BOOK CLUB Brain Play

AVERY’S PICK “WARRIOR OF THE WILD”

AUTHOR: Tricia

Levenseller

GENRE: Middle-grade fantasy

AGES: 11+

RATING: AAAAA

SYNOPSIS: Eighteen-year-old Rasmira has been meticulously trained all her life to become a warrior and eventually lead her village, as she is her father’s chosen heir. However, when her critical coming-of-age trial is cunningly sabotaged, resulting in her failure, Rasmira faces her father’s wrath and is exiled to a wilderness teeming with monsters. Presented with a seemingly insurmountable quest, she must regain her honor by vanquishing the oppressive god who demands yearly tribute from the villages or perish in the attempt.

MY FAVORITE QUOTE FROM THIS BOOK IS: "True strength comes from being willing to fail in order to progress."

MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT THIS BOOK IS: The evolution of Rasmira’s character stands out brilliantly in the narrative. While she embarks on a daunting physical journey, her personal development is both harrowing and universally relatable, striking a chord with a broad reader base.

MY FAVORITE CHARACTER IN THIS BOOK IS: The characters Rasmira and Iric are particularly delightful. Despite their contrasting personalities, they complement each other splendidly, weaving a tale that is not only entertaining but also enchanting.

FANS OF THIS BOOK MAY ALSO LIKE: “Fable” by Adrienne Young, “An Enchantment of Ravens” by Margaret Rogerson, “Defy the Night” by Brigid Kemmerer

Avery, 17, is an avid reader and book reviewer. When not reading, you can find her playing volleyball, hanging out with friends, or with one of her pets! Follow her on Instagram and TikTok at @readbyfin.

MANU’S SELECTIONS

“WHEN DAD’S HAIR TOOK OFF”

AUTHOR: Jörg Mühle

GENRE: Fiction

AGES: 6 - 9

SYNOPSIS: This book is about a dad who has very handsome hair, but all of a sudden, his hair takes off! Join him on a daring adventure to capture it.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK: The book is very funny, but it gives us an important life lesson that one should NEVER give up!

“IT’S ALIVE”

AUTHOR: Molly Bloom, Marc Sanchez, and Sanden Totten

GENRE: Non-fiction

AGES: 5 - 8

SYNOPSIS: Have you ever wondered why jellyfish sting? Or if trees communicate with one another? How about why you can’t tickle yourself? Well, scientists have got the answers to those questions! Keep reading and you can be a scientist too.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK: It offers a lot of information about plants, animals, humans, etc. The fun illustrations of people with speech bubbles really give the book a spark of humor, which doesn’t make the book boring for kids.

“ARBORAMA”

AUTHOR: Lisa Voisard

GENRE: Non-fiction

AGES: 10 - 12

SYNOPSIS: This book is about a marvelous world of trees. It answers questions about trees, including reproduction habitat, lifespan, height, leaves, and more.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT THIS BOOK: Have you ever wondered why the book name is “Arborama?” That’s because in Latin ‘arbor’ means tree and in Greek ‘horma’ means vision, so if you put the two together it means tree vision.

Seven-year-old Manu is the proud owner of her very own book club, where stories come alive. Curious by nature, she explores both the world of books and the wonders of nature with equal zeal. Manu's empathy and kindness shine brightly, lighting up the lives of everyone she meets. Check more of her book recommendations on Instagram at @alwaysastorybook and book club at @md.book.club

Tornadoes

BUTTERFLIES HAVE TASTING FEET!

They tap-dance on leaves to find the yummiest spot to lay their eggs. Their special feet, called chemoreceptors, help them taste sweet fruit too!

Did you know that some of the twinkling stars we see at night are time travelers?

The sparkly light from some stars started its super-duper long trip to us when dinosaurs were still around! So, when we look at the stars, we're seeing a very, very old light show!

English has some really funny-sounding words, like "flummox" (which means to confuse someone) and "gobbledegook" (which means language that is meaningless or hard to understand).