Mummies in the Morning by Mary Pope Osbourne

(source)

Title: Mummies in the Morning
(Magic Tree House #3)

Author: Mary Pope Osbourne

Illustrator: Sal Murdocca

Length: 65 pages

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Classification: Children's Book, Chapter Book, Fantasy, Adventure, Mystery, Time Travel

Release Date: August 1993

Source: Paperback

GoodReads

Jack and Annie don't need another mummy.
But that's what they get when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to ancient Egypt. There they meet a long-dead queen who needs their help. Will Jack and Annie be able to solve the puzzle, or will they end up as mummies themselves? (From GoodReads)

Cutie Pie’s Rating:

"I like this book a lot. Like a lot, a lot."

What is this book about?

About Jack and Annie following the cat and getting the Book of Dead.

What was your favorite part of the story?

 When they followed the noise (the cat's meow) to the entrance of the pyramid. 

Why did you like it?

 Because they followed the noise and found what they were looking for. They did good.

Is there anything you didn't like about this book?

No, I like all of it.

Do you like the illustrations?

Yes.

Who do you think will like this book?

Everyone that likes Magic Tree House.

My Rating:

I personally like this book series. Cutie Pie and I read the second book in the series last school year and decided that we wanted to continue reading them.
In this story, Jack and Annie travel back to the past to the time of the Pyramids. They get to go in the pyramid and quickly involved in solving a mystery.
I really like this book because I think it is a nice glimpse and introduction to a bit of Egyptian history. I especially love that it has so many educational facts about mummies, the Pyramids and other Egyptian history. Also has some fun vocabulary words.
Not only does this book contain an educational value, but it is a fun adventure for kids to read about.
We love the ongoing mystery with the series as well as the puzzle that Jack and Annie have to solve.
I highly recommend this book to fans of this book series.
Best read either to, with, or by elementary school children. Full of fun and entertainment for the family, so I think Pre-K children can enjoy the story as well.
I am looking forward to reading the next adventure. 

The Here and Now by Ann Brashares

(source)

Title: The Here and Now

Author: Ann Brashares

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Length: 256 pages
Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Time Travel

Release Date: April 8, 2014
Source: I received this as a pre-approved e-galley from NetGalley

My Rating:

Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves. (From Amazon)

This is a book that I would re-read again in the future.

I read The Here and Now pretty quickly. I found the book to be hard to put down. I loved the idea behind the story. Prenna and others traveling back from the future because there is nothing left for them there. I think I understood the blood plague and I didn’t think it was too far-fetched or unbelievable.

I loved the characters. I felt invested in their story. But I think the character I liked most was Ethan. When I finished reading the entire book, he is the character that made me think, “I need to know more about him and his life!”

I felt connected with the characters. These were characters that I loved. I felt heartbroken for them when they were sad or faced difficult situations. I felt emotionally connected to them.

I want to point out that even though I was able to predict a couple things, I don't think it really took away from the story. The author did a good job with having several plot twists and surprises in the story that I didn't see coming.

I loved reading this book and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys reading Young Adult books that involve time travel.

I found the story to be fast paced, there wasn't a time when reading where I considered to put the book down and not want to read it anymore. I think the author did a wonderful job and I really hope that this is the first book in a series. 

***SPOILERS AHEAD. 

STOP READING IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW DETAILS FROM THE STORY!

*

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

I didn't feel that Prenna and Ethan’s relationship was insta-love or rushed. They had been friends for a few years and it was noted that there was something strained between them. I don’t think they acted on their feelings until now, but I believe that you can be in love with someone without telling them or acting on it. So, I found the relationship to be believable.

But I did feel that the relationship wasn't very developed. I know that it is not the focus of the story. (Which is a good thing) but I also felt like there wasn't that much heat or even chemistry. Going into the book, I thought this was going to be an Epic Love, Epic Romance. But I didn't really feel that between them. I understand that the romance is forbidden. And I understand why they are not supposed to be together. But I also didn't feel like the world is going to end if they are not. (I also think that if there is a sequel to this novel the relationship (especially the forbidden part) will have a bigger role there.)

I also found a couple things to be very predictable. From the first time Prenna told us that her father just up and changed his mind not to come, I knew he found a way somehow and that he did make the trip back. I don’t know why he didn't go with them, and I didn't know where in the past he would be, but I guessed that he made the time travel trip. I guessed that Ben Kenobi (the homeless guy) was actually her father pretty quickly after meeting the character. I was surprised that she didn't know it was him. I understand that he aged. But I can still recognize my dad from his appearance and his voice even though he has aged and gained weight since I was a little kid. I would think that his voice would have given him away. And it isn’t necessarily a bad thing that she didn't realize it was him, maybe she was in denial or shock, but I was surprised that it took her so long to make the connection. I was surprised that he died and that she was there.

The other thing that I guessed quickly was that Andrew Baltos was Traveler One and that he started the blood plague. But the events that happened surrounding Andrew surprised me. I didn't see them coming.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
END OF SPOILERS

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

(source)

Title: Unremembered

Author: Jessica Brody

Length: 352 pages

Publisher: Square Fish

Classification: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Time Travel

Release Date: January 28, 2014 (Reprint paperback edition)

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe. Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them. Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?From popular young adult author Jessica Brody comes a compelling and suspenseful new sci-fi series. The Unremembered Trilogy is set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten. (From Amazon)

My Rating:

I am going to be honest. I came across Jessica Brody's blog, I don't even remember how and I read part of the description for this book and thought, "Well, that sounds interesting" so I added it to my Book Wishlist (on Amazon) and to my TBR list on GoodReads. And I started following Jessica Brody on Twitter.

Then something awesome happened.

Jessica Brody posted on Twitter about a giveaway she was having and everyone wins. And I thought wow that is pretty cool. If you are able to complete the three levels of challenges you will win a swag pack.

(source)

How awesome is this?

You can find out how to participate here on Jessica Brody's blog.

I then went out and bought the paperback copy of Unremembered and I am SO GLAD that I did!

I think the paperback copy is pretty cool, there is also an interview with Jessica Brody, discussion questions, Unstolen and The Memory Coder. As well as the first chapter to Unforgotten.



I really loved this book.

And I do think it is not really like any other book I have read.



I really love Jessica Brody's writing style in this book. I found the book interesting and easy to read. And I was hooked at the beginning of the story.

Jane Doe (aka Violet...aka Sera) was a very interesting character. And I enjoyed watching her overcome losing her memories and figuring out what is the truth and what is a lie.

I found this book to have action, mystery, love and friendship.

It took me a couple days to get through the book, but that was simply because I was so busy participating in the Love-A-Thon. But I was still able to read it in a matter of a couple days.

There were a couple things that I was able to easily predict in the story. But there were also moments that surprised me and kept me guessing. And I honestly can say that there was a plot twist that I REALLY did not see coming.

***Spoilers Ahead. Stop reading here if you haven't read the book!***


*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
One thing that I really loved about this book was the fact that there was time travel. I think that is one of the things that REALLY surprised me. (The plot twist that I didn't see coming!) And it is something that Brody hinted at a couple times through out the book. For example the year 1609!
I didn't realize that they were trying to escape to the year 1609! I really thought that it was a reminder of them needing to escape Diotech to be together.
I found the time traveling part of the book extremely interesting! I also liked how she described the use of DNA and the transession gene. I found that part really neat!

When we first learned about her tattoo/mark I immediately thought between that and her violet eyes, that maybe she was created in a lab somewhere.

Well it was either that or she was an alien. Because I didn't think have violet eyes was natural. But I do think the violet eyes are cool!

I also guessed that the boy from the hospital (aka Zen) was the one to give her the locket.

But I guessed several things wrong!
I thought that maybe the foster parents (Heather and Scott) were in on it, and part of Diotech.

I thought that someone erased her memories on purpose! I was surprised to see her memory where she requests her memories to be taken from her. That really surprised me! In fact this is what I took note for on that scene: "Well, that WAS interesting!"

I even thought that Maxxer was possibly Zen's mom, and that she helped get them out of Diotech.

After reading this book it has left me with some questions:

What happened during the time travel that made it so Sera didn't make it to the year 1609? I don't know if maybe I missed something, but I don't know what happened that interrupted the time travel.

Who is/are the people behind Alixter? The ones that are funding/helping him. The ones that might be more evil and horrible.

I liked the characters. I thought Heather was sweet. And I felt that Cody was curious and protective of Sera.
I especially liked Zen and their romance. Even if it was just memories, I got the feeling that they were in love and it was all so sweet.

And Rio. I felt empathy with Sera. I felt sad for Rio. Yes, he created her. And he kept lying to her and changing her memories, but in the end he helped her get out. (which was a twist that I didn't think of). And I thought he really did care for her. And what happened to him made me sad.

*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
END OF SPOILERS.

I really enjoyed this book. And I looking forward to Unforgotten coming out! I am definitely planning on reading it!

I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading young adult science fiction.