Monday, September 11, 2017

Monday's Riddle: Wired To Do...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme? Some look very real! ; ) ~ F

Controlled by forces outside of myself, when I'm off I sit on a shelf. Switch it up, and I'll do my task, calculating odds in a faux mask. My goal is to serve what I don't know. I can only relate to that which I sew. Instructions are given, then I proceed. I do not compute emotional need. 

What am I? Stop by Wednesday for the answer!

I gave you a clue!



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ANYTHING'S POSSIBLE.

Friday, September 8, 2017

What's Under the Egg?

Up until recently, thirteen-year-old Theodora Tenpenny lived with her mother and grandfather in a Greenwich Village house, which has been in their family for generations. Since Theo’s mom has been trapped in her own mind trying to solve a math equation (for years), Theo spends most of her time with her grandfather, Jack. When she arrives home to her grandfather being taken away in an ambulance he tells Theo to look “under the egg”. She knew where the egg was, after all, each day they put the best egg from their chickens in a bowl on the mantle underneath the painting of an egg her grandfather had done.  But, Theo can’t seem to find anything else there. What did Jack want her to find? Money is tight now that she is in charge of the family finances, and she does her best to spend as little as possible. After rubbing alcohol is spilled on the painting of the egg an oil painting is discovered underneath. Theo starts trying to find out where it came from and if it is worth anything. Along the way she meets Bodhi, who is in the city because her famous parents are on location. They become fast friends and work on the mystery together. Did Theo’s grandfather steal the painting from the Metropolitan Museum of Art where he worked as a security guard? Is it even an original painting? Will the painting be able to provide enough money for Theo and her mom to get back on their feet and keep their house/?  Read this unique mystery to find out about friendship, art, and the power of knowledge.

I didn’t know much about Under the Egg by Laura Marx Fitgerald when I picked it up- only that it was up for a few awards. I wasn’t expecting an art mystery! Theo and Bodhi had unique personalities and I could relate to both of them in different ways. I liked that Theo was able to make a dollar stretch and that Body was so good at research. Before reading this book I didn’t know much about the Italian artist, Raphael. I learned a ton! I enjoyed the way Theo and Body worked on the mystery because they had divided up some tasks and worked on others together. It was also interesting how much Theo learned about her grandfather and World War II during her research.  I wished she could have had the chance to talk to her grandpa again. I recommend this book to anyone from fifth grade through eighth grade. I also think that adults and older kids will be captivated by this fast paced story. A book that will be a favorite of fans of Chasing Vermeer and The Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

Has anyone else read Under the Egg? Or have you read another book by Laura Marx Fitzgerald? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Reading!
~L

Thursday, September 7, 2017

The Talking Library Book Tour!



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Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library will be available next month, and the DMS is excited to start spreading the news. Sign up to be a part of our Book Launch Tour. The mystery unwinds on October 23rd, and we'll be sharing secrets about the story and interesting writing tips in articles such as, "Weaving in the Backstory" and "I See Dead Quotes". It's the perfect time of year for a good fright, and punctuation can be scary, so join in the fun. It's sure to be a scream. ;)


SIGN UP FOR THE BOOK TOUR


Fairday Morrow had no clue that moving from Manhattan to the small town of Ashpot, Connecticut, would lead to an unsolved mystery. Her parents’ dream of renovating a crumbling Victorian, called the Begonia House, into a bed and breakfast had seemed like treachery at the time. But Fairday found out that her new house kept secrets, and once inside its twisted front gates, anything was possible. When mysterious notes start showing up warning that a librarian is in trouble and a bookworm is eating words, Fairday thinks the Begonia House has more skeletons in its closets. What happens to stories when their words get eaten?




Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library
On sale: October 23, 2017
Fiction * Hardcover
By Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson
Illustrations & Cover Art © 2017 by David SanAngelo
Cover Design by Chris Robinson


Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library (Fairday Morrow #2)

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Answer to Monday's Riddle: Which Came First?


Excellent guess, Riddlers! Friday, Lizzy's review will crack open a mystery, so stay tuned! See you all around the book block. ; ) ~ F

Cracked is what I may be. When I am, you'll eat me. I've a sunny spot kept inside; it oozes out when I'm fried. Living in a hardened shell, I'm a zygote in a fertile cell.  

What am I? Answer: Egg!

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
FREE COUPON CODE: JM98U

BOOST YOUR SKILLS FOR THE TALKING LIBRARY!
62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats


PRE-ORDER THE BOOK

Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library
Book 2: Fairday Morrow Series
By Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson
Illustrated by David SanAngelo
Cover Design by Chris Robinson
Developmental Editor: Betsy Thorpe
Copy Editor: Nicole Ayers
Publish date: October 23, 2017
Publisher: Willow Press
Middle grade mystery
Age Range: 8 years and up
Grade Level: 3-7
ISBN: #978-0-9993449-0-3




Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Pre-Order the Mystery of The Talking Library!



Book 2 in the Fairday Morrow series will be available October 23rd, but you can pre-order a hardcover edition now! Be among the first to try to solve the next case in the DMS files. The mystery unwinds in the Talking Library!







Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library
Book 2: Fairday Morrow Series
By Jessica Haight & Stephanie Robinson
Illustrated by David SanAngelo
Cover Design by Chris Robinson
Developmental Editor: Betsy Thorpe
Copy Editor: Nicole Ayers
Publish date: October 23, 2017
Publisher: Willow Press
Middle grade mystery
Age Range: 8 years and up
Grade Level: 3-7
ISBN: #978-0-9993449-0-3


Fairday Morrow had no clue that moving from Manhattan to the small town of Ashpot, Connecticut, would lead to an unsolved mystery. Her parents’ dream of renovating a crumbling Victorian, called the Begonia House, into a bed and breakfast had seemed like treachery at the time. But Fairday found out that her new house kept secrets, and once inside its twisted front gates, anything was possible. When mysterious notes start showing up warning that a librarian is in trouble and a bookworm is eating words, Fairday thinks the Begonia House has more skeletons in its closets. What happens to stories when their words get eaten?



Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library (Fairday Morrow #2)

Monday, September 4, 2017

Monday's Riddle: A Sunny Cell...

Hello, Riddlers! Can you guess our theme this week? Hard boiled for me, Margo will take hers sunny side up. ; ) ~ F

Cracked is what I may be. When I am, you'll eat me. I've a sunny spot kept inside; it oozes out when I'm fried. Living in a hardened shell, I'm a zygote in a fertile cell.  

What am I? Stop by Wednesday for the answer! 

I gave you a clue!


Riddle skills will come in handy when you're trying to solve the next case in the DMS files, Fairday Morrow and the Talking Library! The mystery unwinds on October 23rd, so stay tuned for clues. ;)

Pick up a copy of Fairday's Riddles to boost your word power- mixed meanings are the key!

Fairday's Riddles: Volume I 
Make time to riddle and rhyme!
FREE COUPON CODE: JM98U
62 original riddles and illustrations
Available in all e-book formats