Blog Tour: ARC Review Daybreak on Raven Island by Fleur Bradley

Welcome to the Our Thoughts Precisely stop for Daybreak on Raven Island!

Title: Daybreak on Raven Island

Series: n/a

Author: Fleur Bradley

Source/Format: Author; E-ARC

More Details: Ghost, Mystery, Middle Grade

Publisher/Publication Date: Viking Books for Young Readers; August 23 2022

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Synopsis:

From the critically acclaimed author of Midnight at the Barclay Hotel comes a thrilling new middle grade mystery novel inspired by Alcatraz Prison.

Tori, Marvin, and Noah would rather be anywhere else than on the seventh-grade class field trip to Raven Island prison. Tori would rather be on the soccer field, but her bad grades have benched her until further notice; Marvin would rather be at the first day of a film festival with his best friend, Kevin; and Noah isn't looking forward to having to make small talk with his classmates at this new school.

But when the three of them stumble upon a dead body in the woods, miss the last ferry back home, and then have to spend the night on Raven Island, they find that they need each other now more than ever. They must work together to uncover a killer, outrun a motley ghosthunting crew, and expose the age-old secrets of the island all before daybreak.

Daybreak on Raven Island is Fleur Bradley’s new enjoyable, spooky middle grade novel. It follows a trio of kids, Tori, Noah, and Melvin, as they get stuck on Raven Island and its now defunct prison. It's basically as the synopsis lays it out.

I enjoyed the plot since it was deeply tied to the environment and characters. I also liked the many twist and turns with the ghost hunting and mystery, which I don’t think it was overly scary for young readers. The biggest thing I noticed was the budding friendship between Tori, Noah, and Melvin. We get to know a little of their background, history, and ambitions through the first few chapters. Here you kind of get the idea of how each of them fit into the story later on. Many things became clearer as the story unfolded while they roamed the island looking for clues and bumping into other characters. For instance, how each character realizes and comes to terms with their issues and emotions with the help of each other.  Or like how the complex subject of prison is intertwined in the story. Although some of the story was predictable, that conclusion definitely wasn’t.

Overall, I personally loved Daybreak on Raven Island. If it sounds like it’s up your or your young reader’s alley, you'll want to check this one out.

Thanks for reading!

A Note from the Author

Thank you for your interest in my work! I had so much fun researching and writing my latest mystery for kids, Daybreak on Raven Island; I hope that translates as you’re reading.

Daybreak on Raven Island started with setting, as most of my books do. I was looking for a new (mysterious) place to spark my imagination, and quickly thought of Alcatraz. Alcatraz Island has a such a scary vibe, and as I was doing my research, I also found that there are a lot of unsolved mysteries surrounding the island. Including a prison break in 1962…Three inmates escaped Alcatraz, and no one ever knew if they drowned or made it off the island. I decided to take this real-life story and create my own mystery. I gave Tori, Marvin and Noah the task to solve the case of an infamous prison break from Raven Island, I added a present-day murder mystery, and a few ghosts to make things more complicated. Plus, I added a deep secret to Raven Island itself—you’ll have to read the book to find out what that is.

As I learned more of the terrible conditions of Alcatraz and how things are still not always fair today, I tried to shed some light on this through Tori’s character. I learned that one in 28 kids in America has had an incarcerated parent, which is something kids often keep a secret. And that must be really, really hard. I hope Daybreak on Raven Island sparks some thought or conversation, so those kids don’t feel alone in carrying this burden.

Find out more about me, my books and where to find me at www.fleurbradley.com

All best in reading,

Fleur

About the Author...
Fleur Bradley is the author of the (scary) middle-grade mystery Daybreak on Raven Island, and award-winning mystery Midnight at the Barclay Hotel (Viking/Penguin Random House).

Her story The Perfect Alibi appeared in Mystery Writers of America’s middle-grade anthology Super Puzzletastic Mysteries, edited by Chris Grabenstein (HarperCollins).

Fleur regularly does school and Skype visits, as well as librarian and educator conference talks on reaching reluctant readers. Originally from the Netherlands, she now lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and two daughters, and entirely too many rescue animals.

Where to find her:
Website     Twitter     Instagram     Facebook 

Disclaimer: This E-copy of the book was provided by the Author for this review, thank you!

Blog Tour: ARC Review Midnight at the Barclay Hotel by Fleur Bradley

Title: Midnight at the Barclay Hotel
Series: n/a
Author: Fleur Bradley
Illustrator: Xavier Bonet
Source/Format: Author; E-ARC
More Details: Mystery, Middle Grade
Publisher/Publication Date: Viking; August 25 2020

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

When JJ Jacobson convinced his mom to accept a surprise invitation to an all-expenses-paid weekend getaway at the illustrious Barclay Hotel, he never imagined that he'd find himself in the midst of a murder mystery. He thought he was in for a run-of-the-mill weekend ghost hunting at the most haunted spot in town, but when he arrives at the Barclay Hotel and his mother is blamed for the hotel owner's death, he realizes his weekend is going to be anything but ordinary.

Now, with the help of his new friends, Penny and Emma, JJ has to track down a killer, clear his mother's name, and maybe even meet a ghost or two along the way.

Midnight at the Barclay Hotel is Fleur Bradley’s most recent middle grade novel. It features beautifully crafted illustrations by Xavier Bonet. Five people are selected to enjoy a weekend stay at the Barclay Hotel. However, everyone ends up pulled into a murder mystery. When We saw the synopsis, we knew we would be into it.

Adri: The beginning got to the point, introducing the reader to all the important places and characters –like JJ, Penny, and Emma among others. Not too long after, I found myself sucked into the story and had a hard time putting it down. I wanted to get to the end to find out what was really going on at the Barclay Hotel. Even though I did predict a few things, it did not take away my enjoyment. I still found myself guessing with each reveal.

Andrea: I absolutely love Fleur Bradley’s writing style. She does an amazing job of writing middle grade books with just the right amount of suspense and adventure. I was first introduced to her work when I reviewed the Double Vision series, which was an exciting adventure that I highly recommend. As for Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, it didn’t disappoint. Each character’s profile added a layer of suspense. Although the story seemed predictable, it just wasn’t that simple.

Adri: The next thing I really like was the chemistry between the characters. JJ has a dislike of reading but loves ghost hunting; Penny loves reading but is skeptical of ghost; and Emma just wants kids her age to hang out with. This created a nice balance of personalities. And I can’t forget the relationship that that JJ has with his mother and Penny her grandfather. I have my reasons but I think they’re kind of spoiler-y, so…

Andrea: I have to agree with you the characters had amazing chemistry. JJ’s sense of adventure, Penny’s insecurities, and the fact that Emma was simply peculiar created an amazing team of Junior sleuths. I also liked the characters’ growth as the story progressed.

Andrea & Adri: Anyway, Midnight at the Barclay Hotel was a fun read. We recommend checking it out if it sounds interesting to you. We especially recommend it if a young reader is interested in murder mysteries and paranormal/ghost hunting.

Thanks for reading.

About the author...

Fleur Bradley is passionate about two things: mysteries and getting kids to read, and she regularly speaks at librarian and educator conferences on reaching reluctant readers. Originally from the Netherlands, Fleur now lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and two daughters, and entirely too many cats.

For more information on Fleur and her books, visit www.ftbradley.com, and on Twitter @FTBradleyAuthor.

Follow along with the Midnight at the Barclay Hotel blog tour: 

Aug. 3rd: Book review at Always in the Middle

Aug. 11th: An interview at MG Bookvillage

Aug 14th: Book review at Charlotte’s Library

Aug. 16th: Guest post: Fleur talks about reaching reluctant readers at Unleashing Readers

Aug. 17th: Review at Secret Files of Fairday Morrow blog

Aug. 18th: Review and giveaway at MG Mojo

Aug. 19th.: Interview and giveaway at From the Mixed-Up Files

Aug. 21st: Book review at Our Thoughts Precisely.

Aug. 23rd: Interview and giveaway at Spooky MG

Aug. 24th: Interview at YA Booknerd

Facebook Live Book Launch on Aug. 25th!

Aug. 25th: Writer's Digest Author Spotlight

Sept. 4th : Fleur talks about getting out of your comfort zone on Kirby Larson’s blog
Sept. 8th: Fleur outlines how to develop a compelling MG concept at Writer's Digest

Disclaimer: This E-copy of the book was provided by the Author for this review, thank you!

A Week Without Tuesday Blog Tour Review, Interview, & Giveaway

Today marks the beginning of the A Week Without Tuesday blog tour. So, welcome to my stop! There are a number of reasons why I'm excited about this post. One, I finally get to share my interview with Angelica Banks. Two, I can, at last, talk about the book. And three, there is a giveaway from the publisher, so you, the readers, can enter for a chance to win A Week Without Tuesday. But first, more about the book before I get to the good stuff...

Author: Angelica Banks

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Something is broken in the land of story. Real and imaginary worlds are colliding—putting everything and everyone in grave peril. Tuesday and Baxterr, at the request of the Librarian, and with the help of Vivienne Small, venture to find the Gardener—the one person who can stop this catastrophe. On their way, they'll meet friends and foes, and discover strengths they didn't know they had. Will they be able to save the land of story?

I got the chance to read the continuation of Tuesday McGillycuddy’s story, A Week Without Tuesday, early. The series so far has been consistently good. The concept alone is cool and handled incredibly well. I mean, writers drifting off to visit their own characters in their own fictional worlds? Yes please! There’s a lot of charming details that I absolutely adore about this series. Finding Serendipity was one of my favorite books of 2015, and thankfully, A Week Without Tuesday was no different.

It's safe to say that I loved this book. But I can't just end my review there, I have to talk a little more about the book. So, here goes nothing.

This story picks up after the end of Finding Serendipity. Tuesday has taken up writing, just like her mother. Only, there’s trouble afoot. In the land where stories come from, fictional worlds are colliding in the worst way possible. This inevitably causes chaos that’s begun to affect Tuesday’s world, making it impossible to write safely. The rapidly evolving—and worsening—situation created some much needed tension, and set up situations that directly affected the characters. Their reaction to the situations were interesting since there was no easy solution.

The setting, as always, was highly imaginative once Tuesday steps into the land where stories come from. The method on how to get there—by thread—was still cool. And the Library was just as amazing as last time, even in a state of disarray.

Many of my favorite characters from Finding Serendipity made another appearance. Tuesday along with her trusty dog, Baxterr, are caught up in the trouble that's plagued the land where stories come from. Some of my favorite parts included Tuesday's reactions. She was a good main character. Their adventures are always a joy to read. Vivienne Small was also back, and I liked her and Tuesday's interactions—those were some of my favorite parts. Blake, the Librarian, and a few new writers were introduced. All of them were wonderful in their own ways, which is why the characters are one of my favorite aspects of the book.

This was one book that was right up my alley. The different aspects worked really well together. As such, A Week Without Tuesday was a ridiculously good book. In light of that, all I can really say is that I’m looking forward to Angelica Bank’s next book.

This copy of the book was provided by the publisher for this review, thank you!

Angelica Banks is the author of the Tuesday McGillycuddy series for middle grade readers. The first book in the series is Finding Serendipity (published by Henry Holt in the USA in 2015) and the sequel – A Week Without Tuesday – is published in February. The third book will be published in 2017. What you may not know is that Angelica Banks is the pen-name of the writing duo of Heather Rose and Danielle Wood who live on the isolated island of Tasmania off the south coast of Australia. Here’s an insight into their friendship, collaboration and writing...

What were a couple of your favorite young adult or middle grade novels that you read in 2015?

Danielle: I love a good list, and a while ago I looked up a list of the 50 best young adult novels ever, and I've been slowly working my way through it. This has taken me back to amazing books that I might have missed, such as Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle and Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. I Capture the Castle is, like our Tuesday McGillycuddy books, something of a love letter to the business of writing, and the voice of the main character - Cassandra - is completely fresh and lovely. A Wrinkle in Time is a fantastical romp through time and space - it plunges you into a bizarre series of events, but the book is so well written, and so much fun, that you can accept these events with very little in the way of explanation.

Heather: I have a fifteen year old so she often helps me discover new YA books. In 2015 the books that really stood out were the The Apothecary by Maile Meloy and The Minnow by Australian author Diana Sweeney. The Minnow is a heart-breaking yet luminous novel. And I absolutely loved discovering Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind series – I devoured those. Brilliant world creation.

What was it like working in collaboration with each other to write Finding Serendipity?

Danielle: Heather and I have been friends for years, and we already knew each other very well when we started writing together. But, wow, do we know each other well NOW! Now I know just how much she dislikes semi-colons (while I love them) and words ending with ly (I also like those). To write with someone else is an amazing exercise in trust and sharing, and I feel like it’s taught me a huge amount about writing. We don’t argue; (tee hee - a semi-colon!) we just keep working on things, and trying new approaches, until both of us are totally happy with the outcome.

Heather: When we embarked on this journey there was a friendship at risk. And of course our own egos – would we live up to each other’s expectations, and would we be able to communicate and compromise successfully? As time has gone on, our collaboration has become more and more miraculous to me. It has enriched my life beyond measure. Danielle is a fastidious scientist of language and plot. She has helped corral my wild imaginings into books that we could never have created alone, and yet are somehow beyond both of us too. It’s a perfect collaboration of minds, hearts and our mutual love of literature – and children! We spend an enormous amount of time laughing.

Finding Serendipity is a book that I think would appeal to a lot of people for many reasons. So, what inspired you to sit down and write this story?

Danielle: We wanted to write a book for children while our own children were still young enough to enjoy it. Also, we love children’s books ourselves. We loved children’s books when we were children, and then we had the opportunity to share our favourite classics (and a heap of wonderful new books) with our children. Each of us is a mother of three children, so as you can imagine, we’ve read thousands of books for young readers.

Heather: I have always had enormous respect for Danielle as a writer and a person. One day she invited me over for a cup of tea and a chat. Danielle said she thought we should write a children’s book together. She also said she knew there was a character called Tuesday McGillycuddy. Somehow as soon as she said that, I knew that Tuesday’s mother was called Serendipity and she was the most famous writer in the world. Danielle knew Tuesday had a dog and I knew his name was Baxterr with a double rr - but at that stage I didn't know why. It was as if this series had split itself into two and half was living in Danielle’s head and half was living in mine. It took Danielle making tea and suggesting we write together for the whole thing to begin unfurling. I suspect a lot of magical things have happened over cups of tea…

What are your favorite aspects of the Tuesday McGillycuddy series?

Danielle: For me, one of the best things is the character of Baxterr. I have been lucky enough to have wonderful canine companions all through my life, and they are a great source of companionship, safety and love. Tuesday has a truly magnificent dog in Baxterr, and he has been an absolute joy to write.

Heather: My three children are mostly grown up now, so I have spent a lot of years visiting classrooms and talking to children. And it was really apparent to me that creative children often lack guidance about the creative process – particularly budding writers. And they also sometimes lack a wise friend in times of challenge. So for all that our books are funny and full of wonderful characters and wild adventure, they also have some really important information for young creative minds to take counsel and courage from. When we do school visits it’s extraordinary how much the books have inspired so much writing and art – and that makes it feel immensely worthwhile. We’re planting seeds and we have no idea what will grow.

Do you have any daily goals or sources of inspiration that keep you motivated?

Danielle: My goal is always to do at least SOME writing every day. With three young children and all the busy-ness that goes with them, this isn’t always easy, but I’m a much nicer person when I manage it. When I start thinking that writing is really hard, or that I’ll never be as good as I hope to be, I remind myself that every single thing ever written was just something that somebody once sat down and wrote. That’s obvious, of course, but it seems to help me get over my stage fright.

Heather: I think a lot of us go through life saying ‘No’ to our creativity. No because there’s a schedule, there’s demands, there’s competing forces in our lives that keep us away from the desk or the canvas etc. I know this so well being a mother of three, a wife, and for years working full-time running a business etc. So now, like Danielle, I try to be available every day for writing. I’m at my desk at 9am (earlier when I can) and I’m ready to work. I always have a number of writing projects on the go, but that also helps. I have a great note-taking App on my phone (Captio) and I always have a pen and a notebook with me wherever I go. So I’m available when ideas come. Elizabeth Gilbert has captured all this beautifully in her new book Big Magic. I highly recommend it. I also have a quote by Pablo Picasso stuck on my desk. It says ‘“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”

Where are some of your favorite places to write?

Danielle: I write in a gypsy caravan in my garden. Through the window, I can see the Derwent River that divides our city of Hobart in two. In my caravan, I have a pin-board covered in images that inspire my writing. At the moment, there are lots of pictures of the Russian witch, Baba Yaga.

Heather: I am inspired by a house with only me in it, and a view of nature. The solitude is really important, and the removal of potential and actual interruptions. I also find a walk on a beach or in a forest really gets my characters talking. In the busier times in life when business demands and the school schedule precluded such things, I would write deep into the night once my family was asleep. And I try to schedule in at least two weeks where I escape each year to pour a lot of words onto the page and work with structuring. I find those long stretches of time are essential once the word count gets over 25000 words.

What’s next for you?

Danielle: Angelica Banks is working on the finishing touches of the third Tuesday McGillycuddy book, which is called Blueberry Pancakes Forever, and which will be out in the USA in 2017.

Heather: Yes, we have the launch of A Week Without Tuesday (Book 2) in the US in February. It’s going to be a wonderful year for Tuesday, Vivienne and Baxterr! And I have my next adult novel coming out in Australia in September. It’s called The Museum of Modern Love. I hope Angelica Banks will also do lots of school visits to talk about writing and creativity. Those are the true highlights for me.

I hope you enjoyed the interview as much as I did. Those are some fantastic answers, and I'm definitely looking forward to Blueberry Pancakes Forever. Now, onto the giveaway. Below, you can enter for a chance to win a copy of A Week Without Tuesday. This giveaway is US ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the rest of the blog tour...

1/28: Our Thoughts Precisely

1/29: Middle Grade Mafia

2/1: On Starships and Dragonwings

2/2: Read, Write, Reflect

2/3: Alexa Loves Books

Blog Tour: This is War by Lisa and Laura Roecker

Welcome to our tour stop on the the This is W.A.R. blog tour!  Below is a little about the book, and if you reach the bottom of the post you'll find links to a cool promotion.

Title: This is W.A.R. by Lisa and Laura Roecker
Source/Format: Edelweiss, E-ARC
Age Range: YA
Publisher/Publication Date: Soho Teen, July 2, 2013

 

The Synopsis

This is not a story of forgiveness...

The mystery of their best friend's murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent. And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return. Alone. They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away. Enter the W.A.R.—the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost. 

 

My Thoughts:

 

     This is W.A.R. is yet another fast-paced novel by Lisa and Laura Roecker shrouded in mystery and suspense.  There were things I did and didn’t like about This is W.A.R..  On one hand, they presented us with another addictive mystery full of lies, dirty money, and a truth just begging to get to the surface.  On another hand, there were some bits and pieces of the story that I felt could have just been left out.  

     Following Rose, Lina, Madge, and Sloane along through This is W.A.R. was like a rollercoaster with no clear end in sight.  Fueled by hatred, the girls went after who they thought was responsible for their friends death.  I liked watching their stories unfold from each of their POV’s, as they struggled with their feelings about Willa’s death, while taking into account the wishes of others.  But there was always one clear goal in mind: Revenge.  It led to them making a few choice decisions that had me cringing.  Then there were the Gregorys, the guys with all the money in the world that one person could possibly want and who knew how to use it to their advantage.  The Gregory family was as dirty as they come, and I liked the way Lisa and Laura Roecker portrayed them.  To say the least, they were well-written antagonists.

     The plot, the secrets, all of it was shocking, especially some of the characters involved in certain revelations.  As things were revealed I slowly put the pieces of that fateful night together.  My only complaint is that some of the smaller details bothered me.  Some of the suggestive situations sprinkled throughout the book were just too much for me, and in the end those elements hampered my overall enjoyment of This is W.A.R..

An e-arc was provided by Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review, thank you!

 

 

Now for the information on the promotion.  If you pre-order the book you could earn yourself one of the keys featured in the book, but it's limited in quantity.  Click HERE for more information.

 

 

Lisa and Laura Roecker are sisters-turned-writing partners with a passion for good books, pop culture, and Bravo programming. Not necessarily in that order. A prepubescent obsession with Lois Duncan and their mother's insistence that they read Men Are Just Desserts inspired This is WAR. The sisters live in Cleveland, Ohio, in separate residences. Their husbands wouldn't agree to a duplex. Cyberstalking is always encouraged at lisa-laura.blogspot.com and @landlroecker on Twitter.

 

Links

Twitter This is War Book