Author: Gina Linko
Publisher: Sky Pony Press, January 2018
Genre: children's magical realism (ages 8-12)
Pages: 242
Obtained: from publisher in exchange for an honest review
Summary: Tally Jo and Tempest, inseparable twins, will soon turn 13. They find themselves drifting apart, or are they being pushed apart by some strange force?
Thoughts: Although this book contained magic, it touched on some real coming of age issues that all older children face- holding on and letting go, change, growing apart and growing closer, trust in oneself and others, finding self, and accepting growth and change in the ones we love. This book is recommended by the publishers for ages 8- 12, but I believe the themes in the book make it appropriate for young teens as well. As an adult, I enjoyed it.
Although the book was slow moving, the pace was steady and it was hard for me to put down, not because it was suspenseful, but because I was enjoying it. I liked the quirky characters and wanted to know more about them. I appreciated the author's writing style. Her entertaining dialogue conveyed not only the personalities of the characters, but their many emotions. She had some beautiful descriptions thrown in, but really kept the book moving with the dialogue. The carnival setting added to the magic of the story, but science was there too. For example, how magnets work and moon phases were constant topics, which made for an engaging way to learn some science concepts.
This was a touching story about family and friendships that would be great for summer reading, especially for fifth and sixth graders.
Tea: Rooibus Vanilla Chai
Obtained: free sample with order
I received a free sample of Rooibos Vanilla Chai with an order I placed with Adagio Teas. The sample was in a resealable bag. The tea was composed of all sorts of plant pieces of many shapes and sizes and had a wonderful aroma of pumpkin pie spice. The ingredients are rooibus tea, ginger root, cinnamon bark, cloves, cardamom, orange peel, and natural vanilla flavor. I put two teaspoons of the tea into my tea maker and poured approximately twelve ounces of water over the leaves. I let this steep for seven minutes. The dark orange brown liquid was a bit cloudy. The scent was still of pumpkin pie spices, but not quite as strong. The taste was a balance of spice and rooibus tea with a vanilla aftertaste that made it sweet. I am not a vanilla fan, but I really enjoyed this blend of spice, sweet, and woody flavors. If you are a vanilla lover, this may not have enough vanilla flavoring for you. If you like chai and want something a bit different, this is definitely worth a try. It is caffeine free.
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