately tries to resume the mission he had started so long ago. Relying on the unlikely guidance of the streetwise orphan Charlie Reese, Bartholomew must navigate the depressed streets of the City in the Garden. But in order to solve this riddle, he must first discover if choice and fate are one in the same.

My Thoughts

The Breedling & The City In The Garden starts out with a look at Bartholomew’s life and how he was imprisoned for a crime that we are not quite sure of what he did, we know he defied those he should never have defied but what exactly he did I was not sure. You can tell those in his life were worried about him and his survival but the only person who could save him was a human.

The book then jumps to Charlie and his very difficult life. He has lost his whole family and only has his cousin left. He has led a harsh life but has learned how to thrive in this world. He is quite an amazing young man! Even with all of his pain and suffering, it is so clear how good and kind he is. His life is changed forever when his path crosses with Bartholomew. That night changes him forever.

The novel continues to switch between Bartholomew and Charlie as the story unfolds. I found the beginning a bit harder to follow as I tried to catch up on what exactly Bartholomew had done and how it tied into Charlie. As you continue throughout the novel, this all becomes clearer and becomes a lot easier to follow and understand. The ending definitely leaves you hanging! I can’t wait to see what happens to Bartholomew and if his path crosses with Charlie again.

You can purchase a copy of this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the author’s website.

Rating: 4/5

About the Author

Kimberlee Ann Bastian has a unique love affair with American nostalgia, mythology, and endless possibilities. This melting pot of elements is what prompted the creation of her epic ELEMENT ODYSSEYS series, starting with the reboot of her debut novel now titled THE BREEDLING AND THE CITY IN THE GARDEN.

When she is not in her writer’s room, working her current “day job”, or consuming other literary worlds, she enjoys hiking and cycling around the bluffs of your Southeastern MN home and catching up on her favorite pop culture.

Connect with the her on:  Website, Twitter  Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram.

The Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I received a digital copy of this book in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own.