Eerie Elementary #1: The School is Alive!
by Jack Chabert
Illustrations by: Sam Ricks
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Pub. Date: June 24, 2014
ISBN: 978-0545623926
Pages: 96
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I don't keep up with all the middle grade books being published, so if it wasn't for NetGalley, I would have never known about the new Eerie Elementary series by Jack Chabert, which is part of the Branches line of books from Scholastic Inc.

In book one, titled The School is Alive!, Sam Graves is elected Hall Monitor for his third grade class, which is a position he never wanted, as he was elected by the school principal. His first morning as Hall Monitor turns out to be a morning he would never forget when he learns that the school is actually alive!

After nearly being killed by quicksand in the playground's sandbox, Sam encounters the school's janitor, Mr. Nekobi, who enlists Sam in helping him protect the students against the school. It seems Eerie Elementary feeds off of students and it had been up to Mr. Nekobi to stop the school, but now the responsibility has been handed to Sam.

Summer is nearly over, well at least for the kids that are heading back to school this month; meaning kids will be having the dreaded homework assignments, including book reports. I know some kids may think reading is boring, as they would probably rather be playing a video game, but reading can be a joyful experience when you find that one perfect title to read. Therefore, I am going to be featuring a few Back to School Reads on here.

Do you remember receiving those Scholastic book catalogs during your elementary years? Or attending the yearly school book fair?

I sure do remember them, as this is when I was introduce to many new authors, including those who wrote under the Point Horror title. I read these books vigorously, introducing me to the works by R.L. Stine, Diane Hoh, Richie Tankersley Cusick, Christopher Pike, and Caroline B. Cooney. The plots of Point Horror were similar to the horror movies from the 1980s, where typically a female teenager must battle some sort of bad guy, like an ex-boyfriend, a stalker, a serial killer, a ghost, a vampire, etc. Yes, the books were heavily criticized, but teenager readers loved reading them. The books became even more popular during the 90s' with ten books or more being released yearly, but toward the beginning of the 21st century the genre almost disappeared. After an eight year absence, new Point Horror titles returned in 2013.

One of the newest Point Horror releases, Wickedpedia (224 pages; ISBN:  978-0545415873) by Chris Van Etten, arrived in bookstores back in June from Scholastic Inc., and follows the similar horror premise of the original Point Horror books, except for the fact that the plot is more updated with today's trends and technology.

Wickedpedia centers on an aspiring teenage chef Cole Redeker and his best-friend Gavin. Cole has never gotten over the breakup with his ex-girlfriend Winnie, as he is still in love with her, but she already has a new boyfriend, the know-it-all Josh. It is no secret that Josh uses Wikipedia to research his class reports. Cole and Gavin thought it would be funny to alter those pages, so Josh would get into trouble. What starts out as a little harmless joke  turns into murder!

Summer is nearly over, well at least for the kids that are heading back to school this month; meaning kids will be having the dreaded homework assignments, including book reports. I know some kids may think reading is boring, as they would probably rather be playing a video game, but reading can be a joyful experience when you find that one perfect title to read. Therefore, I am going to be featuring a few Back to School Reads on here.

Available now in bookstores is James Patterson's latest novel for teens, titled Homeroom Diaries. Co-authored by Lisa Papademetriou, the book centers around teenager Cuckoo Clarke. Don't worry, her real name isn't Cuckoo, but the nickname stuck after a brief stint in a mental hospital (or as she prefers to call it - Crazytown) when her mother left her (again). She attends North Plains high school along with with the other members of the Freakshow, which are friends Brainzilla (Kate), Eggy (Hana), Zitsy (Paul), Flatso (Beverly) and Tebow (Peter).

Yes, Cuckoo and the Freakshow are the outcasts of the high school, but they don't care much. The group sticks together through thick and thin, as they try to survive high school together. From debating whether she has a crush on the new teacher or her friend Tebow, her mother's wanted or unwanted return, and the death of her foster-mother, Cuckoo has a a lot to deal with in one year, if she isn't too busy coming up with a new ending to the Twilight Saga.

A sneak peek into Cuckoo's life!

Any coin collector will know that Whitman Publishing, LLC is the best company that makes the supplies for coin collecting. From coin books to the yearly A Guide Book of United States Coins, the company manufacturing everything you would ever need.

Available to purchase now from Whitman Publishing, LLC is the 625pc Ultimate Coin Supply Kit, featuring the 2015 Red Book Price Guide, State Series Quarters Folders Volume I & II, 300 Nickel-Quarter Mylar holders, 300 Cent-Dime Mylar holders, 4 Quarter Size Storage Tubes, 5 Cent Size Storage Tubes, a Whitman Coin Storage Box, 5 Quality Thumb-cut Pages, 6 Plastic 2x2 Quarter holders, and a 3" Round Magnifier. If purchased separately, this collection would retail at over $76, but it can currently be purchased at $29.95!

Being a coin collector myself, I was excited to review a complimentary kit in exchange for my honest thoughts. Of course the main item that pops out of the kit is the 2015 Red Book, a price guide of United States Coins, which retails at $14.95 all by itself. The guide covers the current prices of Pre-Federal Issues (colonial and post-colonial), Federal Issues (from half cents to proof and mint coin sets), Bullion, United States Pattern Pieces and other coin issues. The "Welcome To Numismatics" gives a detailed introduction to the United States Coins, starting with the Spanish Milled Dollar and ending with Sunken Treasure. The 2015 Red Book gives a coin collector the current value (well at least close to it) for every coin grade.

Included in the kit are 300 Nickel-Quarter Mylar holders (a 100 psc. set retails at $5.99) and 300 Cent-Dime Mylar holders (a 100 psc. set retails at $5.99). These are great for keeping coins dust-free. To keep each cardboard holder close, I recommend taping it shut with scotch tape. There is also a 6 pcs. State Series Quarters Plastic Holders. These polystyrene holders can be used to keep any quarter in your collection safe. Each 2" x 2" holder retails about $.89. You can store these holders in the Whitman Coin Storage Box (3 dividers; box is 9 inches long), which holds 39 - 2" x  2" holders and retails at $5.99.

Varsity Blood
Director: Jake Helgren
Starring: Lexi Giovagnoli, Wesley Scott, Debbie Rochon, Natalie Peyton, Blair Jackson
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: August 19, 2014
Retail: $27.97
ASIN: B00KB0OAAU
Running Time: 87 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

I've been a fan of horror films ever since I watched John Carpenter's Halloween when I was either seven or eight years-old. While I do enjoy most slasher films, there are a few (Blood Murder 1 & 2) that are so horribly written, directed and acted, that they are just laughable. I'm not a fan of the recent surge of PG-13 films either, so I eagerly asked to review Varsity Blood, as soon as heard there were review copies available form RLJ Entertainment.

Varsity Blood is written and directed by Jame Giovagnoli; yeah, you're not the only one that has never heard of him. The film stars a bunch of unknowns, except for Debbie Rochon, who is famous for the low-budget films Tromeo and Juliet and Toxic Avenger 4; so you can pretty much guess that the acting is cringe-worthy. Then again, most horror moves have bad acting in them anyway.


The film begins on Halloween Eve, where a Hogeye High cheerleader is murdered by the football team's mascot. The rest of the film takes place on Halloween night with a group of teenagers and football players having a party at a remote farm. Of course the mascot-axe-carrying-killer is also there and one by one, the killer murders each teenager, all except for the new girl in town Hannah Wallace (played by Lexi Givoagnoli).

Power Rangers Megaforce: A Battle to the Finish
Starring: Andrew Gray, John Mark Loudermilk, Christina Masterson, Ciara Hanna, Azim Rizk
Studio: LionsGate / Saban Brands
Release Date: August 12, 2014
Retail: $14.98
ASIN: B00KPHL8CM
Running Time: 92 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Despite the franchise entering its twenty-first year, the Power Ranger's future looks bright with the last batch of Power Rangers Super Megaforce scheduled to air on Nickelodeon at the end of the month, the new series Power Rangers Dino Charge debuting next year and the big-budget reboot of the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers - coming to theaters in 2016! In the mean time time, fans can grab a hold of LionsGate's newest DVD release, Power Rangers Megaforce: A Battle to the Finish, featuring the final batch of episodes from the first season of Megaforce (minus the Halloween and Christmas episodes).

The episodes featured on the singe-disc DVD are:

Staying on Track - While Robo Knight learns the meaning of humanity, Metal Alice attacks the city.

The Human Condition - The Power Ranger's enemy, Admiral Malkor, awakens from his cocoon and returns to earth to destroy them.

The Messenger - While the Power Rangers battle the Cyborg Vrak, Metal Alice receives that word that a fleet of alien ships are on their way to invade Earth.

End Game -  The Power Rangers have their hands full as they battle Cyborg Vrak, Metal Alice and the Messenger, but things get even worse the aliens invade Earth.

If you want schedule next week's post, click here to find the next prompt question. To submit a question, fill out this form.

What to do:

1. Post on your blog answering this question:

  This week's question is submitted by Elizabeth!

What is your favorite electronic device to use to add posts and content to your blog? Example: Your phone, your computer, your iPad, or another device?

2. Enter the link to your post in the linky list below (enter your Blog Name and the direct link to your post answering this week’s question. Failure to do so will result in removal of your link).


3. Visit other blogs in the list and comment on their posts. Try to spend some time on the blogs reading other posts and possible become a new follower.  The purpose of the hop is to give bloggers a chance to follow other blogs, learn about new books, befriend other bloggers, and receive new followers to your own blog.

  

My Answer: 

I use either my desktop computer or laptop to publish blog posts. 

Aftermath
Director: Peter Engert
Starring: CJ Thompson, Monica Keena, Edward Furlong, Andre Royo, Christine Kelly, Jessie Rusu
Studio: Image Entertainment
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Retail: $27.97
ASIN: B00KBZZIS8
Running Time: 92 minutes
Rating: Not Rated
Buy Link: Amazon

Review:

Arriving on DVD and Blu-ray from Image Entertainment this Tuesday August 26th is the apocalypse thriller Aftermath. The film is directed by Peter Engert and stars CJ Thompson, Monica Keena (Freddy vs Jason), Edward Furlong (Terminator 2: Judgement Day), Andre Royo, Christine Kelly and Jessie Rusu. There are no extras or special features on DVD.

Filmed in 2012, Aftermath centers on a young doctor, Hunter (played by C.J. Thompson), who is hitchhiking in Texas when a nuclear apocalypse occurs. After witnessing the mushroom clouds in the distance, he helps a young woman and her younger brother and a woman named Elizabeth (played by Monica Keena) find food and supplies. The four drive to an isolated farmhouse and convince the occupants to let them stay in their basement/cellar for the next 30 days when the atmosphere has cleared up.


The group has enough food to last the next 30 days, but infected zombie-like people are wanting in, so they must step outside and expose themselves to the poison air in the attempt to kill the infected.