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A Net in Time

Curriculum and book reviews, faith, homeschooling and more!

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Reviews

Who in the World is Carmen Sandiego?

April 6, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Do you or your children have a love of Carmen Sandiego, wondering where in the world she is? Have you watched the cartoon series on Netflix? Who in The World is Carmen Sandiego answers the question of where she came from and just who she is. An interesting read. 🙂

who in the world is carmen sandiego

From the Cover:

Based on the Netflix original series with a foreword by Gina Rodriguez. For decades, people have asked the question: Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego? But just who is this infamous and elusive globe-trotting criminal?

A skilled thief on a mysterious mission, Carmen Sandiego is endlessly pursued by ACME and Interpol. But the woman in the red fedora is always one step ahead! In this novelization, based on the Netflix animated series, Carmen shares her own backstory for the first time ever. Now, it’s time to find out. . . . Who in the world is Carmen Sandiego.

My Thoughts

Not being familiar with the Netflix series, I can’t speak to how well “Who in the World is Carmen Sandiego?” follows the it. I can tell you how much I enjoyed reading this book. I can see how this story would make a compelling series to watch.

Interesting characters interwoven into a classic good guy up against nasty guys story. On a fun note, one of the main players is a homeschooled student.

Click To Tweet

I found there to be a good mix of characters, good and bad people of both genders.   Gray areas exist for readers to ponder as they watch Carmen work through the ideas herself. 

If you want a enjoyable story to read, with or without a knowledge of the Netflix series, this was a good book to read.  Perhaps like Carmen, young readers will want to visit the world, and figure out a way to do so.  

who in the world is carmen sandiego
Who in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
Rebecca Tinker
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
10-12 years
Hardcover, fiction, 208 pages
Carmen Sandiego, Netflix, novelization
Reviewed for Raincoast books.
disclosure

Filed Under: Reviews

Dragon’s Heir

April 4, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Dragon’s Heir, The Archeologist’s Tale by Glenn Parris is um, an odd book. I love fantasy, and reading about dragon’s, or alternative paths (totally made) in how the world could have developed. FUN! Dragon’s heir was well… let’s just say I could not finish it. This is my review.

Recently I wrote a post about how you need to write simply. When the author writes “Their near spherical forms, deformable into pseudopodia, gave them the advantage of shape shifting. By virtue of these powerful dendritic appendages, they built rambling cities, bridges, and tunnel systems throughout their worlds. Collective formations of propulsive pods conveyed them between neighboring planets for centuries.” You just mentally (at least I) mentally start to shut down.

I read a book for fun. Not to stop and think WHAT? What in the world did I just read and just what do these things look like? I really haven’t a clue beyond thinking they are amoeba with teeth. (and that just makes no sense).

The premise is interesting. Dinosaurs populated the earth, left when the world was due to be bombarded. They are now looking back at earth and discovering the mammals have taken over, particularly some clever smart mammals. What to do?

I found sections interesting, honestly I did. I skipped around a bit, trying to avoid the … complicated reading sections… to see if I could just read the story. But I just kept getting lost. The story in and of itself, interesting. But someone with a more readily available large word base might find it an easier read than I did.

Dragon's Heir
disclosure

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Books for Adults

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

April 3, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Just in time for summer, Pierdomenico Baccalario shows up with 50 Adventures to Have Before you turn 14. This easy to grab up book has 50 different adventures designed to fill a summer of fun for youth. I can’t wait to tell you all about it!

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

What I am Reviewing

50 Adventures to Have Before you Turn 14.
Pierdomenico Baccalario
Tommaso Percivale
AntonGionata Ferrari (illustrator)
Sourcebook Jabberwocky
176 pages, 10-14 years, Trade paperback
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

CAUTION: this handbook is for serious adventurers only
Are you an experience-chaser and a thrill-seeker? Then this book is for you. Full of 50 quests and adventures that will push you to explore, create, discover, and even get a little dirty, this handbook is the perfect guide to set you on the path of true adventures.
Decode secret messages, record interesting creatures your encounter, track your points for each adventure you complete, and much more!
So go ahead, accept the challenge for once in a lifetime experiences that are too good to miss!

The Details

The excitement starts when you open the very first page. This book for a specific adventurer only, a place where they can record what they did, when and how. Everyone else either needs to get their own book or.. keep their hands off. It comes complete with rules, contracts and helpful advice to get the daring adventurer on their way.

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

Each adventure takes 3 pages. Two to explain the adventure and one to record what happened when you did it.

The explanations include words of caution when needed (making a slingshot, mushrooms) and making note if parental supervision is advised. The explanation might simply be information about the night sky, animals that live in forests, or the history of kit flying. Materials needed and instructions are amply supplied.

Learn photography skills taking pictures of plants and animals, develop wood working, outdoor skills, explore nature, the arts, and history. Fill your days with adventures at the beach, in the woods, visiting friends and playing games. Create a treasure hunt and stay up sun up til sun set.

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

A list of all adventures is found at the close of the book, making it easy for the adventurer to find a new way to expand their horizons.

My Recommendation

This is a neat book. It would be so fun to hand to youth who, once the freedom of being out of school waned, says “I’m bored”. You could simply hand this book to them and say “get busy then, adventures await.”.

Granted, some of them would require some assistance, such as going to a petting zoo or exploring an old ruin, but most of them require few ingredients and the willingness of adventurer to explore.

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14

Many are what you might expect in a book of this sort, like exploring in the woods, making a time capsule, or flying a kit. I was delighted to see a few I didn’t expect like sleep in a scary place, identify mushrooms, secretly trail a friend, and inventing a magic potion.

My son looked through this book (seeing in my stack of review books and thinking it looked interesting). “I like it mom, it has some good ideas in it.” He then mentioned an 11 year old friend saying he’d probably really like it.

The target age range is perfect I think. The adventures are nicely varied and would make for a great summer of adventure (other than the sledding adventure). Go get it for your adventurers! 🙂

50 Adventures to have before you turn 14
disclosure

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, Books for Middle School, Books for Upper Elementary, Raincoast

FBI Files – The Unabomber

March 30, 2019 By Annette1 4 Comments

Follow the FBI as they search for The Unabomber, a man who, over the course of 14 bombings, killed three people. Even though I am out of the age range for this review, I found it fascinating to follow the FBI as they made their case. 

The Unabomber

About the book

A case of homegrown terrorism: the Unabomber. 
Agent Kathleen Puckett was a successful linguist and a highly trained psychologist before she was recruited for the UNABOMB investigation. The Unabomber had evaded capture for 17 years, carried out 13 bombings, and killed three men. 
Agent Puckett was a catalyst in understanding the psychology behind the Unabomber crimes. She led the team to make the arrest of Theodore Kaczynski on April 4, 1996, bringing down one of the most notorious domestic terrorists in American history.

The Unabomber

What you Get:

The riveting story of one of the Unabombers attacks greets us as we enter into the chase.  We see a horrible example of the Unabomber’s work.  We are led through the building of the FBI team along with the frustrations they experienced.

The Unabomber

Lots of images dot the pages, from evidenced gathered, various team members, sketches made and more. The reader is helped to see the intelligence of the man behind the Unabomber attacks. Such a smart man, and even though it took years, he left behind enough evidence to lead the FBI to his door.

My Thoughts

I have a hard time imagining someone being able to kill so many people. It’s one thing to be firmly commited to a cause, but to kill people over it? Especially someone just meant to be a warning? It’s a hard thing. I found it quite interesting watching the FBI do their work, but my heart was sad at the hard things the Unabomber did.

I’m not a big one for true life crime books, but I can see how many would be curious about the story behind The Unabomber.

The text was well written for the target age range. Death details were not sensationalized, death happened, how it happened was explained. No images provided. The focus was on the hunt, not on the death and damage done. If this type of literature appeals to your 9-11 year olds, it is worth a read for sure.

The Unabomber
Fbi Files: The Unabomber. 
Bryan Denson
Roaring Brook Press
176 pages, trade paperback
Ages 8-12
FBI, Unabomber, Crime, True Life, Terrorism
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.
disclosure

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, Books for Upper Elementary, Raincoast

The man who went to the far side of the moon

March 28, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Raincoast books sent this interesting book to review called “the man who went to the far side of the moon“.   This is the story of Apollo 13 Astronaut Michael Collins.  This is a neat book that will wonderfully supplement a study on outer space, or a deeper look into Apollo 11.

The man who went to the far side of the moon

From the Cover:

Everyone knows the story of the first astronauts to step foot on the moon.  What about the astronaut who manned the spaceship orbiting the moon 14 times alone in space while the others walked? ….. This lauded book describes what Michael Collins did, saw, and thought about during his journey.  It tells the larger story of how the astronauts prepared for their historic space flight, what they brought with them and what they left behind. Reminiscent of a scrapbook and featuring drawings as well as photos taken both in space and on Earth.  This is a book for anyone who has ever looked at the moon and wondered what it would be like to see it up close.

What you Get:

Fascination!  🙂

Seriously though, this was an easy read on a quiet Friday night as I waited for my hubby to get home from work.  Filled with photographs, sketches, and diary entries to tell the story.  The focus was on Collins as he orbited the moon in solitude while his companions became the superstars. 

The man who went to the far side of the moon

The main text was in a rather small font which made it really easy to tell apart from the more explanatory text that accompanied many of the photos. 

I loved how interspersed among the stories were images of journal entries and duties he needed to attend.

1 am alone now, truly alone. and absolutely isolated from any known life. I am it. Michael Collins Click To Tweet
The man who went to the far side of the moon

All the photos brought the story to life, especially how they were combined with journal entries. All the trivia would be of solid interest to space minded readers.

My Thoughts:

If you have any interest in going to the moon and its heroes, get this book.  It was such an interesting book into a man that most pay no attention to.  Why worry about a man who was only the support staff?

A thoroughly enjoyable read filled with tons of information about the Apollo 11 mission and vehicle, the duties expected and Mr. Collins’ thought while isolated in Apollo 11.  

Good Book.

The man who went to the far side of the moon
The man who went to the far side of the moon. 
Bea Uusma Schyffert
Chronicle Kids
Trade Paperback, 80 pages,
Biography, Space, Astronomy, Outer Space, Moon, Astronaut
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

Another book about Michael Collins that I reviewed was called “I love you, Michael Collins”.   You can find that here.   Other books on space “mission to Pluto”. I remember a great study we did on the moon from Amanda Bennett. 

disclosure

Filed Under: Homeschooling, Reviews Tagged With: Book Review, Books for Middle School, Books for Upper Elementary, Raincoast

The Family Adventure Journal

March 27, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

The Family Adventure Journal is a hard-cover book to take with you on your adventures not matter how big they be! Take a trip to the park, the zoo, or to visit a friend. It is a pleasure to bring this review to you. With loads of space to record your adventures and pockets in the back for storage, it’s the perfect take-along.

The Family Adventure Journal

From the Cover:

This charming and practical keepsake journal makes it easy to turn family outings into memorable adventures. Brimming with inspiring illustrations, family-friendly activities, and more than 50 fill-in prompts-plus handy pockets for storing maps, leaves, and other found treasures-this interactive journal is the ideal way for families to explore nature, connect with one another, and create lasting memories.

The Family Adventure Journal

About the Book

Record your life over 128 fill-in-the date pages, prompts not only encourage different types of adventures, but on things you can look for. Have a scavenger hunt, find a bug, or look for a tree. Maybe your adventure needs a logo or a map to a treasured spot? Trace a memory instead of hurting nature, maybe you can play the scientist and come up with a name for some of your discoveries!

I love the ideas on the pages, it’s a fun book to use. It’s geared to be used by families, I’m thinking more families with children 5-11. My 13 year thinks it would have appealed to him until he was about 11. He mentioned the pockets in the back aren’t made for the types of things he would collect. 🙂 “It’s a good idea for some thing though.”

The Family Adventure Journal

“Mom, did you know they have games in the back? That’s a good idea don’t you think?” This section is a grouping of games, crafts and activities that you can do outside or make with objects found in nature. The nature activity book has similiar ideas in it, these two books would complement each other nicely.

The Family Adventure Journal

It’s a nicely made book that should be a boon to you and your family as you head outdoors. A lovely addition to a camping trip, a vacation on the lake, or any place with a park or trail to walk. Enjoy nature, take full advantage, and make memories worth keeping.

The Family Adventure Journal: Turn Everyday Outings into Memorable Explorations.
Chronicle Books.
128 pages, hardcover, Elastic Close
Keepsake Pockets
Journal, Adventure, Family, Memory Keeper
Reviewed for Raincoast Books.

disclosure

Filed Under: Reviews Tagged With: Books for Upper Elementary, Elementary, Parenting, Raincoast

War in the Ring

March 23, 2019 By Annette1 2 Comments

Studying the world wars this year has opened our eyes to many different ways that the wars affected everyday people.  From the loss of life, absences of loved ones, changing demographics in the work force, and more.  War in the Ring introduced us to how two men ended up with the weight of a country (each their own) as they entered the ring.  This is our review.

war in the ring

From the Cover

Both Joe Louis and Max Schmeling were born into poverty and used boxing as a way up the economic ladder, becoming icons in their home countries in the process. In America, Joe was a symbol of hope, especially to blacks yearning to participate in the American dream.  In Germany, Max was a symbol of the supposed superiority of the Aryan race. The two men climbed through the ropes with the weight of their countries on their shoulders – and only one would leave victorious. 

The battles between Joe and Max still resonate today.  War in the Ring is the story of these two out-sized heroes, their lives, their careers, and the global conflict surrounding them.

What you Get:

10 chapters, non-fiction, bound up as a trade paperback, geared for upper elementary through middle school. 

Focuses around the lives of two men, Joe Louis and Max Schmeling, two men from opposite sides of a global conflict.  They need to deal with the realities of where they live… for Joe that means dealing with racism, for Max dealing with poverty.  

Did you know they met twice in conflict?   The first round went to Schmeling, the second, well….You’d have to read the book for yourself! 🙂

war in the ring

This is an easy book to read aloud with pictures clear enough to show a lad across a table. I received an ARC copy so not all the images were available to me, nothing I did receive was objectionable. Just images of the men and the times they lived in. 

war in the ring

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adore when author’s include source notes.  Breaking down where they found information and where, if needed, they changed to the story for readability or to follow one historical source over another.  I always find it fascinating reading. My son is less convinced about this. 🙂

Anyways, we learned a lot about both men.  The book was not merely about the battle, but about everything leading up to and beyond the battle.  We learned so much about how the hopes and dreams of both nations weighed on the men and affected their decisions.

war in the ring

War in the Ring: Joe Louis, Max Schmeling, and the Fight between America and Hitler. 
John Florio & Ouisie Shaprio
Roaring Brook Press
trade paperback, 208 pages
10-14 years
Boxing, WW2, Joe Louis,
Reviewed for: Raincoast Books.

disclosure

Filed Under: Reviews

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