The Lost Children by Carolyn Cohagan Book Review & {Giveaway}!

The Lost Children
by Carolyn Cohagan
 

"With a quirky and charming style that should draw in readers from the outset, Cohagan's debut
is a gently creepy, captivating fantasy about loss, determination, and hope."
-Publishers Weekly

It is my pleasure to introduce you to author Carolyn Cohagan and her new middle grade novel, The Lost Children. With colorful, vivid prose, Cohagan's debut novel takes readers on the epic adventure of twelve year-old protagonist Josephine and her friends Fargus and Ida. On their mission to uncover the mystery of the lost children of Gulm, the unlikely trio must travel through cracks between worlds, battle mouthless monsters, and a daunting villain named The Master, who rules over the land of Gulm. In a world where nothing is like it seems, the friends learn the value of self-trust, true friendship and family. In the tradition of classics like Alice in Wonderland, The Lost Children is a rollercoaster of adventure and mystery, with spunky, courageous characters that make this book a must-read for children and parents alike. This epic fantasy opens a magic portal of communication between young and old, encouraging children and parents to put themselves in each other’s shoes and grow beyond the roles of parent and child to develop a more understanding and loving relationship. A passionate advocate for the connection between kids and adults through the shared joy of reading and writing, Carolyn Cohagan has been a long time mentor for the Los Angeles based non-profits Reading to Kids and Young Storytellers.

The book trailer can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iu9d2wyQqg. Please find more information about the book and author Carolyn Cohagan in the paragraphs below.

The Lost Children

By Carolyn Cohagan
Alladin, February 9, 2010

Book Synopsis:

Josephine Russing owns 387 pairs of gloves. She's given a new pair every week by her father, a sullen man known best for his insistence that the citizens in town wear gloves at all times. A world away, the children of Gulm have been taken. No one knows where they might be, except the mysterious and terrifying leader of the land: The Master. When a peculiar boy named Fargus shows up on Josephine's property and then disappears soon afterward, she follows him without a second thought and finds herself magically transported to Gulm. After Fargus introduces her to his tough-as-nails friend Ida, the three of them set off on an adventure that will test everything Josephine has ever thought about the rules of the universe, leading to a revelation about the truth of the land of Gulm, and of Josephine's own life back home.

Book Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Iu9d2wyQqg

Author Bio:

Carolyn Cohagan began her writing career as a stand-up comic, performing in comedy clubs all over the world. After studying physical theater at the Ecole International de Theatre Jacques LeCoq in Paris she began to write and perform award-winning one-woman shows and theater plays throughout North America and Canada. Since moving to Los Angeles she has worked as a freelance journalist, blogger, and red carpet host for Film Independent, a non-profit organization that produces the Los Angeles Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards. A passionate advocate for literacy among young readers, Carolyn mentors with the non-profit organizations Reading to Kids and Young Storytellers. The Lost Children is Carolyn’s first novel. She is currently working on a sequel entitled "Ida and the Unfinished City." She's also creating a performance piece based on "The Lost Children" that allows children to participate in the telling of the story by transforming them into physical elements of the scenes. In becoming the life on the story, children orchestrate and experience each moment of the story as their own and learn to develop confidence in their own unique ways of creative expression.

Author Website:

http://www.thelostchildrenbook.com


Praise for the book:

"With a quirky and charming style that should draw in readers from the outset, Cohagan's debut is a gently creepy, captivating fantasy about loss, determination, and hope."
-Publishers Weekly

"This nifty fantasy from a new author has everything: Great characters, creepy villains, laughs, frights and a great surprise twist at the end."
-Buffalo News

"A worthy first children's novel that pulses with life and promise."
-Austin Statesman

"Carolyn Cohagan's debut novel is filled with magic, wonder, and curiosity. It takes readers into a whole new world of fantasy and mystery."
-The Undercover Book Lover

“The main characters are well developed, particularly the spunky and plain-spoken Ida, the laconic but loyal Fargus, and Josephine, whose journey uncovers hidden strengths and helps her to understand her enigmatic father…
-Booklist 

-Courtesy of Aladdin Books/Carolyn Cohagan

I was curious to review The Lost Children by Carolyn Cohagan. The synopsis sounded very Harry Potter-esque! The Lost Children is Cohagan's debut novel. She grew up here in my home base, Austin, Texas and currently lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Cohagan has a comedy background and studied theatre in Paris. She credits her parents for "...never making her get a real job...". Love it! She is also a fellow blogger.

The Lost Children is for fantasy readers of all ages. I have been reading a few pages to my daughter at bedtime. I love the beautifully bound book and interesting names in the book. i.e. Fargus, Gulm...

The Lost Children is a fantasy. The three main characters are Josephine, Fargus, and Ida. Worlds away, the children of Gulm have disappeared and only the terrifying leader of the land knows where they may be. Josephine follows Fargus and finds herself transported to the land of Gulm. Fargus introduces Josephine to his friend Ida and they set off on an adventure that will reveal the truth about the land of Gulm. 

I love this book and am excited for the sequel Ida and the Unfinished City. Cohagan is even creating a performance piece based on The Lost Children that will allow kids to participate in the story!

Thanks to Aladdin books for the book sample!

*I received a sample of The Lost Children to facilitate my candid and honest review. No other form of compensation was or will be given. All personal views are my own!

***

Win It!

 

I'm happy to announce that Aladdin Books is giving away a copy of The Lost Children to one 512 Kidz blog reader!

Main entry: (A must!) Just leave a comment with email on this post to be entered to win. Feel free to share... why/who you would like to win this book for.

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Giveaway ends May 15, 2010 at 11:59 pm CST. Winner chosen using Random.org. Winner will be posted on this blog and will be emailed. Winner has 72 hours from Winner announcement to reply to claim prize. Open to USA.

 www.prizey.net

Spiced by Dalia Jurgensen Book Review & GIVEAWAY!

For as long as she can remember Dalia Jurgensen wanted to cook. By age five she would stand on a chair at the counter next to her Danish mother, shaping frikadeller and peeling potatoes for bikser mad.  She adored every detail, from baking side-by-side and shaping dough to making hearty apple cobbler-like ablecage.  For her thirteenth birthday, when peers reached for romances or mysteries, she read and re-read her most treasured gift: a copy of the marvelously illustrated Grand Diplome Cooking Course.  And when asked what she wanted to be when she grew up, she was unequivocal: she wanted to be a chef.

Yet despite her love of all things culinary, it wasn’t until her mid-twenties that Jurgensen got serious about cooking.  With a conventional college degree and a couple of years in publishing behind her, she abruptly quit her job to pursue her dream and enroll in culinary school. It was a leap of faith that changed and defined her life in ways she’d never imagined.  Now Jurgensen shares the delicious details in SPICED: A Pastry Chef’s True Stories of Trials by Fire, After-Hours Exploits, and What Really Goes on in the Kitchen (Berkley Trade Paperback; April 6, 2010;$15.00), an eye-opening look at the sweet and sour of following your passion.

Refreshingly candid and simmering with kitchen drama, SPICED traces Jurgensen’s hard-earned metamorphosis from lowly pastry cook to acclaimed executive pastry chef at a three-star New York City restaurant.  But SPICED is much more than a personal memoir.  In the entertaining tradition of Kitchen Confidential, it’s an unforgettable insider’s tour through some of Manhattan ’s finest kitchens, the first to come from a woman’s perspective. 

-Courtesy of Penguin Group

***

I was curious to review Spiced: A Pastry Chef's True Stories of Trials by Fire, After-Hours Exploits, and what Really Goes on in the Kitchen by Dalia Jurgensen. One of the first things to catch my eye is that one of my favorite TV personalities and chefs, Tony Bourdain, is featured commenting on the book's cover. I'm also what I call a 'wannabe foodie'... a foodie that doesn't really have the time or money to cook or experience different and new restaurants. Finally, My husband currently works in a restaurant as a bartender and waiter, and has worked in the kitchen in the past, and I've worked in restaurants. So this is the perfect book for me!

Author and executive pastry chef Dalia Jurgensen has Danish roots and always knew growing up she wanted to be a chef. After getting her degree and working in publishing for a few years, Dalia answered that calling to be a chef in her mid-twenties and quit the desk job. 

Working her way up from lowly pastry chef in some of the best restaurants in Manhattan, she is now proud of her title, executive pastry chef.

Spiced is a first person culinary history that really dives right in. You get an insiders glimpse of the behind the scenes world of restaurant kitchens. I really love stories like this because it reminds me of my days in restaurants. I was a hostess and also worked at a sandwich shop. 

I'm not sure if the sandwich shop really counts though... The most fun job I have ever had was when I worked as a hostess. There was lots of kooky co-workers and everyone kind of bonded together through the insanity of it all. After work parties were always a blast!

In Spiced, Dalia tells the real story of what really goes on restaurant kitchens, the after-hours exploits, and 'trials by fire'. You'll even read about her stint tasting recipes in Martha Stewart's kitchens! Yet the book gets a bit naughty when Dalia reveals a clandestine romantic affair with one of her chefs, and some of the obscene things said in the testosterone fueled kitchens!

Well I don't want to give too much away. More than anything I love Dalia's raw, tell it like it is writing style. You'll love this candid memoir about a woman and her journey to executive pastry chef! Look for it at http://www.penguin.com.

*I received a copy of Spiced to facilitate my candid and honest review. No other form of compensation was or will be given. All personal views are my own!

***

Win It!

 

I'm happy to announce that I have a copy of Spiced to give away to two 512 Kidz blog readers!

Main entry: (A must!) Just leave a comment with email on this post to be entered to win. Feel free to mention who you'd like to win for or why you'd like to win. 

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Giveaway ends April 28, 2010 at 11:59 pm CST. Winners chosen using Random.org. Winners will be posted on this blog and will be emailed. Winners have 72 hours from Winner announcement to reply to claim prize. Open to USA.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: A Century of Flavor Review & GIVEAWAY!

"The delightful aroma of the kitchen during the holidays – with smells of cinnamon, peppermint, chocolate and vanilla – is a scent that many associate with long lived memories. The holiday season is a perfect time to create flavorful memories with your family and loved ones. Nielsen-Massey Vanillas A Century of Flavor cookbook provides moms with a variety of holiday recipes. Vanilla Carmel Corn Crunch can be made with your young chef, while Creamy Vanilla Sweet Potatoes is a perfect side to your family’s main course.

This vanilla-inspired cookbook, published by family-owned Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, celebrates the exciting nuances of one of America ’s most-loved and versatile ingredients – pure vanilla. It is filled with 50 of the most tantalizing recipes, highlighting the intricate, yet delicate flavors of pure vanilla and is written for the novice cook as well as the seasoned chef.

So crank up the holiday tunes, get cooking with your loved ones to create your next delectable holiday meal.

About Nielsen-Massey Vanillas

Throughout its more than 100 year history, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas has earned its reputation as a manufacturer of the finest extracts in the world. The full line of Nielsen-Massey’s Pure Vanilla products include: Vanilla Beans and Extracts from Madagascar , Tahiti and Mexico ; sugar and alcohol-free Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Powder; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste; Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar and Certified Organic Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract, Vanilla Beans and Powder.

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas recently introduced a new line of Pure Flavors: Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Almond Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Coffee Extract, Pure Peppermint Extract, Orange Blossom Water and Rose Water.  All Nielsen-Massey products are certified Kosher and Gluten-free. The company is headquartered in Waukegan , Illinois , with production facilities in Waukegan and Leeuwarden , The Netherlands."

I was very excited when my Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: A Century of Flavor recipe book arrived. This is a very high quality hard back recipe book with built in ribbon bookmark. With high resolution images of almost every recipe this exquisite recipe book has something for everyone. Not just sweet recipes, but savory too. I was surprised to find recipes for chicken and pasta sauce inside! Virtually all of the recipes could be made by anyone, skilled cook or beginner, and I was happy to see that the recipes didn't have too many ingredients (which can drive up cost). I certainly have some ideas for dinner next week and the sweet potato recipe would work well with my upcoming thanksgiving dinner.

The Bottom Line: I can see this recipe book becoming a staple in my kitchen for a long time to come! With so many versatile recipes your sure to find something to pair with every meal. Seal of Approval!

And the giveaway!

Win It!

  

I'm so happy to announce that Wilks Communications has offered up A Century of Flavor by Nielsen-Massey Vanillas recipe book to 5 readers!

Main entry: (A must!)Just leave a comment with email on this post to be entered to win. Feel free to comment with why you would want to win this recipe book, or what meal you might use this book to plan. 

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Giveaway ends 11/14/09 at 11:59 pm Central Standard time. Winners chosen using Random.org. Winners will be posted on this blog and will be emailed. Winners have 72 hours from Winners announcement to reply to claim prize. 

**This giveaway open to US Residents only!**

* I received 1 Nielsen-Massey Vanillas: A Cenutry of Flavor recipe book to facilitate my honest review. No other compensation was or will be given. 

This giveaway was chosen as a prizey pick!